Creamy Casserole Murder: Book 15 in The Darling Deli Series Read Online Free PDF Page B

closed her eyes and leaned her forehead against her car. She didn’t want to change plans with David at the last minute, but she already felt bad for Reggie. She owed it to him to go and hear him out, didn’t she?
    “I’ll call David and see if he’s okay with it,” she said at last. “I’ll let you know either way once I get in touch with him.”
    The private investigator answered his phone on the second ring, and quickly agreed to the change in plans. He didn’t sound like he was upset, but Moira wanted to make sure.
    “This is really all right with you?” she asked.
    “Yes. I like Reggie, and it’s been a while since I’ve seen Candice and Eli. It will be a nice dinner. Well… the company will be nice, anyway.”
    Even though Misty Pines had a private chef to cook for the residents, the food was always bland and soft. Many of the residents had special dietary needs, and it made more sense to make something that everyone could eat, and let people add the seasonings themselves, than to make a separate dish for each person. No matter how much salt she added to the beef stew, however, it would never compare to a steak at the Grill.
    “I’m sorry, David. I really am. We can still eat out somewhere else later this week, okay?”
    “Of course. And don’t worry about tonight, Moira. I really don’t mind.” His voice was warm, but she still couldn’t help but feel bad for changing plans at the last minute once again.
    Her new dress was too fancy to wear to a casual dinner at the assisted-living home, so she stashed it in her closet when she got home and pulled on a blouse and pair of black slacks instead. Her mind switched back and forth from thoughts of David to thoughts of Reggie the entire time she was getting ready. They were both good men, and she had let them both down. She was certain she could make it up to David—he would forgive just about anything for a good, home-cooked meal—but Reggie would be harder. If he was still going on about Beatrice’s death being a murder, she didn’t know what she would do. Maybe it would be easier to just pretend to believe him after all. A little white lie like that would be all right, wouldn’t it?
    Misty Pines was bustling that evening. The dining room was already nearly full by the time she and David got there, but luckily Candice and Eli had arrived first and had snatched up an empty table for them. Reggie was sitting with them already, and was talking animatedly. He looked a lot better than he had the last time Moira had seen him, and she smiled.
    “Hey guys,” Candice squealed when she saw them. “Thanks so much for coming.”
    The deli owner hadn’t had a chance to see her daughter much since they returned, and she was surprised at how tan the young woman still was. Of course, Candice had spent a lot more time out in the sun than she had… and she was still pretty tan herself, come to think of it.
    “Hey, Ms. D,” Eli said. “Mr. Morris. It feels like it’s been ages since I’ve seen you.”
    “Only a couple of weeks,” Moira said, but it did seem like it had been a long time to her, too. “How are you doing?” she asked Reggie.
    “Not too bad. These old bones are still walking, and that’s always a good thing.” She looked at him, trying to decide if he was mad at her or not. He was smiling, and seemed to be in a good mood. She felt relieved.
    “It sure is,” she said. “So, what’s for dinner tonight?”
    The main course turned out to be baked chicken breast, green beans, and applesauce. The staff member waiting on them that night winked as he put a bottle of barbecue sauce next to David.
    “So, how’s the ice cream shop doing?” the private investigator asked as he slathered his chicken in sauce.
    “Not bad for this time of year,” Eli answered. “We’ll close up for the season in a couple of months. Then I’ll probably start spending more time helping Candice and Logan out at the candy shop.”
    Logan was Denise’s nephew,