Death of a Christmas Caterer Read Online Free PDF Page A

probably saw your geometry test.”
    â€œMom!”
    â€œJust kidding. So, who are you going to play?”
    â€œThe Virgin Mary!”
    Wow. I did not see that one coming.
    â€œGemma, that’s fantastic. I’m so proud of you!”
    Hayley hugged her daughter tightly.
    â€œMary’s, like, one of the leading roles!” Gemma shrieked. “The show is totally centered around her. She’s the most important character in the whole play.”
    â€œWell, yes, honey, but God and the baby Jesus are pretty critical too in the scheme of things.”
    â€œWhat are you talking about? They have no lines! I have pages and pages of dialogue I have to start memorizing. I just hope they get someone really hot to play Joseph.”
    Gemma sailed back out of the kitchen and up the stairs, nearly plowing over Blueberry again. He had ventured gingerly back into the hallway, still annoyed that his ceramic bowl, with kitty paw prints on it, was still not filled with food.
    Hayley went to the cupboard and foraged for some special-diet canned cat food when the back door to the kitchen swung open and Aaron walked in, rubbing his hands to warm up from the cold.
    Hayley smiled at the sight of him. “What are you doing here? I thought you had to work late.”
    â€œI was supposed to neuter Alma Henderson’s Maine coon cat at five-thirty, but he somehow got out the back screen door and ran away before she could get him into the pet carrier. Probably knew what was coming and got the hell out of Dodge.”
    Hayley laughed. “Do you want to stay for dinner?”
    â€œI was thinking of taking you and the kids out for pizza at Geddy’s.”
    â€œWell, Dustin’s having dinner over at Spanky’s house, and Gemma is confined to her room cramming for a makeup geometry test, but she doesn’t know it yet. I’ve got some leftover meat loaf and makings for a side salad she can have.”
    â€œPerfect. You prepare that for her and I’ll call and make a reservation at Portofino for two. Candlelight dinner. Bottle of wine. I’ll even let you spoon-feed me the tiramisu.”
    â€œNow that’s quite an upgrade from pizza.”
    â€œSound good?”
    â€œSounds wonderful. Oh, wait. I have a meeting later tonight, around nine, with Garth Rawlings, the caterer. I’m going to hire him to prepare a few appetizers for our office Christmas party tomorrow night and wanted to go over everything with him at his office.”
    â€œOkay, so we skip the tiramisu. But the bottle of wine is nonnegotiable.”
    â€œDeal.”
    He kissed Hayley on the lips. “You smell so good.”
    â€œThat’s probably just the wild cherry Little Trees air freshener I hung from my rearview mirror this morning.”
    â€œDon’t kill the mood,” Aaron said, tickling her with his hands.
    Hayley chortled and tried to pull his hands away, but he was having too much fun. He tickled her some more until her whole body was spasming. Then he locked his arms around her waist and pulled her into him, kissing her again, just as the phone rang. After it rang several times, it became abundantly clear Gemma had no intention of answering it from upstairs.
    â€œBe just a minute,” Hayley said, reluctantly extricating herself from Aaron’s grip and picking up the phone. “Hello?”
    â€œHayley?”
    She instantly recognized the voice.
    Lex Bansfield.
    â€œLex, how are you doing?”
    Aaron bristled just a bit at hearing Lex’s name. He was acutely aware of Hayley’s past history with him.
    â€œMy pride’s hurt more than anything else. I just wanted to thank you for stopping by to see me this afternoon. It meant a lot,” Lex said.
    â€œOf course. When I heard you were hurt, I knew I had to see you to make sure you’re okay. Is there something you need?”
    There was silence on the other end of the phone.
    â€œLex?”
    â€œI’m