The Bride Takes a Powder Read Online Free PDF

gave her a
cat-eating-the-canary smile. "We dip them in a little sour cream or melted
chocolate."
    "Sounds wonderful."
    "My husband likes them too."
And rubbing her tummy, the woman added, "But my baby likes them better."
    "Congratulations. When are you
due?" The woman was so pretty with her dark hair and hazel eyes.
    Still smiling, she replied, "I
still have three months to go. I don't recognize you. Are you new to B Falls?"
    "Yes, I'm just visiting."
    "Visiting someone?"
    "No um, I'm really just
passing through. I don't know how long I'll stay." Norah pretended
interest in the blueberries.
    "Welcome, then." She
offered her hand. "I'm Phoebe Barnes Rahn."
    "Hi Phoebe. I'm Norah Ballard."
    "Where are you from?"
    "Chicago. I arrived on the
train yesterday."
    "What part of Chicago? I
worked there for a few months in the River North area."
    "I work downtown and live
along the lakefront."
    "Nice." Phoebe nodded. "I
lived there in the winter so didn't get to see it in the summer."
    "What brought you here?"
    Phoebe laughed, a light tinkling
sound. "It's a long story, but the basics are that my husband and I met
here, he's from B Falls, and he lured me back. I'm really happy I made the move
though. It was the furthest thing from my life plans. So you never know."
    "No, you don't." Damn
truer words were never spoken.
    "Say, if you're looking for
some entertainment and if you're still in town, why don't you come over to
Marietty's tomorrow night. It's a jazz club at the resort. The Wilcox Resort.
My husband owns the club and I sing."
    "You sing? Is that what you
were doing in Chicago?"
    "Yeah, I'm a jazz and blues
singer."
    "And you have your own club?
Your husband's club?"
    Phoebe nodded again, beaming an
even bigger smile. "As I said, it's a long story, but it all worked out
for us. The last thing I wanted was to live in this little burg. I wanted to be
singing in New York or Hollywood."
    "And now?"
    "This is the place to be,"
Phoebe announced.
    Norah chuckled. "As long as
you're sure."
    "So, come over to Marietty's
about eight. Are you staying at the resort?"
    "No. The McMillan House."
    "Okay, then go right down
First Street, cross over to the resort and the club is this side of the river.
I'll have my friends save you a seat."
    "That's really nice of you."
Norah smiled her thanks.
    "Just ask for Mike Banning."
    "Did you say Banning? Mike
Banning?"
    "Yes. And if you happened to
see that article in the paper this morning, he had nothing to do with the
cheating at school."
    "Really?"
    "Yup. He's my husband's best
friend from all the way back in high school. If Marc believes in him, I do too."
She nodded her head emphatically. "I don't know what's going on in that
school, but Mike isn't a part of it."
    "Is your husband a teacher
there too?"
    "He's a police officer now."
    "A law officer and a nightclub
owner? That's an odd combination."
    Chuckling, Phoebe said, "Not
in this town."
    "Okay. Thanks for the welcome.
I'm looking forward to seeing you tomorrow night." Norah waved and moved
on to the dairy aisle to look for sour cream. Back in her apartment and after
putting the groceries away, she sampled the strawberries and sour cream.
Delish. Then grabbing one of the paperbacks she'd bought, she sauntered down
the stairs to the sheltering porch. She settled on the swing softened by
cushions and leaned back into the myriad colorful throw pillows. Curling a leg
beneath her, she pushed off with her other foot, and rocked. The rhythmic
creaking of iron chains and pattering of rain on the roof melted away the
tension of the past days, and her eyes closed. Just rest them a minute…
    ***
    Her eyes popped open at the
ear-piercing blast of a semi's air horn. Blinking to clear her vision and
glancing at her watch, she realized she'd slept for forty-five minutes. The low
hum from passing cars on the highway had lulled her to sleep until that one
loud honk. Good Lord! What a slug. Pushing to her feet, she ambled to the edge of the porch, and braced