The Longest Yard Sale Read Online Free PDF Page A

dark would hide the blush on my face. It wasn’t dark enough that it hid the disappointment on CJ’s.
    In my apartment, CJ moved carefully through the living room so he didn’t hit his head on the side of the ceiling that slanted down. CJ’s light brown hair was a bit longer than when he had been on active duty in the military. I set the wine on the counter and pulled out a plate so CJ could eat. We settled at my small kitchen table, another barrier I’d used to good purpose on more than one occasion. CJ unpacked the food and took a bite of a meatball before it even hit the plate I slid in front of him.
    â€œTheir meatballs are the best,” he said, wiping a bit of tomato sauce from the corner of his mouth. He stabbed a fork into a piece of Italian sausage. “And their sausage is blissful. You don’t usually get sausage.”
    â€œThis is food that was left over at the end of the day.”
    â€œI rarely get their food.”
    â€œI thought all was forgiven.”
    The DiNapolis had taken my side nine months ago, during the separation and divorce, when we all thought CJ had slept with a young woman. CJ, who befriended everyone, had been hurt by that.
    â€œSo did I, until I went in a few months ago. I don’t think anyone actually spit in my food, but the glare and the chill made me realize I’m still persona not grata in there. Why is that?”
    I shrugged, but I knew. I grew up in Pacific Grove, California, right next to Monterey. My family still lived there and were mystified that I stayed out here in the snow and ice. Ellington felt like home to me, and the DiNapolis were like my family. They not only filled my tummy but also my soul by listening to my woes. “They think you’re pressuring me.”
    I stood and grabbed the bottle of wine off the counter. The cork slid out easily. I busied myself pouring two glasses of wine, hoping CJ would drop the subject, regretting we’d gotten to it in the first place. I sat back down and passed him one of the glasses.
    â€œWe have a closed-container law in Ellington,” CJ said. Trust him to notice I’d walked across the common with the open bottle under my arm.
    â€œArrest me, then.”
    â€œI wouldn’t mind cuffing you.” CJ grinned.
    Another blush coursed up my face.
    â€œDiNapoli’s doesn’t have a liquor license,” CJ said.
    â€œCooking wine.”
    â€œWhat are you planning on cooking?” CJ asked with a half smile that always melted me.
    â€œBeef Wellington?” I had no idea if it needed wine or not. A talent for cooking eluded me. But the last thing I wanted to do was get the DiNapolis in trouble, and I wanted to forestall whatever it was that CJ had showed up to talk about. I didn’t think it could be anything good after the day he and the police department must have had. “I ran in to Bubbles today. He was coming out of Stella’s apartment as I left for the yard sale.” Darn, I didn’t mean to venture into that topic, either. “Did you know?”
    â€œThat he was seeing Stella? No.”
    I gave CJ a look, letting him know that wasn’t what I meant.
    â€œI did know he was here. He’s been here for about six months.”
    â€œWhat’s he doing here? I thought he was wing commander for one of the missile bases out west.”
    â€œHe got caught up in the whole scandal with the missileers cheating on their tests, sleeping on the job, and not securing the vault.”
    Missile launch officers were tested constantly to make sure that, if the time came, they could turn the key without thinking about it. I didn’t know how the tests were administered or what kinds of questions were asked, because all of that was classified. I did know the pressure to score 100 percent on every test was intense. If they missed one question on either of two monthly exams they weren’t eligible to advance for a year. Not good for a