The small table matched and had a half circle that folded up or down on the side, depending on whether you needed more space. Tonight, we propped that semi-circle up so we could spread our food out and share it.
“Okay, girl,” Cora said, scooping up a big bite of ravioli. “Start with the dead body and work your way up to staying with a man the past two days, since I have a feeling there is a lot in between those events that I am missing.”
Here went nothing.
I started with everything that had happened at Lake Echo, including meeting Hector there. Cora knew a little bit about Hector, having met him at Anna’s wedding last year. Then I told her about the letter from Steve.
“Three days ago, I came home from work to find someone had broken into my apartment,” I said, trying to tread carefully.
As soon as the words were out of my mouth, hers fell open, along with the pasta that had been inside. Hermouth still wide open, she turned her head slowly as if to scan the room behind her.
Using her fork to point toward my living room behind her, she finally spoke. “Someone broke in here? What did they steal? Was there much damage? Did you call the cops?”
Her rapid-fire questions didn’t give me much of a chance to interrupt, but eventually I broke in. “Yes, someone broke in. I don’t know if they stole anything or not. There wasn’t really any damage to speak of. And yes, I called the cops.”
She started to talk again, but I held up my hand to get her to pause. “Let me finish.”
I gave her all the details of what had happened at my apartment and told her that I had also called Hector, since not only had he been a former cop, but there was a chance it was related to the body. I also mentioned how the cops had recommended I not stay at my apartment that first night, which was how I ended up staying with Hector.
“Which reminds me, do you mind if I stop by next door after dinner for a minute or two and talk with Nancy? She was here through all of it, and I wanted to give her an update and thank her in person. I brought her some leftover pumpkin spice pancakes.”
“Yes, of course. Oh, my God, I love her,” Cora said.
She had come over a few times with me to play cards and games at Nancy’s apartment and loved her just as much as I did.
As if he knew we were already discussing him, myphone buzzed with a new text. Seeing Hector’s name pop up put a smile on my face.
“Either you just found out you won the lottery, or I’m guessing Hector just texted you,” she said, sing-songing his name as she prodded for info.
I looked down to read the text, seeing the photo of my needlework and crochet supplies.
I tried to flirt a little with my response when he mentioned me forgetting my needlepoint supplies, but I also couldn’t help the beaming smile that overtook my face as I thought about tomorrow night.
“Yep, definitely Hector putting that disgustingly dreamy smile all over your face,” Cora teased.
She sighed loudly and slapped her hands on the table. “Alright, if I eat any more, I’m going to burst. Let’s go say hi to Nancy, and then we can come back and sit on the couch. I need to unbutton my pants and let my stomach expand while you tell me all about this hot man you stayed with the last few days.”
I grinned, feeling the exact same way. We packed the leftovers up and put them in the fridge, and I grabbed the container full of pancakes before we made our way over to Nancy’s.
Cocoa’s incessant barking greeted us as soon as we knocked, followed by Nancy’s big smile as she opened the door.
“Two O’Hara sisters at once. It must be my lucky day,” she greeted and ushered us in.
She offered us food as usual, but we toldher we would explode if we ate anything, so we opted for some decaf coffee she had already brewed.
“I saw Richard over there fixing your door locks the other day. Did he get everything else good over there?” Nancy asked about our maintenance man.
“Yeah, it’s all good,” I responded.
“I also couldn’t help but notice tonight’ll be the first night you’ve been back to sleep here,” Nancy mentioned with a sly grin on her face.
“Yeah, I stayed a few extra nights with Hector. Mostly because he wouldn’t let me stay until the door was fixed, and Richard had a slight delay with that, and also, because it was his birthday, so I stayed to celebrate with him.”
“And how old is that handsome man?” Nancy pried.
“He just turned forty,” I replied.
“So, he’s…ten years older,” Cora said, doing the math out loud.
