Wes barely nodded, then slowly stood. “I hear the music playing outside. Sounds pretty good. I think I’ll go check it out.”
“Me too,” Riva chimed in as she opened the patio door. “Go ahead and fix yourself a plate of leftovers,” she called to Kitty. “After your tiring day, you might want to take it to your room where you can relax and put your feet up.” Not waiting for a response, she slipped outside, silently praying that their so-far peaceful evening wouldn’t be derailed by Kitty’s unpredictable antics. Three martinis on an empty stomach, really? How was Kitty even walking a straight line right now? Maybe she wasn’t.
“Glad you could rejoin us,” Laurel said as Riva sat beside her. “Anyone else coming?”
Riva knew Laurel probably meant Marcus, but instead of answering, she just nodded toward the door. “Kitty came home,” she said quietly. “In the kitchen.”
Laurel let out a groan and now Windy looked worried.
“Do you think she’ll come out here?” Windy asked.
“Who knows? But she sounds tired from work ... and maybe other things.” Riva grimaced.
“Like a hangover,” Laurel suggested.
Riva shrugged. “Anyway, she hadn’t eaten yet, so I encouraged her to fix herself a plate to take to her room.” Riva paused as Wes sat down by Windy.
Laurel scowled darkly. “If Kitty comes out I’ll just make myself scarce.”
Riva didn’t know what to say so she segued. “Their music sure sounds good tonight.” She tried to sound cheery. “It’s fun hearing a trio. Not so loud, and their harmonies are amazing.”
Eager to curtail this conversation, Riva leaned back to listen to a pleasant Irish folk tune. It could be such a perfect evening, great food, good company, nice yard, warm weather ... exceptfor the spoiler lurking in the kitchen. She wondered why Marcus had remained in there. Was he a glutton for punishment or was he simply trying to do damage control with Kitty? Perhaps he was giving her the attention she seemed to insatiably crave. But if he could manage to keep Kitty from coming out here and crashing the party, well, did she really care? Okay, maybe just a little ... for Marcus’s sake. She didn’t like to think of a guest martyring himself for the sake of the party.
The music got cheerier and Windy grabbed Riva and Laurel’s hands, tugging them to their feet. “Come on, ladies.”
The three of them danced to the upbeat music and then Windy called out to Wes, who was watching with interest from his Adirondack chair. “Don’t you wanna dance off your dinner, Wes? Make room for the yummy dessert I’ve got waiting in the freezer?” Windy went over to pull him up. “Come on, shake a leg, old man. It’s time for some boot-scooting boogie.”
Wes laughed as he joined the women, but after a few more songs, Riva could feel her concern for Marcus growing. Or maybe it was guilt. Had she abandoned him? What if Kitty was in there making him miserable right now? Holding him hostage with her bad manners and nonstop mouth? Was the poor guy too polite to walk away? Did he need rescuing? Since this was her house, which suggested she was the hostess, was she responsible for the welfare of her guests? Maybe ... And so, sneaking away from the happy dance party, she went back inside.
The kitchen was void of people. Other than the muted sound of music outside, it was quiet. The countertops were a cluttered mess of opened leftovers containers, strewn about and slopped over with random serving spoons and utensils scattered. How could one person possibly create so much havoc? And to do it so quickly? Riva was about to tidy the kitchen again, then questioned herself. Why should she clean up after Kitty? And where was Kitty, anyway? And where was Marcus?
She went out of the kitchen, listening for the sound of voices,but the house remained silent. She went past the library, then caught a bit of movement from the corner of her eye, but the glass doors were shut and, with no lights on in there and only dusky light from the outside, it was hard to see clearly. She cracked open a glass door and peered in to find Marcus in one of the old leather club chairs, head bent down as if asleep.
“Marcus?” she whispered, not wanting to disturb him.
His head snapped up. “Oh?” He blinked as she turned on a reading lamp. “I thought you were Kitty.”
“Sorry to disappoint you. I thought you were, uh, napping.” She sat down in the chair across from him.
“Just enjoying a moment of peace.” He rubbed his temples. “Trying to lose a headache.”
“Do you need something for it?”
“No. It’s better now. Just needed a quiet hideout.”
“Hideout? From what?”
“That wild Kitty in the kitchen. She wouldn’t stop talking and complaining and rattling dishes and making messes. I just couldn’t take it. I’m sure I made her mad when I abandoned her. I told her I wanted to be alone to think and then I heard her stomp up the stairs. Man, that girl can make some noise. But I’m sure she’s inebriated.” He frowned. “What are you going to do about her, Riva?”
Riva leaned back and closed her eyes. “I have no idea.”
“She’s a real piece of work.”
“I know,” she said. “She’s making Laurel crazy.”
“I suppose we should be grateful she didn’t go out there and go after Laurel again. That’s another reason I didn’t want to go back out. I didn’t want to get her riled up enough to stir things up with Laurel. I would’ve just gone home, but I brought Wes tonight.”
“Sounds like you did the right thing with Kitty. And I do think Wes’s enjoying himself. He was even dancing.”
