Even though Evelyn had given me her blessing two nights ago, I sensed it would take her a little more time to accept August and me together. “There is a waitlist for the brunch, but I am sure I could find you two atable.”
I smiled. “We can’t do brunch today. I just came by to sayhi.”
Her thin eyebrows writhed a few times. “Dinner then? Tonight. At the house. I would like”—she fixed her eyes on August again—“I would like to get to know the man my baby girl has decided to let into herheart.”
God only knew in what state we’d be tonight. I slipped my pinky’s fingernail between my lips and chewed on the edge of it. “Tomorrow would be better. The restaurant’s closed on Monday nights too,right?”
She nodded. “Before you leave, Trent’s wife wanted very much to meet you. She is in the dining room. Will you go out there and introduce yourself,please?”
I took my pinky out of my mouth. “Sure.” I kissed her cheek and then turned toleave.
When August started after me, Evelyn called him back. “Can I speak to you a moment longer,August?”
I cringed, but August squeezed my arm in reassurance. I mouthed,good luck, which kicked up one side of hismouth.
There were three women in the dining room. One of them had served us the night of my birthday, so I assumed she wasn’t Trent’swife.
“Hi, I’m looking for—” I racked my brain for the family name but wasn’t sure if I even knew it, so I went with: “Trent’swife?”
The waitress tipped her head toward a woman clipping the stems of poppies on the mirroredbar.
“Thank you,” I whispered as I traipsed toward the blonde with a sharp bob cut. “Hi. I’m Ness. Evelyn’sgranddaughter.”
The woman twirled away from her flowery spread and extended her hand. “Ness!”
I blinked as she smiled atme.
When I still hadn’t taken her outstretched hand—because shock had made me forget my manners—she said, “It’s not contagious. Ipromise.”
I jolted my hand into hers and shook it. “I’m sorry. It’s not—What,um. . . howcome. . .?”
“My lips are blue and my nails purple?” Her smile was still intact. “I have something called Argyria, which is sort of ironic considering the name of myrestaurant.”
I slipped my hand out of hers and gripped the crossbody strap of mybag.
“Anyway, it’s my dentist’s fault. He put all these silver fillings in my molars . . . I won’t bore you with the details, but know that it looks way worse than it is. I’m Molly, by theway.”
I tried to snap my jaw shut, but it wouldn’t close. “I’msorryI’mstaring,” I said in a singlebreath.
“It’s okay, honey. A lot of people do. Besides, if it truly bothered me, I’d wearmakeup.”
“I know this woman who has the same thing,” I blurted out. “At least, I think it’s the same thing. She told me it was abirthmark.”
“Yeah, some people are a little embarrassed by the condition.” She fingered one of the poppies’ fuzzy stems. “Tell her that if she needs someone to talk to, she can find me here most days. Especially now that the kids are back in school.” She gave me one last smile. “I should get these flowers into water before they wilt. It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, and thank you again for lending us your grandmother. She is agodsend.”
“Thankyou,” I said. And I didn’t mean for employing Evelyn—even though Iwasgrateful for that—but for giving me the answer to a question which had tormented me for the past two and a halfweeks.
My speculations were accurate—Cassandra Morganhadpoisoned Julian. But not with Sillin. With silver! I wasn’t sure yet how her blood could contain the toxic metal without killing her, but it didn’tmatter.
We could call the duel off now that I had proof she wascheating.
As Molly turned back toward her flowers, August came out of thekitchen.
I rushed to him and threw my arms around his neck, waves of relief coursing through me, breaking the stress that had devoured me since Liam’s phonecall.
“Were you worried I wouldn’t survive?” August asked, a lilt to his voice. “Itwasa closecall.”
Smiling, I pressed away from him, crooked my head up, and whispered, “I know how she didit.”
