Page 104 of Murder on Charity Lane

“We’re always okay,” Ocean admitted, almost grudgingly. “She wants to make her famous mamaliga tonight, which is her idea of an apology, and I managed not to tell her that Riley hates the texture of boiled cornmeal.”

“Ha. And what about CJ coming back today?”

“I’m trying not to think about that, thanks.”

Sophie flushed. “Oh, god, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“I’m kidding! I mean, I don’t know. I’m happy she’s out, of course. She won’t run or anything, I know that, but I’m still pissed at Mrs. B for risking the Cottages. And do I want the kids in the middle of another murder investigation?”

“Yeah, that’s a good point.”

Ocean let a little of her dismay creep into her voice. “I just need to take another ten years off from dating.”

“You don’t,” Lily-Ann said, in her flat way.

“Why’s that?”

“Because you are a remarkable woman,” Lily-Ann said, still in her flat way.

Ocean actually felt herself blush so she said, “Oh, shut up.”

Lily-Ann looked to Sophie for an explanation of that but Sophie just said, “I kind of wonder if Mrs. B set this up on purpose. I mean bailing out CJ. Like, now we have to keep investigating. We need to prove CJ’s innocence so the bank doesn’t repossess the Marigold Cottages.”

“You think she planned it?” Ocean asked.

“Well, I’m trying to think like a writer. In a play, everyone has ulterior motives, often concealed even from themselves.”

Ocean sipped her latte as she considered. “That’s crazy and manipulative. So, yeah, I wouldn’t put it past her.”

“And look at us now.” Sophie gestured with her menu. “It completely worked. Lily-Ann summoned the strike team to prove CJ’s innocence.”

“The strike team?”

“The special investigations unit of Marigold Cottages.” Sophie paused as the waitress walked past. “Except when there’s so little evidence, how do we prove she didn’t do it?”

Lily-Ann finally spoke. “There’s more evidence than you know.”

49

LILY-ANN

Despite how often she’d gone to Régina’s with her murderous ex-husband, the restaurant felt safe to Lily-Ann. That’s why she’d invited Ocean and Sophie there to break the bad news, in an attempt to soften the blow. Well, that wasn’t the entire truth. She also missed the coconut yogurt parfait. And perhaps she’d stolen this strategy from Hamilton, but she enjoyed turning a casual conversation into a social occasion. Look at her, Lily-Ann Novak, enjoying a fancy breakfast with her girlfriends on a weekday morning.

“What kind of evidence?” Ocean asked.

The waitress arrived before Lily-Ann could respond. Sophie asked for the smashed avocado toast with pickled radish and tomato confit. Ocean ordered the shakshuka, which impressed Lily-Ann. That was real breakfast, and one of the most expensive things on the menu. She appreciated that Ocean didn’t hold back out of misguided concern for the cost.

“I’d like the coconut parfait,” Lily-Ann told the waitress. “Except with passion fruit instead of dried cranberries, and no strawberries, and a drizzle of maple syrup instead of honey.” When the waitress left, she looked at the other two women and said, “I know you’re laughing at me.”

“It’s a pleasure to watch someone who knows what she wants,” Ocean told her.

“And who is certain there’s passion fruit in the kitchen!” Sophie said, reaching to touch Lily-Ann’s forearm as if to reassure her they were teasing.

“I used to come here with Piotr,” she explained. “I want to create new memories.”

“As long as you keep paying,” Ocean said.

Sophie smiled. “I like the word ‘shakshuka.’ What even is it?”