Page 65 of Murder on Charity Lane

“He tripped.”

“You don’t think CJ pushed him?”

“Ha! No way. She’s like toxic levels of sweet. So selfless and helpful.” She made a face. “On the other hand, maybe that’s the type who snaps.”

I grabbed another French fry. Yeah, anything was possible, but only one thing was likely. An elderly man stumbled. And Karina, from resentment or grief or wine, or a combination of all three, imagined that she saw CJ shove him.

Angela drained her margarita. “Welp, that should get me through the afternoon of talking to donors.”

“Bonne chasse,” I said.

31

CJ

CJ felt guilty for enjoying herself so soon after Frank’s death. She didn’t deserve it. That’s why she’d almost told Ocean not to help her settle in. However, she could imagine Frank’s teasing dismay if she clung to her unhappiness. She could imagine his insistence that she resume life without him. She could even more vividly imagine him laughing at her dippiness about Ocean.

He’d always been baffled but supportive that she’d dated both men and women. He’d said awkward things, but never maliciously—and he’d loved when she’d mocked him for being an elderly fuddy-duddy. He would’ve liked Ocean. Well, he would’ve thought Ocean was “the man” that a woman like CJ needed, because Ocean was strong and direct and no-bullshit.

There was nothing masculine about her, though. She was fiercely female. And intense enough that her undiluted focus made CJ a little weak in the knees.

CJ was a full head taller than Ocean, yet constantly struggled against the urge to fall into her arms. At least for now. Ocean already took care of her kids, Mrs. B, and her neighbors—CJ didn’t want to become another item on that list. She wanted to take care of Ocean. Now that Frank was gone, she had room in her life for someone else. Someone who didn’t need their medications sorted. And while CJ wasn’t surprised at how much she missed Frank, she was a little taken aback that she also missed caring for someone. How central that was to her nature.

She wanted to be the person Ocean needed, not just the other way around.

So while they’d spent the last two hours together, drinking mojitos and setting up her new cottage, she hadn’t let Ocean fetch her birds. Instead, she’d taken up Pax on his offer to bring the parakeets from Hope Ranch.

“You really had a crush on him?” Ocean asked, tightening the kitchen sink faucet to stop a slow leak.

“For twenty minutes, yeah.” She closed the silverware drawer. “I mean, he’s gorgeous.”

“As an artist, I cannot disagree.”

“And he’s got gentle energy, you know? Plus, he doesn’t make fun of my crystals.”

“I’m glad you’re wearing them again.” Ocean stepped closer and touched the crystals hanging on CJ’s necklace. “They’re very you.”

CJ felt her breath catch—and her phone dinged on the counter. She ignored it, too busy basking in Ocean’s attention, but Ocean looked and said, “That’s Pax, he just parked with the birds.”

“Okay.”

“How long have you had them?” Ocean asked.

“The birds? Uh, I got Mouse like ten years ago. He needed a friend so I got Mona a couple months later.”

“Frank didn’t mind them in the house?”

“He liked them. Everyone likes them. Even Karina. Pax brings them persimmons from his tree.”

“Them or you?”

CJ felt herself grin. “Are you jealous? Sadly, them.”

“Were you the one who found Pax for Frank?”

“No. One of his old guy friends recommended him.”

“When was that?”