Paula stepped in front of me, forcing my attention. “Don’t misunderstand me. I have no intention of breaking up Keith’s marriage, even though he claims he never stopped loving me all those years. It’s like I told Keith, ‘I love your wife for taking such good care of you.’ Paula closed her eyes, squeezing out tears.
I felt pity for this woman, but I needed to be alone in order to check out Geneva’s computer and luggage. “At least you can be friends,” I said, giving Paula a hug.
“Oh, absolutely, and my mother and Keith’s mother are best friends, always have been. Mother was the one who spilled the beans on how Daddy hid Keith’s letters from me. Daddy confessed right before he died. And to make a long story longer, I always used to call Keith’s mother on his birthday to see how he was doing.”
Paula raised her right hand as if taking an oath. “I swear I didn’t have an ulterior motive. I wanted to find out how he was, that’s all. One day his mother said, ‘You’ve always loved him, haven’t you?’ I couldn’t lie. Rex, my late husband, had passed away by then. I’d moved here, not knowing Keith had moved to Dolphin, too. Can you believe that? His mother calls it destiny. She gave him my phone number. He called to say he was sorry Rex died. He couldn’t believe I’d moved to Dolphin. I guess we’ve always been on the same wavelength.”
“Sounds like it.” I patted Paula’s arm. “Fascinating story, and I appreciate you’re sharing it with me, but right now, I really need to focus on what I’m doing. I have a one-track mind and don’t multitask very well. Can’t we talk about this later? I’d like to hear what you have to say about Tara Baxter.” I glanced at the computer and the luggage, thinking Loughton VanSant would return soon to get them. “But now, I have to get my butt in gear. After doing this claim, I have a single mom with flood damage, and many others I can’t get around to today, unfortunately.”
“You poor thing.” Paula slid her arm around my shoulder. “Listen, I’ve got an idea. I’m staying with my friend Huberta Huber. A great person. You’re welcome to join us tonight if you don’t have plans. Huberta lives alone in a huge house, built like a fort with a generator that kicks in when the power kicks off. You’d be welcome there. I just know it.”
I walked to the front door; then opened it to let Paula out. “Thanks, sounds good.”
“Huberta was supposed to have one of those sexy surprise parties tonight,” Paula said. “You know. You buy stuff like lingerie, massage oil, dildos. The hurricane wrecked it. A shame, because...” Paula lost her train of thought when Sean appeared. He smelled of soap and shampoo. His hair was wet. He’d changed into cargo shorts and a white v-neck tee, revealing his tan, muscular chest. I wondered how he’d managed to wash himself so well without running water.
Sean propped against the VanSants’ door, and I’m embarrassed to say I felt a sexual spark. The crystal warmed my chest while I blushed like a schoolgirl. I turned away to hide my feelings and somehow lost my balance on the damp floor.
Sean grabbed me around the waist. “Whoa, you okay?”
I gathered my composure enough to say, “Yes, but if you’ll please excuse me, I have to get back to work.” I stepped inside the VanSant’s townhouse and started to close the door when Sean said, “Last call for grub?”
“Something smells delicious.” Paula said. “If you can cook, too, you’re quite the Renaissance man. Don’t you think so, Maeva?” Paula forced the door open before I could close it, and I thought I’d never get rid of this woman. “Writer, cook, chiropractor, and before I forget...” Paula turned toward Sean. “My chiropractor, Allen Toddy, I call him ‘Toddy for the body.’ He said you fill in for him on occasion. Is that true?”
Not often, but Allen claims he sold me this townhouse with the condition I’d cover for
I felt pity for this woman, but I needed to be alone in order to check out Geneva’s computer and luggage. “At least you can be friends,” I said, giving Paula a hug.
“Oh, absolutely, and my mother and Keith’s mother are best friends, always have been. Mother was the one who spilled the beans on how Daddy hid Keith’s letters from me. Daddy confessed right before he died. And to make a long story longer, I always used to call Keith’s mother on his birthday to see how he was doing.”
Paula raised her right hand as if taking an oath. “I swear I didn’t have an ulterior motive. I wanted to find out how he was, that’s all. One day his mother said, ‘You’ve always loved him, haven’t you?’ I couldn’t lie. Rex, my late husband, had passed away by then. I’d moved here, not knowing Keith had moved to Dolphin, too. Can you believe that? His mother calls it destiny. She gave him my phone number. He called to say he was sorry Rex died. He couldn’t believe I’d moved to Dolphin. I guess we’ve always been on the same wavelength.”
“Sounds like it.” I patted Paula’s arm. “Fascinating story, and I appreciate you’re sharing it with me, but right now, I really need to focus on what I’m doing. I have a one-track mind and don’t multitask very well. Can’t we talk about this later? I’d like to hear what you have to say about Tara Baxter.” I glanced at the computer and the luggage, thinking Loughton VanSant would return soon to get them. “But now, I have to get my butt in gear. After doing this claim, I have a single mom with flood damage, and many others I can’t get around to today, unfortunately.”
“You poor thing.” Paula slid her arm around my shoulder. “Listen, I’ve got an idea. I’m staying with my friend Huberta Huber. A great person. You’re welcome to join us tonight if you don’t have plans. Huberta lives alone in a huge house, built like a fort with a generator that kicks in when the power kicks off. You’d be welcome there. I just know it.”
I walked to the front door; then opened it to let Paula out. “Thanks, sounds good.”
“Huberta was supposed to have one of those sexy surprise parties tonight,” Paula said. “You know. You buy stuff like lingerie, massage oil, dildos. The hurricane wrecked it. A shame, because...” Paula lost her train of thought when Sean appeared. He smelled of soap and shampoo. His hair was wet. He’d changed into cargo shorts and a white v-neck tee, revealing his tan, muscular chest. I wondered how he’d managed to wash himself so well without running water.
Sean propped against the VanSants’ door, and I’m embarrassed to say I felt a sexual spark. The crystal warmed my chest while I blushed like a schoolgirl. I turned away to hide my feelings and somehow lost my balance on the damp floor.
Sean grabbed me around the waist. “Whoa, you okay?”
I gathered my composure enough to say, “Yes, but if you’ll please excuse me, I have to get back to work.” I stepped inside the VanSant’s townhouse and started to close the door when Sean said, “Last call for grub?”
“Something smells delicious.” Paula said. “If you can cook, too, you’re quite the Renaissance man. Don’t you think so, Maeva?” Paula forced the door open before I could close it, and I thought I’d never get rid of this woman. “Writer, cook, chiropractor, and before I forget...” Paula turned toward Sean. “My chiropractor, Allen Toddy, I call him ‘Toddy for the body.’ He said you fill in for him on occasion. Is that true?”
Not often, but Allen claims he sold me this townhouse with the condition I’d cover for
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