Софи Келли - A Midwinter's Tail

“I’m just going to get Taylor and Ella to help with coffee,” I said. “Do you need anything from me?”

“Not right now,” he said.

I could see Derek Craig, with a pen and a ringed notebook I was guessing had probably come from Abigail, already taking people’s names and numbers.

Marcus swiped a hand over his chin. “I’m sorry about this. You put in so much work for tonight.”

I slid my hand up to his shoulder. “It’s okay,” I said. “We’ll figure something out.”

He moved a step closer to me and lowered his voice. “It looked like she had some kind of allergic reaction.”

I looked at one of the tiny book-shaped boxes of chocolates, discarded on the edge of a table. “I heard Burtis say Dana was allergic to pistachios.”

Just then there were raised voices behind us. We both turned around to see what was going on.

Olivia Ramsey was standing in front of Burtis. She was in her early twenties, tiny, no more than five feet without her heels. Her hands were pulled into tight fists and her face was flushed with anger.

“And I’m telling you there weren’t any pistachio nuts in any of my chocolates,” she said hotly, her voice rising with each word. “I know about nut allergies. I have a reaction to cashew nuts. There weren’t any pistachios in my chocolates! There weren’t any nuts anywhere in my kitchen!”

Burtis held up one of his huge hands. “Look,” he said, his voice still edged with emotion. “I’m not accusing you of anything. I don’t know what happened yet and neither do you.” He gestured at Marcus. “Let the police figure out what the hell happened.”

“Whatever happened wasn’t my fault,” Olivia insisted.

Dayna’s box of truffles was on the floor, one chocolate still inside and intact despite all the uproar. Before anyone could stop her, Olivia bent down, picked it up and took a bite. “See?” She all but spit the word at Burtis.

Then something in her face changed. Her eyes widened and hives began to rise on her hand and her neck as her breathing took on a strained, raspy sound.

Olivia’s right hand flailed in the direction of a small red satin purse lying on the table beside her. She knocked it to the floor and it skidded across the smooth wood.

Everett’s granddaughter, Ami, was allergic to poppy seeds—just like her grandfather. Ever since she’d learned about the allergy, which had landed her in the emergency room, Ami had carried an autoinjector of epinephrine in her purse.

I grabbed Olivia’s bag, yanked the zipper open and rifled through her things. Marcus and Ric Holm already had Olivia on the floor.

The autoinjector was in a zippered compartment at the back of the purse. I pulled it out and handed it to Ric. Olivia’s right hand and neck were covered in raised red welts now and I could see how much work it was taking just for her to breathe. She flinched as Ric jammed the needle into her leg.

The effect of the epinephrine was rapid. By the time the ambulance arrived for the second time, Olivia was breathing a lot easier.

Ric came to stand next to me as Olivia was wheeled out of the building. “Nice reaction, getting that EpiPen,” he said. He undid the knot on his loosened tie and let the two ends hang free.

“Is she going to be all right?” I asked.

He pulled a hand back over his neck. “I think so,” he said. “Her reaction wasn’t as strong. I heard her say she has an allergy to cashews. Sometimes there’s a cross reaction to other nuts.” He looked around the room. “No offense, Kathleen, but worst fundraiser ever.” He gave me a half smile. “I should give Marcus a hand.”

Marcus and Derek Craig already had their heads together. I wasn’t sure if anyone would want a cup of coffee now, but it didn’t hurt to at least try. I slipped down to Ella and Taylor.

“Is there anything we can do?” Ella asked.

“There is,” I said, rubbing my aching wrist again. “Could you give Peggy a hand with the coffee and the tea? And maybe Taylor could help Mia find out what people would like?”

“I can do that,” Taylor said immediately.

Ella nodded. “Do you think Olivia and the other woman will be all right?”

“Let’s hope for the best,” I said.

I turned around to survey the stage. Ric had a large black garbage bag and he was collecting all the boxes of chocolates. Derek was still collecting contact information.

Marcus had discarded his suit jacket. He was on his cell phone, probably talking to the station. I could see Maggie moving between tables, quietly reassuring people. I should be doing the same, I realized.

It was close to an hour before the majority of the people were gone. I reached back and pulled the pins from my hair and gave my head a shake. My feet hurt and my shoulders ached.

Rebecca came over to me. She and Everett had stayed, talking to people, trying to do a little damage control.

“How are you?” she asked, giving me a half smile filled with warmth.

“I’m all right,” I said, pulling out a stray bobby pin. “You and Everett didn’t have to stay, but it helped. Thank you.”

She reached out and laid her hand against my cheek for a moment. “I’m sorry this happened, Kathleen.”

I swallowed hard. “I just hope Olivia is all right,” I said.

Rebecca nodded. “I do, too, dear.” If she’d noticed that I hadn’t said anything about Dayna, she let it pass.

“Everett and I are going to leave now, unless there’s anything else we could do for you.” She looked over her shoulder to where Everett was standing, talking to Vincent Starr. “We’re taking Vincent over to the St. James for a nightcap.”

“Thank you,” I said. I’d talked to Vincent, briefly. He’d been very gracious. “Would you tell Everett I’ll call him in the morning? We need to work on a plan for refunding everyone’s money.”

Rebecca sighed softly. “Do you really think that’s necessary?”

“Absolutely. People paid for a full night of desserts and jazz, not this. I can’t keep their money.”

“I’ll tell him.” She leaned over and gave me a hug. “Things will work out, Kathleen,” she said.

I nodded. I didn’t want to think about what kind of setback this was for the Reading Buddies program right now. The morning would be soon enough. I gave Rebecca a smile I didn’t really feel. “I’ll see you tomorrow night,” I said.

She rolled her eyes. “Of course,” she said. “How could I forget?” She gave my arm one last squeeze and walked back over to Everett.

I watched them leave, and then I walked over to Marcus. His tie was askew, his sleeves were rolled back and he’d raked his hands through his hair at least half a dozen times in the past hour.

“Hey, you must be tired.” He managed a small smile.

“I wouldn’t mind taking these shoes off,” I said. I wasn’t used to spending so much time in high heels.

“You still look beautiful,” he said in a low voice.

I smiled at him and mouthed a thank-you.

“I’m going to be a while.”

I knew I couldn’t walk up the hill in those heels on the snowy sidewalks. “That’s okay,” I said. “I’ll get a ride with someone.”

“How about me?” Maggie said from behind me.

I turned around. “You don’t mind?” I asked.

She shook her head and then held up a small cardboard box. “Georgia gave me some cupcakes.”

I would have said I wasn’t hungry, but then my stomach growled loudly and I realized I was.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Maggie said.

I nodded. “Yes.” I looked at Marcus. “Call me when you’re done. I don’t care how late it is.”

“I will,” he said. He looked at Maggie. “Thanks.”

She nodded and put an arm around my shoulders. We got our coats from the coatroom and Oren let us out the front doors.