Cecilia Dominic - The Mountain's Shadow

The hostess reappeared with menus and a smile and seated us in a booth near the front of the restaurant. No sooner had we opened the menus than a young man appeared. His name tag said, “Ted, Manager”.

“Welcome to Tabitha’s, Miz Fisher,” he told me.

“Doctor Fisher, actually,” Lonna broke in. I kicked her under the table.

The young man wasn’t fazed. “Doctor Fisher and Miss…”

“Marconi, Lonna Marconi.”

“A friend,” I explained.

“Of course.” He winked. “I just wanted to come over and say hello and I hope we’ll be seeing much more of you. Please accept this complimentary appetizer.”

Another waiter placed a plate of stuffed mushrooms and two little plates on the table along with a bottle of wine and two glasses.

“Your grandfather appeared in town only rarely, but these were his favorites.”

“And how much is the wine?” asked Lonna.

I cringed. I didn’t want any more attention, and Lonna’s directness was getting plenty of stares.

“Compliments of an admirer.” The corner of Ted’s mouth twitched as he opened the wine, a red blend from California. It occurred me he thought Lonna and I were partners. “I’ll give you ladies a moment to look over the menu and be back to take your order.”

“An admirer?” I asked as soon as Ted was out of earshot. “Must be for you.”

“You’re too hard on yourself, Joanie.” Lonna sipped her wine. “It’s very good by the way, very smooth.”

I lifted a couple of mushrooms to my plate. They smelled of some sharp, salty cheese—gruyere, I thought—a savory blend of herbs, and fresh sourdough breadcrumbs. The tops were perfectly browned, and when I cut one in half, real lump crabmeat that smelled sweet instead of fishy spilled out. While buttery, it was by no means greasy, and the mushrooms themselves were cooked to the perfect texture.

“They certainly know how to do food here.” I thought back to the breakfast we’d had at the diner. I considered myself a pretty discriminating eater, and it was rare for me to have two meals in a day that bowled me over.

Lonna nodded, her mouth full. I studied her as I blew on a bite of mushroom. While she and Kyra Ellison may be similar in build and coloring, Lonna had a certain genuineness. I thought it made her much more attractive than the arrogant Kyra.

As I snagged another mushroom, I admitted I was torturing myself by comparing the two women. I would never be as tall, attractive or curvy as either. No one would give me a second glance if they saw me next to either of them. And as much as the thought of a secret admirer thrilled me, I had to admit it was probably Lonna who had one. Either that, or someone decided my grandfather’s fortune made me that much more attractive.

“Two cents for your thoughts?” Lonna grinned at me. She resembled a vampire with the red wine on her lips and teeth.

“I thought it was just a penny?”

She waved her hand. “Inflation.”

“They’re PhD thoughts. They should be worth at least a dime.”

“You’re evading the question.”

“Lucky in life, unlucky in love?”

“Yeah, that seemed like a self-pity look.” She leaned forward. “You’ve had a hard day. Hard month, actually.”

“That’s one way of putting it.”

Lonna reached over to cover my hand with hers. “You’re not in it alone.”

At that moment, Ted reappeared with an “Aha, I thought so!” smirk. Lonna leaned back, and laughter danced in her eyes with the candlelight. As she gave her order, I glanced over the menu and picked out the first thing that sounded good: blue-cheese-stuffed beef tenderloin with port wine and mushroom sauce. It came with a salad and rolls, and my stomach growled in appreciation when my eyes landed on the dessert selection.

“Doctor Fisher?” he asked.

“She must have seen something chocolate.”

“I’ll have the tenderloin, house salad with balsamic vinaigrette, and mashed potatoes for the side.”

“Very good. I’ll get these in and check on you in a little bit.”

“He’s cute.” Lonna followed him with her eyes. “I’m a sucker for a guy with dark hair and a dimple.”

“I don’t think he considers us eligible.”

“Yeah, I caught that look.” She arched an eyebrow. “You know, that may actually work to our advantage.”

“No way.”

“Hmmm, you’re right.” I could almost see the wheels turning as she went through the possible ramifications. “As conservative as these little towns can be, you don’t want to give the locals any reason to dislike you.”

“Not any more than they already do.”

“I doubt it. They’re just curious. Have you gotten any hostility?”

“Only from the Bowman brothers. And by the way, Peter Bowman is a creep.” I filled Lonna in on the almost-conversation I’d had with Louise about the kitchen. I lowered my voice. “And then he basically said he’d out you as a P.I. if you didn’t go by to see him tomorrow.”

She pursed her lips. “It may be a good idea. I’m sure he has a different perspective on the child disappearances.”

“It sounds like he wants to get a different perspective on you. Like with your clothes off.”

“Possibly.”

“Now you’re being evasive.”

She shrugged. “You know me. Jerks are my type.”

“And married men were mine, but I’ve sworn them off.”

“Probably a good thing. Wives’ll have you killed if you’re not careful.”

“Stick to the cute waiter.” I looked over at Ted, who opened a bottle of wine at another table.

“I don’t think he’d find me eligible from either his or my perspective.”

“You never know. We’re probably totally confusing his gay-dar right now.”

“Oh, he’ll know. They always do.”

Our food, carried by Ted himself as well as a regular waiter, arrived, and we didn’t speak for a few minutes.

“How is yours?” I asked.

“Excellent. I’m jealous.”

“Of what?”

“That you get to live up here among the rich and culinarily spoiled. And you get a kick-ass kitchen. All you need is a butler and you’re all set.”

“‘Culinarily?’” I laughed. “Is that a word?”

“It is now.”

Before I could reply, the door opened and let in a draught. I shivered and turned to see Kyra Ellison and Leonard Bowman.

“Isn’t that Peter’s brother?” Lonna asked as she craned her neck to follow their progress to the bar. Leonard’s eyes scanned the room. Kyra frowned, almost pouted.

“Yep, that’s Leonard.”

“Who’s the sulky woman?”

“Her name is Kyra Ellison. She’s the one I told you about.”

“She certainly looks like a snob.” Lonna studied her with narrowed eyes, then tossed her hair. Threat dismissed. I wished I felt the same.

The couple took seats at the bar, and Leonard held up two fingers. I don’t know if it was the lighting, but I hadn’t noticed before how slender and graceful his hands were. I pictured him running them through his thick, dark hair while thinking or gripping a steering wheel as he maneuvered winding mountain roads in his rugged four-wheel drive, or running them over my—

Stop it , I told myself. The last thing I needed was to become attracted to another attached man. And Kyra Ellison had definitely attached herself to Leonard.

“I know that look,” Lonna murmured. She held up her wineglass. “Here’s to the Bowman men, unattainable yet irresistible.”

“I don’t know about that,” I grumbled but clinked her glass with mine anyway.

“How about some chocolate? It’ll cure a broken heart.”

“Two nights in a row?”

“Is that what you tell your lovers?”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Depends on the lover.”