The Monet Murders

Naples, call Miami. They’re out there, trust me.”

“Nem. I fire one I have. She no like my ideas. Besides, I want no more strangers in my house, not after what happened to painting.”

The Monet. But still no mention of poor Maria. I’d be dipped. My Irish temper flared sky high as I grappled with the realization that to Ilona her cook had never been more than a household appliance and deserving of the same consideration.

“So no more strangers working here. That’s why I want Cheep. And you.”

So safety was what she was after, and compliance, not necessarily talent. Angry and insulted to boot, I was about to tell her to stuff it when she said, “For you, Deva, two thousand dollars flat design fee. Plus your hours to consult and whatever you buy to make beautiful.”

A bonanza. Every woman has her price, and while it wasn’t exactly prostitution, I sold myself on the spot for two grand.

“Done. You’ve seduced me, Ilona. See you on January third at two o’clock.”

“Two-thirty. Sometimes after lunch Trevor likes…”

I didn’t need to hear what Trevor liked after lunch. “Two-thirty is fine,” I said and hung up singing.

For both Trevor and me, it looked like the New Year would be starting off with a bang. So to speak.

Chapter Fifteen

Working alone in the shop, I had a busy day. Running the cash register with one arm in a sling was a challenge. Seeing my predicament, several of the customers wrapped their own purchases, acting as if they enjoyed helping me and hearing all about the vandalized window and my surgery. Around noon, I found time to call the two women who were interested in design work, got directions to their homes, and made appointments for the second week in January.

Throughout the day, I kept checking my watch. Two. Two-thirty. Three. Three-thirty. Where was Lee? At four, I paced around the tables to work off my anxiety. In this age of casual hooking up, should I be so worried?

Yes, I should. I’d encouraged Lee to go to Paulo. Well, if not encouraged exactly, I definitely hadn’t discouraged her. I’d even loaned her my car, for Pete’s sake. And what did I know about Paulo except that he was Jamaican and well mannered and gifted? Had the gifted part swayed me?

Calm down, you’re not the girl’s mother. Besides, the attraction between them was like a bolt of lightning. I couldn’t have stopped it if I wanted to. But you didn’t even try.

Ten past four.

Something must have happened by now. What that something might be, I could well imagine. The first time with Jack had been…

The sleigh bells jangled. My glance darted to the door.

Yes.

Hand in hand, easy and relaxed, Lee and Paulo strolled into the shop, happiness surrounding them like an aura. If I had said, “Beam them up, Scotty,” they would have risen out of sight. They were already ten feet off the floor.

“Deva, we want you to be the first to know,” Lee said, her face aglow, all signs of fatigue wiped away.

“Do I need to sit down?”

Paulo laughed. “We’re getting married.” A frisson of anxiety sprang into his eyes as he waited for my response.

“Come here, both of you,” I said, and holding out my good arm, I gave them a lopsided bear hug and dropped a sloppy kiss on each happy face. Then I held them at arm’s length and studied them-Lee, armed with a love no problem could surmount, and Paulo, so terribly aware that love could be lost in a heartbeat. For I felt sure that was the worry I read in his eyes. How well I understood.

“When?” I asked.

“As soon as we can get a license,” Paulo said. “We don’t want to wait.”

Ah. I shot a quick peek at Lee. She turned rosy red. I suppressed a smile. What had or hadn’t happened between them was none of my business.

“Surfside Condominiums has a clubroom. If you like, my wedding gift will be a celebration dinner. I even have a celebrity chef to do the honors. His specialty is Italian soul food. What do you think?”

They glanced at each other and grinned.

“Okay, that’s settled then,” I said. “But since you’ve confided in me, am I allowed a personal question?”

“Anything,” they said in unison, then looked at each other and laughed.

Already they were a single, united whole. I suspected they always would be, and at all I had lost, a sudden spurt of pain shot through me. But I squelched the self-pity before it could take root. The memory of a perfect love was mine to cherish forever. How many people have as much?

“What I was wondering is, where will you live? How will you manage?”

“We’ve been talking about that all day, Deva,” Lee said. “Paulo’s place over the garage is perfect. So small and cozy. As soon as the owners return for New Year’s, he’ll tell them about me. He doesn’t think there’ll be a problem. He has a Volkswagen, so we’ll have a car.”

“But money will be a problem,” Paulo acknowledged. “I teach a few classes a week at the Von Liebig Art Center, and bartend whenever I can, but-”

“I have an idea.” It was one that had been simmering in my brain ever since I saw Lee’s portrait.

Looking surprised, they both stared, waiting for me to go on. “Suppose we put Lee’s portrait on an easel here in the shop? Put some business cards next to it. Maybe a flyer with your picture, Paulo, and a little bio information. People coming into the shop would see it-”

Nodding and smiling, Lee finished my thought. “-and order paintings from you, Paulo. Deva, y’all have such wonderful ideas. Doesn’t she, Paulo?”

“Yes, but…”

“But what?” Lee asked, her smile dimming.

“The portrait was a gift to you. Not a sales device.”

“Oh, honey,” she said. “Y’all need me so bad.” With that she flung her arms around him, kissing him with an expertise she must have picked up that afternoon. Then she released him, glanced down and said, “I’m going to quit day classes.”

“Oh, no.” The words escaped my mouth before I could stop them.

At my outburst, Paulo gave me a startled glance then looked over at Lee. “That’s the downside of our plans,” he said quietly.

“No, it isn’t,” Lee insisted. “I’ll take classes two evenings a week. I only have three semesters to go. It’ll take a little longer to get my degree, is all. That way, Deva,” she added shyly, “if you want me, I can work more hours.”

“Of course I want you,” I said slowly. “I’ve been dreading the day you’d leave. But to be honest, I’m sorry to see you drop out of school. Night classes are difficult after you’ve worked all day.”

“Deva’s right, Lee,” Paulo said. “Maybe we should wait until you get your degree.”

“Darlin’,” she replied, with a tremor in her voice, “I don’t believe I can wait.” Then she flung her hands over her face, hiding her need and her bright pink cheeks.

Paulo looked across at me, and we both grinned.

“Well, I do have four design projects in the works,” I said. “So having you here to keep the shop open would be wonderful.”

Lee lowered her hands to her lap. “See,” she said, smiling at Paulo. “What did I tell y’all? Everything’s going to be just fine.”

* * *