“Yah, and so do I,” I said with a snap. “I need to check the refrigerator to make sure Ralph didn’t empty it.”
“No one’s even tried my dessert. I think you’ll all agree my tiramisu is divine, if I do say so myself.” Beatrice shook her head as we three made our way to the door. “Eva, please come back later and help me with the dishes.”
“I will. And I’ll try some of your tirami—your fancy dessert. I’m safer going to the café with an escort, don’t you think?”
“I suppose. But please be careful.”
“I’ll walk her back,” Mark said.
As we three neared the café, barking erupted. Missy galumphed over to us, her tail wagging. Behind her, Heath woofed and frolicked toward us, followed by Ralph, who squinted under Stephen’s flashlight’s beam.
“Heath! Good boy.” Stephen patted his thigh, and the dog came to him. “Ralph, this had better be good.”
“I—I was just bringing him home.” Ralph slurred his words. I inhaled the bitter smell of liquor.
“You expect me to buy that?” Stephen clipped on Heath’s leash. “You’re drunk. I should call the police.”
“No, please don’t. I really was bringing the Yoders’ dog back. He followed me home.”
“Oh, yeah? When was that?”
“Uh…yesterday. Or a couple of days ago. I’ve always wanted a dog.”
“And where exactly is home?”
“My brother Bill’s basement, as long as I don’t cause trouble.” He wiped his nose on his shirtsleeve. “You see, his wife will kick me out. She hates me.”
Stephen aimed his finger at Ralph. “Get out of here and don’t return. If you do, I will take out a restraining order so you will be forbidden to set foot on this property again. I should press charges for stealing our food.”
“But I’m broke. If you gave me my job back, I’d have money.”
“Ralph, if you’d stay off the booze and…” He stepped closer, inspecting Ralph’s eyes. “Are you on drugs too?”
“No. I swear. Nothing like that.”
“As if I’d believe you.” Stephen’s mouth twisted. He put out his palm. “Give me the key.”
“I don’t have one.”
“Give me a break. You made more than one copy.” Stephen moved in on Ralph, who fished through his pocket and then flung a metal key at Stephen. Stephen caught it midair. “Get out of here.”
As Ralph turned to skedaddle, Stephen grasped Heath’s leash. “Apparently this dog has no sense of loyalty until Glenn and Rose return.” Stephen fluffed the animal’s coat. “Sure am glad to have you back, boy.”
“Couldn’t you give Ralph a second chance?” I asked Stephen once Ralph was gone. “God forgives us.”
“When and if we repent. Only if Ralph attends AA, gets sober, and can prove it. For all we know, he’s on drugs too. Those cost more, causing a man to do unthinkable things to support his addiction.”
“I hear you used to booze it up,” Mark said, and Stephen grimaced.
“You heard right. Almost ruined my life. It cost me the only woman I ever loved.”
I wanted to ask him who this woman was, but I would have to bide my time until we were alone.
I moved toward the café. “Would this be a good time to inspect the kitchen?”
“Yes.” Stephen pulled out his key ring, added the extra key, and unlocked the door. “I wonder how long Ralph has been coming in here and stuffing himself.” Stephen turned to me. “You don’t think Olivia knew about it, do you?”
“No. She never mentioned anything.” About this man, anyway.
TWENTY-FIVE
I’d intended to crawl into bed, open my book, and concentrate on A Room with a View that evening, but Mark hung around as I helped clean Beatrice’s kitchen. She’d already cleared the table, but the plates and dirty flatware were stacked in the sink.
“Everything all right at the café?” she asked me as I scrubbed.
“Yah.”
“You call running into an intruder okay?” Mark said. He’d told Beatrice about our encounter with Ralph as soon as we came in with Heath. I’d let her know Stephen left to pick up his sleeping bag and a few things from home before spending the night at the café.
Beatrice frowned, causing a crease between her brows. “I wonder how long he’s been helping himself to food.”
“My guess is ever since he was fired.” I filled the sink with sudsy water even though the dishwasher yawned open.
“Probably since the café was built last fall,” Mark said. “This guy has a drinking problem and can’t be trusted.” He sipped his coffee. “Stephen suffered from the same affliction.”
He was bad-mouthing Stephen behind his back. I was tempted to defend Stephen, but I pretended I hadn’t heard him. I hated gossip.
“I know nothing about that,” Beatrice said. “But Stephen is a loyal and dependable employee. I can think of few men I trust more.”
I rinsed the dishes and filed them in the drying rack, and Beatrice dried and put each one away. In no time the task was completed.
“Mark, I need to talk to Beatrice about tomorrow’s soup.”
“Go right ahead. I’ll enjoy another cup of coffee.” Apparently, he had no intentions of leaving until I did.
Beatrice seemed to be containing a smirk as she pressed her lips together. She brought down a cookbook from a shelf and opened it. “Alora, let’s see what we can come up with.”
Thirty minutes later, Beatrice yawned and told Mark and me she was tired. “I’ll be in first thing in the morning, Eva,” she assured me as she ushered us out the door. “Don’t worry about a thing, but be sure to lock your door tonight.”
As Mark walked me to my cabin, he said, “It’s obvious Stephen has his eyes set on you. I certainly hope you don’t feel the same way. He’s not one of us.”
“I realize that. But I nevertheless think very highly of him. And you’re wrong if you think he has romantic feelings for me.”
“Like you still have for Jake?
