Under normal circumstances, Nikki would probably have never noticed the way his fingers brushed against Dessie’s and lingered. Or the way Dessie quickly snatched her hand away. But even without knowing what she knew, Nikki would have wondered about Clete Darnell’s smirk.
“Thank you,” Dessie said primly. “I’ll be sure to put them in a safe place.” She poured from an icy pitcher and handed Nikki a glass, keeping her head bowed to the task as if to avoid Clete’s gaze. “Are you sure you don’t want one?” she asked him.
“Now you’re just tempting me,” he teased. “How did you know old-fashioned lemonade is a particular weakness of mine in the summer? And yours looks especially mouthwatering. I suppose a little sip couldn’t hurt.”
His syrupy charm was lost on Nikki. She resisted rolling her eyes as she studied Dessie’s reaction. Bright spots of color had appeared on her cheeks.
Then she switched her focus to Clete, annoyed to find that he had seated himself at Dr. Nance’s usual place.
Dessie poured a third glass and took the chair opposite Nikki’s. They sipped in silence, glancing at one another over the rims of their glasses. A more awkward or suspicious gathering Nikki could hardly imagine. She didn’t want to picture Dessie and Clete together, but how could she not when her gaze kept straying to the swimming pool?
She couldn’t grasp how someone like Clete Darnell had managed to sweep a sensible woman like Dessie Dupre off her feet. But then, maybe she didn’t know Dessie as well as she thought she did.
“How did the two of you meet?” she asked.
Dessie glanced up in alarm. “What?”
“You said Mr. Darnell—Clete—is taking care of a personal matter for you. I assume Dr. Nance recommended him?”
“Actually, we met at church,” Clete said.
“At church?”
“That’s right,” Dessie agreed. “I wasn’t aware that he had taken over Mr. Townsend’s business at the time. I didn’t know who he was at all, in fact. We got to talking over potluck, and when I found out what he did for a living, I asked if I could come in and speak with him about a matter.” She gave Clete a longing glance before she caught herself. She lowered her head and vigorously mopped up a ring of condensation with a paper napkin. “Finding out he was also Dr. Nance’s attorney was just a happy coincidence.”
I’ll bet.
Clete folded his arms on the table and leaned toward Nikki. “Actually, it’s fortuitous that you came over when you did. You’ve saved me another trip.” He removed a letter-size envelope from his briefcase and slid it across the table to her.
“What’s this?” she asked in surprise.
“A request that you attend the reading of Dr. Nance’s will. It’s ceremonial, of course. Probate is handled at the courthouse, but Dr. Nance had his own way of doing things. I’ve put it on the calendar for four o’clock on Wednesday afternoon at my office here in Belle Pointe. It seemed the most convenient time and place for everyone involved.”
“Why would you want me there?” Nikki asked.
His tone was slightly chiding. “Oh, come now. As close as the two of you were, it surely isn’t a surprise to learn that he remembered you in his will.”
“He did?”
“Though I feel I must caution against high expectations. People get their hopes up thinking a friend or family member has left them a sum of money only to realize their inheritance constitutes nothing more than a cherished antique or a sentimental keepsake.”
Nikki’s eyes burned as she picked up the envelope. “I don’t know what to say. A keepsake would be all that I could ask for and more. But is this a normal time frame? Doesn’t probate take longer? There hasn’t even been a funeral yet.”
“As I said, this is an unofficial ceremony and there’s to be no funeral,” he said. “Didn’t Dessie tell you?”
Dessie’s hand slipped back to her throat. “I’m afraid we haven’t had a chance to talk about that yet.”
Clete nodded almost imperceptibly as the two exchanged glances. “As per Dr. Nance’s instructions, his body is to be cremated and his ashes scattered on Echo Lake. He didn’t want a service of any kind.”
“I see.”
“He left everything spelled out,” the lawyer added. “His wishes were explicit.”
“You know how the man hated to be fussed over.” Dessie couldn’t quite meet Nikki’s gaze.
“Well, if that’s what he wanted,” Nikki said, but she couldn’t help wondering if those instructions had recently been fabricated as a means of facilitating a trip to the Caribbean. Or was there a darker purpose for a quick cremation?
“Now that we have that out of the way...” Clete shut the lid of his briefcase and snapped the latches. “Thank you for the lemonade, Dessie. Uncommonly delicious, as always. And, Dr. Dresden... Nikki. It was a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“Thank you again for coming by on such short notice,” Dessie said. “Working on a Sunday really is going above and beyond the call of duty.”
“Nonsense. I do what I can to help out. This is a stressful time for everyone who knew Dr. Nance. If I can make your life a little easier, then that’s reward enough for me.” He picked up the briefcase and stood. “If you have questions or require additional services, just let me know.”
Dessie rose, too, smoothing the sides of her dress as if she didn’t quite know what to do with her hands. “I’ll see you out.”
“No need. I know the way.” The doorbell rang just then and he turned toward the foyer. “Another casserole, no doubt.”
Dessie picked up the large envelope and slid it into a kitchen drawer before accompanying him to the front door. Nikki could hear the murmur of their voices as they walked through the house. She got up and peeked around the corner into
