Free Lethal Dose of Love by Cindy Davis Page B

ring, “Good afternoon, Sackets Harbor Marina, Edward March speaking.”
    “Hi, Edward, it’s Claire.”
    “Well, hello there, what’s cookin’ good lookin’?”
    “Nothing much. I hope the weather holds for the race.”
    “How’s your ankle?”
    “It’s okay, thanks.”
    “But you didn’t call to talk to me, did you? Amanda’s not here. She’s down below with a customer. Want to leave a message?”
    “Will you remember to give it to her?”
    “Probably not.”
    Claire laughed. “I heard she’s making her chocolate cake for the potluck.” Claire twisted the phone cord around her finger. The library door opened, a pair of elderly women entered and waved hello.
    “I think she mentioned cake,” Edward said.
    Claire lowered her voice. “Well…I just love her macaroons and she’s the only one who can make them right. I wondered if—”
    “Say no more.” Edward laughed. “I’ll tell her everyone’s calling to vote for cookies.”
    Claire hung up feeling sick to her stomach. She hated lying. She rubbed her palm in a circle on her abdomen feeling the gurgle of acid beneath her hand. After opening the library mail, she settled on her tall stool and took out Poisonous Plants and You . The title glowed like neon. Each and every customer was sure to spot it. She reached under the counter, removed the jacket of a Grisham novel and fitted it around her book. She tapped the cover with a forefinger. Much better, now it could sit right on top of the desk. The day passed without incident. Customers came and went, chatted and gossiped. Claire responded but by late afternoon could recall nothing of what anyone said. The only thing in her head was the cup of leaves in her kitchen window.
    The door opened and Felicia entered. Claire slapped the book shut and pushed it aside with an elbow. Felicia ducked down the fiction aisle saying, “I know you’re getting ready to close, don’t forget and lock me in.”
    “Does that mean you want me to lock you in? Or not.”
    Felicia’s response was muffled by the wall of boos between them.
    The big wall clock said ten minutes past five, ten minutes past closing time. She shifted in the chair working out the kinks, then glanced at the cart full of books to the left. So engrossed in the poison book, she hadn’t even put them back on the shelves. The top one was Stephen King’s Carrie. Claire started pushing the cart toward the K fiction aisle when Felicia returned.
    Claire followed her to the counter where she dropped a Lisa Scottoline novel on the cluttered surface. “Beautiful day.”
    “Mamie told me you and she were invited to Payton’s for dinner. I took a painting in to be cleaned and she was bubbling all over about it.”
    “Wasn’t it nice of Payton to offer her place for the gallery?”
    “A big sacrifice.”
    Felicia would never put herself in such a position. Even though she’d love to show off her belongings, she wouldn’t chance one of her precious things getting damaged or stolen.
    Claire rotated the chair forward, putting her elbow on the faux Grisham book. Felicia too noticed the book and reached for it. “What are you reading?”
    Claire pressed her elbow tight against the cover. In spite of that, Felicia kept pulling. The only option besides jerking it back and crying “Mine!” was to let her have it. Every muscle in Claire’s body knotted as it slid into Felicia’s hands.
    Felicia studied the cover blurb. “I’ve never read Grisham before. This looks good. I’ll take this too.”
    “Um…ah...” Claire couldn’t think of a single lucid word to say.
    “Oh, you probably haven’t had time to check it back in yet. I’ll wait.”
    “Um, it’s just that, er, this has a long waiting list.”
    Felicia opened the front cover and read the inside flap. Claire tightened her butt muscles against the threatening diarrhea. She took a breath and focused on the computer screen. “It looks like you owe a fine. Two dollars.”
    Felicia slammed the