Free Black Ember by Ruby Laska Page A

shot out the front door and skidded to a halt. “There it is,” he growled. “Ma’am, I wonder if you’d share that coffeepot. I’ve got three minutes before I need to leave for work and if I don’t get out of here fast, Deneen’s liable to make me fold napkins into swans.”
    Deneen followed him onto the porch, holding a pale lavender square of cloth. Behind her, Jimmy followed, his arms full of more lavender linens.
    “I see you’ve all met,” Zane said.
    “Yes. Thank you for bringing your new friend to stay, she’s lovely,” Deneen said. “And very helpful. Unlike the rest of you.”
    “Because you’re trying to turn us into—into girls ,” Cal sputtered.
    “It’s really not hard, once you get the hang of it,” Deneen pressed. “Come on, Cal, I bet all the criminals are still asleep. Can’t they spare you for an hour or two?”
    Cal grabbed the coffee pot from Carrie and bolted, hopping over the porch rail and taking the steps two at a time, before running back into the house, letting the door slam behind him.
    “What about you, Carrie?” Deneen continued, undaunted. “I’d ask Zane, but he can’t even do his own laundry so he’s probably not up to table settings.”
 “The wedding’s not until tomorrow,” Zane said. “And aren’t the tables getting set up outside?”
    “Yes, the caterers are handling all of that,” Deneen said. “This is just for the rehearsal dinner tonight. There will only be sixteen guests so it shouldn’t be too much fuss.”
    “Wait, I thought it was a barbecue,” Zane said. “Matthew said he was just throwing some burgers on the grill.”
    Jimmy winced as Deneen gasped. “He’s not throwing anything anywhere ,” she said. “My sister gets exactly one wedding rehearsal and it’s going to be delightful.”
    “Delightful,” Jimmy muttered, as though trying to convince himself. “Deneen and Matthew negotiated a compromise.”
    “There will be a light buffet, and Matthew—who keeps forgetting he already has a job, which is keeping his mouth shut like a good groom and making my sister happy for the rest of her life—isn’t going anywhere near the barbecue grill.”
    “I’d be glad to help,” Carrie said, placing a hand on Deneen’s arm. “I don’t have to be at work until two o’clock.”
    Deneen grinned. “That’s wonderful. Except I feel awful asking you to help out for a dinner you have to miss. Is there any chance you could leave work early and join us?”
    Jimmy looked completely confused. “I thought you said it was traditional for only attendants and family to attend the rehearsal dinner.” Since he and Deneen had started dating last Christmas, Jimmy had made great strides, considering that he’d basically been a mad scientist for most of his life. Deneen was patiently coaching him through the complex rules of social interactions.
    “Yes,” Deneen said patiently, “but the number one rule of etiquette is that there is always room at the table for an unexpected guest, especially if she’s as lovely as Carrie!”
    Zane had to hand it to her—Deneen was unrivaled in her skill for putting people at ease, which was one of the reasons her events were becoming legendary.
    “I don’t think I could ask for time off, on my second day on the job,” Carrie said. “Especially since Opal said Fridays are busy at the bar.”
    Deneen nodded sympathetically. “I understand. I do wish you’d be able to join us. Do you have to work tomorrow, too?”
    “Apparently not. I guess they’re, um, closed because so many of their customers will be here.”
    “That’s great! We’re so glad you’ll be able to come.”
    “Carrie won’t be here tomorrow night,” Zane said hastily. “We’re going to find her somewhere to stay today.”
    Three pairs of eyes drilled into him. Deneen and Jimmy looked incredulous, while Carrie looked…almost disappointed.
    “You’re out of your mind,” Deneen said. “If there was any extra room to be had,