Free Curried Lobster Murder: Book 14 in The Darling Deli Series by Patti Benning Page B

symptoms are too severe for regular food poisoning. I don’t have much of a fever, though.” She shrugged. “Either way, it was really nice of you to come visit me. You didn’t have to; you should be out celebrating. I heard that you won today’s challenge. Congratulations, by the way.”
    “Thanks.” The deli owner couldn’t hold back her smile. “I hope you feel better, Daphne. It would be nice if all of us contestants could get together for one last dinner after the competition is over. I think all of us are good cooks, and we could really learn a lot from each other. We all share a passion for food, and would probably have a lot to talk about once we aren’t so focused on winning this thing.”
    “Well, as long as I can keep the food down, I’d be happy to join you and whoever else for one last meal once this is all done,” Daphne said. She smiled. “Now, go celebrate your win. Don’t worry about me, I’ll be fine.”
    Moira and Candice took her advice and went to go find a dining room serving an early dinner. The deli owner had once again skipped lunch, and she had been so anxious about the challenge that she hadn’t eaten much for breakfast either.
    They were debating whether to try one of the buffets or a nice steak place overlooking the main deck when Nadine and her father, Doug, ran into them. The woman looked much better than she had at the end of the competition, and Moira was glad that she wasn’t on the verge of tears anymore. The woman seemed nice enough, and it was obvious that the pressure of the competition had been getting to her.
    “I’m glad we ran into each other,” she told the two of them. “We were just looking for somewhere to eat. Do you want to join us?”
    “Sure.” Nadine gave her a hesitant smile. “Where were you thinking?”
    “How about the steakhouse right over there?” she asked. “The food looks good, and they’ve got outdoor seating. Plus, it’s early enough that they shouldn’t be too crowded.”
    “Sure,” the other woman said. “I’m hungry enough that I’d agree to pretty much anything.”
    “Hold on,” Candice said. “I told Sofia I’d let her know where we’re eating. I just have to send her a message really quick.”
    Twenty minutes later, Moira, Candice, Nadine, Doug, and Sofia were seated at one of the steakhouse’s outdoor tables with a waiter taking their drink orders. A crisp breeze blew in from starboard, and they could hear strains of music from the deck above. It was a beautiful night.
    “This is just like the first evening,” Nadine said, taking a sip of her piña colada. “We’re all sitting together again. It’s nice.”
    “Except for Bobby and Linda,” Moira said. “I still feel terrible about what happened to him, but things have just been so busy that I haven’t really had time to process it.”
    “To the Babcocks,” Sofia said, raising her drink. The rest of them toasted to that. Moira was about to add Daphne’s name to another toast, but was interrupted by a familiar stranger.
    “You guys have room for one more?” Antonio Cross asked gruffly. It hadn’t been much more than a day since he lost the previous challenge, but he looked much the worse for wear to the deli owner. He hadn’t shaved, and his eyes were bloodshot. She wasn’t sure that she wanted him to join them, but it took her too long to think of a polite way to decline him. Sofia spoke up before she could.
    “Sure, I’ll scooch over, you pull up a chair,” the young woman said, tugging her own chair over.
    The man joined them, and an awkward silence settled over the group. Will it be weird if we talk about the competition and the next challenge with him here? she wondered. Just how upset is he about being the first one to be disqualified?
    The silence was broken at last by Candice, who cleared her throat and asked what everyone had spent the day doing. Moira relaxed as the small group began talking about poolside bars, the ship’s theater, and