Free Stabbing Stephanie by Evan Marshall Page B

Shady Hills the next day to work for Faith and her husband, and about meeting Puffy Chapin, Faith’s aunt, at ShopRite.
    â€œPuffy’s having a party to welcome them,” Ginny said. “Everyone’s invited.”
    â€œWow . . .” Penny said, now pushing the hair at both sides of her face behind her ears, her eyes dreamy. “So romantic.”
    â€œLike a fairy tale,” Ginny said. “Like . . . Grace Kelly.”
    â€œAnd look how she ended up,” Doris put in.
    â€œThat was a car accident, Doris,” Ginny said.
    â€œThat’s right,” Louise said. “What’s important is that she’d found her true love.”
    â€œSo did Faith Carson,” Rhoda said. “She married that prince of—what was the name of his country? Sounded like a banana.”
    â€œAnanda,” Jane said.
    â€œThat’s right. Handsome man. But that ended tragically, too. He died. Skiing accident? Everyone seems to be skiing into trees lately.”
    â€œAssassinated,” Doris said.
    Rhoda nodded. “Right. And China took over the little country. Faith and her kids had to get the hell out of there.”
    Ginny said, “Yes, a boy and a girl.”
    â€œGrown up now,” Louise reflected. “Can you imagine? Faith Carson coming here. And running a publishing house.”
    â€œI never liked her,” Doris said, and again the ladies just stared at her. Doris went on, without looking up, “Gold-digging slut. She saw her chance to get rich, play queen of the castle. Got what she deserved, if you ask me.”
    â€œI don’t think anyone did ask you,” Jane said good-naturedly. “Anyway, she was already rich, Doris. Her grandfather was one of the founders of Carson & Donner, the publishing house.”
    â€œI know what it is, Jane.”
    Jane said, “You’re such a cynic, Doris. And if that’s what you think of her, why were you so excited to see her today?”
    â€œShe’s still a celebrity!” Doris said.
    â€œIf you want to know what I think,” Rhoda said, “I say you’re all right. Yes, she saw an opportunity—and let’s face it, girls, who among us wouldn’t have taken it, too? But she was also deeply in love.”
    Doris made a sound of disgust.
    Jane, knitting madly away—she was by far the fastest knitter of the club—frowned thoughtfully. “Until today, I’d never given Faith Carson’s story much thought. I really have no opinion about the woman either way, and I wouldn’t have thought twice about her if Kenneth’s cousin weren’t coming to work for her.”
    â€œWhere will she live?” Penny asked.
    â€œShe’ll be looking for an apartment. Until then she’ll be staying with me.”
    Louise said, “I wonder why they’re coming here? I mean, Shady Hills isn’t exactly the center of things.”
    â€œApparently their company isn’t doing as well as it might,” Jane said. “They can’t afford New York City rent anymore. Puffy offered them an empty suite in the building she and Oren own. Today was moving day, in fact. I’m sure that’s why you saw her in jeans and a sweatshirt, Doris. I saw the moving van.”
    Penny said, “I wasn’t aware anyone had moved out of that building.”
    â€œPenny,” Louise said, “you can hardly expect to know the comings and goings of every business in Shady Hills.”
    â€œBut we can try!” Rhoda said with a laugh.
    â€œTry nothing!” Doris burst out. “I’d wager that among the six of us, we know everything that goes on in this town. And as it happens, I do know who left that building: a psychiatrist. He’d been in a suite on the second floor for over ten years.”
    â€œOf course!” Ginny said. “It was Dr. Kruger. Tim Kruger. He was a regular customer at Whipped Cream. We chatted all the time. He was a