Free Cheddar Off Dead by Julia Buckley Page B

story.”
    â€œStill about that lady who died at your church?”
    â€œNo, unfortunately. This is a new person who died. Anyway, I should probably call you back, unless you can give me the gist of why you’re calling.” I tried to sound brisk, not wanting to encourage Angelo or anger Parker.
    â€œQuick, then. I have an opportunity for you to expand your business. I want you to appear on my show tomorrow. Make one of your sweet little recipes—something for the holiday.”
    â€œTomorrow? I can’t be ready tomorrow, Angelo!”
    â€œBut think what it would do for you. You can advertise for yourself, or for this new catering company. My show already has the high viewership, and good reviews. Don’t pass it up!”
    â€œThis is crazy, Angelo. Let me think about it and call you back.”
    â€œCall within the hour. Otherwise I have to book someone else.”
    â€œOkay,” I said. “Talk to you soon.”
    I hung up and felt Parker’s blue gaze without turning. “Angelo wants me to appear on his cable cooking show tomorrow.”
    Serafina clapped her hands. “Oh, how exciting! I’ll have everyone I know watching. What time and what channel?”
    â€œI don’t even know. He’s giving me no time to think or plan—but it’s a great opportunity.” I finally turned to face Parker, who was now looking at his lap.
    He cleared his throat. “Doesn’t it seem like a bad idea to get involved with an old boyfriend? Especially one who treated you badly?”
    I let his words float in the air for a while; arguably Parker himself had treated me rather badly. His face reddened as he seemed to hear the irony.
    â€œI’m not ‘getting involved’ with him; I would be working on building my business. And I don’t even know if I’m going to do it. I have to call Esther and Jim and ask what they think.”
    Parker shrugged and looked at his notes. “Let’s get back to this,” he said.
    The phone rang again. Serafina giggled as I clicked it on. She had clearly enjoyed Parker’s reaction to Angelo’s call; she loved drama. Perhaps she thought it was Angelo calling back, but this time it was Jenny. “How are you doing, Lilah?”
    â€œI’m okay. I’m here with a policeman, though. Can I call you back?”
    Parker was scowling again, perhaps because I had referred to him as a policeman instead of something else. But what else was I supposed to call him? My love interest? My onetime fling?
    â€œJust let me ask something really fast. Dave Brent, one of the teachers at my school, was planning this Christmas party. And even though this terrible thing just happened,Dave decided to have the party anyway. It’s going to be most of the teachers and some of the staff and a bunch of other people. Anyway, I wondered if you’d like to go with me? It’s on Monday, the twenty-first. Our first day of break.”
    â€œTo your faculty Christmas party?”
    â€œJust a party. The fact is, I’m going with that guy you saw me with—you know, my colleague, Ross Peterson?—and I’d really like you to get to know him. And Dave said we can invite friends and stuff.”
    â€œJenny, I don’t want to be a third wheel while you’re there with Ross! And besides, it sounds like it would be the JFK faculty and me!”
    â€œNo, really—there’s a whole crowd every year—people bring friends and dates and such. He has a huge place, and he loves to throw parties.”
    Parker tapped my arm. “Who is that?” he mouthed.
    I stared, surprised at his rudeness. “Hang on,” I told Jenny. I covered the phone and said, “It’s my friend Jenny, the one who teaches at JFK. She invited me to the faculty Christmas party on Monday; she wants me to meet her date. But I think it would be beyond awkward to go there, to be around all those people I