Read Death by Pumpkin Spice Online
Authors: Alex Erickson
Death by Pumpkin Spice (29 page)
I just about choked. We went from overexcited teenager straight to
Misery
. Could this get any worse?
Misery
. Could this get any worse?
“It's very nice to meet you, Rita,” Dad said, practiced smile in place.
“We've met before,” she said with a wave of her hand. “I got your autograph from a signing you held a few years back. I traveled quite a ways to meet you then.” Her eyes widened. “Are you doing a signing here in Pine Hills? Please tell me you are! I can't imagine what other reason you'd have to come to our little town.”
I cleared my throat, but I might as well not have been there.
“I am,” Dad said, his smile turning amused. “It won't be until this weekend, however.”
Rita just about glowed with excitement. “That means you'll be here all week!” I could see the wheels spinning behind her eyes and knew whatever she was thinking couldn't be good.
“Rita,” I said, forcing her to look at me. “Dad and I haven't seen each other for a few months now. We'd like to have a few minutes to catch up, if that's okay?”
“That's fine, dear,” she said, actually shooing me away. “You'll have plenty of time to catch up, I'm sure.”
Behind her, the door opened and Cameron came in, three boxes in his arms this time. Rick trailed behind, carrying only his coffee mug. The least he could have done was to offer to carry the last two boxes, but apparently, physical labor was beneath him.
“I have an idea!” Rita said, clapping her hands together and startling me half to death. “We hold a writers group meeting every Tuesday night. You should come and talk to our members!”
“I wouldn't want to intrude,” Dad said, for the first time sounding uncertain.
“Nonsense!” Rita patted him on the hand. “It will be a special meeting, one held in your honor. I'll let everyone know you're going to be there and they can prepare for it. I bet we'll have at least three times as many people show up, all because of you! It's going to be fantastic!”
And before my dad could protest, Rita spun away. Her cell phone was in her hand even before she reached the door. As she stepped out on the sidewalk, I could hear her say, “Georgina! You won't believe who I just ran into!” And then the door closed, and she was gone.
“What just happened?” Dad asked, a bemused expression on his face.
“You don't have to go,” I said. “Rita gets overexcited at times and forgets that people sometimes like to make up their own minds about what they do.”
“She seems nice enough.”
“She is,” I said. “But if you let her, she'll have you paraded all over town. You won't have a moment's peace.”
Dad patted me on the arm. “I'm in town, so I might as well go. I'd like to get to know the people here and the writers group seems like the perfect place to start.”
“Are you sure?”
“I am.”
A crash and a pained yowl caused us to turn. Cameron lay sprawled on the floor, the boxes of books spilled before him. The store cat, Trouble, sat a few feet away, licking his back foot, and glaring at the poor assistant like he'd stepped on him on purpose.
“Be more careful with those!” Rick shouted. “What is wrong with you?”
“I'd better go help out,” Dad said with a sigh.
“Yeah.”
He kissed me on the forehead. “It's good to see you, Buttercup.”
“You too, Dad.”
And then he was up the stairs in vain attempt to calm his raging agent and to help up the battered assistant. Vicki was there to comfort her poor black and white kitty.
I watched from my place by the door, mind racing wildly, wondering with the sudden appearance of my dad, and knowing of Rita's obsession, who it would be that would end up having to comfort me.
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