“You must be an optimist.”
“I guess maybe I am. I’m the guy who always stops people thinking their bags are too full, not that they’ve been taking fish that are too small.”
“So what’s the silver lining to finding out my syrup is responsible for a death and that my business needs shutting down?”
“Did you like the person who died?”
“No. I definitely did not.”
“There you go, a very shiny silver lining if you ask me.”
“My business is in the tank, my reputation’s shot both professionally and personally.”
“At least you’ve got someone who wants to marry you.”
“And that’s a good thing in your opinion?”
“Sure. I’ve always wanted a family of my own. Haven’t you?”
“I’ve got more than enough family already, and they do enough worrying about my marriage prospects so I don’t have to do it myself.”
“You come from a family of incurable romantics?”
“Consummate meddlers.”
“You’re lucky they care enough to butt in.”
“You’d be singing a different tune if they kept trying to set you up every time you turn around.”
“Maybe I could use the help.” I had noticed Graham didn’t wear a wedding band, but he didn’t look like someone who would need help finding a date. He had excellent posture, a decent job, and all of his teeth. That was a whole lot more than I could say for most of the guys Celadon tried setting me up with.
“I’ll let them know. I’m sure they’d love to expand their hunting grounds.”
“I’d appreciate it.”
“Although you’ll be too busy for a while chasing all those exotics to spend time running around after any women.”
“For the right woman, I’d find the time.” Graham leaned a bit closer and looked me directly in the eyes. I felt flustered and broke off eye contact. Just through the trees an equine shape slipped through the woods. “Did you see that?” he asked and dashed off in pursuit. I guess I must not have been the right woman.
Eleven
After that, there was nothing for it but to keep heading over to the Stack and drown my sorrows in a flood of some nontoxic maple syrup and whatever fatty carbohydrate Piper was serving to go with it. Piper gave me a hurried smile over a plume of steam rising from a row of freshly filled coffee mugs. I couldn’t find it in myself to smile back so I just nodded and slid into a booth near the back. If I sit in them just right, my size allows me to be completely hidden in a booth. Not a bad thing when what you want is food, not company.
Before long, Piper arrived carrying a plate piled high. She slid into the seat across from me and plunked the plate down in front of me.
“What’s that?” I asked, eyeing the plate.
“The special. It’s called the Who’d a Thunk It. With a side of sweet potato fries, so crispy they’re almost burnt. Just the way you like them.”
“I don’t know if I’m up for anything new.”
“You’ll be up for this. It’s really just a gussied-up toasted cheese sandwich.”
“It looks like waffles.”
“I sandwiched maple cheddar cheese, caramelized apples, and crispy bacon strips between two whole-grain waffles then toasted the whole thing on the griddle. It’s best drizzled with syrup so eat it with a fork.” Piper plucked the syrup pitcher from its spot snuggled against the wall and sozzled my sandwich with a heavy hand.
“I think you mean drizzled with death.”
“Myra stopped by earlier. She blabbed about the lab results.”
“I just hope I haven’t poisoned anyone else.”
“You haven’t poisoned anyone at all. Someone else tampered with Alanza’s portion. As soon as the lab results on the rest of the jugs come in, you’ll be back in business.”
“Bad news spreads faster and sticks longer than good. I don’t know if the business will survive this sort of thing. Especially if Celadon has anything to say about it.” I poured syrup over everything on the plate.
“As soon as you reopen, we’ll put the stock we have here on sale. Buy one, get one free, or some such thing. People will be so happy with the price they’ll forget all about anything else, and you’ll be back at the top of your game.”
“What about the people who buy online?”
“I’m telling you, it isn’t going to matter before you know it. So cheer up and clean your plate. You’re still looking a little frazzled.” I told her about my run-in with Graham and all the things Knowlton had said about me at the auctions.