with the fact he was smart. Book smart, with no common sense. I’ve heard people have tried to sue her, but she’s got, or had, a really good lawyer. All the training says that results could vary.”
“I’m sorry about your friend. Will they be okay?”
Mandy nodded. “The good thing is, she’s a lawyer. She makes good money, but you know how expensive it is to live here. They’ll rebound. I just feel bad for the ones who don’t. The good news is the training course is down off the website now. I guess without Nan Gunter to push it, the family must have decided it wasn’t worth the risk.”
We said our goodbyes, and I thought about this new information. Money as a motive had come to me three times today from three different sources. If that wasn’t a sign, I don’t know what else I’d need to recognize it. I got settled on the couch after I’d made a promise to Google the business again to see if there were any reviews that might be perceived as a threat. Or maybe something on the Facebook page for the business. I couldn’t see Nan’s personal page because we weren’t friends, but the other page was open.
I opened my book and tried to read. But Esmeralda’s message kept coming back to me. Who was in Nan’s family? I opened the laptop and started searching.
A loud knock on the door pulled me out of the research. Before I opened the door I glanced out the window. Amy stood there, a bag of food from Diamond Lille’s in her hands and tears running down her face.
Chapter 15
“What on earth is wrong?” I asked as soon as I unlocked the door and swung it open.
Amy brushed past me. “I brought enough food in case Greg comes home for dinner, but is it okay if I hang with you tonight?”
“Of course.” I relocked the door and followed my friend into the kitchen. Emma had already beat me there as food smells beat protect-the-owner instincts every time. When I reached the kitchen she had already unloaded a basket of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, rolls, coleslaw, and what appeared to be a French silk pie. One of my favorites. This was one of my favorite comfort food meals because it always reminded me of Sunday dinner with my aunt and her first husband, Ted. They’d both worked in food service, so cooking when they got home hadn’t been a treat but instead was more like a chore. We did carryout every Sunday from the time I moved it with them as a kid until I left for college. They might have continued the tradition eventually, but Uncle Ted hadn’t lasted much longer after I’d left home.
I knew emotional eating, and my friend was experiencing it. Amy typically only ate to fuel her active lifestyle. This was eating to quiet something inside. I took her arm and sat her down in a chair. I sat too, then focused on her. “What’s wrong?”
“I still can’t reach Justin. I know he’s at his folks’, but can’t he just pick up the freaking phone? I know it hasn’t been that long, but we’ve been inseparable for months. Now, a few weeks before our wedding, he goes dark on me? Ghosts me? Maybe his mother hates me.” Amy sank into her chair.
I could tell she’d been crying, but it looked like the tears had dried up. Now she was just trying to survive. I didn’t know what to say, but I knew how to be there for my friend. “Look, we both know Justin is crazy in love with you. If he’s not picking up, he has a good reason. I think you need to relax. Give him some space. Worry about the upcoming nuptials. Is there anything you’re missing?”
“You mean besides the groom?”
When I didn’t react to her, she sighed and shook her head. “No. For once it’s done. Everything’s ready for me to walk down the aisle in a week and four days and join my life with another’s.”
“Then let’s just get to that day. Justin will be here. If he doesn’t show, we’ll deal with it then. For right now, you need to have faith in him. In you two as a couple. He would give you the same leeway if you had to have a few days.” I tried to think of positive excuses for why he wasn’t calling her. I was going to have a long talk