Casting About Read Online Free Page B

greeting. “It’s been much too long since I’ve seen you.”
    I turned from slicing tomatoes for the salad to see both women walk into the kitchen.
    Dora kissed my cheek and handed me a plate of her delicious lemon squares.
    â€œThought these might go nicely with Opal’s pie.”
    â€œThanks, Dora,” I said, giving her a warm smile.
    It was Dora who suspected long before anyone else that her sister had given birth to my mother. The first time they’d met, Dora admitted later, she knew in her soul that Sydney Webster was the daughter Sybile had given up for adoption, and adding to her certainty had been a segment she’d seen on The Today Show —two brothers in Maine, living in the same town, coworkers at the same furniture company, slowly putting together the pieces and discovering they were biological brothers.
    Dora and Sybile were as different as roses and weeds. My grandmother was considered self-centered and ornery by some, but everyone was fond of Miss Dora. Sweet and easygoing, she was easy to love. Even before it was confirmed that my mother was her niece, they’d developed a very special relationship. Not until Sybile was at the end of her days did my mother and grandmother bond and come to understand each other.
    â€œHow long will you be on the island?” I heard Dora ask Opal.
    â€œOh, who knows.” Opal’s laughter filled the kitchen. “I’m just like a butterfly—flitting here, there, and everywhere. But I think poor Naomi needed a bit of a break from her mama. Not that I’m difficult to get along with, but I guess we all need our space.”
    Adam arrived with Saren, and Grace was right behind them, so our gathering was complete.
    â€œWould everybody like some red wine? I have a nice Sangiovese.”
    I saw a bewildered look cross Adam’s face.
    â€œWhat’s wrong?” I asked.
    Standing in front of the wine rack, he shook his head. “I don’t know. I’m positive I had two bottles of that wine in here. Do you know where they are?”
    â€œNo, I saw them there last night when I was checking the wine supply. That’s odd.”
    Adam began to open kitchen cabinets while I checked the cabinets under the island in the center of the floor.
    â€œNothing,” I told him.
    Everyone sat quietly observing our search and then Saren said, “My, my. Ah, yup. That is mighty odd. Two bottles of wine don’t just go missin’.”
    â€œOh, Saren. Now don’t go jumping to conclusions,” Dora said.
    Not understanding what they were referring to, I questioned, “What conclusions?”
    Dora giggled. “Now, Saren—you don’t honestly think that Miss Elly is here in Monica’s house, do you?”
    I may have neglected to mention—while most people on Cedar Key are the best in the world, many do tend to be a bit quirky. Just a tad eccentric and what we islanders refer to as characters. Miss Elly was a ghost that had lived in Saren’s house for many years. He claimed she visited him each evening to have cognac and conversation. Now, mind you, nobody else ever witnessed Miss Elly, so of course everyone chalked it up to a vivid imagination on Saren’s part. However, when my grandmother came back into his life after all those years—suddenly Miss Elly departed and never returned.
    â€œHeck, no,” he said, shaking his head emphatically. “I’m just a wonderin’ if perhaps Miss Sybile has decided to pay us all a visit.”
    Goose bumps broke out on my arms as I recalled the misplaced telephone and the blue sweater I still hadn’t found.
    Opal broke the tension with her laughter. “Oh, Saren, are you still believin’ in those ghosts? Well, if Miss Sybile is here with us—Adam, sweetie, find another bottle of wine and let’s give a toast to her.”
    My husband caught the look on my face and quickly produced two bottles of Pinot