Lethal Dose of Love Read Online Free Page B

of the commission on that house he bought in Chaumont. But this beats it all.”
    “I went to my lawyer this morning,” Helen said. “I can break the contract. Since Sean duped me—”
    By now Mamie had wiped away her tears and stood stoic and brave. “Thank you, but it’ll cost too much money.”
    “Why?” Amanda asked.
    “Because Sean will fight just for the principle of it.”
    “I can’t believe he’s capable of something so despicable,” Amanda said.
    “What!” Felicia turned a hollow-cheeked face to her friend. “After what—”
    “No!” Amanda’s eyes flashed.
    No one but Claire seemed to notice the exchange between the women. Claire knew right then that what kept Felicia up nights had something to do with Sean.
    “Let’s see how good his business is when we all boycott it!”
    “It won’t matter. Our boycott won’t keep the summer people away.”
    “It would if we picket or something,” offered Amanda.
    Sylvie rapped her knuckles on the table. “We should call the meeting to order. I have an appointment in an hour.”
    “How can you be so insensitive?” Helen asked.
    “I’m not insensitive. It’s just obvious there’s nothing we can do, so why waste time beating a dead horse? You’re just encouraging poor Mamie’s depression.”
    “I guess Sylvie’s right. We can’t accomplish anything right now. But I promise you, Mamie, I’ll find a way to fix this.”
    Mamie patted Helen’s arm and went to sit. Felicia passed tea and coffee cups and a plate of Amanda’s homemade sugar cookies. She took a seat at the head of the table framed by light from the tall windows. “One more thing I want to say before we start. Let’s get together in the next day or so to decide what we can do about Sean. Legally.”
    Mamie’s eyes fixed on the coffeepot in the center of the table. “No, don’t. I don’t want to be the reason for any more trouble.”
    “Sean’s making the trouble, Mamie, not you,” Amanda said. “There’s got to be a way to handle him.”
    There is, Claire wanted to shout. Don’t anybody do anything yet.
    Claire realized Amanda was watching her. As their gazes met Amanda’s flicked away and became interested in how much sugar Payton added to her coffee. Claire suffered a moment of panic that Amanda somehow knew her plan.
    “We were talking about Payton’s shop,” Felicia said. “We’re all very excited about it. It’s just what this town needs.”
    “Gosh yes,” added Amanda. “I’m so tired of all the gift shops and junk stores.”
    “I’m having a Grand Opening party the Saturday after next. You’re all invited. 9 a.m.,” Payton said.
    “Can’t we get down to business?” Sylvie complained.
    Helen gave her a squint-eyed glare behind wire-rimmed glasses. “First on the agenda is to welcome Payton.”
    There was a chorus that made Payton blush. “Don’t you take a vote whether to let me in or not?”
    Claire shook her head. “You don’t get off that easy.”
    “Heavens no,” Helen said. “I told you we’re free and easy here. You want to be in, you’re in.”
    Amanda pushed the cookie plate toward Mamie, who shook her head. Helen broke off a piece of cinnamon-sprinkled sugar cookie and pointed it at the group. “Payton, tell us about yourself.”
    “We heard about her at the yacht club meeting already,” Sylvie whined.
    “What I meant was, maybe she’d like to tell us about her travels.”
    “I’m interested in hearing where you all have been,” Payton said.
    Felicia set down her cup. “We already know everything about each other. That’s why we want to hear about you.”
    “She’s been to Washington,” Helen prompted when Payton threw her a help me look. “She was there when Mount St. Helens erupted.”
    “Really? What was it like?” Claire heard herself ask, even though she’d read countless articles about it.
    “Awful. We were sure the world was coming to an end. Ash was several inches deep on everything, and as soon as you