Paint the Town Dead Read Online Free Page A

room. I made sure each paint bottle was capped tightly, and I then met Zach at the utility sink to empty and rinse water tubs. He spoke over the sound of the running tap.
    â€œThanks for the way you handled Ernie.”
    I flashed a smile. “You’re welcome, but Doralee put him in his place just fine. I hope she doesn’t have to deal with him often.”
    Zach shrugged. “A few times a year, especially from about May to October when they both travel to arts and craft festivals.”
    â€œNo wonder she knows how to take him down a peg.” I tilted my head. “He bothers you, doesn’t he?”
    â€œYes, but so does that new fiancée of his. She’s a piece of work.”
    â€œWhat about the other woman? Is she his sister?”
    â€œYes, she is. I haven’t been around her enough to have an opinion. Hey, looks like the stragglers are leaving. I’ll start packing the bins if you’ll finish rinsing the tubs.”
    â€œDeal,” I said. “Jasmine will be over to help me wash and dry in a minute.” And she was.
    I spotted Fred escorting Ida out the back door to her car. Jasmine saw where I was looking and nudged me. “That’s so sweet.”
    â€œIt is, isn’t it?”
    She and I made short work of cleanup duty, and I sent her into the store with her still-drying gourd. I carried the dried water tubs and a few more paintbrushes to Doralee.
    â€œHere you go. I think that’s the last of your supplies.”
    â€œThanks, Nixy. I’m sorry about Ernie’s appearance. I was just telling Sherry and Aster that I don’t know what gets into him sometimes. Well, I never did.”
    â€œHe wants you back,” Zach said quietly.
    Doralee reached for his hand. “Not going to happen. He has Kim, or he will. I think the wedding is a month or two away, but she was after him before our divorce was final.” She paused for a second and laughed. “That sounded bitter, didn’t it?”
    â€œIt can’t be easy for you seeing that rock on her hand,” Sherry said.
    â€œIt is ostentatious, isn’t it? I can say that because I wore it. The Boudreaux family ring was so elegant. A large square-cut diamond in a gold art deco–style band. But Ernie insisted it was too old-fashioned, so he had the stone taken out and reset with slightly smaller diamonds flanking it. I never did care for the ring, so I was glad to give it back.” Doralee shook her head. “Kim is spoiled and single-minded and self-absorbed, but she’s not an evil person. In fact, I should probably warn her about Georgine’s peccadillos, but Kim’s former in-laws make Georgine look like a saint. Besides, I have the sense not to get in the middle of that dynamic.”
    I wanted to ask, “The middle of what,” but bit my tongue so Sherry and the ladies wouldn’t accuse me of being a nosy parker.
    Instead, I steered the conversation more or less back on track. “Ernie aside, the class was amazing, Doralee. You have a gift for teaching as well as art.”
    â€œNixy’s right,” Sherry said, beaming. “You made a wonderful impression on everyone.”
    Aster nodded. “We heard nothing but compliments as the students came out front. Oh, and Dab prepared your check. Here you go.”
    â€œThank you. All of you. It was fun, and I look forward to doing the etching demonstration tomorrow afternoon while Sherry demonstrates vine weaving.”
    â€œThen you’ll be showing how to attach the vines, right?” I asked. The demonstration programs all week were free, partly to get people in the door, but I wanted them to be every bit as professionally presented as they’d be for a paid class.
    â€œSherry and I will talk about that together, but yes. And here’s to Ernie not showing up again.”
    I’m sure we all seconded that, but Fred clanked-clomped his way inside about then. Time to get the