Silence of the Lamb's Wool (A Yarn Retreat Mystery) Read Online Free Page A

and Burton straightened it and gave her shoulder an affectionate touch. The older Delacorte sister leaned into his gesture and thanked him with a few bats of her eyelashes, saying how nice it was having someone to watch her back. Kevin St. John viewed the moment with distaste, probably figuring it was only going to get worse once they were married.
    The door opened from the deck side and a distinguished-looking man with silver hair came in with a quick stride. He was wearing cargo pants and a bomber-style leather jacket. I wondered if his face was naturally ruddy or if it was the cold air. He looked over the group with a friendly smile. “Virgil Scarantino at your service.” He did a mock bow and I instantly liked him. Kevin took it upon himself to introduce us, though the only ones Virgil hadn’t met before were Cora’s fiancé and me. He seemed as surprised as I’d been at Cora’s engagement news, but handled it better and just offered them his congratulations before he turned to me.
    “So you’re Casey Feldstein,” he said with a big smile. “I wondered who was behind all the muffins and the wonderful desserts at the Blue Door.” He went into detail about his favorites, which turned out to be the muffins he called “those rich chocolate ones.” My name for them was Heal the World with Chocolate. As for the Blue Door desserts, it was apple pie all the way as far as he was concerned. When he finished, I was almost blushing from all the praise.
    “Well, chief,” he said to Kevin St. John, “should I tell them my duties?” The manager nodded and gave Virgil the floor. “I’ve lived in Cadbury all my life and love this area. Nothing gives me more pleasure than to share what I know so I’ve volunteered to do some nature walks and star hikes.”
    Cora loved the idea and thought it was very much in the spirit of the place. Madeleine surprised us all by adding her approval. I hadn’t meant to get sucked into this dog and pony show for the Delacorte sisters and started to excuse myself until I saw that someone else had come in.
    Dr. Sammy? In a tuxedo, no less. Sammy Glickner, my former boyfriend, was tall with a hulky teddy bear–like build. In the tuxedo, he reminded me of a panda bear. He was all smiles as he crossed the space to the group in a few long strides. His eyes were glued to the manager, but then he saw me, his eyes widened as his face lit up.
    I knew we weren’t a couple—and it was all my doing—but it was certainly nice to have someone seem so glad to see me. “Case, what do you think?” His hands rolled down displaying his outfit, the way models on game shows displayed prizes. I still laughed at his calling me Case. Really? Did taking one letter off my name make it a nickname?
    Kevin St. John broke into the moment. “I thought it would be entertaining having table magic on the weekends in the dining hall.” The sisters both nodded their agreement. Virgil thought it sounded dandy, and Burton Fiore just muttered “Dining hall?” before excusing himself from the group, saying he had to make a call.
    The manager introduced Dr. Sammy to the group as the Amazing Dr. Sammy. I got the message that Kevin St. John was running all this by the Delacorte sisters for their approval rather than presenting it as a fait accompli. Sammy was there to audition for them.
    I felt instantly nervous for him and almost couldn’t watch, but Sammy started his patter without the slightest stumble and took out a deck of cards. He had sized up the situation and played to Cora, who was delighted with his little show. She even clapped at the end. Madeleine seemed to have forgotten her rush to leave and added her own applause.
    “The guests will love you,” Cora said, beaming a smile at Sammy. Madeleine nodded her agreement and Kevin St. John told Sammy the job was his, provided the first weekend went well.
    The only person not so sure about adding Sammy as a regular on the weekends was me. The retreats I put on