Dixie Diva Blues Read Online Free Page B

or two. Instead of saying something tacky to her, I thought about Kit Coltrane and smiled. My relationship with the vet who tends my parents’ neurotic dog and feral cats is one of the best things that has happened to me since my return to Holly Springs. Not only is he quite handsome and an excellent vet, he makes my toes tingle. It had been years and years since my toes had tingled, and I can tell you, it’s a wonderful sensation.
    “Yes. He does, doesn’t he?” I ended up saying.
    Bitty looked at me. “From that smile on your face, am I to think that you and Kit have been playing doctor?”
    “You are to think whatever you like,” I said demurely. “I’ll never tell.”
    “Hah. You’ll tell. Whether you want to or not, I can get you to confess all.”
    “Doesn’t your pugly need to go out to the bathroom?” I asked instead of giving her encouragement. “She’s making strange noises.”
    Bitty checked the dog, pulling her up to feel under her just like a mother would check her baby’s diaper. I rolled my eyes and shook my head.
    “Honestly, Bitty, you spoil that dog entirely too much. She would have been just fine out in the car.”
    She gave me a horrified look. “I wasn’t about to leave Chen Ling out there in a car after dark. As I already said, there’s no telling who might come along and steal her.”
    “Yes, the area does seem to be rife with masochists. Who else would kidnap a dog that pees indiscriminately, leaves a Tootsie Roll trail through the house, and drinks only bottled water?”
    “She does not poop in the house,” Bitty replied in an indignant tone. “Not often, anyway. Only when someone forgets to let her out.”
    “You live alone, so that someone would be you.”
    “When the boys were home during summer break they usually forgot. And if you recall, it was rather a hectic summer.”
    “Oh, I remember. I just wish I hadn’t been so quick to congratulate us on not having any problems in the past nine weeks. I think I must have conjured up this trouble.”
    “I doubt that, Trinket. Rob’s work is consorting with criminals, so it’s surprising he hasn’t had this kind of problem before now.”
    Sometimes Bitty can make good sense. It’s always an occasion for celebration. Or extreme caution.
    “True,” I said slowly. “Not surprising that he hasn’t been arrested for murder before, but that he hasn’t had any more problems than he has since he deals so closely with the criminal element.”
    Bitty rearranged Chen Ling in the bejeweled baby sling across her chest. Colored light sparkled under the harsh overhead lighting fixtures glaring down on us. The pug gave me a sour look meant to convey her disdain with my presence. I returned it in kind.
    I don’t actually have anything against the dog. I just like to tease Bitty about her. It’s not Chen Ling’s fault she fell into the easily manipulated hands of a woman prone to spoiling her. They are both quite happy with the situation just as it is, and I wouldn’t want to change it for either of them.
    After what seemed like a tremendously long time, Rayna and Gaynelle came back into the waiting area. Rayna looked frazzled. I imagine that bailing your husband out of jail on a murder charge can be rather wearing on the nerves.
    “Is everything all right?” I asked immediately, as Gaynelle came to where we were and Rayna paused at the front desk again.
    “It will be better shortly. They’re releasing Rob, but Rayna has to put up their home as collateral against his fleeing the jurisdiction.”
    “Good lord,” I murmured. Rob and Rayna own the Delta Inn, a lovely 1850s hotel close to the railroad depot. It’s their home, and they’ve been in the midst of renovations ever since purchasing it about six or seven years ago. It’s a beautiful old place, with a big lobby full of marble fixtures that Rayna uses as her artist’s studio, a huge dome on top that acts as a leaded glass skylight, and several upstairs rooms that