Page 55 of Poison Apple Crisp
“Why, yes, I think maybe we should go with that.”
“Fine by me. Text Carlotta to tell Noah to go ahead and enjoy the boxcar without us. Just let them know you’re not feeling up to it.” He starts to turn off the highway, and I take ahold of the wheel and navigate us right back into it. “Whoa, Lemon.” He takes full control of the wheel as he looks to see if it’s safe to merge back into traffic. “What was that about?”
“You know what that was about. Martin Smulder is running that Railway Restaurant, and he just so happens to be the last person on my suspect list. I have to talk to him. And unfortunately for the both of us, it means enduring dinner with Suze Fox.”
He tips his head to the side. “That’s not everyone. Your mother and Wiley will be joining us, too. And Mayor Nash.”
“What in the world possessed you?” It comes out a bit more incredulous than I meant for it to.
“Noah.” He shrugs. He figured since we had an entire boxcar to ourselves, we might as well invite the whole family. Besides, both his mother and mine are curious as to how you’re doing, and I thought this way you could tell them yourself.”
“I guess you’re right.” I blow out a breath. “We’ll make the most of it. And by the way, thank you for holding out the details from me until the last minute. At least I didn’t lose the entire day stressing out about it. I’m sure it’ll be fine. I mean, what could really go wrong? I’ll be trapped on a train for two hours, eating delicious food with the people I love. It’s going to be a good time.” Or a recipe for an inescapable disaster.
A dark laugh rumbles from him. “I noticed that you didn’t sayyouwould have a good time. At least you’re a realist.”
“Just knowing that you pick up on even the slightest details gets me hot and bothered.”
His lips are right back to curving. “Your place or mine, Lemon. Lady’s choice tonight.”
“Ohh,” I squeal. And just like that, my night is looking up again. “I’ll keep it as a surprise. I plan on keeping you on your toes.”
“I like that.”
We finally arrive in Fallbrook, at the Smulder’s Railway Restaurant to be exact, and soon the entire lot of us is stepping onto a glossy red train that looks as if it was plucked right out of the nineteenth century.
An entire staff of cheerful waiters and waitresses greets us as they usher us into a large boxcar with an enormous table running down the length of it. Windows line either side of it, and there’s still plenty of sun up for us to enjoy the fall foliage we’re about to be treated to.
The train starts to move, and we’re all handed menus to peruse. As soon as that first jerk gives way, I realize I’m facing backwards. That, coupled with the fact we seem to be moving past the scenery outside at an alarming clip, has me fearing those donuts I ate for lunch today are about to make a reprise.
Suze, Noah’s mother, is seated directly across from me. She’s sandwiched in between Eliza, Everett’s mother, and my mother. Wiley is seated next to my mom, and Carlotta is seated next to him. Then there’s Mayor Nash seated across from Carlotta, then Noah, myself, Everett, and Evie.
Everett forces his lips to twitch upwards. “I’m glad you could all make it tonight.”
“Yes,” Suze says it stern like a punishment. “Now we can finally discuss what to do about that child,” she growls it out my way.
And why did she make my child sound as if it was a problem for her?
“Mom,” Noah says it rough enough, but Suze doesn’t flinch.
Her blonde bangs swoop low across her forehead and are forced into submission with enough hairspray to qualify her as a combustion risk. If she antagonizes me enough, I suppose I can light a match.
“Don’t worry, Suze,” I say in an equally curt tone. “You don’t have to do anything about my child.” I brighten a bit. “I can handle everything all on my own.”
“Lottie.” Mom shakes her head ever so much. “Suze.” She looks to the woman by her side that she’s dared to befriend over the last few months. My mother always has been a daredevil in the relationship department. “I can assure you, both Noah and Everett are already proving to be quite the doting partners to Lottie. They care about the baby. And I’m sure once the little angel arrives, you’ll fall in love with that tiny face, too.”
Suze looks to Noah. “Do I have to?”
“Yes,” Noah answers with an incredulous tone in his voice. “If that baby is mine, I’d like for you to at least take an interest.”
Wiley and Carlotta snicker to themselves at the other end of the table, and I moan because I have a feeling I’ve just had a sneak preview of where the next two hours are headed.
Wiley leans in toward his original ex—technically, Eliza is his ex, too. I’m hoping my mother will follow the trend.
“Come on, Suze.” Wiley shakes his head at her. “Live and let live. The baby is already on its way. Let Noah and Lottie, or Lottie and Everett, or Lottie and whoever have their moment.”
“Wiley.” Mom shakes her head disapprovingly at Noah’s older, definitely not wiser, look-alike. “That was rude,” she whispers. “It’s Lottie and—” She tips her head my way as her blonde curls cascade over her shoulders.
“No, it’s okay, Mom.” I blink a smile his way. “He’s right. It’s an odd situation, and it puts everyone here in an odd situation.”