Dead Ends (Main Street Mysteries Book 2) by Sandra Balzo Page A

memoirs yet. No, I was thinking more of a blog on the town website, maybe, where people could share their memories and family stories.’
    ‘Sounds like fun,’ Ida Mae said. ‘But does the town even have a website?’
    ‘Joy Tamarack and Sheree Pepper have been talking about doing one for visitors,’ Daisy contributed, though her face had turned guarded at AnnaLise's mention of ‘memories.’
    Sheree Pepper was the owner of the Sutherton Inn and one of AnnaLise's oldest friends. Though AnnaLise hadn't run this brainstorm past Sheree or Joy, who she was also close to, she was certain they would buy in. Especially if it were to help Daisy.
    ‘Well, I think it's a fabulous idea,’ Ida Mae said, getting to her feet. ‘But I'm starving. Shall I get dinner started?’
    ‘Sounds wonderful,’ AnnaLise said, getting up to hand Ida Mae her phone.
    As their hostess took it, the thing gave off the tweet-tweet signaling a text message.
    ‘Sorry,’ Ida Mae said. ‘Barbara Jean – she's the one who lives on Ruff Road – was having stomach pains earlier and her daughter insisted she call down for the paramedics.’
    Slipping on reading glasses, Ida Mae surveyed the message and typed in one of her own, before slipping the phone back into her pocket. ‘All's well, thank the Lord. Though it took the fire department over an hour to get there, can you believe that?’
    Daisy glanced at AnnaLise. ‘Given the two accidents where we were, the town's emergency services were probably severely taxed.’
    Or they couldn't find 'Ruff Road,' AnnaLise thought. ‘Did they take your neighbor in for observation?’
    ‘No, but they did confiscate her North Carolina Hot Sauce. Honestly, you'd think the woman would learn.’ Ida Mae waved her guests into the house.
    ‘Truly, Ida Mae,’ AnnaLise said, ‘thank you so much for both the hospitality and for driving us home tomorrow.’
    ‘Not a problem at all,’ Ida Mae said. ‘I have to see Kathleen at Sutherton Realty anyway and work out the rental arrangements for the ski season.’
    Ida Mae and Daisy continued through the living room into the kitchen, while AnnaLise went to retrieve her handbag and the cell on top of it from the couch. The room was dark now that the sun was fully down, and she could see a red light on the phone, signaling a new text message.
    She picked it up with trepidation, but found only a Twitter from the newspaper where she worked in Wisconsin, a tease of the next day's special section on fall lawn care. Glancing toward the kitchen door where the other two women were talking she punched in Ben's number.
    It was impulsive – the text equivalent of drunk-dialing – but in this case the act was driven more by anxiety than the wine AnnaLise'd had. The affair might be over, but she'd loved the man and not knowing if he was OK was intolerable. If all was well and he was with his wife and daughter, AnnaLise could claim that she was simply being hospitable, making sure they didn't need anything during their –
    Daisy popped back in. ‘Ida Mae wants to know if rib-eyes on the grill and baked potatoes are all right.’
    AnnaLise reflexively pushed ‘end’ on the phone. ‘More than all right.’ And it was true. After a week of meals eaten largely at Mama's, something prepared simply with out condensed soup, canned tuna or elbow macaroni sounded great.
    ‘Can I help?’ AnnaLise followed Daisy into the kitchen, glad now that her mother had interrupted the ill-advised call before Ben could answer. She looked around, starting to relax a bit from the wine. ‘Wow, this is beautiful.’
    ‘I thank you,’ Ida Mae said, going to mute the small television that blared The Mountain News in the corner. ‘This was my remodeling project last year.’
    ‘Eames Construction?’ Daisy asked.
    ‘Josh did the woodworking,’ Ida Mae said, pointing to the hickory kitchen cabinets. ‘That boy has a real talent. Every corner, every angle, is perfectly square. No mean feat in old