That Thing You Do (Crystal Lake 2)

“Well, she’s not you, and besides, she can’t afford a hotel.” Her mother’s voice dropped. “Her husband left her for the coffee girl at the local Starbucks, and she lost her job. All in one week, the poor thing. She has no money saved, and her ex-husband is being difficult, from what I understand.”

“Why are you whispering?” Molly accelerated. “There’s nobody here but us.”

“Why are you being so argumentative about this?”

“I’m not.”

“You are.”

Molly knew her mother was like a dog after a bone, and if she didn’t shut this down sooner rather than later, she’d dig and dig until she found out about her and Nate. And that was a conversation she could do without.

“Fine,” she said, taking a left, knowing she’d lost the battle. “She can stay with me.”

“Of course she can stay with you. I already told her so.” Millie peered out the window. “Where are we going?”

“The salon on Main Street?”

“Oh no. The salon couldn’t handle all of us girls. Goodness, I wasn’t paying attention. You need to head back to River Road and go around the lake to the spa over by the golf course. The new one. It’s called Estelle’s. Have you heard of it?”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.”

“You sure are grumpy. What do you care where we go? I’ve got it on good autho

rity that Estelle’s is top-notch. I heard that celebrities fly in just to go there. Friends of that Bluebell Barrington.”

“Booker.”

“What?” Her mother looked annoyed.

“Blue married Cam, remember? Nash’s younger brother.”

“Oh, yes, she did. Did you know my friend Clarice works there? You remember her, don’t you?”

Molly wheeled her truck into the grocery store parking lot and screeched her tires as she headed back the way she’d just come. “I remember her all right.”

“From church.”

“Yep.” She’s a demon who’ll cast as spell on you and get you to do all sorts of nasty things you normally wouldn’t.

“I know you think this kind of thing is frivolous, Molly. But trust me, sweetie, you’re going to love it, and if we have enough time, you should think about some of their other services.”

“Like what?” She looked at her mother with narrowed eyes.

“Whatever you want, dear. My treat.” She studied Molly a few moments longer, pulling her glasses down and peering at her over the bridge. “You might want to clean up your brows a bit. They do waxing.” She pursed her lips and looked ahead. “Or so I’ve heard.”

Thankfully, they reached Estelle’s a few minutes later, and, once inside, the demon herself directed them to a private room in the back. She smiled and greeted Molly like an old friend, which caused her mother to look twice. However, there was no time for chitchat. Millie headed straight for Jessica’s mother. The two women settled into side-by-side pedicure chairs, their heads tucked together as they began an earnest conversation, about the wedding no doubt, and, thank God, ignored everyone else.

Every bridesmaid was sitting and accounted for, feet soaking in hot bubbly water, and Jessica motioned excitedly for Molly to join her at the manicure table.

“I was beginning to think you were going to be a no-show,” Jess said as the manicurist took her hands.

“Nah. I’ve been looking forward to this all week.” Molly kept a straight face but chuckled when Jess gave her a wicked side-eye.

“I know what you’ve been looking forward to, and it’s not this.”

Molly smiled at the woman who was looking at her fingers, an expression of horror on her face. She shrugged and let her have at it, before turning to Jess. There was no use lying to Jess. The woman was intuitive. She knew what was going on.

“It’s weird, you know?”