Moonlight Masquerade (Edilean 8)

“She sprinkled it over everything. And just to let you know, if the code were broken and the recipes made without the coke, they’re awful. She used lard and pig jowls, whatever was cheap, then she dumped it all over hard little noodles. Without the coke on top nobody could even chew the stuff. My great-granny was a marvelous businesswoman, but a cook she was not.”

It took Sophie a few minutes to absorb this information, then she began to laugh. And Carter joined her.

“Your grandmother was—”

“An addict,” Carter said.

“Treeborne Foods, a family business.”

“Right,” Carter said.

“And the code?”

“Based on an old book she had. It’s in the safe too.”

Sophie was smiling, thinking about it all. The great family secret that she’d almost exposed.

“So will you think about my offer?” he asked.

“To fund Reede?”

“No,” Carter said, “to fund both of you. And Sophie, as for what you can do to help, from what I’ve seen of you in Texas in managing your hellion of a sister, then coming here and charming an entire town—”

“I didn’t do that. Reede—”

Carter held up his hand. “This is my speech, so let me finish it. Sophie, you have changed people’s lives, and I think that is your real talent. Sculpting is just a sideline. And as much as I’m not a fan of your doctor friend, he sees the truth. Now that he’s met you he’d rather give up his dreams than lose you. And he’s smart to see that.”

He put his hands out to her, and she took them. “I want you to go find him and talk to him. Really talk to him.”

“Henry—”

“I’ll take care of Henry,” Carter said. “He’ll understand and I’ll find him another teacher and someone else to fund. Now go! Right now, this minute, go find your doctor and tell him what you need to.”

“Carter, I—” she began, sounding as though she was going to protest, but then she broke off. Instead, she kissed Carter’s cheek. “Thank you. I . . . ” She didn’t know what else to say as she ran out the door.

Sophie ran down the stairs and out the front door without bothering to grab a coat. She ran the short distance to Reede’s office, and as soon as she stepped inside, she hesitated. The office was so full of waiting patients that she thought she should wait until later this evening to talk to Reede.

But Betsy saw her, nudged Heather, who caught Alice’s arm, and in an instant all three women were surrounding Sophie. Heather slipped between Sophie and the door so she couldn’t leave.

“Carter talked to you, didn’t he?” Betsy asked, her face serious.

“He did and I have some things to talk to Reede about, but he’s busy. I’ll see him later.” She turned to the door, but Heather was blocking it.

Betsy put her arm around Sophie’s shoulders. “Does anyone object to Sophie talking to Dr. Reede?” she asked the waiting patients.

“I’ll wait!” said a woman with two children.

/> “I can come back next week,” a man said eagerly.

“I just have bronchitis,” a woman said as she repressed a cough. “Had it before, no big deal.”

“My stitches can come out tomorrow,” said a young man.

“See?” Betsy said, smiling, “no problem at all.” She took Sophie’s arm and half pulled her into the hall at the back of the office, Alice and Heather close behind.

Betsy knocked, then opened a door. An older woman was sitting on the end of the paper-covered exam table, wearing a hospital gown. Reede was on a stool before her and he was examining her foot.

“If you’d just stop cutting your nails this short you wouldn’t get ingrown toenails,” Reede was saying in a grumpy tone. “I told you this the last time you were—” He broke off when the door opened, then his eyes widened at the sight of Sophie, as she was practically encased by the three women.