“What’s on the agenda today in the workshop?” I asked to deflect the tension that seemed to settle over the table.
“I heard Isabel saying she would add a couple of extra classes since no one can leave today,” Lucille said. “Are you sure you don’t want to give it a try?” She turned to me and smiled. “It looked like you took to the continental method like a duck to water.”
“I think I should help Mac with the investigation and Seth needs help with the dogs throughout the day.”
“Your mom is going to read everyone’s cards today,” she said. “I just love your mother’s readings. She has a real talent.”
I had a sudden upsetting thought. “Did Vi put her up to this?”
“I don’t know.” Lucille set her teacup gently on its saucer. “Rose said she would do all of the knitters and I heard Vi saying she was going to invite the staff as well.”
I groaned to myself. Vi must be trying to track the murderer by having Mom read cards. This was classic Fortune family behavior. They relied heavily on hints and innuendo from the divination technique du jour and then ran with whatever they thought they had discovered. I couldn’t decide if this was a good or bad development. If Vi was busy helping Mom interpret cards, she would at least stay out of our way. But, I shuddered to think of what Mac would say. I’d been able to keep the full extent of my family’s obsession with solving crimes from him so far.
Mac tilted his head at me. “You okay?”
“Yup. Just thinking about all those tarot readings . . . ,” I said.
“When does the tarot extravaganza start?” Mac turned to his mom.
“I think she said it would be around ten—after the first workshop.” She smiled. “Are you going to join us? I think you’d really like it, Mac . . .” She stopped when Mac began to shake his head.
“Sorry, no. I just wanted to know what time to make myself scarce.”
Lucille sighed.
Fortunately, the rest of the gang arrived and we were all distracted by Seth’s stories of Baxter and Tuffy.
I noticed that Isabel sat with the table of younger knitters instead of Mavis and Selma. I would have thought that she was just trying to be a good workshop host except she was completely silent while the young women chatted animatedly next to her. Mavis and Selma cast menacing glances toward the table and it had me wondering if there had been trouble in knitting paradise.
“Mom,” I whispered across the table. “What’s up with Isabel and Mavis?” I tilted my head in the direction of their table.
Mom swiveled slowly in her chair; she did discreet the way Vi did blatant.
She turned back toward me and shrugged. “I don’t know. I guess Isabel wanted to get to know the other knitters.”
I watched them for a moment. “She looks miserable. I don’t think she’s even talking to them, and Mavis is glowering at her.”
Mom sighed. “Mavis can be difficult.”
I snorted. I thought that was one of her larger understatements. Mac turned to see what had me making strange noises. I shook my head at him to signal that I’d tell him later.
He turned back toward Lucille and I thought about how our table was burdened with its own set of tensions.
The rest of breakfast was a quiet affair. Gone were the giggles and loud exclamations from the young knitters, Mavis and Selma sat off by themselves, and Vi had stopped speculating on the murder in light of our wager. And there was something going on between Mac and his mother. I was glad when Seth asked me to help him with the dogs, and Mac said he needed to go check in with the police again.
34
Seth and I stood by the back door zipping coats and pulling on mittens and I sensed that the heightened tension had permeated the whole building. I caught a glimpse of Jessica’s angry face as she shut her office door—René sat inside looking like he was visiting the principal’s office.
I sighed.