Fever Rich: A Mercy Mares Cozy Mystery Read Free Page A

she understood, but her mouth, apparently didn't get the message. She asked, “Before I go, I have to ask this – will you come to my wedding? I'd love to have you there with Diana and the Nickles'.”
     
    “Diana? Well, of course, she'll want to be there for her father. Why wouldn't she?” My anger was about to reach an all time high.
     
    “I know that, but she's going above and beyond. They all are. Everyone has agreed to be a part of my wedding party. I hope you will too, since you were the one who introduced us to each other.” Kitty said.
     
    None of us noticed the young woman standing in the doorway, holding a clipboard and a bag.
     
    “Excuse me, I'm selling cookbooks for my church. I was wondering if you'd be interested in buying one?” She directed her question at all of us, but none of us, except Kitty, could come up with an answer for her.
     
    “Is there chocolate cake recipes in there?” She asked. To me, she asked, “Do you know how honored I'd be if you volunteered to bake our wedding cake? Jimmy always brags about your baking. He'd love you forever if you made our cake.” She screeched with excitement and handed the young woman some money for the cookbook.
     
    Hank asked, “Is this a bad time to tell you that we bought you a new laptop?”
     
    Ruby smacked him on the arm. “Not now, Hank. Not now.”
     
    “Anyone call for a cab,” the young lady on the porch asked.
     
    “Nope.” Margie answered as she tried to take a peek outside. “Hey, Mercy, do you know anyone with a kid?”
     
    My brain was on overload. All of a sudden, I couldn't speak. I just stood staring at the circus act that had become my life. The couple of weeks that I couldn't wait to get started were now the exact things I couldn't wait to get through.
     
    “Mercy? Mercy? Mercedes Mares, are you there?” I could hear Ruby's voice, but it was as if I wasn't there. She shook me. “Breathe, honey, breathe. Look who came to pay you a visit.”
     
    She guided my head with her hands, turning it toward the doorway. Tina, my former co-worker and her son, Noah, stood waving at me with one hand and carrying a suitcase in the other.

Chapter Two
    I looked down at my scrubs and had the sudden urge to run to the nearest big box store to buy something much more appropriate for employment at a place as austere as this home. I'd lived in Lake Villa for well over twenty-five years and had never once – well, maybe once a year to take my daughter trick-or-treating, but who didn't – ventured to this side of town. Quite honestly, I'm not even sure that this is considered 'part of town'. It was a stark contrast to what I considered the most spectacular home in all of California – my home.
     
    “Do you have an appointment with Mr. Rich?” The guard at the gate checked his clipboard for my name, but I hadn't given him my name yet, so I sat uncomfortably, studying my chipping fingernails while he wasted both his time and mine, before he finally figured it out.
     
    “What was your name again, ma'am?” He asked.
     
    Again?
     
    “I'm Mercy Mares. I'm supposed to meet with someone named Lucilla. As far as I know, I'm not scheduled to meet with Mr. Rich.” I answered him, wondering if I'd been mistaken. If I was, I definitely wasn't dressed for the occasion.
     
    “Sir,” he said.
     
    “Excuse me? I'm a woman,” I answered, wondering when was the last time he'd had his eyes checked.
     
    “Yes, I can see that. I meant Sir Rich, the man who owns this home and about five others around the world. Why don't you know whose home you're visiting?” He spoke as if I was some kind of a dunce. I can't help it that while this Sir Rich was probably vacationing in the South of France, I was working among the real people – us long-suffering peons.
     
    “Of course I know who Mr., I mean, Sir Rich is. Who doesn't? But, like I said, I'm not scheduled to meet with him today. We had dinner last week.” I don't know why I said that. I