Gilt by Association Read Free

old world feel. Heart-shaped pillows trimmed with ecru lace decorated the love seat by the small fireplace in the kitchen, as well as the rose and green damask-covered sofa in the living room. Caprice had de-cluttered a bit for the home-staging but, for the most part, had just rearranged the expensive furnishings and valuable antiques Louise had chosen over the years.
    After greetings all around, Nikki nodded to the tablet computer in front of her. “We’re brainstorming what to serve at the open house. I know your theme is hearts and flowers, but how over-the-top Valentine’s Day do you want to make it?”
    â€œThere’s no over-the-top for Valentine’s Day,” Louise maintained, possibly a little too firmly to be believable. “After all, Chet and I fell in love at first sight at The Pretzel Party’s Valentine Day shindig all those years ago.”
    Louise almost sounded as if she was trying to convince herself as well as them, and Caprice wondered why. She knew Louise’s story well because Louise and her mom had become fast friends when they’d met at Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church soon after Louise first arrived in Kismet. Back then, she’d been a secretary at The Pretzel Party, Chet Downing’s snack company. She’d caught his eye, and they’d gotten married over thirty years ago. Theirs had been one of those Cinderella stories that had become a legend in Kismet.
    But something about Louise’s attitude tonight made Caprice wonder if Louise and Chet had argued about something. Obviously Louise loved lace and gold leaf, flowers and hearts. Her house reflected that. However, now she and Chet wanted to downsize to travel more. This home-staging and open house was supposedly going to sell the Downing estate faster. Hearts and flowers had been the obvious theme, especially with Valentine’s Day right around the corner.
    â€œDo you really think Chet’s going to be happy selling The Pretzel Party?” Caprice asked Louise now, guessing the man of the house was in his den down the hall away from their planning session.
    â€œHe’s always wanted to travel more,” Louise answered. “With no restrictions on our time, we can choose places we both want to see.” She hesitated, then added, a bit thin-lipped, “By the way, he’s staying overnight in Philadelphia tonight for a late meeting. At least he won’t be on the road in this weather.”
    So Chet wasn’t down the hall. Maybe he and Louise had disagreed about him going to Philly this weekend?
    As Rachel set a porcelain cup and saucer before Caprice, Louise scolded not for the first time, saying, “You really should switch to herbal tea, Caprice, or at least decaffeinated coffee. I had a latté at the Koffee Klatch just a few weeks ago. After I drank half of it, my heart skipped beats. The barista had used caffeinated coffee instead of decaffeinated. I could have gotten her fired but she was young and in a hurry.”
    Because her mom and Louise were friends, Caprice knew Louise had suffered with atrial fibrillation and tachycardia since she was young. The arrhythmia didn’t act up often, but caffeine could activate the problem.
    â€œI drink tea with Nana. I’ll keep in mind your advice and try to cut down on caffeine,” she assured Louise, knowing if she didn’t, the older woman would try more thoroughly to convince her. Louise’s opinions were usually unshakeable.
    Moving their meeting forward, Caprice asked Nikki, “So what did you have in mind for food for the open house?”
    Lady had settled at Caprice’s feet and her tail wagged against the floor in a thump-thump-thump rhythm. Some people found that thumping bothersome, but Caprice found it soothing.
    Nikki glanced at Caprice, then read from her list on her e-tablet. “We talked about hors d’oeuvres. They’re easy—heart-shaped bruschetta, kiwi slices with