Read It and Weep (A Library Lover's Mystery) Read Free Page A

younger, sure,” Charlene said. “But by the time I finished college, I was so over it. You see, when Mom got pregnant with me, my father told her that his life plan did not include parenting. She was heartbroken, but she didn’t want to tie him to a life he didn’t want, so she chose to have me on her own. My mother is a remarkable woman.”
    “Here, here,” Robbie agreed, causing them all to laugh.
    “So, why do you suppose your father sent that toad here?” Lindsey asked. “It seems he must have an ulterior motive.”
    “I have no idea,” Charlene said. “It could be that he doesn’t know Harvey is reviewing Mom’s show. There is some history there as well.”
    Mary, Lindsey and Beth gave her a horrified look.
    “No, not that kind of history,” Charlene said.
    Robbie choked down a bite of salad. “Ugh, please, just the thought of Violet in a relationship with that wart puts me off my food.”
    “No, theirs is an old grudge from their Broadway days, which includes you as well, Robbie,” Charlene said.
    “Yes, Harvey has hated both Charlene and I since he trashed our show and then we both went on to win Tony Awards for it,” he said. “It’s as if he took it personally that we were good and he was wrong about the show. And they say actors are narcissists; I’d say critics are far worse.”
    “So you don’t think your father sent Harvey?” Beth asked.
    “I don’t know. He’s pretty high up to be concerned with what his minions are doing. Then again . . .”
    “It does seem odd, doesn’t it?” Lindsey asked.
    “I’m going to check on my mom,” Charlene said. “Come with me, Robbie?”
    “Of course,” he said. He polished off his food and gave the crafternooners a charming half bow. “The pleasure was mine, ladies.”
    Lindsey had to squash the urge to stand up and curtsey in return.
    Mary, Beth and Lindsey watched as they left and then emitted a collective sigh of appreciation for the handsome and debonair Robbie Vine.
    “I am
so
helping on that play,” Mary said.
    “I’m auditioning,” Beth said.
    “Count me in,” Lindsey said. “Not for auditioning but anything else. If this Wargus fellow is as nasty as he seems, I have a feeling Violet is going to need all of us.”

3
    “R ead it again, hon,” Violet directed from in front of the stage. “And this time try it with a little less emotion.”
    Lindsey glanced up from where she and Nancy were meeting with the other people who had agreed to work backstage for the Briar Creek Community Theater’s production of
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
. Nancy was in charge, mostly because she could bribe people as needed with cookies.
    Beth was on stage with Robbie Vine, and she was reading for the part of one of the faeries. She had really sunk her teeth into the part, and Robbie had his lips pressed together as if trying not to show his amusement.
    “I think Beth might be better suited to finger plays,” Nancy said fretfully.
    “I think she’s nervous because she is on stage with Robbie Vine,” Lindsey said.
    “Hmm,” Nancy said. “Maybe you should go where she can see you and it will calm her down.”
    “On it,” Lindsey said.
    She went down the narrow aisle toward the stage. The seats up front were empty, so she moved into one where she knew Beth could see her.
    “From the top,” Violet instructed.
    Lindsey watched as Beth clutched the pages in her hand and nodded at Violet. Beth then glanced out at the audience and saw Lindsey, who gave her a thumbs-up signal. Beth gave her a small smile and then stiffened her spine. When Lindsey glanced back at the stage, she saw that Robbie was watching her.
    She met his green gaze and then he gave her a slow wink that she had no doubt was meant to charm her. It probably would have worked if her heart wasn’t completely out at sea with a handsome boat captain.
    She didn’t want to encourage Robbie so she gave him her best aloof look and turned her attention back to Beth. She heard