The Way of the Wicked (Hope Street Church Mysteries Book 2) Read Free
Author: Ellery Adams
Ads: Link
the direction of the front door. “Here she is now.”
Ashley Lee Love strode into the salon like a supermodel flaunting her stuff on the catwalk. She wore pink capri pants stitched with navy blue whales, a wide leather belt that accentuated her narrow waist, and a gauzy white blouse. Her accessories included three strands of pearls, matching pearl earrings, a glimmering diamond tennis bracelet, and a Versace hobo purse that looked like it contained a bowling ball.
Flipping a shimmering lock of golden blonde hair over her tanned shoulder, Ashley inspected the array of available nail polish colors and then held up two bottles of identical looking pinks.
“Italian Love Affair or Argenteeny Pinkini?” she called across the salon to Cooper.
For some reason, the first name made Cooper think of Emilio. “The second one,” she said.
Ashley handed the bottle to her nail technician and then slipped off a pair of elegant sandals with a wedge heel. Sliding gracefully into the pedicure chair, she opened her purse, pulled out one of several magazines rolled up inside, and showed it to her sister.
Cooper stared at the beautiful little girl gracing the cover of Parents magazine. She was blonde, freckled, and had the deepest dimples that Cooper had ever seen. “Cute kid,” she said and then looked at Ashley’s expectant face. “Why are you showing me that?”
“I need to start doing some research,” Ashley answered with an enigmatic smile.
“On parenting?” Cooper was confused.
Ashley wiggled excitedly in her seat. “Of course, silly. How else am I going to get ready for when the baby comes?”
Cooper’s mouth came unhinged. She stared at the angelic pigtailed child on the cover of the magazine and felt a stab of jealousy. Ashley, who was exactly a year, a month, a week, and a day younger than Cooper, was married to a handsome and wealthy husband and lived in an elegant mansion in the most desirable section of the suburbs. She divided her time between playing golf and tennis, shopping at boutiques and high-end department stores, and organizing an endless parade of philanthropic events. And now, the woman who already had looks, love, and luck was going to have a baby.
What about me? Cooper stared forlornly at the bubbles surfacing around her feet. I’m the older sister. I have no husband, no children, and I spent five years of my life with a man who dumped me for another woman. When will it be my turn?
“It feels okay?” Minnie asked as she rinsed Cooper’s feet and began to massage her calves using a fragrant orange lotion.
“Yes.” Cooper forced a smile to her face. She suddenly felt ashamed of being envious of her sister. Touching the cover of the magazine Ashley held, Cooper looked into her sister’s lovely cerulean eyes and said, “A baby. That’s wonderful, Ashley. I’m really happy for you.”
2
Ashley reached over and swatted Cooper with her magazine, causing her nail technician to look up in alarm.
“I’m not pregnant yet, Coop,” Ashley hissed. “Don’t go jinxing me!” She returned her feet to their former position without even glancing at the befuddled technician. “But Lincoln and I have decided it’s time. Daddy and Mama would be so tickled to be grandparents and . . . Oh!” She jabbed her fingernail at an ad in the magazine. “Look at this adorable bassinet! I’m going to have the most beautiful nursery in the whole city! I’ve already brought home a dozen wallpaper samples to try out. I’m leaning toward green toile with the—”
“Aren’t you putting the cart just a bit in front of the horse?” Cooper interjected.
Ashley narrowed her eyes defensively. “Lincoln and I are young, happy, and in love. What’s going to stop us from having the most perfect, precious little baby anyone’s ever laid eyes on?”
Ignoring Ashley’s testiness, Cooper replied, “Nothing, I suppose.”
After all, you’ve always gotten everything you’ve ever wanted, Cooper thought
Ashley Lee Love strode into the salon like a supermodel flaunting her stuff on the catwalk. She wore pink capri pants stitched with navy blue whales, a wide leather belt that accentuated her narrow waist, and a gauzy white blouse. Her accessories included three strands of pearls, matching pearl earrings, a glimmering diamond tennis bracelet, and a Versace hobo purse that looked like it contained a bowling ball.
Flipping a shimmering lock of golden blonde hair over her tanned shoulder, Ashley inspected the array of available nail polish colors and then held up two bottles of identical looking pinks.
“Italian Love Affair or Argenteeny Pinkini?” she called across the salon to Cooper.
For some reason, the first name made Cooper think of Emilio. “The second one,” she said.
Ashley handed the bottle to her nail technician and then slipped off a pair of elegant sandals with a wedge heel. Sliding gracefully into the pedicure chair, she opened her purse, pulled out one of several magazines rolled up inside, and showed it to her sister.
Cooper stared at the beautiful little girl gracing the cover of Parents magazine. She was blonde, freckled, and had the deepest dimples that Cooper had ever seen. “Cute kid,” she said and then looked at Ashley’s expectant face. “Why are you showing me that?”
“I need to start doing some research,” Ashley answered with an enigmatic smile.
“On parenting?” Cooper was confused.
Ashley wiggled excitedly in her seat. “Of course, silly. How else am I going to get ready for when the baby comes?”
Cooper’s mouth came unhinged. She stared at the angelic pigtailed child on the cover of the magazine and felt a stab of jealousy. Ashley, who was exactly a year, a month, a week, and a day younger than Cooper, was married to a handsome and wealthy husband and lived in an elegant mansion in the most desirable section of the suburbs. She divided her time between playing golf and tennis, shopping at boutiques and high-end department stores, and organizing an endless parade of philanthropic events. And now, the woman who already had looks, love, and luck was going to have a baby.
What about me? Cooper stared forlornly at the bubbles surfacing around her feet. I’m the older sister. I have no husband, no children, and I spent five years of my life with a man who dumped me for another woman. When will it be my turn?
“It feels okay?” Minnie asked as she rinsed Cooper’s feet and began to massage her calves using a fragrant orange lotion.
“Yes.” Cooper forced a smile to her face. She suddenly felt ashamed of being envious of her sister. Touching the cover of the magazine Ashley held, Cooper looked into her sister’s lovely cerulean eyes and said, “A baby. That’s wonderful, Ashley. I’m really happy for you.”
2
Ashley reached over and swatted Cooper with her magazine, causing her nail technician to look up in alarm.
“I’m not pregnant yet, Coop,” Ashley hissed. “Don’t go jinxing me!” She returned her feet to their former position without even glancing at the befuddled technician. “But Lincoln and I have decided it’s time. Daddy and Mama would be so tickled to be grandparents and . . . Oh!” She jabbed her fingernail at an ad in the magazine. “Look at this adorable bassinet! I’m going to have the most beautiful nursery in the whole city! I’ve already brought home a dozen wallpaper samples to try out. I’m leaning toward green toile with the—”
“Aren’t you putting the cart just a bit in front of the horse?” Cooper interjected.
Ashley narrowed her eyes defensively. “Lincoln and I are young, happy, and in love. What’s going to stop us from having the most perfect, precious little baby anyone’s ever laid eyes on?”
Ignoring Ashley’s testiness, Cooper replied, “Nothing, I suppose.”
After all, you’ve always gotten everything you’ve ever wanted, Cooper thought