Love Can Be Murder

he harasses you, Penny, I'll help you to get a restraining order."
    The vehemence in her voice made Penny wonder if Gloria had firsthand experience with restraining orders. Penny gave a hoarse laugh. "He painted my old house pink—can you do anything about that?"
    Gloria sighed. "You know I can't. I wish I could have gotten you the house, too."
    "I'm happier with my business. He only wanted this place so he could shut me down, you know. All that talk about his father giving him this place and it having sentimental value was bull."
    "Still, I'm sorry that he's being so childish about painting the house."
    "Well, I couldn't care less," Penny lied, then glanced up. Her gaze landed on Marie. "In fact, I'm having a party tonight to...celebrate my freedom."
    "Oh. That's...great." Gloria made an approving noise.
    "If you don't have plans, join us. We'll be at Caskey's bar on the square. The Voodoo Festival is going on, so Mojo is hopping with activity for once."
    "Sounds tempting," Gloria said. "I'd love to drive over, but I already have a... commitment...of sorts."
    A date? Penny wondered. Gloria Dalton was beautiful, but emitted a general disdain for men. "Okay. Well, thanks for calling," Penny said, trying to sound breezy.
    "Sure. And Penny...that offer to talk is always open."
    "Thank you," Penny said somewhat woodenly. She felt so pathetic—her own attorney pitied her. "Goodbye, Gloria."
    She hung up the phone and thought not for the first time that the woman was very good at her job; she had, after all, blocked Deke's vigorous attempt to keep the rental house. Yet it seemed to Penny that Gloria Dalton carried out her duties of legally dividing married couples with a certain sadness—Penny sensed the attractive New Orleans attorney had a story.
    She pursed her mouth. But then, didn't everyone?
    "Bad news?" Marie asked across the room.
    "No," Penny said, then exhaled and donned a cheerful expression as she walked over to the smoothie counter where Marie was working. "You were about to tell me what to expect tonight at the party?"
    Marie's smile was secretive as she pushed a glass of yellow-colored juice toward Penny. "I have a few surprises planned."
    Penny picked up the glass with a wry smile. "No offense, Marie, but I've had enough surprises to last a lifetime. I'm ready for my life to settle into a nice, quiet rut."
    "Good surprises," Marie amended. "We'll have fun."
    Penny sipped from the glass and murmured when the citrusy, almost floral-flavored juice washed over her taste buds. "Mmm, this is good."
    "It's my own blend. I was thinking about adding it to the menu for the festival crowd."
    Penny narrowed her eyes. "As long as you didn't sneak in some suspect ingredient."
    Marie grinned. "Can I help it if my juice boosts sex drive?"
    Penny reluctantly swallowed the mouthful of tangy stuff she'd been savoring. "What's in this?"
    "Just a little bee pollen and some ginseng." Marie's eyes twinkled. "And a secret ingredient or two."
    Penny wagged her finger. "We have to divulge our recipes to our customers, Marie. And I'm afraid you wasted your love potion on me."
    Marie sighed. "Penny, Deke put you through a horrible ordeal, but don't let him keep you down." She gestured wide. "Just look at your success."
    Penny pivoted her head to take in the two large rooms they'd created when they'd gutted the rental house. She tried to view her business as a stranger might. The high ceilings had been fitted with two skylights to allow natural light to flood the space. One room housed shelves and racks of bottled vitamins, minerals, and a plethora of other natural additives in powder, liquid, crystal, and solid form, plus books, magazines, and other packaged products aimed at attaining a healthy lifestyle.
    The second room featured the juice bar, plus bins and baskets of colorful organic produce, including dried and fresh herbs, roots, barks, teas, edible flowers, and other goods harvested from their tiny herb garden and from other sources. The wide-plank oak floors had been left alone, the distressed finish adding to the homey feeling of a general store. With the soothing sounds of nature playing through overhead speakers, The Charm Farm was a fragrant, welcoming place. Pride swelled her chest at the thought that from the germ of an idea, she had built a profitable business. Yet a tiny pang managed to slice through her satisfaction: She had hoped to share her success with Deke.
    The idea that they were no longer a couple still