A Small Case of Indigestion: Deadly Marriage Series, #6

By Amanda Lawrence Auverigne

A deadly dinner party...

After a wife discovers that her husband is in love with another woman, she decides to get bloody revenge.
She invites her friends to a dinner party and she serves up a cold dish of vengeance.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Amanda Lawrence Auverigne
• Release date: Mar 28, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201191177

Amanda Lawrence Auverigne

Amanda Lawrence Auverigne writes horror, humor and dark fantasy fiction. She lives in the United States. Read short stories, watch book trailers and find out about new book releases. Visit Amanda's website.   http://auverigne.com

Book preview

1

Lidia gazed at the laminated menu in her grasp.  After a few moments, she slapped the menu onto the table and looked up.  She looked around the crowded restaurant. And she tapped a recently manicured fingernail atop the surface of the table.  She tossed back her long blonde hair and grabbed the glass of lemon water that rested on the table.

A tall slender young woman with long and straight jet black hair, cream colored skin and gray eyes rushed to the table.  She saw Lidia and smiled wanly.

Lidia placed her water on the table. She waved at the approaching young woman.

Hey Lidia. Sorry I'm late, Jenny said.  She pulled out her seat and sat down across from Lidia.

As soon as Jenny settled into her chair, their waiter appeared.

The young male server was tall, slender and handsome.  The young man  stared at Jenny with a stare of uncompromised admiration.

Lidia tapped her foot and she glared at the young man.

Hello ladies, the waiter said with his eyes still fixed on Jenny. My name is Mike and I'll be your server today. Are you ready to order?

Not just yet! Lidia said with a slight edge to her voice.

Jenny and Mike looked at Lidia.

Lidia smiled. She folded her hands atop the menu that lay atop the table as she stared up at Mike with a cold stare of disdain as she spoke.

We'd like to start off with two iced teas with lemon. And of course we'd like a menu for our guest, Lidia said curtly.

Mike regarded Lidia with a twitching smile. Of course Madame. Right away.  He spun on his heel and rushed away from the table.

Jenny watched Mike's hasty retreat.  After a few seconds, she turned to Lidia. Her eyes were wide and she gasped a little as she spoke to her friend.

Wow Lidia. That was kind of mean, Jenny said in a quiet voice.

Lidia rolled her eyes and said, Please.  You and I both know how hard it is to get good help these days.

Mike returned with two glasses of ice tea on a silver platter and a menu for Jenny. He avoided Lidia's icy stare as he placed the iced teas stoically onto the table. He turned to Lidia and he flashed a dazzling smile as he handed her the menu.

Here you are Miss, Mike said.

Thanks, Jenny said.  She raised her left hand and took the menu before she opened it.

Actually its Mrs. Lidia stated coldly.

Mike kept his gaze on Jenny's face.

Jenny was examining the contents of the menu.

Mike moved closer to Jenny. He looked at Jenny's left hand and his face fell when he saw her gleaming wedding band.  He recovered quickly however and he managed a polite smile as he corrected his previous error.

I mean Mrs. Mike said with solemn emphasis.

Jenny looked up at Mike and said, What?

Our waiter was just admiring your wedding ring, Lidia said in a sing song voice.

Jenny looked at Lidia with an expression of slight confusion before she glanced at her wedding band. Oh. Well Lidia's is much nicer.

Lidia raised her left hand and she wriggled the shimmering platinum wedding band with a boastful smile.

Yes mine does sparkle, Lidia said.

Mike laughed a little as he continued to gaze at Jenny.

Lidia lowered her hand and she scowled at Mike.

Jenny glanced at the menu briefly before she closed it. She looked up at Mike.

I already know what I want I think, Jenny said.

Mike produced a tiny black spiral notebook and pen from his vest and he regarded Jenny's enthusiasm with a wide smile. Please tell me Madam.

I'd like a House Salad, the grilled chicken breast with greens and for dessert the chocolate lava cake, Jenny said.

Very good Madame, Mike said.  He scribbled across the pad and turned to Lidia. His smile faltered as he addressed her cordially. And you Madame?

I'd like the Ginger Peanut Salad with extra spinach.  The grilled chicken and greens and for dessert I want a hot fudge sundae, Lidia said. She slapped the menu before she snatched it from the table and handed it to Mike with a pinched expression across her cream colored features.

Mike took the menu with a small laugh and a stiff bow.  He said, Thank you and your orders will be ready promptly.

See that they are, Lidia said.

The waiter nodded.  He turned to Jenny and smiled at her.

Jenny handed him the menu.

Mike took the menu and said, Thank you Madame, before he left the table.

Jenny grabbed her iced tea.  She sipped it quickly and said, Wow Lidia. That was kind of terse.

Shut up Jenny.  You know that I am a dining perfectionist.  Its' my perfectionism with food that has allowed me to write four successful cookbooks and yes before you ask. The Food Network has asked me to do a show for them. And no, Mark hasn't worked out all of the bugs for my recipe App in the iTunes store yet but it is a delicate work in progress! Lidia said excitedly. She raised her cup of tea and motioned the glass in Jenny's direction.

Jenny sipped from her glass.  She placed the chalice on the table and smiled at Lidia. Wow. So you are doing well. I had no idea about the Food Network thing, Jenny said with awe.

Lidia's smile became wider and she sipped her tea with reverence.

So when will your show be on? Hopefully before the holidays, Jenny said.

Lidia placed her tea on the table and she shook her head blandly. We're still in talks with the channel's executives. You know how fickle they can be but production will begin soon.  And in the meantime I will use the time I do have in between books to build up my YouTube Channel. I have 2 million subscribers now.  And the endorsements just keep on coming. Mark is so happy. Now he's glad I talked him into selling that silly Internet company he had to help me full time.  You know he completely re-did my website. Have you seen it yet?

Uh no. I haven't been on your site in ages but Nick downloaded your App. It crashed his iPhone, Jenny said with a wince.

Well he downloaded the Beta. Mark has everything tech completely in control and he recently added some updates.  It should be fine, Lidia said.  She sipped her tea and said, How is Nick by the way?

Jenny grabbed her tea. Fine.

Lidia leaned forward.  She smiled sweetly and said, Are you two still trying for that little bambino? Or are you still climbing that corporate ladder?

Uh no, Jenny said.

Lidia sat back in her seat and she looked at Jenny with a slight tilt of her head. So no baby yet?

Jenny shook her head. No.  And um. I think Nick has sort of gave up on it. I mean we've been trying for years.  And I was thinking of I dunno.  Going to one of those fertility clinics.

Those are a waste of money, Lidia said grimly.

Jenny looked at Lidia with slight alarm. How do you know?

I have friends who've wasted money and time on those quacks. Listen. You're still young and healthy and so is Nick. There's no reason the two of  you shouldn't have a whole army of children. Trust me when I say that it will happen when it happens.  Tell Nick I miss him. I still think of him when memories of my wild college days pop into my head!

Um. I'll let him know.

Don't tell me that you don't think about college.

It was so long ago.

Its only been ten years!  We're not that old.

Well my life is alot different now.

Do you still think about Mark?

No.  Why would I?

Well you know we were all so close back then. You, me, Steven, Nick, Laura, Melanie, Allie, Sidney, Lana, Bob, Anselm. Oh! I heard that Anselm opened his own Cathouse in Amsterdam. Really high class. Can you believe it?

Um no.

Yes.  It just so happens that Lizzie and I were watching this documentary about the legalization of prostitution in other countries and they showed a really smart shop in Amsterdam and when they talked to the owner, it was Anselm!

No way!

Yes. Well it looked like him anyway and you never can tell what people are up to these days.

No you can't.

We should all get together sometime. It would be like old times. What do you say?

Oh I don't know.

I'm sure Mark and the gang will be happy to see you.

I don't know. I'll have to check my schedule."

Yes because you're soooo busy!

Isn't everybody?

Some more than others it seems.

Mike returned with the two salads.  He placed the salads on the table and bowed.

Ladies your salads, Mike said.

Jenny grabbed her fork and she looked at her plate. Oh no.

Mike looked at Jenny with alarm.

What is it Madame? Mike asked with concern.

It's just that, Jenny looked up at him. I'm allergic to peanuts. You gave me the wrong salad.

Yes you idiot! Lidia said.  She pushed her salad away from her as she glared at the waiter. You could have killed her!

I'm so sorry, the waiter said. He grabbed Jenny's plate of salad before he turned and grabbed Lidia's. He switched the plates and placed the dishes in front of the ladies.

Incompetent, Lidia said with contempt.

Jenny placed her fork on the table and she grabbed another one.  She poked at her salad solemnly.

I am truly sorry miss, Mike said. He gazed at Jenny with an expression of acute sadness.

Jenny looked up at Mike.

Its fine. It was a simple mistake, Jenny said.

Lidia shoved a forkful of greens inside her mouth and she glared at Mike as she spoke.

A mistake that could have cost you your life! If she ate this salad she would have gone into anaphylactic shock you idiot! Lidia shouted.

Jenny grabbed the Epi Pen that hung from her neck instinctively as she looked at Lidia. Lidia its fine.  She looked at Mike. Thank you."

Mike waiter nodded solemnly. He turned away from Jenny. He looked at Lidia.

Lidia stared daggers at him.

Don't expect a fat tip you moron, Lidia fumed.

Lidia, Jenny said in a warning tone.

Mike bowed again. Sorry Madame. I will be careful next time.  He turned and left the table quickly.

Jenny nibbled at her salad.

You were very hard on him Lidia, Jenny stated.

Well you could have fucking died, Lidia said.  She stopped eating and looked at her salad. Maybe I shouldn't have ordered this salad.  She looked up at Jenny. I almost forgot about your peanut allergy. I'm so sorry. She pushed her plate away.

Its okay Lidia.  We haven't seen each other in awhile so, Jenny said.

Yeah but we used to be so close. We were practically best friends in college.  What happened to us? Lidia asked.

Life.

Yeah.  A real kick in the ass life.

Jenny laughed.

I'm not so hungry anymore, Lidia said.

Well I am. I'm not going to let some faux peanut scare stop me from eating. Go on Lidia. Eat. I'm looking forward to that chicken and my dessert, Jenny said.

Alright if you insist, Lidia said.

Jenny and Lidia ate in silence for a few moments.

So are things really okay with you and Nick?  Or are you just putting on a brave front? Lidia asked.

Jenny swallowed with great difficulty. Things are great.

If something was wrong. You would tell me wouldn't you?  Lidia asked.

Of course I would, Jenny replied.

Its just  that. I remember you telling me how hard it was when Nick lost his consulting business and ended up working for someone else. And then you were the sole breadwinner for awhile and I remember you saying how he couldn't deal with that? Lidia inquired.

Lidia that was a year ago and we are both fine. Nick has new business leads and I'm doing fine at the firm, Jenny responded.

The new Head of Marketing for Ludstrom Industries I hear.  Congrats on that. I know you worked hard.

Thanks.  And yeah I do work hard. It's just that sometimes I really wish that Nick would appreciate it more.

You making more cash than he does is like a kick to his dick. I mean his ego. He always was a testosterone strutter.  I should know. I dated him in college first remember?

Yeah I remember.

And after I dumped him you started dating him. Even though I still had feelings for him.

We didn't start dating right after you dumped him Lidia. You dumped Nick the first year of university. Nick and I started dating the third year. Right after you and Mark started up.

Lidia chewed for a moment. She swallowed, smiled