The Worst Noel

by Amy M. Reade

  And now he was back. Now that she had made a comfortable life for herself and Tighe and Laurel, now that she owned a successful business in Juniper Junction. She could only hope that he wouldn’t stay, that he wouldn’t try to make trouble for her, that he wouldn’t try to contact the kids he had left behind so ruthlessly.

  She was seething again. She needed something to take her mind off her troubles. She dialed Noley.

  “What are you doing right now?” she asked when Noley answered.

  “Trying to come up with just the right mix of herbs for a popover recipe.” She must have sensed from the tone of Lilly’s voice that something was not right. “What’s happened?”

  “Beau showed up at my store this morning.” Though Noley had never known Beau, she had heard enough about him to know she didn’t like him.

  “You’re kidding. Is he still there?”

  “No, but I have this feeling I haven’t heard the last of him.”

  “Did you call Bill?”

  “I called him first.”

  “What did he say?” Lilly related the conversation she had had with her brother. “I’m glad he’s on the force,” Noley said. “He knows the history, he knows not to mess around if Beau starts to bother you. Do you want me to come down to the store?”

  “If you don’t have lunch plans, why don’t you come down around one o’clock? I’ll order something from the diner.”

  “I’ll be down, but I’ll bring lunch. Don’t bother ordering anything. I need a tester for these popovers, anyway.”

  Lilly was only too happy to be Noley’s popover tester. “See you then.”

  Luckily, the Christmas season rush was gearing up and Lilly was busy for the rest of the morning, helping customers who came into the shop in a steady stream. She was surprised to see Noley walk in later. “Is it one o’clock already?” she asked, incredulous.

  “It is. I’ll set up lunch on the back display case and you finish up with everyone in here.” Lilly waited on the few remaining customers and when the shop was empty she joined Noley.

  “So tell me about Beau’s visit,” Noley said as she handed Lilly a melamine plate.

  Lilly shared the details of her ex-husband’s appearance at the store. When she finished talking, she was silent for a moment, then she gasped. “You know, there was someone peering in the front window of the shop last night when I closed up,” she told Noley breathlessly. “I couldn’t see the person’s face, but I wonder if that was him. I just figured it was someone who was hoping the store was still open.” She shuddered. “To think he may have been within a few feet of me last night and I didn’t realize it,” she said. “I can’t stand the thought of it.”

  Noley nodded, choosing a pickle spear from a Mason jar she had brought. “You’re going to have to be aware of everyone and everything around you now,” she said. “Not that you aren’t normally,” she hastened to add, “but with Beau hanging around you’ll need to be even more alert. Not to mention the person who broke into your house.” Lilly shuddered. She didn’t even want to think about that.

  “I just can’t figure out why he’s come back after all this time,” Lilly mused. “There are plenty of places with good skiing in Colorado. Why pick Juniper Junction?”

  “This is the only town with good skiing where you are,” Noley said pointedly.

  “He couldn’t have come back because he wanted to see me,” Lilly scoffed. “Not after fifteen years.”

  “See what Bill has to say,” Noley suggested. “Now eat. I brought all this good food and you’re not eating. It’s insulting.” She smiled, and Lilly appreciated her attempt to lighten the mood. She picked at some of the things Noley had brought, including the popovers, rounds of puff pastry spread with apricot-studded brie cheese, and edamame hummus with homemade pita chips, but her stomach was still defying any attempt to enjoy lunch.

  Chapter 12

  Noley left by one-thirty, saying she had to get back to the kitchen. Thankfully, the post-lunch crowd along Main Street included a number of people looking for unique pieces of jewelry for Christmas gifts, so Lilly stayed busy until closing time. When the last customer of the day had left with Lilly’s signature silver box tied with a black tulle ribbon, Lilly closed the door, locked it, and scanned Main Street to see if there was any sign of Beau. With only the other shop lights and the twinkling Christmas lights to add illumination, Lilly couldn’t see anyone loitering outside. But that didn’t mean no one was there. She put the display pieces in the vault and locked it, then pulled the back door closed behind her, hopped into her car as quickly as she could, and sped off toward home. She normally liked to take her time driving down Main Street because it was so pretty, especially at this time of year, but tonight she wanted to waste no time getting home.

  The kids had dinner ready when she came through the back door, stomping snow from her boots. She kissed each of them on the cheek, trying to look into their eyes to determine if anything suspicious had happened during the day. But nothing seemed out of the ordinary.

  As they were sitting down to dinner there was a knock at the front door. Lilly gave a start then looked sheepishly at the kids when they both stared at her. “Mom, you’re jumpy tonight,” Tighe said. “I’ll get the door.”

  “No!” Lilly said a bit too loudly. Then, in a quieter voice she said, “You keep eating. I’ll see who it is.”

  It was Bill. In her stress-addled mind Lilly had forgotten. “Have you told the kids?” he whispered when she stood aside to let him in. She shook her head. He accompanied her into the kitchen.

  “Hey, Uncle Bill,” the kids said in unison. He kissed Laurel and shook hands with Tighe.

  “Have you eaten?” Lilly asked. “The kids made dinner and it’s delicious.” Bill rubbed his hands together.

  “Looks good. Don’t mind if I do,” he said, walking to the cupboard and helping himself to a plate and a water glass. He opened a drawer and took out flatware then sat down at the table. Lilly placed a slab of roast beef on his plate and surrounded it with vegetables that had been in the slow cooker most of the day.

  “Mm. This is delicious,” he said. Though he had been divorced for three years, he still hadn’t learned how to cook and most of his meals were of the microwave variety. He lived alone and didn’t have any kids, so he didn’t have to listen to anyone complaining. His gaze went from Laurel to Tighe. “Surely your mother didn’t teach you how to cook this well,” he said, winking at them.

  “Well, Mom and Noley,” Laurel said with a smile, looking at Lilly. Tighe laughed in agreement.

  “Guys, I’ll clean up. You go upstairs and get your homework done,” Lilly said when dinner was over. They agreed readily and left the room before Lilly could change her mind and ask them to help with the dishes.

  When Lilly and Bill were alone he started clearing the table. “So tell me everything from the beginning,” he said.

  She went to the foot of the stairs to make sure the kids were out of hearing range then returned to the kitchen. She told him how Beau had appeared at the shop that morning, how he had not left right away despite her requests, and how he had possibly also visited the shop the night before. Bill listened without interrupting, his face grim.

  When Lilly finished speaking Bill had some questions for her.

  “Have you seen him around this neighborhood?”

  Lilly shuddered. “No. Believe me, I would have called you the second I saw him.”

  “Make sure you do if he comes around. I’ll tell everyone down at the station to keep their eyes open for a skier from out of town.”

  “You just described almost everyone in Juniper Junction,” Lilly said dryly. “Do you really think he’ll come around here?”

  Bill shrugged. “I don’t know, but it seems logical. He found your store and he went to see if you still lived in the old house. Makes sense that he might want to know where you live now. Make sure you keep the doors locked all the time. Are you going to tell the kids?”

  “
I’ll probably tell them something just so they know it’s important to keep the doors locked, but I don’t think I’ll tell them the whole truth.” She paused for a moment, a horrid thought occurring to her. “You don’t think Beau was the one who broke in here, do you?”

  Bill shook his head, still chewing. When he had swallowed he said, “I doubt it. Why would he do that? Besides, I’m not entirely convinced that door handle didn’t just break. That happens sometimes, you know.”

  “I know. Maybe that’s what it was, but I can’t be sure. It’s totally possible that someone was in here.”

  Bill changed the subject. “How much do the kids know about Beau?”

  “Just that he left when Laurel was a baby and Tighe was a toddler and I never heard from him again.”

  “Do you think they’re interested in knowing more about him?”

  “I don’t know. I’m not interested in sharing more about him, that’s for sure. There really isn’t too much more to share.”

  Bill dried a pan and set it on the counter. “On to other matters, as long as we’re done talking about Beau for now.”

  “I suppose we are.”

  “Several people in the office have mentioned to me that things may not be looking too good for you right now, what with your fingerprints being on the necklace that was used to strangle Eden Barclay and you being the one who found her.”

  “Yeah, but what do they expect?” Lilly asked, her hands on her hips. “Of course my fingerprints are on the necklace! I’ve been trying to sell it. And of course I found her! She was on the floor of my store and I open up every day!” She was getting worked up into a frenzy of anger, disbelief, and apprehension. Could they really arrest her for Eden’s murder? She sat down heavily at the table. “This can’t be happening. What am I going to tell the kids if the police break down my door and drag me off to jail for something I didn’t do?”

  “Easy does it,” Bill said, sitting down across from her. “The kids know as well as I do that you didn’t kill Eden. The police are just following the evidence. More evidence will turn up that points in another direction, I’m sure. But it might take a while. Can you think of any reason someone may have had it in for Eden?”

  Lilly shook her head. “Nothing other than what I’ve already told the detectives—that Eden made everyone mad because she was always complaining about something along Main Street. Either the sidewalks weren’t even or a tree branch was blocking the name of her store or any number of things like that. Little stuff.”

  “Make sure you call me if you think of anything else. It’s important.”

  “Believe me, I know that. I’ll call if I think of anything.” She pushed her chair back and hugged her brother. “Thanks for coming over. I don’t know what I’d do if you had a regular job and couldn’t tell me everything that goes on in the police department.”

  “I can’t tell you everything, but I can give you a heads-up when necessary,” he said with a smile. “Make sure the doors are locked, get some sleep, and try to remember it’s Christmastime. You’re supposed to be happy and festive.”

  Lilly rolled her eyes and swatted his arm. He left and she locked the door behind him, double- and triple-checking it. Then she let Barney out and scanned the backyard carefully as he did his thing in the snow. When he came bounding up the back steps, she let him in, wiped off his paws, and locked the door, double-checking it, too. Since the locksmith had changed the lock, she felt more secure, but she still wasn’t taking any chances. She tousled Barney’s fur, thankful that he could be trusted to alert her if anyone came to the house who didn’t belong. Beau was allergic to dogs, or so he had told her, so she hadn’t gotten Barney until long after Beau left.

  She and Barney went upstairs and she bid each of the kids goodnight. They were both busy doing homework, listening to music, and checking social media. Laurel was also on the phone. Lilly couldn’t imagine how they got anything done, but it seemed to work for them.

  The next morning Beau was on her mind as soon as she got out of bed. As she drank her coffee in the kitchen and the kids grabbed food and backpacks before leaving for school, she stopped them for a moment. “I want you both to make sure that the doors are locked all the time as soon as you get home from school,” she warned. “I don’t want either of you in the house without the doors being locked.”

  “Okay. Why the concern all of a sudden?” Tighe asked.

  Lilly looked into her coffee. “No particular reason. I just got thinking that since it’s Christmastime, it’s prime season for burglars. That’s all.”

  She could see Tighe watching her through narrowed eyes, but he didn’t say anything. How did that kid know when she was trying to lie? She gazed into her coffee as if the future were on its surface, written in cream.

  “Did you leave something for us to make for dinner tonight?” Laurel asked.

  “Oh, I almost forgot. I have a Chamber of Commerce holiday happy hour tonight, so you two are on your own for dinner. Would you mind taking Gran some leftovers?”

  “All right,” Laurel replied. “What time will you be home?”

  “I’m hoping by eight,” Lilly replied. “I hate these things, so I’ll try to slip out early.”

  Laurel grinned. “Okay. See you later.” She blew a kiss to Lilly and left in a hurry.

  “Bye, honey.”

  Tighe came over and pecked Lilly on the cheek before following his sister out the door. “Be careful, Mom.”

  “I will. Have a good day.”

  As soon as the kids left Lilly hurried to finish getting ready for work then she left, too. She gave thanks, not for the first time, that Barney was still young enough to hold his bladder until the kids got home early in the afternoon. Lilly supposed she could always ask Noley to come over to let Barney out, but she hated to impose on her friend like that.

  Despite the rhythm that was returning to her days at the shop, Lilly couldn’t help feeling a little jumpy every time the front door opened. It wasn’t that she was afraid of the murderer coming back—she was afraid of the police coming for her. She worried that an officer would come to arrest her while she was talking to a customer or, worse, that she would be arrested at home in front of the kids. By the time evening came and it was time to lock up the shop, Lilly was ready for a drink at the Chamber of Commerce happy hour.

  Chapter 13

  Lilly left the shop after checking the locks one last time, then got into her car and drove just a block up Main Street to Pine Tree Pub and Grill. She didn’t usually drive such a short distance when she could walk, but she didn’t relish the thought of having to return to her car alone down the alley behind Main Street after the party.

  By the time Lilly walked into the pub, the Chamber of Commerce holiday mixer was in full swing. For a group of normally-staid business owners, this group could get a little rowdy when wassail and other forms of good cheer were added to the mix. She hung up her coat on an already-stuffed rack near the front door, then turned around to start greeting people.

  When she faced the room she scanned the crowd quickly to get an estimate of the head count. Of course, not everyone there was a member of the Chamber of Commerce, but she knew most of them were. She was chatting with one of the owners of a floral shop when she caught a glimpse of a familiar face in the back corner of the bar, sitting alone in a booth, taking a pull from a bottle of beer. Beau.

  It was a good thing she was in the middle of a conversation when she spotted him or she might have been tempted to stride over to him and demand that he leave. Of course, she couldn’t very well do that when he hadn’t done anything and they were in a public place, but she probably would have done it anyway. She decided the best course of action was to ignore him and hope he left soon.

  As president of the Juniper Junction Chamber of Commerce, it was Lilly’s thankless job to schmooze at these mixers with all the Main Street business owners, not just the ones she liked. There was a mixer each month and though the locations rotated, the same Cham
ber of Commerce members were almost always in attendance. And not all of them were team players. Eden, for example, had been notorious for using the mixers to lodge gossipy complaints against her fellow small business owners. There was the year she had been miffed over one store’s decision to display a menorah rather than Christmas decorations, saying the menorah looked “out of place” on Main Street. Lilly had been infuriated. There was the time Eden was angry because the sidewalk in front of her store was the last one to be cleared of snow by the public works department. That may have had something to do with Eden’s earlier complaint that the members of the public works department didn’t deserve holiday bonuses because taxpayers hadn’t approved of such “frivolous” spending. The worst incident of all had occurred at a summer Chamber of Commerce mixer—Eden had accused the mayor of Juniper Junction of embezzling funds to build an addition on her already-large and beautiful home. Of course, there had been no evidence to suggest that what Eden said was true, but it nonetheless ruffled some very important feathers.

  But Eden wasn’t at this party. Maybe, thought Lilly, this mixer will go smoothly since Eden isn’t here. I hope so—I want to be changing into pajamas within the hour.

  She had just accepted a glass of white wine from the bartender when she spotted Herb Knight making his way toward her. He appeared a little agitated, which belied his occupation. As owner of Namaste, one of Juniper Junction’s two yoga studios, Herb had discovered long ago that when a yogi loses his or her temper in public, it is not good for business.

  There was something in Herb’s look which warned Lilly that the conversation to come might not be entirely yogi-esque.