Murder with Clotted Cream

by Karen Rose Smith

  “I will, Gavin. I will.”

  The laughter, fun, spilled candy and icing, sticky fingers, and the sampling of gingerbread all combined to make a wonderful day. The houses themselves on their cardboard platforms went from cabins to ranchers to double-storied Hansel and Gretel replicas. Everyone seemed to be having a good time. Not only that, but the tea garden’s sales cases almost looked bare. They’d rung up more bags of tea today too than on a normal Saturday. Maybe people were getting ready for the holidays.

  Some of the children and their parents had already left when Emily showed Daisy her finished house. Daisy could tell that Gavin, a master at construction, had had a hand in it. It was well built, evenly decorated with windows that were even complemented by window boxes. The gingerbread trim had been expertly applied. “You and your dad make a good team.”

  Emily beamed at her. “We do. This was a whole lot of fun. Do you think it’s okay if me and Ben come over to see the baby tomorrow? We’ve been dying to see him, but Dad kept telling us Foster and Vi needed a chance to get into a routine.”

  Obviously, Gavin hadn’t told Emily and Ben exactly what was going on. Maybe that was best, so they wouldn’t act differently around Vi and Foster. “Babies have very unpredictable hours. Sammy’s doing better now with his napping and sleeping schedule. The best thing to do is to call or text Vi and Foster and ask them the best time to come over.”

  Gavin tweaked his daughter’s braids. “I think the secret will be to not stay too long. Shorter visits are probably better than longer ones. You can stop in more often that way.”

  Emily looked to Daisy as if she didn’t quite trust what her dad had told her.

  “Your dad’s right. With shorter visits, no one gets too tired.”

  Emily leaned close to Daisy. “I have a present for Sammy. It’s the cutest little baseball outfit. Do you think Vi and Foster will like it?”

  “I think they’ll like it, and Sammy will too. Just give them a call and make sure he’s not having one of his fussy spells. Then you’ll be good to go.”

  Gavin’s shoulder touched Daisy’s when he said, “Thank you. We’ll see you soon.”

  * * *

  Later that day, Iris was at the sales counter and pointed to a table with two of their regular customers. Betty Sue and her sister Rhonda came in to sample different teas, lunch offerings, and baked goods. They were millennials and knew exactly what they wanted.

  Daisy crossed to them and asked, “What will you have today?”

  Betty Sue, who usually wore something purple—like the jeans and sweater she’d donned today—said, “How about that cocoa rooibos and a slice of apple gingerbread. Do you have clotted cream for that?”

  “We have whipped cream. How about you, Rhonda?”

  Rhonda, whose blue hair atop her head was usually arranged in a messy topknot, said, “I’ll try the peppermint tea. It seems fitting for the season. With that, I’d like two lemon tea cakes.”

  “Both will be coming right up.”

  Daisy went to the kitchen to ready a tray. When she returned to the main tearoom, she served both women, adding a ceramic pot of honey and a bowl of sparkling sugar in case they wanted to add that to their teas.

  Betty Sue dipped her finger to sample the whipped cream. “I heard Margaret Vaughn insisted on clotted cream at her tea.”

  There were so many aspects of a small town that Daisy liked. But there was one aspect she wasn’t sure did anyone any good—the gossip running rampant like wildfire. The Amish believed gossiping was a sin. Daisy only wished the rest of the town did too.

  “Yes, Margaret ordered clotted cream.”

  “I knew Margaret,” Rhonda revealed. “We met at the farmers’ market of all places, and we struck up a conversation. She found out I act in amateur productions in Lancaster. She told me she’d been an actress. I was bewailing the fact that I needed a costume for a part but wasn’t sure where to find it. She actually invited me into her home to look in her closet with costumes.”

  Daisy felt her eyes widen in surprise. “Margaret had a closet of costumes?”

  “Yes, she did,” Rhonda affirmed. “She took me to a spare room. It wasn’t a very big closet. Those old houses don’t have big closets unless they’re renovated.”

  “I see,” Daisy said, wanting to keep Rhonda talking.

  Rhonda lowered her voice. “Margaret wasn’t as straitlaced as everyone thought. She acted that way here, wearing skirts and jackets that covered everything up.”

  “How do you know she wasn’t straitlaced?” Daisy asked as Betty Sue looked on.

  “From those costumes in that closet,” Rhonda answered. “I was playing the part of a hostess at a saloon, and she had just what I needed. It was skimpy with feathers. Bright red.”

  It was possible Margaret had kept costumes from her acting career for sentimental reasons if nothing else. “Did she say where it had come from?”

  “She simply said it was a dance outfit that she had worn for a part.”

  As Daisy left the women with their tea and desserts, she wondered even more about Margaret’s past life, and if that’s what had gotten her killed.

  Chapter Sixteen

  The production of Christmas in the North Woods was sold out. It could be that the population of Willow Creek was curious about what had happened to Margaret. It could be that everyone just wanted to see a Christmas play. It could be that the killer was at the show.

  Daisy’s mom and dad, along with Iris, Russ, and Vi, attended the Saturday night performance. Foster was at home with Sammy. He’d convinced Vi that a night out would do her good. He was trying to help Vi any way he could, and Daisy was glad to see it.

  Earlier, Daisy had been backstage with Jazzi. Glenda had decided to enlist the children’s choir from Daisy’s church to sing carols at the opening of the play and at intermission. Jazzi had volunteered to help keep the kids in order.

  To Daisy’s relief, and surprise, the first two acts of the play went off without a hitch. Applause was enthusiastic as intermission was announced and the children’s choir lined up on either side of the stage a second time.

  Daisy leaned close to Vi. “I’m going backstage and see if Jazzi needs any help. I understand they’re serving beverages out in the lobby if you want to get something.”

  Daisy glanced at her mom to see if she’d like to go, but her mother was just staring straight ahead and didn’t seem to hear Daisy or Vi. Her mother’s reaction made Daisy uneasy. Another time, her mom would have had an opinion about the play so far. She seemed quiet tonight.

  Iris stood and called over to Vi. “Do you want to get something to drink?”

  Vi nodded and she said to Daisy, “I want to call Foster too and see how he and Sammy are doing.”

  “Are you worried he can’t handle Sammy on his own?” Daisy asked.

  “I’m with Sammy a lot more than he is. I just want to make sure.”

  Daisy gave her daughter’s shoulder a squeeze. “Call as often as you want if it will relieve your stress. I’m sure Foster will be glad you’re checking in.”

  Waiting until Iris and Vi had gone up the aisle to the back of the theater, Daisy moved to the side entrance of the stage and climbed the steps, crossing behind the curtain.

  Keeping her distance, she watched Jazzi as she stood in back of children dressed in red dresses. They were singing their hearts out. The boys were on the other side of the stage and had worn white shirts and red bowties. Daisy had a feeling Glenda had provided the bowties.

  Seeing her mom, Jazzi gave a little wave, then went back to watching the kids.

  Keeping an eye out for Jonas, Daisy moved behind the stage sets. Ward Cooper was helping Jonas move new sets. Keisha seemed to be everywhere, checking that props were in their place.

  Ward came over to Daisy’s side of the stage.

  “I thought you’d be in the lighting booth,” Daisy noted.

  “Manpower is always needed when set changes are necessary.” He moved with D
aisy to the side of the stage where the children were singing. “These are nice kids.” There was sincerity in his voice.

  “I know many of their parents,” Daisy explained. “They have sisters and brothers Jazzi’s age.”

  Ward asked, “You have two girls, right?”

  “I do. Vi is in the audience with me. She just had a baby a few weeks ago, and this is her first night out.”

  “So you’re a grandmother! No one would believe that.”

  His compliment wasn’t in the least bit smarmy. It was genuine and she appreciated it.

  For a few minutes, they listened to the choir singing “Joy to the World.” After the song was finished, Ward said to Daisy, “I wish I would have had kids but my work never keeps me in one place very long.”

  “It’s hard to make connections when you’re constantly moving around,” she empathized.

  “It is. I’ve missed out on relationships and family opportunities because of it. But I do love my work. I always have. It comes first.”

  “I can imagine. I was a dietician before I opened the tea garden, but now the tea garden takes up a majority of my time. We have to work to pay the bills, but the hope is that we can enjoy what we do and put our best energy into it.”

  “It sounds as if you’re doing something you love too,” he said with a smile.

  “I am.” She was about to say she was lucky enough to have experienced marriage and children, but she didn’t want Ward to feel worse that he hadn’t.

  Just as the children started singing again, this time “The First Noel,” Jonas appeared beside her and put his arm around her. “How do you think it’s going?”

  “I haven’t seen a mistake yet. Have there been any?”

  Ward gave her a signal he had to go back to the lighting booth and she nodded.

  “Not that I noticed,” Jonas answered. “But I don’t have the script in front of me. Glenda does.”

  “Where is Glenda?”

  “She’s behind the sets, going over her notes. She won’t hesitate to give pointers to the actors and actresses before they go onstage if she thinks it will make the production better. But sometimes I think it throws them off. Jasper almost missed a cue because she told him something before he went onstage. It turned out all right, though.”

  Daisy supposed too much instruction was as bad as not enough. “Is Rowan around? I didn’t see him in the audience.”

  “He was backstage with Glenda but then I lost track of him. He could be roaming around making sure all is well. After all, he put a lot of effort and money into this place.”

  “I’m going to slip out to the lobby and get a drink with Iris and Vi. Vi was going to call Foster. I’m hoping everything is okay.”

  Jonas leaned down to Daisy and kissed her lightly on the lips. “To be continued later,” he said with a wink.

  Daisy was looking forward to it.

  * * *

  In the lobby, Daisy was noticing who had attended the play when Iris asked Vi, “Are you ready to go back in?”

  With a wide smile, Vi nodded. “Foster’s doing fine with Sammy. It has been good to get out tonight. I’ve missed being with all of you by myself. The play is actually good.”

  With a hearty laugh, Iris put her arm around her niece.

  Daisy, thankful Foster and Sammy were doing well, finished the last of her soda. She was ready to follow Iris and Vi into the theater when Vanna slipped up beside her and took hold of her arm.

  Daisy said to Iris and Vi, “I’ll be along in a minute.”

  The look on Vanna’s face had told Daisy she needed to talk, if only for a few minutes. Knowing Vanna was still immersed in her grief, Daisy wanted to help any way she could.

  “Can I talk to you?” Vanna asked.

  “You can always talk to me. Come on, let’s go over by the window.” Many of the playgoers were already heading into the theater at the end of the intermission, though the lights hadn’t blinked yet as a warning to be seated.

  “I found out something that you should know,” Vanna explained.

  That comment had Daisy puzzled. “Go ahead,” she said.

  “I heard from Margaret’s lawyer today.”

  Daisy supposed that could be about one thing. “Her will?”

  Her head bobbing vehemently, Vanna confirmed, “Yes, her will. Her funds were separate from Rowan’s. I never thought about having a marriage like that. From the moment my husband and I were married, everything we did was together. We put our money together, just like we put our thoughts together and our hearts. But Margaret and Rowan didn’t do that.”

  “Vanna, Rowan probably had much more money than Margaret did. Was there a prenup?”

  “A prenup?” Vanna looked puzzled, as if she didn’t know what Daisy was talking about.

  “Yes. A prenuptial agreement is a contract that two people make before they’re married. Basically, it’s to protect the person who has a lot more money. It says how the funds are supposed to be divided, or what might happen in case of a divorce.”

  “I see,” Vanna said slowly, staring into space. “Nobody mentioned anything like that. But since Margaret’s funds were separate, in her will she designated me as her heir, not Rowan. That means I’ll receive everything she saved. It’s a tidy sum that might pay a nursing home for a few years if I ever have to go that route.”

  “Oh, Vanna. I don’t think your children would let that happen unless it was an absolute necessity.”

  “Maybe not. But if I keep good count of it, I can will it to them. It would help all of them.”

  “I can see that.” She could. But she didn’t quite understand why this was something Vanna needed to tell her.

  The warning lights blinked that intermission was almost over. Vanna took hold of Daisy’s elbow. “The police could think that I killed her!”

  “Oh, Vanna. I doubt that.” Though Daisy wasn’t sure. She wasn’t sure at all what the detectives were thinking.

  * * *

  As Daisy returned inside the theater, she saw her dad standing at the end of the aisle. Her mother must have gone to the ladies’ room because she wasn’t in her seat or in the near vicinity.

  Daisy placed her hand on her dad’s arm. “Are you enjoying the play?”

  “To my surprise, I am. Even though the actors are local, they’re quite good.”

  “They’ve made a concerted effort to make this play a success for Margaret’s sake.” Since she didn’t want to enter into a discussion about that with her father right now, she asked, “Is Mom enjoying the play?”

  “I think she is. I heard her question Vi more than once about how she’s feeling. She’s worried about her.”

  “Mom seems unusually quiet tonight. She has been feeling well, hasn’t she?”

  “I think she’s feeling fine. She’s been working hard at the nursery. You know, as the holidays gear up, we have more and more to do. In January we’ll slow down and take a vacation again.” Her father squeezed Daisy’s shoulder. “I’d better go to my seat. Thanks for asking us to join you tonight.”

  While her father made his way to his seat, Daisy stood glancing around the theater. She spotted Cade a few rows ahead of her. He was standing as if to stretch his legs. He waved and smiled, and she waved back. Tessa had been escorted by Trevor tonight. In fact, speaking of the devil, Trevor was coming down the aisle from the lobby now.

  He gave Daisy a wink and said in a low aside, “You better avoid the trees.”

  Trevor’s dry humor didn’t offend her. She returned his comment with one of her own. “I’ve been watching out for more than trees.”

  Trevor took his seat beside Tessa, and Daisy’s mom returned to her seat too. But she didn’t glance Daisy’s way.

  The rest of the performance was filled with holiday relationship drama, more Christmas carols, sleigh bells ringing, and a family reunion that bonded the members of the pretend family together. The cast had taken their curtain calls and members of the audience were leaving when Daisy spied Ze
ke Willet. He was striding down the side of the theater in what seemed to be a hurry. He aimed toward the stage.

  Had the police discovered who’d murdered Margaret?

  Her eyes on the detective, Daisy watched him approach Glenda Nurmi, who was standing by the side of the curtain with her clipboard. A patrol officer had followed him down the aisle and stood stationed at the bottom of the steps. If Zeke brought a patrol officer with him . . .

  Jazzi pulled on Daisy’s wrist. “What’s he doing?”

  “I’m not sure,” Daisy murmured.

  She looked for Jonas up on the stage. Suddenly he appeared beside Glenda.

  Zeke and Jonas exchanged words, both of their expressions serious.

  Daisy kept her eyes on Glenda and saw her take a slip of paper from Jonas. Daisy could guess what that was—a lawyer’s phone number.

  The expression on Detective Willet’s face was so hard that Daisy wondered if he was going to cuff Glenda. However, he didn’t. He stood at the top of the steps while she walked down them to the patrol officer.

  Suddenly Vanna ran after Glenda, carrying her shawl. She handed it to Glenda and then stepped back as if ordered to do so.

  Daisy hadn’t seen the patrol officer’s lips move, but that didn’t mean he hadn’t given a command. Glenda slipped the black shawl trimmed with gold thread around her shoulders and followed the patrol officer up the aisle with Detective Willet behind her. A few of the residents of Willow Creek who had enjoyed the performance gawked as the little parade continued up the aisle. Daisy knew Vanna, along with Keisha, had been helping the actors and actresses change their costumes from scene to scene. She’d told Daisy by doing that, she felt she was helping Margaret too.

  Now she crossed the front of the theater and came running up the middle aisle to Daisy. “They’re taking her to the police station,” Vanna said. “They might actually arrest her.”