Cranberry Sage Miracle

by Leena Clover

  “Hush, Edward! How many times have I told you to mind what you say?”

  Anna blinked as another tall woman with emerald eyes the same shade as Edward’s and Alison’s joined them. Her left dimple and brown hair immediately suggested she was related to the Gardiners. Anna noted how all of them were over six feet tall. Sharon’s curves were more generous than Alison’s and the few crow’s feet around her eyes pointed at her age. But she looked every bit as attractive as Alison.

  “This is my sister Sharon.” Edward introduced them. “My wayward younger sister,” he added with a laugh and turned toward Sharon. “You already know Gino. These are the Butlers. Anna, Cassie and Meg. And Julie Walsh, of course.”

  Sharon flashed a hundred watt smile and welcomed them.

  “I’m a big fan, Cassie!” she cooed. “When is your next movie coming out?”

  “Soon,” Cassie muttered, pasting a smile on her face.

  Sharon chatted with Julie next, telling her what she liked about her latest book. A few servers descended on them with trays loaded with a wide variety of canapés, ranging from everyone’s favorite crab puffs to dates stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon.

  Anna finally had a chance to check out the other guests. She spotted a few familiar faces. The ballroom was humungous in dimension, surrounded by a wraparound balcony overlooking some craggy cliffs and the ocean beyond. The dome shaped ceiling towered twenty feet high, hung with crystal chandeliers. Garlands of holly were woven artistically. Mistletoe was placed over strategic spots and couples giggled and kissed sportingly when caught standing under it.

  Anna shivered suddenly when her eyes landed on a smartly dressed woman deep in conversation with a tall, blonde man. The woman turned around just then, her malevolent gaze flashing fire at Anna.

  “Just ignore her,” Gino said softly and led Anna to the buffet table.

  “Planning to kill someone again?” A voice hissed in her ear, making Anna drop the plate she had just picked up. “Who invited you, Anna? This is no place for riff raff.”

  Anna ignored the vile woman. Lara Crawford was the mayor of Dolphin Bay. She was convinced Anna had murdered her husband John. Her position of power meant the locals listened to her. Anna had suffered a lot because of her allegations until Gino came into her life. They were working on finding out the truth about what had happened to John. But solving a two year old murder wasn’t easy. Meanwhile, they had no choice but to ignore Lara as she went about hazing Anna.

  The band started playing some catchy tunes and Edward encouraged everyone to dance. Gino pulled Anna onto the floor and twirled her around. She focused her full attention on him after making sure Cassie, Meg and Julie had all found dancing partners.

  Champagne flowed and a lavish roast dinner was served, along with chestnut stuffing and an array of roasted, steamed and fried vegetables. The butler carved the meat and Edward stood next to him, playing the consummate host, urging everyone to take second helpings. A pudding was brought out, doused in rum and flambéed while the guests applauded.

  Toast after toast followed. Edward Gardiner told a few jokes, making everyone laugh. He hinted heavily at the big surprise he had in store for everyone on Christmas day. Anna wondered what the old man had up his sleeve.

  “Do you know what he’s talking about?” she asked Gino.

  “Not this time.” Gino was thoughtful. “Edward often consults me before making any business decisions. Maybe he is really planning to retire.”

  “He’s so full of life,” Anna sighed. “I hope I’m like him when I reach his age. That is, if I live that long.”

  Gino snuggled closer to her, placing an arm around her shoulders.

  “You’re not getting away just yet, Anna Butler. I have big plans for us.”

  They both whirled around as giggles erupted behind them. Cassie and Meg stood arm in arm, blushing and laughing their heads off.

  Anna didn’t think she could be happier. Her family was together again and everyone seemed to be getting along. Her friendship with Gino was progressing well, making her believe she might have a second chance at love. This Christmas season was full of miracles.

  Chapter 3

  Anna sat in her garden three days later, sipping a cup of coffee. She had been up since five, baking cakes and sweets for her café. A busy day loomed ahead and Anna cherished the brief respite she enjoyed before breakfast.

  The café was doing brisk business in the holiday season. Dolphin Bay rarely had a white Christmas but there was no shortage of yuletide spirit in the seaside town. The December temperatures had dropped to the 50s, allowing people to show off their winter clothing. Anna ran out of cupcakes by noon most days and had to turn people away.

  She shivered in her coat and rushed back inside, ready to begin her day.

  Cassie sat at the kitchen table, eating frosted flakes. Meg was stirring eggs on the stove. A plate of avocado toast sat on the table, ready to be eaten. Anna sprinkled some hot sauce on the toast and bit into it.

  “You’re spoiling me.” She smiled as Meg placed the cheesy scrambled eggs before her. “I could get used to this. What will I do when you go off to college?”

  Cassie cleared her throat.

  “Are you saying I can’t scramble eggs, Mom?” She had a twinkle in her eye.

  “It’s not like you will stay here forever either, Cassie. You’ll be flying to Hollywood the moment someone offers you the right role.”

  Anna and Meg rushed through breakfast and started loading the van. Ten minutes later, they pulled up before a massive storefront overlooking the bay. Anna had owned and operated Bayside Books for twenty years. She had opened her café in the adjoining space, occupying a prime spot at the corner of Main Street. Both her shops offered a priceless view of the Coastal Walk and the water and were becoming very popular as news of her baking prowess spread.

  Anna started brewing coffee while Meg began setting up the display cases.

  The café door flew open and a harried balding man with grey hair growing out of his ears rushed in. He had taught English at the high school all his life. Now he was the editor of the Dolphin Bay Chronicle.

  “Good Morning, Ian,” Anna greeted him. “I’ll have your latte and cupcake ready in a minute.”

  “The coffee can wait.” Ian rubbed his bald head and stared at Anna. “I have some bad news, Anna.”

  Anna felt a weight on her chest.

  “Is Cassie alright? She was fine twenty minutes ago.”

  “What?” Ian’s eyes grew wider. “I don’t know anything about Cassie. This is about Edward Gardiner.”

  “What about him?” Anna asked, thinking of the jovial old man she had met recently.

  “Edward Gardiner is dead. I just heard it on the police scanner.”

  “That sweet old man!” Anna cried. “He looked perfectly healthy three days ago.”

  “I don’t think he got sick, Anna,” Ian said meaningfully. “Someone called the police for a reason.”

  “You suspect foul play?” Anna was aghast.

  “It’s too early to say anything. We will have to wait and watch. I’ll take that coffee now, if you don’t mind. I need to start working on this right away. It’s front page material.”

  A stream of customers came in and Anna barely noticed Ian leave. She almost forgot about Edward until her friends Julie and Mary arrived. The Firecrackers had met at Anna’s bookstore at least once a day for several years. They had continued the tradition even after Anna opened the café.

  Julie looked sober and was quiet for a change. Mary was sad.

  “Ian Samuels told me.” Anna sat next to Mary at their usual window table.

  “He did a lot of good for the community, you know.” Julie’s voice was heavy. “Edward always made me laugh. He was so full of life, Anna. Why would someone hurt him?”

  “Are you sure that’s what happened, Julie?”

  “That’s the rumor going around,” Mary explained. “Maybe we should go to the Yellow Tulip f
or lunch?” She referred to the local diner which was the hotbed of gossip in town.

  “Have you talked to Gino?” Julie asked. “He was close to the Gardiners.”

  Anna looked stricken. “I didn’t think of that. He must be devastated.”

  Anna placed a call to Gino. As she had expected, he was at the Gardiner mansion, paying his respects to the family. He promised to catch up with her later.

  “Poor Alison,” Mary clucked. “Sharon is the only family she has left now.”

  “You know Alison Gardiner?” Anna was surprised.

  “Not very well,” Mary admitted. “Her sister Ruth went to school with my daughter. Alison used to tag along with her sometimes.”

  “Ruth doesn’t live in Dolphin Bay?”

  “Ruth died in childbirth two years ago,” Mary explained, making Anna gasp.

  “Look at the turn this day’s taken,” Julie sighed. “We’ve forgotten all about Sofia.”

  Anna snorted.

  “Believe me! That’s not possible.”

  “When does she get here?” Mary asked.

  “Are you talking about Nana?” Meg asked eagerly, placing a plate of the cranberry sage cupcakes before them. “I’m so looking forward to meeting her.”

  Anna’s mother Sofia was pushing 80. She had relocated to a senior community in sunny Southern California ten years ago when Anna’s father passed. She was thriving in the warm climate, raising hell with her cronies a few miles from the Mexico border.

  Sofia descended on Dolphin Bay for Christmas every year, armed with plenty of helpful advice for Anna. She had skipped her visit for the past two years due to some unavoidable snafus. Anna had never told her mother about her illness. But it paled in comparison to the big secret she had kept from her for the past twenty years.

  “Does she know yet?” Julie whispered, tipping her head at Meg’s back.

  “She doesn’t,” Anna sighed loudly. “Neither does Mom.”

  “You’re in hot water, Anna,” Julie warned. “You better be ready for the sky to fall in.”

  Mary stroked Anna’s back.

  “Don’t you listen to her. I’m sure Sofia will understand.”

  “Have you met my mother?” Anna rolled her eyes. “In this case, I can’t blame her. I shouldn’t have listened to Cassie.”

  “You were protecting her,” Mary soothed.

  “Are you talking about me?” Cassie asked, walking in through the bookstore.

  To Anna’s astonishment, Cassie had given up hanging out by the pool and started helping out at the bookstore, easing some of her load.

  “We’re talking about your Nana,” Julie told her. “Have you thought about how you’re going to handle her?”

  “I haven’t met her for five years. Surely she’s mellowed a bit with age?”

  “When are you going to tell Meg?” Anna asked. “You need to prepare her for the worst.”

  “You really think Nana won’t accept Meg?” Cassie asked worriedly. “We have solid proof that Meg is really my kid.”

  Julie’s eyebrows shot up.

  “Look who’s talking, girls. How long did it take you to warm up to her, Cassie?”

  Meg had come back to clear the plates. Anna realized she had heard their entire conversation. Meg’s eyes were huge as she sidled closer to her mother.

  “Cassie and I are just getting to know each other. It will be the same with Nana. Don’t worry. I don’t have any fantastic expectations.”

  Anna’s eyes glistened with tears. She pulled Meg and Cassie in for a hug.

  “I spent twenty years longing for this moment, girls. Promise me you’ll stay in touch no matter where your life leads you.”

  “Oh Anna!” Meg cried. “I’ve just found you! I’m not letting you go.”

  “She’s right, Mom.” Cassie squeezed Anna’s shoulder. “Dolphin Bay is my home. I’ll always come back here.”

  “Thanks girls.” Anna wiped a tear furtively. “Let’s hope my mother goes easy on us.”

  Meg smiled.

  “I used to dream about having a grandma. Now I get a Nana as a bonus! I’m going to love her no matter how she feels about me.”

  “This is what I hate about Christmas!” Julie butted in, making the others gasp. “Everyone gets emotional all the time and starts crying.”

  Anna punched her arm in jest.

  Neither of them noticed Gino come in.

  “Can a man get some coffee here?” he asked wearily.

  “I’ll get it.” Meg rushed to get him a fresh cup.

  “I talked to Leo,” Gino volunteered, referring to his nephew who had recently joined the Dolphin Bay police force. “The police are tight lipped now but they are definitely treating Edward’s death as suspicious.”

  Anna’s hand flew to her mouth.

  “That poor man! I hope he didn’t suffer.”

  “He died in his sleep. Cause of death is suffocation, or asphyxiation, to be precise.”

  “His family must be devastated,” Anna murmured.

  “I think they are still in shock.” Gino shook his head. “I was going to play chess with him today.”

  “How can we help?” Julie asked. “The Gardiners were so nice to everyone, I can’t imagine something like this happening to them.”

  “I think I met him for a reason,” Anna spoke up.

  “We let the police do their job.” Gino gave Anna a meaningful look. “You have enough on your plate with the holiday rush and your mother’s visit. I suggest you sit this one out, Anna.”

  Chapter 4

  Anna tried to concentrate as she swirled cream cheese frosting on her cupcakes. She felt like snuggling under the covers and taking the whole month off. Why did the holidays always have to be so stressful?

  The Butler household had experienced drama worthy of a prime time soap opera the previous day. Sofia arrived on a cloud of perfume, wearing a red pant suit Anna remembered from the 90s. She had examined Anna and Cassie from head to toe and muttered about how thin they both looked. Then she commandeered the kitchen and proceeded to stir the pots that had been cooking on the stove.

  Lunch had been a boisterous affair with Julie and Mary in attendance. Meg was introduced as a guest. Sofia’s eyes had narrowed as she gave the young girl a onceover. She barely spoke to her through the extravagant meal. Anna took matters in hand over dessert.

  “What do you mean, she’s your granddaughter?” Sofia’s voice was hoarse. “Did one of your foster kids have a child?”

  Anna shook her head.

  “Meg’s our flesh and blood.”

  Cassie grabbed Anna’s wrist and gave her a supportive look.

  “Meg is my daughter, Nana. I gave birth to her when I was sixteen.”

  Sofia was turning red.

  “I may be getting older, girls, but my memory is intact. How do I not remember this?”

  “We never told you,” Cassie admitted. “It’s my fault, Nana. If you have to blame anyone, blame me.”

  “Where has this child been all these years?” Sofia was staring at Meg, her face full of anguish.

  Anna poured out the whole story about Meg’s adoption and her subsequent years in foster care. Meg stared at the floor without saying a word.

  Sofia struggled to her feet and walked out of the room. Julie sprang up and followed her. She called Anna an hour later to let her know Sofia was safe and was camped at her house for the immediate future.

  Meg had been stoic, Cassie furious. Anna had lamely assured them Sofia would come around.

  Meg walked into the kitchen, her hair still wet from the shower.

  “I made pancakes,” Anna told her. “Lemon, ricotta and blueberry. Just get the maple syrup from the pantry.”

  “Thanks Anna!” Meg gave her a hug. “You’re spoiling me rotten.”

  She dug into her pancakes and smacked her lips in approval.

  “Nana’s justified, you know. Don’t be too hard on her.”

  The phone rang, cutting off Anna’s response. Her
face brightened when she heard Gino’s deep, comforting voice and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

  “Nothing has changed since yesterday,” she reported. “Mom’s maintaining radio silence and is still at Julie’s.”

  Her jaw dropped after hearing what Gino had to say.

  “That’s confirmed then. It’s a murder investigation.”

  She hung up and sat down at the table.

  “Did Gino have an update on Mr. Gardiner?” Meg asked.

  “The police found some peculiar residue in his nostrils. They are thinking someone put a plastic bag over his head, Meg.”

  “That’s awful!” Meg cried. “Who would want to harm him? Don’t you want to know, Anna?”

  “The police are looking into it. Teddy Fowler must be on the case.”

  “We know how useful he has been in the past.” Meg stared at Anna. “We need someone with your sleuthing skills.”

  “It’s the holidays.” Anna shrugged. “I barely knew the man, sweetie. I have enough on my hands with the café and your Nana.”

  “I guess,” Meg shrugged.

  “When are you going to the university? They’ll be closing for the holidays any time now.”

  “I’m going there today,” Meg confirmed. “Can you manage without me for a couple of hours?”

  “Don’t worry about me,” Anna assured her. “Your college applications are more important. You are cutting it fine, as it is.”

  Meg clammed up. Anna was pleased to see she looked a bit miffed. That meant she was slowly coming out of her shell and behaving like a normal teenager.

  Later that morning, Anna couldn’t stop thinking of the Gardiners. She had barely had time to take a break. She glanced at the grandmother clock near the entrance, surprised to see it was almost 11 AM. Mary was visiting her daughter in San Jose. Anna wondered if Julie would make an appearance, with or without Sofia.

  She looked up eagerly as the bell behind the door jingled. She tried to hide her disappointment when she realized it wasn’t her mother.

  “Expecting someone else?” A short, wiry man with a shock of thick white hair asked.