“Eva?”
“That’s right, dear,” the elderly woman said and shuffled into the living room, a tray of cookies in both hands. “I couldn’t bring any donuts since my favorite store has been closed down this week, but I do come bearing gifts.”
“Choc chip?” Heather asked.
Eva grinned and placed the tray on the coffee table. Ryan took his feet down and leaned in to admire them.
The chocolatey scent of the cookies finally melted Dave’s icy disposition. He padded forward and sat down on Heather’s foot – a gesture he usually reserved for Amy. Heather let go of Lils, bent and scratched the fluffy spot between his ears. His tail wagged at a mile a minute.
“There,” Lilly said. “He’s forgiven you.”
“Only because he thinks he’ll get a cookie out of it,” Heather replied.
Eva took one of the treats, then shuffled across the room. She perched on the edge of the sofa and smiled at Heather. “It’s lovely to have you back, dear. I know it’s only been a week, but it’s felt like an age.”
“You can say that again,” Heather replied. “You wouldn’t believe the trouble I ran into down there.”
“What kind of trouble?” Lilly asked.
“The murder investigation kind,” Heather said. “But all’s well that ends well. I’m just glad to be home. I need to plan a donut for next week and calculate what kind of loss we’ve taken and –”
Ryan reached across the sofa and squeezed Heather’s arm. “Why don’t you concentrate on relaxing, for now, love? You’ve had a busy week. Let’s just enjoy this evening before we get technical.”
“Then we’re not going to tell her?” Eva asked.
“Tell me what?”
Everyone fell silent. Even Cupcake stopped purring.
“I’ve got a big mouth,” Eva whispered and shook her head.
“Tell me what?” Heather asked, again.
“There have been reports in the papers, dear. The Hillside Reporter to be specific. That horrible Investigator Lemon fellow wrote that you ran away from Hillside and abandoned your store and your family,” Eva said.
Heather jerked forward. Cupcake wobbled on her arm and let out a protest meow. “What?!”
“No one believes it,” Ryan said, and it came out as a growl. “But it’s officially brought the Hillside Reporter under scrutiny. By printing something like that, they didn’t only defame you but all the members of this family.”
“Which is especially unwise since of them is a police officer,” Eva put in.
Heather squeezed her eyes shut and focused on her breathing. She couldn’t let this get to her. One week away and she’d returned to an even bigger problem with the press than when she’d left.
“So what do we do?” Heather asked.
“We’ll talk about it tomorrow,” Ryan replied. “Rest assured, love, Lemon’s going to get what he deserves.”
It wasn’t Lemon Heather worried about. The real mastermind behind the negative media attention was as slippery as they came. Kate Laverne would get her day in the sun, soon enough.
Heather settled back again, just as the front doorbell rang.
“That must be the pizza,” Ryan said and lurched off the sofa. “Pepperoni, anyone?”
“With extra cheese, I hope.” Heather kissed the top of her daughter’s head, then stroked Cupcake’s fur.
Next week’s storms belonged to the future, not the present. And right now, all that mattered was her happy family and the quality time they’d spend together celebrating her return.
THE END
A letter from the Author
To each and every one of my Amazing readers: I hope you enjoyed this story as much as I enjoyed writing it. Let me know what you think by leaving a review!
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Stay Curious,
Susan Gillard
Kiwi Lime Surprise Murder: A Donut Hole Cozy - Book 40 (Donut Hole Cozy Mystery) Page 7
