“Mike, I didn’t know if I was going to live or die,” she said calmly. “I didn’t know if Jon was dead or alive. Or Elsie for that matter. I have no idea what I was feeling or thinking. But believe me, if I had seen you first, I would have been in your arms. Hell, if I had seen Steve first, he’d have been the one.”
His eyes caught hers. Something was exchanged. A moment of truth. There was no need for talking at that moment. A few more beats of silence.
“I’ve noticed the way he looks at you, sometimes. Did you think I didn’t notice?” Mike said, as if it hurt him to speak.
Annie felt like the breath was knocked out of her. She held her arms open and sort of shrugged. “I’m really not paying much attention to what Bryant does or how he looks at me. Mike, I love you. We are married. I’m not going anywhere.”
Mike shifted his weight a bit. “You’d think I’d be used to other men looking at you.”
“Hey, it goes both ways. I used to see other women checking you out all the time when we lived in Bethesda. Remember that Louise?” she teased him.
He smiled. “Yep.”
She slid into the open space between his arm and shoulder, as he lifted his arm. He wrapped his arms around her. “Oh, Annie, I love you so much,” he said with his voice cracking.
“I know that,” she said, blinking back a tear. “And I love you, too.”
“Hey, it’s getting late. Don’t you have a crop tonight?” he said, looking at the clock.
“I do, but I’m not going unless we are okay, Mike,” she answered, looking into his deep brown eyes.
“Of course we are,” he said. “Now, you better get going and rechristen the basement, now that you all are allowed back in there.”
“Thanks, Mike,” she said.
The boys were already in bed. She grabbed her roller-bag and headed for Sheila’s. Thank goodness the Rogerses were back in their home. What would the croppers do without their basement every Saturday? Annie didn’t want to think about it.
As she entered the room, she drew back a moment and took the scene in. Vera was hovering over DeeAnn, who was holding green lacey doilies. “You can paint these things any color you want,” she told her. “I’m just loving the doilies.”
“We saw them used every which way on the cruise. I saw a lovely border made with them. I’ve seen people using them for negative space. And oh, I loved the oversized one on pages where people used them as a background. Really creative,” Sheila said.
Paige and Vera were already settled in and at work on their scrapbooks.
“Look who finally made it,” Sheila said.
“What’s that?” Annie said, noticing an old cardboard box on the floor.
“Those are Elsie’s photos. We’re doing a scrapbook for her. If you want to help, that would be great,” Sheila said.
Annie nodded, thinking about all the times she’d helped put together scrapbooks for people who were killed. Too many. But she liked the idea of working on something together, something that had meaning, something that might provide some comfort to a traumatized woman.
Annie selected a few photos from Elsie’s high school years, and next she chose a lovely lilac-colored paper. She started playing around with placement, thinking about embellishments.
“How is Jon?” Sheila asked.
“He’s doing well,” Vera said. “Mama is taking real good care of him.” She placed her scissors on the table and held up her page, grimacing. There was something about it she didn’t like.
Annie got up, reached into the fridge for a beer, opened it, and took a swig.
“How are thing with Mike?” Vera asked.
“Good,” Annie said. “I think I finally have him convinced I don’t have the hots for Bryant.”
“God, Annie, are you blind? We all have the hots for him!” DeeAnn laughed.
Annie didn’t crack a smile, even as the others laughed and made leering noises.
“That is one hunk of a man. Here, darlin’, have some chocolate peanut butter cookies. Good for you,” said DeeAnn, and she slid the plate over to Annie as she sat back down at the table. “I’m so tired of baking right now I could scream.”
“I bet you are,” Vera said, not looking up from her work.
“Did the police ever find out who placed the postcard in your box?” DeeAnn asked Sheila.
“Yes,” Sheila said. “Sharon came to town about the same time we were leaving. She was registered at the B and B. Nobody saw her do it, but Bryant says it’s safe to assume.”
“When do you leave for Minnesota?” Annie asked DeeAnn.
“Day after tomorrow. I’m not sure this is going to be a pleasant visit. But I’d like to see my mom—even if she doesn’t know who I am,” DeeAnn said. Her mom was riddled with Alzheimer’s.
“It will do you good,” Sheila said, sitting down at the table and opening her laptop. Then she looked up. “Well, here we are, cropping on a Saturday night, as if we don’t have anything else to do.”
Annie took another drink of beer.
Sheila’s face said it all. She was glad to be home, off the cruise, away from dead bodies, and back in her own surroundings.
“I know I won’t be sailing the high seas anytime soon,” Paige said. “But it sure was nice spending time with Randy.”
“I’d be perfectly fine to never step foot on another cruise,” Vera said. “I did hear that Ahoy’s chief of security has been fired. Imagine that. Firing a vampire.”
The group laughed.
“Yes, I’ve gotten so many apologies from Grace Irons,” Sheila said. “This is the first time they hired Ahoy Security. She was mortified. So was the cruise line. I know it’s kind of funny, but it turns out that the chief has something called Renfield’s syndrome, which is a kind of mental illness. He can get help for it.”
“I imagine,” said Annie, sitting down at her spot at the table. Her spot—she loved the familiarity. She picked up a postcard from Hannah, who had been in New York City a few days now.
Dear Annie,
This place is . . . magic.
Hope you are well,
Hannah
Annie grinned.
“How is she?” Vera said, looking over her shoulder.
“She’s smitten, I’d say,” Annie said. “I have to wonder if she will come back and marry like she’s supposed to.”
“Time will tell,” DeeAnn said.
Just then, Annie heard the sliding glass door open. Who could it be? All of the croppers were here: Vera, Paige, DeeAnn, Sheila, and herself. Sometimes Beatrice stopped by, but she was certainly home with Jon as he was recuperating.
Annie started to look over her shoulder, but Vera glanced up first and her mouth dropped open. Paige dropped her scissors. DeeAnn’s fork hit her plate with a clank. When Annie finally turned around, she glimpsed why her friends had been rendered senseless.
Their old friend Cookie Crandall stood there.
“Any room for me at the table?”
Glossary of Basic Scrapbooking Terms
Acid-free: Acid is a chemical found in paper that will disintegrate it over time. Acid will ruin photos. It’s very important to use papers, pens, and other supplies labeled “acid-free,” or eventually the acid may ruin cherished photos and layouts.
Adhesive: Any kind of glue or tape can be considered an adhesive. In scrapbooking, there are several kinds of adhesives: tape runners, glue sticks, and glue dots.
Brad: This is similar to a typical split pin, but it is found in many different sizes, shapes, and colors. It is commonly used for embellishment.
Challenge: Within the scrapbooking community, challenges are issued in groups as a way to instill motivation.
Crop: Technically, to crop means to cut down a photo. However, a crop is also a gathering of scrapbookers who get together to create scrapbooks. A crop can be anything from a group of friends getting together to a more official gathering where scrapbook materials are for sale, games are played, and challenges are issued, an
d so on. Online crops are a good alternative for people who don’t have a local scrapbook community.
Die-cut: This is a shape or letter cut from paper or card stock, usually by machine or by using a template.
Embellishment: An embellishment is an item, other than words or photos, that enhances a scrapbook page. Typical embellishments are ribbons, fabric, and stickers.
Eyelet: These small metal circles, similar to the metal rings found on shoes for threading laces, are used in the scrapbook context as a decoration and can hold elements on a page.
Journaling: This is the term for writing on scrapbook pages. It includes everything from titles to full pages of thoughts, feelings, and memories about the photos displayed.
Matting: Photos in scrapbooks are framed with a mat. Scrapbookers mat with coordinating papers on layouts, often using colors found in the photos.
Page protector: These are clear, acid-free covers that are used to protect finished pages.
Permanent: Adhesives that will stay are deemed permanent.
Photo corners: A photo is held to a page by slipping its corners into photo corners. They usually stick on one side.
Post-bound album: This term refers to an album that uses metal posts to hold the binding together. These albums can be extended with more posts to make them thicker. Usually page protectors are already included on the album pages.
Punch: This is a tool used to perforate paper or card stock with decorative shapes.
Punchies: The paper shapes that result from using a paper punch tool are known as punchies. These can be used on a page for a decorative effect.
Repositionable adhesive: Magically, these adhesives do not create a permanent bond until dry, so you can move an element dabbed with the adhesive around on the page until you find just the perfect spot.
Scraplift: When a scrapbooker copies someone’s page layout or design, she has scraplifted.
Scrapper’s block: This is a creativity block.
Strap-hinge album: An album can utilize straps to allow pages to lie completely flat when the album opens. To add pages to this album, the straps are unhinged.
Template: A template is a guide for cutting shapes, and for drawing or writing on a page. They are usually made of plastic or cardboard.
Trimmer: A trimmer is a tool used for straight-cutting photos.
Vellum: Vellum is a thick, semitransparent paper with a smooth finish.
Scrapbooking Your Holidays
Other than the typical holiday scrapbooking, with simple photos of the day and gifts exchanged, here’s a few other ways to create your holiday scrapbooks.
1. Include your Christmas cards.
2. Don’t forget to record your own personal holiday traditions. We leave a plate of cookies out for Santa every year and carrots for the reindeer. What do you do?
3. Include your preparations—picking out the tree, decorating, baking, and so on.
4. If you are a list person, save your holiday to-do list to use as part of your layout. Also, save your children’s wish list for Santa.
5. Include your recipes for special holiday food.
Scrapbook Essentials for the Beginner
When you first start to scrapbook, the amount of products and choices available can be overwhelming. It’s best to keep it simple until you develop your own style and see exactly what you need. Basically, this hobby can be as complicated or as simple as you want. Here is all you really need:
1. photos
2. archival scrapbooks and acid-free paper
3. adhesive
4. scissors
5. sheet protectors
Advice on Cropping
Basically, two kinds of crops exist. An “official” crop is when a scrapbook seller is involved. The participants sample and purchase products, along with participating in contests and giveaways. The second kind of crop is an informal gathering of friends on at least a semiregular basis to share, scrapbook, eat, and gossip, just like the Cumberland Creek croppers.
1. In both cases, food and drinks are usually served. Finger food is most appropriate. The usual drinks are nonalcoholic, but sometimes wine is served. There should be plenty of space for snacking around the scrapbooking area. If something spills, you don’t want your cherished photos to get ruined.
2. If you have an official crop, it’s imperative that your scrapbook seller doesn’t come on too strong. Scrapbook materials sell themselves. Scrapbookers know what they want and need.
3. Be prepared to share. If you have a die-cut machine, for example, bring it along, show others how to use it, and so on. Crops are about generosity of spirit. It can be about something as small as paper that you purchased and decided not to use. Someone will find a use for it.
4. Make sure there’s a lot of surface space, such as long tables where scrapbookers can spread out. (Some even use the floor.)
5. Be open to both giving scrapbooking advice and receiving it. You can always ignore advice if it’s bad.
6. Get organized before you crop. You don’t need fancy boxes and organizing systems. Place the photos you want to crop with in an envelope, and you are ready to go.
7. Go with realistic expectations. You probably won’t get a whole scrapbook done during the crop. Focus on several pages.
8. Always ask about what you can bring, such as food, drinks, cups, plates, and so on.
9. If you’re the host, have plenty of garbage bags around. Ideally, have one small bag for each person. That way scrapbookers can throw away unusable scraps as they go along, which makes cleanup much easier.
10. If you’re the host, make certain there is plenty of good lighting, as well as an adequate number of electricity outlets.
Frugal Scrapbooking Tips
1. Spend your money where it counts. The scrapbook itself is the carrier of all your memories and creativity. Splurge here.
2. You can find perfectly fine scrapbooking paper in discount stores, along with stickers, pens, and sometimes glue. If it’s labeled “archival,” it’s safe.
3. You can cut your own paper and make matting, borders, journal boxes, and so on. You don’t need fancy templates, though they make it easier.
4. Check on some online auction sites, like eBay, for scrapbooking materials and tools.
5. Reuse and recycle as much as you can. Keep a box of paper scraps, for example, that you might be able to use for a border, mat, or journal box. Commit to not buying anything else until what you’ve already purchased has been used.
6. Wait for special coupons. Some national crafts stores run excellent coupons—sometimes 40 percent off. Wait for these coupons, and then go and buy something on your wish list that you could not otherwise afford.
Spring is in the air, but the ladies of the
Cumberland Creek Scrapbook Club
hardly have time to stop and smell the roses.
Not when famed Irish dancer Emily McGlashen
is found murdered in her studio
just after the St. Patrick’s Day parade—
and one of the club’s own members
is the prime suspect.
Death of an Irish Diva
A Kensington mass-market paperback
and e-book on sale now!
Chapter 1
A green velvet dress, the skirt of which was flung over the top of the right hip of the victim, revealed she was naked from the waist down. Her white thigh and buttocks were so muscled, taut, and perfect that she almost looked like a statue, lying twisted, face-down, on the floor. Her long brown ponytail of curls was askew, but the green ribbon was still intact. A pair of tights was crumpled in a corner of the dance studio. Her underwear, if, indeed, she had worn any, was missing. One of her shoes was lying next to the tights, and it was without a lace, of course, because its lace was still wrapped around Emily McGlashen’s neck.
“How long has she been here?” Annie asked Detective Adam Bryant after settling her stomach with a deep breath and calming thoughts.
Poor woman.
So young. So talented.
And just yesterday Emily astounded Annie with her high leaps, twirls, and fast footwork during the St. Patrick’s Day parade and festival. The green velvet dress had swung in off rhythm to the Irish music against Emily’s in-sync movements. Bursting with life. Hard to believe that same skirt was now askew across Emily’s lifeless body.
He shrugged. “As far as I can tell, maybe all day. We think it happened sometime early this morning. She was supposed to be at a meeting this afternoon, and her friend came looking for her, and this is what she found. You here officially?”
Annie grimaced. She had been working on her book about the New Mountain Order and had taken a leave of absence from her freelancing, and he knew it. But her editor called her to see if she’d cover this. Big news to a certain segment of the population, namely, those who followed Irish dance.
“Maybe,” she said.
He went on. “Not much of a story here. Just the murder of a person who maybe was just in the wrong place at the wrong time.”
“She was in the public eye. And strangling is a personal act, isn’t it?” Annie twisted a curl around her finger. She was wearing her hair down, which was all part of the newer, more relaxed version of her former self. She didn’t need to pull it back. She didn’t need to control it. It was a relief. Chalk that bit of advice up to her mysterious friend and yoga teacher Cookie Crandall.
A Crafty Christmas Page 24
