Berries and Birthdays_A Cozy Murder Mystery
Page 16
“Have you read it?” Jenny asked him, wide eyed.
“I have,” Jason nodded. “I’m sorry Jenny, it’s addressed to the family.”
“Let her read it,” Linda said, looking around the room.
“Sure,” Walt said.
Heidi grunted her assent.
“Why don’t you tell us what it says, Jason?” Linda suggested.
“Is he innocent or isn’t he?” Heidi interrupted.
“Hold on, Heidi,” Walt said.
He looked at Jason and gave a nod. “Just tell us what’s in it.”
“I won’t read it word for word,” Jason started. “You can all do that later. I’m going to tell you the story at a high level. Our Asher was from Munich. He joined the army at a young age and later became a Major. The social environment before the war was different. Some Jews were in prominent positions. Wealthy Jewish families held parties where all kinds of people mingled with each other. Our guy was friendly with many of these people.”
“Does he say anything about his family?” Walt asked.
Jason nodded.
“He had a younger sister and mother. His father died when he was ten.”
“Go on,” Linda urged.
“Well, the atrocities started. Jewish businesses closed down. Some of them left the cities. Others escaped the country. Things got worse and it got more and more difficult to get away.”
“Our father continued to work for the army?” Walt asked.
“I don’t know how he managed it. But he hid a few people in his house. He writes about it in his letter. Six Jews lived in his basement for over a year. One of them was Asher Cohen, a good friend of your father. All this time, your father was trying to arrange papers for their escape.”
Heidi gasped but said nothing.
“Those were hard times. They managed to get away. I won’t go into details of their journey. The letter skims over that. They encountered the German forces somewhere along the way. The Germans shot at them. Your father’s mother and sister were killed in the skirmish along with some of their group. Your father escaped with a young woman called Olga. They entered Switzerland as a couple. Your father had Asher Cohen’s papers with him. He just went with that name.”
“So our mother was really Jewish?” Walt asked.
“She was your father’s neighbor. Her family were one of the first to be rounded up in the area. Your grandmother took her in and hid her.”
“Why didn’t he resume his real identity when he came to America?” Heidi asked.
“He wanted to honor his old friend Asher. And he didn’t want to forget what happened.”
The family threw more questions at Jason and he answered all of them. Linda read the letter while they discussed its shocking contents. She handed it over to Walt. The mood in the room grew somber as everyone read the letter one by one.
“Poor Dad,” Emma sighed. “He was as strong as an ox. He would easily have lived many more years.”
“Curse the day Ira Brown ever came to Pelican Cove,” Luke Stone said.
Jenny sat back, barely listening to the siblings. The whole thing felt too bizarre for words. She had come to one conclusion. Life was fickle and you never knew what lay around the next corner. All you could do was grab it by the horns and live each moment like it was your last.
Epilogue
Jenny sat on the deck of the Boardwalk Café, staring at the ocean. Adam Hopkins sat in a chair beside her, holding her hand. Jason Stone stood behind her with his hands on her shoulders.
The Magnolias had decided to have a potluck at the café that weekend. Dozens of dishes were crammed on two tables, and a delicious aroma rose up in the air.
Star sat on the steps leading to the beach. Jimmy Parsons sat huddled next to her, one arm around her shoulders. The other hand fed her a roasted chicken leg. Both of them looked happy.
“Where did you say Heather was?” Betty Sue Morse called out, wiping barbecue sauce off her fingers. “I don’t know why she had to run errands today.”
Heather had gone on a date with Duster. Her grandmother was still in the dark about her recent exploits.
Molly and Chris sat at another table, trying to make small talk. Jenny had high hopes for them.
“What’s next for you, Jenny?” Adam asked.
“Luke and his men have started repairs on Seaview,” she told him. “I can’t wait to move in.”
“You’re not afraid?” Adam asked. “It’s supposed to be haunted.”
“Yeah, right!” Jenny laughed.
Jason got up to get them some pie.
“How about dinner tomorrow night?” Adam asked her.
Jenny’s face fell.
“Rain check?”
“Let me guess, you’re going out with Jason.”
“He asked first.”
***THE END***
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Acknowledgements
A big thank you to all my beta readers and advanced readers for their invaluable feedback and support. This one was a bit harder to write and I couldn’t have done it without my friend Bob’s help. As always, my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to my ever loving family.
Books by Leena Clover
Pelican Cove Cozy Mystery Series
Strawberries and Strangers – Pelican Cove Cozy Mystery Book 1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CSW34GB/
Cupcakes and Celebrities – Pelican Cove Cozy Mystery Book 2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07CYX5TNR
Have you read all the Meera Patel books?
Gone with the Wings – Meera Patel Cozy Mystery Book 1
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071WHNM6K
A Pocket Full of Pie - Meera Patel Cozy Mystery Book 2
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072Q7B47P/
For a Few Dumplings More - Meera Patel Cozy Mystery Book 3
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B072V3T2BV
Back to the Fajitas - Meera Patel Cozy Mystery Book 4
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0748KPTLM
Christmas with the Franks – Meera Patel Cozy Mystery Book 5
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B077GXR4WS/
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