Angie was Patricia’s best friend. Right out of high school she became a cop. Three months into the job, she was shot and almost died. Her outlook on life changed because of the shooting. Her second love was hairdressing. She gave up the badge and went to beauty school. Patricia financially backed her first salon and now, Angie was a hairdresser to the stars with her own chain of salons.
Angie Simmons never married as she always said she was married to her work. Patricia wouldn’t let anyone else touch her hair. When the Bellingtons first moved to Colorado, Angie would fly out once a month to see her best friend and to do her hair.
Patricia was always happiest when Angie was visiting. One such visit was when Patricia came up with the idea for Windswept Snows Gated Community. The Bellingtons owned thousands of acres around their mansion. She asked Angie if she would be willing to relocate and run her salons from Bellows, Colorado where Windswept Snows would be established.
A year later, Angie’s mansion became a reality. Six years later, fourteen mansions made-up the gated community of Windswept Snows. Most of the mansions were owned by Robert’s co-workers who wanted to get away from work just as Robert did.
Shortly after Angie relocated, she opened a new salon in downtown Bellows. Patricia spent most of her daytime hours volunteering as one of the receptionists for the salon. She enjoyed the people of Bellows and became friends with many of them despite where she lived. Angie traveled a lot, so Patricia, being a silent partner in the salon chain became a not so silent partner running the Bellows Salon.
It became a popular spot, catering to not only the celebrities that vacationed in the area, but to the locals who liked to mingle with said celebrities. It was a place that Patricia could be herself and she became very well liked in the community.
As much as she was loved, there were those few who hated her just because of her financial status. No matter how much of a good person she tried to be, unfounded rumors would surface surrounding her and supposed lovers to make her look bad.
Most times she would ignore the things that were said, but other nights she would lay in her husband’s arm’s crying. He knew they weren’t true, just vicious gossip. He would assure Patricia that he knew how much she loved him and that they couldn’t be any happier than they were. Many of those nights, to get his wife to smile, he would remind her of where she chose to work; a beauty salon which was gossip central in downtown Bellows.
Patricia believed in paying it forward. With Christmas just around the corner, she ran daily raffles at the salon offering prizes of manicures, pedicures, facials, and hair treatments. The books were kept balanced with a weekly check drawn on Patricia’s private checking account to cover the cost of the prizes.
She was taking time off for the holidays and decided that everyone would be given the same time off. Patricia put a sign in the salon window that it would be closed December fifteenth through January third. She handed each one of her employees Christmas cards that contained three weeks’ pay for the time the salon was closed and a Christmas bonus.
The night of the fourteenth, she served a catered buffet to her employees at closing and sent them all home with a bottle of expensive champagne to celebrate the holidays. Now, it was time to turn her attention to her own family and their holiday celebrations.
Every year, Patricia took the kids to her mother’s house in San Francisco for three days to celebrate Christmas with her. Robert never went because it was the busy time of year for him to meet with attorneys and financial accountants before the books closed at year’s end. He would stop working for Christmas Eve Day, Christmas Day, and the day after. Then, it was right back to work until New Year’s Eve.
The evening before they left for her mother’s, they joined together to decorate the family tree that stood in the living room. Almost every room in the house had a tree, but this was the one tree that Patricia insisted be decorated together and not done by the hired designers.
Robert and the kids had gone to the far outskirts of the property and cut down a ten-foot tall tree and dragged it back to the mansion. Finding the perfect tree was a tradition that they shared annually. While they were out, Patricia would gather the personal family ornaments, lights, and garland that would go on the tree. Miss Lottie sat in a chair watching the festivities.
“You guys outdid yourselves this year; this is the best tree that we’ve ever had,” Patricia announced, watching the two Roberts string the lights.
“Mom, you say that every year,” Vanessa said, laughing.
“But, this year I mean it,” she insisted. “We did forget something though.”
“And what would that be,” Robert asked from the top of the ladder.
“Candy canes,” she answered. “We forgot to get candy canes.”
“Mom, we’re not little kids anymore. We don’t need candy canes on the tree,” Kimberly Ann stated.
“Every Christmas tree needs candy canes, it finishes the look,” Patricia commented. “Besides, I like to go by and steal one off the tree every now and then to use in my hot chocolate.”
“Now, the truth comes out,” Robert Jr. snickered.
“I will pick some up tomorrow night when I go to town to do my own Christmas shopping,” Miss Lottie said.
“Thank you, Lottie. Robert will give you the money to get them. This size tree, we will probably need at least twenty boxes of them,” Patricia said, untangling the silver garland that would go on the tree after the lights.
“Is everyone done with their shopping?” Vanessa asked. “Does anyone need help wrapping their gifts?”
“Oh, you’d love that wouldn’t you? You never can wait until Christmas Day to see what you get,” Robert Jr. said. “You have no patience what-so-ever.”
“I have patience, I just like presents, that’s all,” she answered.
“Vanessa, take this garland to your father while he’s up on the ladder,” Patricia instructed. “It’s not all about the presents, you know.”
“It is to Vanessa,” Robert Jr. said, finishing hanging the last string of lights on the bottom of the tree.
“Maybe it’s true that I like to open Christmas presents, but who spends the most money each month the rest of the year?” she quickly threw back at her brother.
“I have a reputation to keep up,” he replied. “Just because you don’t date, doesn’t mean that the rest of us have to sit home and do nothing.”
“Enough,” Patricia ordered. “Let’s talk about something else.”
“Sorry, Mom,” Robert Jr. mumbled. “Miss Perfect just gets to me.”
“Mom, really?” Vanessa said, reacting to the name she had been called.
“Enough!” Robert’s voice boomed from the top of the ladder.
Kimberly Ann sat in the corner putting hooks on the ornaments. She had learned long ago never to get involved in her brother and sister’s arguments. She was only home for the holidays and then would return to school. Robert Jr. and Vanessa had already graduated from college and were back home, living in the mansion.
She loved her mom, but was closest to her dad. She was the baby of the family, an oops you might say. They moved to Bellows when she was only eight. Her sister was already a junior in high school and her brother was in his first year of college.
Robert had gone into semi-retirement and was around more than he was while the older two were growing up. He went to Kimberly Ann’s field hockey games, school events, and all her performances with the local theater group.
His youngest daughter was much like the woman he loved, her mother. She didn’t care about money, loved people, and was happiest when she was singing. Kimberly Ann was the light of her father’s life and as a result, she was not very well liked by her siblings.
“Kimberly Ann, how’s school going?” her mom asked.
“It’s going fine. I tried out for the Spring musical right before I came home, but I won’t know if I got in until I go back after the holidays,” she answered quietly.
“What
musical are they doing this year?” her dad asked.
“Brigadoon. I tried out for the female lead, Fiona.”
“You’ll get it; you always do,” Vanessa said, nastily.
“Vanessa, why do you have to be like that?” her father asked.
“Like what? I’m just saying she always gets whatever she wants,” his oldest daughter answered.
“I think you all do,” Robert said, frowning. “That might need to change.”
The two oldest children stopped what they were doing and looked up at their father before looking at each other. Vanessa’s jaw tightened and Robert Jr. clenched his fist for a split second.
“Just for once, why can’t we have a pleasant time when we put up our tree?” Patricia asked. “A little bit of family time, that’s all I ask for.”
“I’m sorry, Mom. Help me with this box of ornaments, okay?” Vanessa said, reaching out for her mother’s hand.
Miss Lottie was sitting in the chair just watching. She had seen the children grow up and she knew each one’s distinct personality. She also knew how each one could manipulate their parents to get what they wanted. The discontent of the two older siblings over their father’s statement was noticed by Miss Lottie, but not their mother.
Robert Jr. was good looking and well-built. He followed in his dad’s footsteps and worked at Bellington Computers, but in the accounting department. His father depended on him to keep the finances in order and run the department with no problems. He was paid well for his position, but never seemed to have any money.
He loved the girls and they loved him, each one hoping to get a ring on their finger and be set for life. Robert Jr. wanted nothing to do with marriage and strung them along to get what he wanted, and then moved on to the next conquest. He played the field and enjoyed the status of being the most eligible bachelor in Colorado two years running.
Vanessa was a female version of her brother. Her appearance was very important to her and she loved to shop to keep current with the fashion world. She graduated with a marketing degree. A year later she still had no job in her chosen field. She did run a very successful fashion blog and traveled near and far to fashion shows for her blog. She informed her father that she wanted to go back to school for fashion design, but Lottie knew it was just another way to keep receiving an allowance instead of working for herself.
Kimberly Ann was always quiet at home and didn’t have much to do with her brother and sister. She spent a lot of time swimming in the indoor pool and playing piano in the solarium. Her father built her a recording studio so she could follow her passion for music. When she wasn’t at school or a school event, she could be found in one of those three places. Kimberly was down to earth and couldn’t care less about her father’s money. She did enjoy the things afforded to her, but she very rarely asked for extras.
Unlike the other two, Kimberly Ann loved her parents for who they were and not for what they had or could give her. Miss Lottie could see the greed in Robert Jr. and Vanessa’s personalities as much as she could see the goodness in Kimberly Ann’s.
Two hours later, the decorating was done and presents had been brought from their various hiding places to be placed under the tree. Patricia sat on the couch, sipping wine, smiling as she stared at the tree. She had sent the kids to pack so they would be ready to leave at seven in the morning. This was her quiet time as Robert had retired to his study to attend to some work.
Lottie went to bed. Robert had returned and they sat together, holding hands, drinking wine, and talking about Christmas pasts. Robert loved Patricia more than life itself. This year would be their thirty-fifth year together as husband and wife. They had gotten married on Christmas Eve in a small ceremony with only a few close friends attending.
He had a huge surprise for his lovely bride this year and he couldn’t wait to see her reaction. This gift was the ultimate message of his love. There was only six days left until Christmas Eve and he would give her the gift of a lifetime.
The lights were turned out on the tree and they went to bed.
CHAPTER 2
* * *
At seven o’clock the next morning, James had pulled the limousine out to the front of the house and was waiting for his passengers. Timmer Reese, the butler, was bringing the family luggage to the back of the vehicle.
“Are you sure you packed enough for three days?” Robert Jr. asked Vanessa, sarcastically. “You might have to go shopping while we are at Grams.”
“Shut up, Robert. Just because you have no fashion sense doesn’t mean I have to look as dumpy as you do,” Vanessa answered, climbing into the limo.
“Just get in the car,” Patricia snapped at her bickering kids. “This is going to be a long ride to the airport.”
Kimberly crawled into the limo and sat on the far end, away from her siblings. Robert came up behind his wife and put his arms around her waist. She turned to face him.
“Are you sure you can’t come with us?” she pleaded.
“You know I can’t. I have to attend to business, so I can relax over Christmas. Besides, I still have your presents to buy and I can’t do it if you’re around to snoop,” he said, smiling. “Say hi to your mom for me.”
He gave her a hug and a kiss and ushered her into the car.
“I’ll see you in three days. Love you,” he said, closing the door and stepping back.
“Would you like some breakfast, sir?” Timmer asked as Robert watched the limo drive away.
“No, thanks. Some coffee in my study would be great though,” he answered.
“Very well, sir,” he answered returning to the house to get the requested coffee.
Robert sat behind his ornate mahogany desk flipping through his rolodex. He had talked to his private jeweler, Thomas Tagnello, the owner of Tagnello Jewelers, six months prior to order his wife’s Christmas presents. He assured Robert he could fulfill his request and have everything together several days before Christmas.
As down to earth as Patricia was, she did love diamonds. She had a good-sized collection of different sizes, cuts, and colors of diamond jewelry that Robert had gifted to her over the years. This year, Robert was going to give her the ultimate diamond set, one that would be nothing like anything else in the world.
“Thomas,” Robert said into the phone. “Did you get everything that I requested?”
“Yes, sir, and it is stunning. I have never seen another piece come close to its beauty.”
“Well done. Bring all the pieces with you tonight when we meet here at eight o’clock,” Robert instructed. “Patricia and the kids are gone so no one will see the necklace until Christmas day.”
“I will be there precisely at eight. See you then, Mr. Bellington.”
Robert hung up the phone and sat back in his chair. His family was gone and Miss Lottie was going in to town to do her Christmas shopping that evening. It was Timmer’s night off and he usually went to town to play poker with some of his friends, so no one would be around.
“Mr. Bellington,” Miss Lottie called from the door of the study.
“Come in, Lottie,” he said.
“You wanted to see me, sir?”
“You did say you were going Christmas shopping tonight, did you not?”
“Yes, sir, and I will not forget to pick up the candy canes if that’s what you wanted to remind me of,” she said, standing in front of his desk.
“No, that’s not why I wanted to see you,” he replied, reaching into his desk drawer. “I wanted to give you your Christmas bonus.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bellington,” she said, reaching for the envelope.
“You’ve been with this family for a long time and I don’t think we could function without you,” he said, smiling. “We all love you, you know, especially Kimberly Ann.”
“And I love you all, too.”
“Have fun shopping. Do you need James to drive you tonight?”
“No, there is no snow on the roads right now, so I can drive myself, thank you
.”
“Fine, I will probably be asleep by the time you get back. I’ll talk to you in the morning,” Robert stated.
“Thank you again, sir,” Miss Lottie said, heading for the door.
She hurried straight to her room to see what her bonus was for this year. Last year, she had received a ten-thousand-dollar bonus. She sat on her bed and started to count the hundred-dollar bills. This year, the envelope contained fifteen thousand dollars.
“If I can continue at this job until I’m one hundred years old, I’ll be rich just off my bonuses,” she chuckled. “Course, then I’ll be too old to enjoy it.”
She walked to her closet and pulled out an old hatbox that she kept on the floor behind her hanging clothes. She opened the lid and placed the money inside. There had to be over three hundred thousand in her box. Miss Lottie was paid well and didn’t pay rent or have any bills to speak of. A good portion of her pay each week was taken out of the bank in cash and put in the box.
She spent most of her time off, in her room, knitting or reading. A small kitchen had been built in her suite so she could make her own food and her many cups of tea. She was allowed to take any food from the kitchen that she wanted for her meals.
The only things she spent extra money on were books, yarn and teas. Robert had built her a wall of book shelves to house her many books, most of which were mysteries. She fancied herself as an armchair detective. Once in a great while, she would splurge and buy a first edition of a book she had been searching for.
She pushed the box to its hiding place at the back of the closet and pulled the bottom of the hanging dresses in front of it.
I hope Vanessa or Robert Jr. never find my stash.
Miss Lottie returned to her daily duties of running the mansion. Mr. Bellington stayed in his office all day, conference calling and doing paperwork. The only way the staff knew their employer was in the house was because Timmer brought him his lunch at noontime.
Cozy Christmas Murder Page 39
