The Complete Death Du Jour Mystery Collection

by Hillary Avis

  At the bottom of the stairs, Kimmy looked up at Bethany and Ryan, her expression bewildered. “What in the world is going on?”

  Epilogue

  One week later

  TEARS WELLED IN BETHANY’S eyes as she stood beside Viv and watched Kimmy walk up the aisle to the sound of a string quartet. She’d never seen her best friend look more beautiful. The conservatory’s high glass ceiling had been strung with thousands of white lights, and the gentle glow reflected in Kimmy’s shining eyes, even as her gaze was fixed on her true love.

  Charley waited with an equally glowing expression next to Milo and Garrett, who’d been ordained by an internet church expressly to perform the marriage ceremony. Even he had a hard time maintaining his usual curmudgeonly expression, and he quickly wiped a tear from his eye as he watched Kimmy coming down the aisle.

  Kimmy’s dress, the one she’d worried so much about, was perfect. At the last minute, she and Charley had swapped parts of their outfits. Instead of the bustier she had ordered to go with her enormous Cinderella bridal skirt, Kimmy wore the shirt and vest from Charley’s silk tuxedo, the sleeves rolled up and the neck unbuttoned. Charley in turn wore Kimmy’s bustier with her flowing ivory trousers. Their outfits were traditional but unique—just like their partnership.

  In the front row, Kimmy’s great-aunt Amara dabbed at her eyes with a handkerchief. “There goes my baby,” she sniffed. “I can’t believe it, my little Kimberly is finally getting married.”

  “Charley looks gorgeous. I hardly even recognize her,” Viv murmured. “That strapless top is just...wow.”

  As Kimmy reached the front, Bethany leaped into groomsmaid action. She straightened the train of Kimmy’s skirt and then took Kimmy’s bouquet so the brides could clasp hands. Happy tears streamed down Charley’s face and Bethany had to look away to avoid crying herself.

  Thank goodness I can only see Kimmy’s back—I think the look on her face would kill me.

  As Garrett began the ceremony, Bethany scanned the audience. There was hardly a dry eye in the house—and Kimmy and Charley hadn’t even gotten to their vows yet! Olive sat with her hand pressed to her heart as she watched, and even Kimmy’s childhood neighbor, Mr. Washington, was blinking away tears. From the back of the audience, Ryan caught her eye and smiled.

  “You look beautiful,” he mouthed, and she felt her face flush. The words of the love poem he’d written echoed in her ears.

  To the woman I love:

  You’re the food of my soul

  The music of my heart...

  With a jolt, she realized that the words weren’t just in her head. They were coming straight out of Charley’s mouth! Bethany’s eyes went wide with shock.

  Charley must have left a draft of her vows on the table before I put my purse down!

  The poem hadn’t been for her at all! Bethany flushed as she thought of all the time she’d wasted obsessing over who had written the poem, when it had been meant for someone else all along. Well, she couldn’t regret the time spent too much—the poem had helped her decide which man would be the best partner for her.

  Charley recited the rest of the words as she gazed into Kimmy’s eyes. “You’re the fire of my dreams, the sweetness of my life, the key to my happiness. I can’t live without you. My secret hope is that you’ll choose me—every day, for the rest of our lives.”

  Charley’s voice was so pure and loving that Bethany couldn’t hold back her tears any longer. They just poured out of her in huge, gulping sobs. Kimmy’s vows didn’t help, either. By the end of the ceremony, Bethany had given up on screening her face with the bridal bouquet. She just ugly-cried along with everyone else in the room.

  “And now, the brides may kiss,” Garrett said, snapping his bible closed.

  Bethany took a deep breath to steady herself as Kimmy and Charley embraced to the wild cheers of their friends and family. Kimmy turned to her, radiant, and Bethany handed her back her bouquet. She picked up Kimmy’s train and adjusted so it wouldn’t be stepped on during the recessional. Milo waited until she was done fussing over Kimmy’s skirt and then offered her his arm. She took it and together they followed her best friends—who were now a married couple—back down the aisle.

  “I’m going to go let the band know it’s time to dance,” Milo said when they got to the back of the room. He pulled a packet of tissues out of his pocket and handed them to her.

  She looked up at him, shaking her head. “How are you not crying?”

  “This is a party! I’m here to celebrate, not cry!” He grinned at her and headed for the musicians’ corner where a brass ensemble had joined the strings. As his signal, they started playing “It Had to Be You.” The wedding guests moved from their seats to stand around the dance floor, and Kimmy held out her hand to dance with Charley, twirling her around under the twinkling lights.

  “I love watching the first dance,” Ryan said. Bethany looked up, surprised to see him standing beside her. “It’s such a moment of pure love. They’ll remember this for the rest of their lives.”

  She nodded as she watched Kimmy and Charley laughing and talking with each other as they danced. “I have a feeling these two are going to stay married forever.”

  Milo cleared his throat and held out his hand. “It’s our turn to join in, I think. Our last official wedding duty.”

  Bethany hesitated. Will Ryan mind?

  She looked up at him to gauge his reaction, but he just motioned her toward the dance floor and winked. “I get the next one.”

  She grasped Milo’s hand and he pulled her out onto the floor. He wasn’t a bad dancer. Well, actually he was pretty terrible, but not as terrible as she’d expected. They mostly stood in one place and swayed like they were at an eighth-grade Sadie Hawkins dance. His eyes were a little distant; he was clearly thinking about something else.

  “Are you OK?” she asked. “I’m sorry if it’s weird that Ryan’s my wedding date.”

  He shook his head. “No, it’s great, really. I’m glad we get a chance to talk, though. I’m the one who should be apologizing.”

  “For what?” she raised an eyebrow.

  “For standing you up. I should have just told you what was going on. I didn’t want to jinx it, but that was dumb.”

  “It was dumb.” Bethany’s eyes fell on Viv, who was standing next to Ryan and watching them intently. I have a feeling she has dibs on Milo for the next dance. Bethany grinned up at Milo. “Don’t make that mistake with the next girl. I mean, it’s fine if you don’t tell her everything, but you can at least tell her if you’ll be late.”

  Milo nodded. “I know. And I should have trusted you and just told you what I was doing, too.”

  “It doesn’t matter now.”

  “It does.” He stopped dancing for a moment. “I missed our date last week because I was at an interview with the New Haven Gazette. They called yesterday to offer me the job. I’m on the crime desk! They’re going to run the story about the LaFontaine mummy murder on the front page, too.”

  “Whoa, congratulations!” Bethany threw her arms around his neck and gave him a hug. She let go and smiled up at him. “I know you’ve wanted that for a long time. Are you moving to New Haven?”

  He nodded and they resumed their dancing as other couples joined the floor. “Not right away, but in the next couple of months.

  “Well, I know someone who’s going to miss you.”

  “Who, Caboose?” Milo grinned and she giggled.

  “Well, he’s going to miss you and your bag of treats! But I was talking about someone else.” Bethany looked meaningfully at where Viv and Ryan were dancing.

  Milo followed her gaze. “Ah. I talked with her about it.”

  “You did?” Bethany raised an eyebrow. Things must be getting serious between them already. Well, Charley would be happy about that!

  “She’ll be done with school in six months. Maybe by then—”

  “You’ll know where your relationship is going. Maybe she’ll join you in
New Haven, or maybe you’ll both move to New York or somewhere in the middle. The world’s your oyster.”

  The band shifted smoothly into another song, this one a little more up-tempo, and Milo let go of her hand. “Speaking of oysters, yours is on his way over here. You take care, Bethany.”

  She smiled at him. “You, too. Let’s all go out when Kimmy and Charley are back from their honeymoon.”

  He nodded, and Bethany had just a fleeting moment before Ryan literally swept her off her feet. He picked her up and twirled her around before setting her down gently in the middle of the dance floor.

  “Finally!” he said, his eyes twinkling as they danced. She had to admit he was a better dancer than Milo—not that it would take much! “I plan to monopolize your dance card for the rest of the night.”

  “Well, I might need a break after this one.” He pretended to pout, and she grinned and added, “Just for a minute so I can check on the food. And then I need to dance with my girls.”

  “Well, I can’t argue with that.” He held her tight until the song was over and then walked her over to the long buffet table. The centerpiece was Olive’s towering dulce de leche wedding cake. Its tall tiers were covered with colorful autumn leaves made out of sugar. At the top, two exquisitely sculpted fondant pumpkins stood in for the two brides.

  Aw, they’ll be pumpkins together—forever.

  The pumpkin vines twined down the cake, unifying the layers. The cake was a masterpiece that perfectly complemented the unique floral arrangements.

  The rest of the food was equally colorful and beautiful. Platters and chafing dishes crowded the table—there was definitely enough to feed the entire crowd, even if everyone had seconds. Servers scurried around stocking the cutlery and plates as wedding guests began circling the tables like sharks, waiting for the buffet to open.

  Bethany was happy to see that she wasn’t the only one who had thought to check on the catering. Viv glanced up from where she was stirring the soup on the warmer. She held out a clean spoon. “Do you want a taste before they start serving?”

  Bethany grabbed it and took a spoonful. A bouquet of herbs hit her palate first, and then the rich warmth of tender meatballs, creamy lentils, and fresh vegetables. She and Viv had spent all morning making meatballs and cooking up a huge batch of Italian wedding lentil soup recipe, and the time spent had been worth it.

  “Is it good?” Viv asked.

  Bethany nodded, pride swelling in her chest. “We pulled it off. For some reason, soup is always better when you cook it with love.”

  “Awesome—now, let’s party!” Viv grabbed her hand and pulled her away from the buffet table.

  They joined Charley and Kimmy out on the floor, and the band started playing a swing version of “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun.”

  Kimmy grabbed one of her hands and Charley took the other, and they laughed and sang the lyrics at the top of their lungs. Bethany watched her friends gathering around her, and her heart swelled with contentment. These women were her family, her chosen family. They were her sisters, and no matter what challenges life brought, they’d face them together. But for now—they danced.

  It was a perfect moment, one Bethany would remember for the rest of her life.

  Recipes

  Curry Lentil Soup

  THIS SIMPLE, SATISFYING soup is perfect for a rainy autumn day. You can use a premade curry powder or experiment with making your own version using the recipe below!

  Ingredients

  1 garlic clove, minced

  1 inch fresh ginger root, peeled and minced

  2 celery ribs, chopped

  2 carrots, peeled and sliced

  1 small onion, diced

  3 Tbs butter

  2 tsp curry powder (use the recipe below or a pre-mixed curry powder from the store)

  1 cup brown lentils, rinsed and picked over to remove any stones

  4 cups chicken or vegetable stock

  salt and pepper to taste

  chopped cilantro and plain yogurt (to garnish)

  Directions

  Melt 2 Tbs of the butter in a pot over medium-high heat. Add the garlic, ginger, celery, carrots, and onion and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add the curry powder and stir, heating until the curry powder is fragrant, about half a minute. Add the lentils and stock and bring the soup to a boil over high heat. Reduce the heat to a simmer, then cover and cook for 30 minutes or until the lentils are tender. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  If you prefer a smooth soup, you can blend part or all of the soup at this time. However, it’s great when served with a more rustic texture, too! Stir in the remaining 1 Tb butter. Serve in bowls, garnished with plain yogurt and chopped cilantro.

  Homemade Curry Powder

  THIS IS A RAW CURRY powder. Make sure you take 30-60 seconds to toast the curry in the pan when you add it to recipes, as described in the Curry Lentil Soup recipe above. If you add raw curry powder to liquid sauces or soups without toasting, it may give your dish a harsh flavor.

  Mix together:

  1 Tb ground coriander seeds

  2 tsp cumin

  1 tsp turmeric

  ½ tsp ground pepper

  ½ tsp chili powder

  ½ tsp ground ginger

  ½ tsp ground cardamom

  ¼-½ tsp cayenne pepper

  ¼ tsp cinnamon

  Use the curry powder immediately. You can store the extra in a spice jar or other airtight container for up to 3 months.

  French Onion Soup

  GOOD FRENCH ONION SOUP is quite simple, so it depends heavily on the quality of ingredients and the patience of the cook. It’s an excellent way to use up extra onions or day-old baguettes.

  Ingredients

  1/4 cup butter

  5 large onions, sliced

  2 cloves garlic, minced

  1/3 cup white wine

  6 cups beef stock

  1 Tb fresh thyme leaves

  2 bay leaves

  2 tsp white wine vinegar

  1 Tb Worcestershire sauce

  Salt and pepper to taste

  French baguette, sliced into ¾” slices and toasted

  Swiss or Gruyere cheese, sliced

  Directions

  In a heavy soup pot, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté until the onions are evenly browned, about 30 minutes. Stir constantly to avoid burning. Add minced garlic and stir until fragrant, about one minute.

  Add the wine and deglaze the pan, then pour in the beef stock, thyme, and bay leaves. Heat to a boil, then reduce heat to a simmer, stirring occasionally to prevent burning for about 20 minutes.

  Remove bay leaves and stir in the white wine vinegar and Worcestershire sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

  Preheat the oven to broil.

  Ladle the soup into ovenproof bowls and place on a baking sheet. On the top of each, cover the surface of the soup with toasted baguette slices. Place the cheese slices on top of the bread.

  Broil the soups on the baking sheet until the top of the cheese is golden brown and melted, 2-3 minutes.

  Serve immediately.

  “Italian Wedding” Lentil Soup

  WHAT BETTER WAY TO celebrate a special occasion than with a big pot of soup? This classic recipe gets a rustic update with the addition of green lentils. You can “cheat” and use a bag of frozen mini Italian meatballs instead of making your own. Just brown them as the recipe suggests before adding them to the soup. If you can’t find mini meatballs, you can halve or quarter regular size meatballs.

  Ingredients

  Meatballs

  8 oz lean ground beef

  8 oz ground pork

  ½ cup fresh bread crumbs

  ¼ cup chopped parsley

  1 ½ tsp minced oregano

  ½ cup finely grated parmesan

  1 egg

  salt and pepper

  2 Tb olive oil

  Soup

  1 Tbs olive oil

  1
½ cups finely diced carrots

  1 cup finely diced onion

  1 cup finely diced celery

  4 cloves garlic, minced

  10 cups chicken stock

  1 cup small green lentils, rinsed and picked over

  1 cup dry orzo (or other small) pasta

  6 oz fresh spinach, washed well and chopped

  salt and pepper

  grated parmesan for garnish

  Directions

  First, make the meatballs:

  In a mixing bowl, add the ground meats, bread crumbs, parsley, oregano, parmesan, and egg. Season with salt and pepper. Combine until the mixture is even, then shape into very small (less than one-inch) meatballs.

  In a large skillet over medium-high heat, brown half the meatballs in half the olive oil, turning occasionally so the sides brown evenly. Drain cooked meatballs on a plate lined with paper towels. Repeat using the other half of the oil and meatballs. The meatballs do not need to be cooked through to the center at this stage.

  Then, make the soup:

  While meatballs are browning in a separate pan, heat 1 Tb olive oil in a large soup pot. Sauté the carrots, onion, and celery until they’re softened, about 7 minutes. Add garlic and sauté until fragrant, about one minute. Add the chicken stock and green lentils and cook for 20 minutes.

  Season soup with salt and pepper to taste. Add in the uncooked pasta and the browned meatballs, reduce the heat to medium. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the pasta is tender and the meatballs are fully cooked, about 10 more minutes.

  During the last minute of cooking, add the spinach to the pot. Taste the soup and adjust the seasoning with salt and pepper, if necessary.

  Serve the soup sprinkled with parmesan cheese.

  The end of the Death du Jour series! Or is it?

  THANK YOU FOR READING! If you enjoyed this series, please leave a quick review. It will help other readers find the Death du Jour books so they can spend time with Bethany, Kimmy, and Charley, too. Thank you very much for your support.