For the first time in hours, a smile brightened Ginny’s tear-swollen face. “I’d like that.”
“And we’ll help you, won’t we, Trish?”
“We sure will.”
“My own business,” Ginny said, warming to the idea. “I like that thought. A lot.”
Angelica held out her hand. “Then it’s all for one.”
Tricia put hers on top. “And all-”
Ginny did likewise. “For one-me!”
Their combined hands bounced once-twice-three times before springing high into the air.
TWENTY-THREE
The bridal bouquet of white calla lilies and baby’s breath looked lovely against Grace’s soft pink linen suit, and the maid of honor’s bouquet was made of lavender chrysanthemums, which complimented her mauve, raw silk dress. Tricia also held a wadded tissue to wipe away the tears that filled her eyes. Weddings always made her cry.
Dressed in a dark suit, crisp white shirt, and navy tie, Mr. Everett wore a solemn expression as he slipped the simple gold band onto Grace’s waiting finger. “With this ring, I do thee wed.”
Judge Milton smiled. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.” To Mr. Everett, he said, “You may kiss your bride.”
A resounding round of applause broke out among the guests as Mr. Everett landed a gentle kiss on Grace’s lips-and promptly turned an attractive shade of pink.
Haven’t Got a Clue had never looked as lovely. White chrysanthemums and pale pink roses decorated the counters. Ginny had arrived early that morning with a bit of a hangover and many rolls of white crepe paper, which she’d artistically draped along the bookshelves. Angelica had set up a long, linen-draped table against the wall of nonfiction titles, and lavished it with hot and cold breakfast foods. Pale pink rosettes spiraled up Nikki Brimfield’s gorgeous three-tiered cake, which had taken up residence at the store’s coffee station. They’d chosen their initials, G and W, in brushed silver, for their cake topper.
Half an hour before the ceremony, Russ arrived with his camera to take posed and candid shots of the bride and groom and the cake. He kept looking at Ginny, who kept her distance, and Tricia warned him that he was not to talk to her about Pammy’s death, or what had occurred at the store the evening before. He frowned and instead took Tricia’s picture. And he kept making excuses to be near her-asking about the food, the decorations, and any other inane thing he could think of. Tricia was civil, but soon found other places to be.
Although appointed the honorary ring bearer, Miss Marple declined to participate in the ceremony, instead watching it from her perch on the shelf behind the register, purring all the while.
While Russ snapped pictures, Tricia stepped away from the happy couple, who were receiving best wishes from their guests. Everyone from the Tuesday Night Book Club was there, including Frannie, who kept showing anyone she could corner pictures of her new cat-just like any proud parent. Nikki Brimfield looked out of place in a skirt and blouse, instead of her white baker’s uniform, and Julia Overland had worn the same color as Tricia. Great minds did indeed think alike. As best man, Bob had for once forgone his Kelly green sports coat and donned a dark suit. He looked… weird… out of his usual uniform.
Tricia traded good wishes with her lawyer, Roger Livingston, and Lois Kerr from the library. Though the ceremony was over, Stuart Paige remained seated in one of the rented chairs, looking pale, but smiling, while his flunky, Turner, stood nearby, wearing sunglasses and still trying to look like a Secret Service agent.
Angelica flitted around the room with a silver tray filled with mini quiches, offering them to one and all.
Among the missing, of course, were Libby and Joe Hirt, and Brian Comstock. No surprises there.
Distracted by the crowd, Tricia was caught off guard when Russ insinuated himself next to her once again. “I’ve been trying to get you on your own for the past hour. Are you avoiding me?”
“You made your feelings toward me quite clear. And after what happened at the inn on Friday, I don’t think we have anything to say to one another.”
“I left several messages for you to call me before then. You ignored them.”
“Yes, I did.”
He frowned. “Okay, I admit I made a mistake in calling off-us.”
Tricia turned a level glare at him. “I take it you’ve had a change of plans?”
Russ frowned. “Okay, so the job in Philadelphia fell through. And I’ve decided not to put the paper up for sale. It looks like I won’t be leaving Stoneham after all.” He gave a weak laugh. “I know it’s asking a lot, but I was hoping we could… still be friends.”
Tricia said nothing.
“Actually, more than friends. Is there a chance things could go back to the way they were before I opened my big, stupid mouth?”
Tricia still said nothing.
“I’d like to think we could try.”
“You are asking a lot.”
The shop door opened, the little bell overhead ringing cheerfully. A stranger entered and paused. “I’m sorry. I thought the store was open today,” he said.
Tricia strode over to the door-anything to get away from Russ. “We’re opening late. As you can see, we’re hosting a wedding.”
Tricia did a double take. The man in front of her was Grant Baker. She hadn’t recognized him out of uniform. He looked… nice.
He also looked uncomfortable. “I don’t want to intrude,” he said, already backing away.
“Don’t be silly. Come on in; have some coffee and a piece of wedding cake.”
He shook his head. “I only came to… to get a book.”
“I thought you didn’t read mysteries or true crime.”
“Maybe I decided to broaden my horizons.” He let the door close on his back and stepped closer to Tricia, lowering his voice. “Or… maybe I came just to see you. To see if you were free for dinner tonight.”
Tricia looked to her right and left. Was he actually speaking to her?
“Um…” At the edge of her peripheral vision, she saw Russ nearby, eavesdropping. Tricia smiled. “I think that would be very nice.”
“And I also wanted to tell you what you did for Pam Fredericks was decent and noble. Especially since you were only… sort of… friends.”
Tricia’s spine stiffened. She hadn’t mentioned this to anyone. How had he found out? “I don’t know what you mean,” she bluffed.
“Claiming her body, paying to have it buried. Apparently she wasn’t a very good friend to you, but you proved more than once you were probably the only true friend she ever had.”
Tricia grabbed his elbow, and pulled him away from the other guests. “How did you find out?” she hissed.
“You dealt with Baker Funeral Home, right? My cousin Glenn owns it.”
The breath caught in Tricia’s throat. “I assumed Mr. Baker would’ve been more discreet.”
“Don’t worry; he didn’t say a word. Our office was notified by the Medical Examiner when the body was released.”
Okay, she could believe that.
Angelica made a pass with her tray. “Hi, Captain Baker. Try one of these delicious spinach mini quiches.”
“Captain Baker?” Bob repeated, worry tingeing his voice-no doubt remembering Tricia’s threat to turn him in to the law. He stepped away-fast.
“Don’t mind if I do,” Baker said, taking an offered napkin and two of the quiches. He bit into one, chewed, and swallowed. “Hey, these are terrific.”
“Tricia helped make them,” Angelica said, beaming, then moved on to another guest.
“And you can cook, too,” he said, impressed.
Tricia shook her head and sighed. “My helping consisted of squeezing the water out of cold, wet spinach until it was dry. I’m not bragging when I tell you that I can barely boil water.”
Baker laughed, but his expression soon became serious again. He nodded toward Stuart Paige. “How did he get invited to this little shindig?”
“Mr. Paige and Grace-she’
s the bride-have been friends for years.”
Baker nodded. “I understand you showed him a page from the diary.”
Tricia felt a squirm crawl along her spine. “Yes. I wanted to verify my suspicions on its author.”
“What have you done with the rest of your copy of the diary?”
“Copy?” she asked, in all innocence.
“Yes, all ninety-seven pages.”
She sighed. “Nothing, yet. I thought I might offer it to Eugenia Hirt. It’s not a very flattering portrayal of her birth mother-but it might give her an even greater appreciation for her adoptive mother. But I’ll wait a while before I mention it to her. She’s had enough upsets for now.”
“It’ll give her something to read while she awaits her trial.” Baker wiped his fingers on his napkin. “I’ve had a chance to go through all those letters we found in the shoebox in Pam Fredericks’s car. She was related to M. J. Collins, all right. The woman was Pam’s aunt-her mother’s sister.”
Tricia sighed. “That made Eugenia and Pammy first cousins. Imagine that-she tried to blackmail her own cousin.”
A burst of laughter came from the crowd around the buffet table, reminding Tricia that this was supposed to be a happy occasion. “Do we have to talk about Pammy anymore?”
“I still want to know why you did what you did-taking care of her in death,” Baker pressed.
Tricia gave another long sigh. “Because…”
She didn’t need to say anything. Officially, he needed no explanation.
Still…
She looked into his mesmerizing green eyes. “It was the right thing to do.”
The hint of a smile touched his lips. “Yes, it was.”
“Did you ever get that letter addressed to her at General Delivery?”
He nodded. “It was from her brother. It said, in no uncertain terms, that she was not to contact him or any other member of the family again. Apparently she’d taken not only the diary and the letters we found in the trunk of her car, but she’d cleaned out her mother’s jewelry box and taken other valuables the last time she’d visited.”
“Oh, my. Poor Pammy.”
“I’d say poor Pammy’s family.”
The sound of a champagne cork popping was a welcome distraction. Bob Kelly held the bottle of fizz aloft. “Time for the toast!”
Angelica worked the room, tray in hand, offering glasses that were already filled. She paused in front of Tricia and Baker, gave her sister a knowing wink, and then moved off to serve the rest of the guests.
Bob filled flutes for Mr. Everett and Grace before clearing his throat. He held his glass before him. “Friends, I’m sure everyone here will join me in wishing William and Grace a long and joy-filled life together. May they always be as happy as they are at this moment.”
“Hear, hear,” came the chant as everyone raised his or her glass in salute.
When everyone had taken a sip, Mr. Everett offered his glass. “To my beautiful bride.”
Again, those assembled raised their glasses and cheered.
Mr. Everett raised his glass once again. “And now, I’d like to say thank you to the person who made this all possible. To my employer and my friend, Ms. Tricia Miles. Thank you, Ms. Miles. You’ve not only made an old man feel useful again, but if it weren’t for you, Grace and I would never have”-he paused, and seemed unsure of his next words-“hooked up.”
Everyone laughed and then cheered.
Grant Baker turned to Tricia and lifted his glass. “Here’s hoping we can”-he paused, and did not say “hook up”-“start out by being friends, and see where that leads.”
Tricia raised her glass. “I’ll drink to that.” Out the corner of her eye, she saw Russ frown, but then he raised his glass, never breaking eye contact. “To us,” he mouthed.
Tricia sipped her champagne and smiled. The next few days, maybe weeks, maybe months-might be very interesting indeed.
She drank to that.
ANGELICA’S RECIPES
BOB’S FAVORITE MEATLOAF
1½ pounds lean ground beef
⅔ cup seasoned breadcrumbs
1 egg, beaten
1 large onion, chopped
¼teaspoonsalt
¼ teaspoon ground pepper
¾ cup ketchup
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
Combine breadcrumbs, egg, onion, salt, and pepper; mix well. Add to ground beef and mix well. Shape mixture into a loaf in a loaf pan. Mix ketchup with Worcestershire sauce and pour over the top.
Bake at 350º for 70-80 minutes (or until meat thermometer reads 160º).
Serves 4-6. 297
GARLIC MASHED POTATOES
6 medium potatoes, peeledand quartered
4-6 garlic cloves
5-6 cups water
2 tablespoons olive oil (or softened butter)
½ teaspoon salt
Pinch ofpepper
Place potatoes and garlic in a large saucepan and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until tender.
Drain, reserving ½ cup cooking liquid. Mash potato mixture. Add oil (or butter), salt, pepper, and reserved liquid; stir until smooth.
Serves 4-6.
QUICK-AND-DIRTY GARLIC BREAD
1 baguette or small (8 ounces) loaf of French bread
¼ cup butter, softened
¼ cup Parmesan cheese
½ teaspoon garlic powder (or 2minced garlic
cloves)
2 tablespoons dried parsley (but fresh is always
better)
Preheat oven to 400º.
In a small mixing bowl, combine butter with Parmesan cheese. Add other ingredients and mix well. Cut the baguette into half-inch slices-but do not cut all the way through. Spread mixture on both sides of each slice. Wrap in aluminum foil and bake for 15-20 minutes. (If you like it crispy, open the foil the last 5 minutes.) Serve hot.
Serves 4-6.
POTATO-AND-LEEK SOUP
2 tablespoons butter
2 cloves diced garlic
2 good-sized potatoes (or about 1 pound)
2 good-sized leeks (or about 1 pound)
4 cups chicken broth
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup milk or light cream
Clean and chop white part of the leeks. Melt the butter in a large saucepan and add the chopped leeks and garlic. Saute them over low to medium heat until the leeks are soft (about 10 minutes). Stir frequently; do not brown.
Add all the remaining ingredients to the pan except the milk/ cream. Bring the soup to a boil and then let it simmer for 15- 20 minutes.
If you prefer a smooth soup, mash the potatoes in the pan, or puree them in a blender. Just before serving, pour the milk/ cream into the soup; stir well, and heat through.
Serves 4.
MINI SPINACH QUICHES
½ cup butter or margarine, softened
1 package (3 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour
3 slices bacon
¼ cup chopped green onion
2 eggs
½ cup half-and-half
½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
¼ teaspoon salt
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 (10-ounce) package frozen spinach, thawed and
well drained (use your hands to squeeze out the
water)
In a small mixing bowl, cream butter and cream cheese. Add flour; beat until well blended. Shape into 24 balls. Press balls into the bottom and the sides of greased mini muffin cups.
Preheat oven to 350º. In a skillet, cook the bacon until brown and very crisp; drain. Saute the onions in the same skillet with the bacon drippings for 5 minutes, or until tender, stirring constantly; drain. Place the onions in a medium bowl. Crumble the bacon into small pieces, and add to the onions. Add the eggs to the bacon and onions; beat well. Stir in the half-and-half, salt, nutmeg, and Parmesan cheese. Add the s
pinach; mix well to combine. Divide the mixture among crust-lined cups (do not overfill).
Bake for 25-30 minutes, or until puffed and golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 minutes. Serve warm or cool. Store leftovers in the refrigerator.
Makes 24.
Lorna Barrett
Lorna Barrett is the nom de plume of author Lorraine Bartlett.
Lorraine 's other alter ego, L.L. Bartlett, writes psychological suspense and the Jeff Resnick mystery series.
She's done it all, from drilling holes for NASA to typing scripts in Hollywood, and lives a life of crime in western New York.
Her first sales were to the confession magazine market. In all, she's sold nine short stories, including one on Amazon Shorts.
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