One for the Hooks

by Betty Hechtman

  Then we talked about my upcoming trip. “I know how persuasive Mason can be, but don’t let him talk you into eloping. I want to be there for your wedding.”

  “We’re going to Topeka and back, with no detours. And it’s just for a week,” I said.

  “Maybe that’s what you think, but he’s probably betting on it being the beginning of happily ever after,” she said. We finished our drinks and went back to the yarn department, where we took out our crochet projects.

  We joined the others at the long table. I barely got a chance to remind them that I’d be gone for a week, before they started asking for details about Sloan’s death, having heard that I was involved. I’d told the story so many times now, I had it down to a short explanation.

  “What is wrong with Merry Riley?” CeeCee said. “I know I said her career was on the boring side, but she certainly blew it. It’s made me feel better about doing live theater,” she said. “I think I’d rather keep the eye of the tiger rather than rest on my laurels. I may bomb in this play, but at least I’m still putting myself out there.”

  Adele was leaning on her arm, looking at the dark screen of her phone as it sat on the table. It was as if she’d ignored the whole conversation I’d had with the others. “I know I’ve been a little upset with how my fans all want a piece of me. I was thinking of giving up being an influencer, but I can’t do that to my people. They need their Adele fix to get through the day.” She looked at me. “Next week will be fun for them. They can watch as I make changes to the yarn department while you’re gone. Hint: we’ll be playing hide the knitting needles.”

  Elise was a late arrival and was practically buzzing with excitement when she came up to the table and dropped a box of yarn. “Miami said this is yours.” She slid into one of the chairs. “I’ve been with Miami all morning. There’s just so much going on.” Her wispy voice sounded a little frantic. “A production company already wants to do something about Miami’s house. She’s upset because they seem more interested in the house than her. They already have a pitch: ‘What happens when one of the houses on a tight-knit cul-de-sac starts offering rooms as a short-term rental? Every group of guests has a story.’ They aren’t sure what it’s going to be yet—a reality show, a sitcom, or a drama. They signed up Miami, the house, and all the neighbors. And in addition to everything else I’m doing for Miami, the production company wants me to be the real estate advisor.” She paused for a moment and struck a cocky pose. “So much to do. I have to get new business cards and so much else. I can’t wait until I tell Logan,” she said, referring to her husband. She pulled out the afghan she was working on and started crocheting like a runaway train.

  Sheila listened to it all with a tense expression and urged Elise to take some deep breaths and slow down her hook. It made Sheila so nervous, she had to take out her emergency ball of cotton yarn and do some mindful crocheting. Her face began to even out after a few moments, and she let out a long sigh. “You’re probably who my boss should talk to. He just told me that the vintage pieces he’d taken on consignment were brought in by Sloan. The only piece left is the Tiffany lamp. He’s holding all the money,” she said to Elise. I blanked out for a moment and then remembered that I’d heard some concern that Sloan might have been cheating Miami on some pieces that were sold on consignment. It had never occurred to me that they were at Luxe. Elise had calmed a little and said she’d stop into the store.

  Eduardo was stunned with everything that had gone on. “I’ve been so involved with my new place, I missed out on a lot.” He looked to me. “I’m sorry you won’t be around for the grand opening of Apothecary II.”

  Rhoda patted my hand. “We’re going to miss you,” she said.

  “Dear, you won’t be here for the debut of my play,” CeeCee said, sounding worried. Rhoda reassured her they’d still fill the first row.

  “It’s only a week,” I said. “I’m sure I can make up for everything when I come back.

  When the group broke up, Dinah stayed behind while I put away the box of yarn, saying I’d deal with making the kits when I came back.

  “Remember I’m counting on being your matron of honor.”

  I laughed at the image of myself in an elaborate wedding dress at a chapel in Vegas. “Don’t worry. It’s not going to happen.”

  Mrs. Shedd and Mr. Royal came out of their office when I was packing up to go. I took a few minutes to go over things with them. And then Dinah and I walked to the front door.

  “We could do a girls’ night,” she said. “Commander is off with his daughter.”

  I said I’d have to pass. I had loose ends to take care of, and Barry was coming for Cosmo.

  “I’ve resigned myself to the fact that it’s just going to be difficult dealing with Cassandra,” Dinah said. “No matter what I say or do, I’m going to be the intruder. But I can live with it.” She gave me a long hug. “Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do,” she joked.

  It was dark when I pulled into my driveway, and the house was quiet. Now that Samuel was home, I knew the animals had all been cared for. He’d already gone back to his barista day job and was spending his evening waiting for his turn to perform at an open mic night. Peter was having dinner with Gabby’s family, which seemed like a good sign. I’d heard my two sons fussing about sleeping arrangements, and I was pretty sure Peter had called dibs on my room while I was gone. There’d also been an email from my father, requesting my living room for my mother’s rehearsals before they went on their next tour.

  Mason had called, wanting to get dinner, but I’d begged off.

  I’d barely turned the lights on when my cell phone rang. I knew it was Barry without looking at the screen. I felt a lump in my throat as I told him to come to the front door.

  Cosmo put on his usual show when Barry came in. He jumped up and put his paws on Barry’s knee. Only this time there would be no reverting back to being my dog when Barry left.

  Barry looked at my suitcase sitting by the door. “It looks like you’re all set to go,” he said.

  I nodded. “I’ll get Cosmo’s things.”

  Barry stood in the entrance hall while I gathered the dog’s leash and some cans of food to start out with, along with a bag of his preferred treats. I grabbed his favorite toy and put everything in a red striped Target bag. When I came back, I saw that he’d put the key on the old treadle sewing machine cabinet that sat by the entrance.

  “Well, I guess this is it,” I said. I held out the Target bag. The leash was still balled up in my hand. I was waiting for the final moment to give it to Barry because I knew the dog would go crazy.

  Barry was dressed in his work clothes, but his tie was pulled loose. When I looked up at his face, his gaze was off to the corner, and he looked haggard.

  “I don’t want to keep you,” I said. “I’m sure Carol and her kids are anxious to meet Cosmo.”

  Barry was still avoiding my gaze. I wanted this to be over with, like a Band-Aid ripped off quickly.

  “I can’t do this,” he said more to himself than to me. “I thought I could, but I can’t.”

  “Do what?” I asked.

  “Just pick up the dog and leave the key,” he answered. I wasn’t exactly sure what was going on with him. I’d never seen him like this before, looking so undone. “The thing is,” he began in a low voice. Then he blew out his breath. “I’m no good at this.” He stopped, and blew out his breath again. “You’ve always told me I hold everything in.” He was still looking away, and it was making me uncomfortable. “You’re right,” he said, letting the phrase come out in a rush, as if it was hard for him to say. “But I can’t say goodbye to you without telling you this.” There was a long pause, and I felt like I was going to pass out from the suspense.

  “I know I said you should go with Mason. That he could offer you the life you wanted and was the kind of person you ought to be with. I’m always going to be married to my job, and I’m not very good at letting other people have control, but …” He final
ly turned his gaze directly on me. His eyes flared with all the emotion he was so good at keeping under wraps, and I felt my breath stop.

  “You are the love of my life.” The words hung in the air, and he seemed relieved that he’d gotten them out. “So I’m asking you not to go. Please stay here—with me.”

  I felt my head spinning as I considered what to say. But there was only one word that kept coming up.

  And then I took a deep breath.

  “Yes,” I said softly and fell into his arms.

  Serendipity Scarf

  This is a good project for leftover yarn or orphan skeins. The length and width depend on the yarn used, but it’s approximately 3 in. (7.5 cm) wide and 88 in. (224 cm) long. It’s a very easy pattern and works up quickly. It helps to mark the first stitch in each row.

  Supplies

  3 skeins of different yarns, each skein approximately 100 yd (91 m)

  Size L (8 mm) hook

  Smaller crochet hook for fringe

  Stitches used: chain (ch) and half double crochet (hdc)

  With color A chain 182

  Row 1: Hdc in the second chain from hook, hdc across

  Row 2: Turn, ch 2 (doesn’t count as first stitch) hdc across until the last stitch. When there are 3 loops on the hook, pull through with color B.

  Row 3: Turn, ch 2 (doesn’t count as first stitch) with color B, hdc across

  Row 4: Turn, ch 2 (doesn’t count as first stitch) hdc across until the last stitch. When there are three loops on the hook, pull through with color C.

  Row 5: Turn, ch 2 (doesn’t count as first stitch) with color C, hdc across

  Row 6: Turn, ch2 (doesn’t count as first stitch), hdc across, fasten off; hanging strands can be incorporated into fringe.

  Cut 5 pieces of each yarn approximately 10 in. long. Taking one of each yarn, fold in half and use smaller hook to poke the fold through the bottom of the scarf and then pull the strands through. Start by putting fringe at edges, then middle and on either side of middle. The ends can be trimmed or left uneven, depending on taste.

  Molly’s Spaghetti Sauce

  Ingredients

  1 can (28 oz, 794 g) peeled tomatoes

  1 can (14.5 oz, 411 g) diced tomatoes

  2 T. olive oil

  1 onion peeled and quartered

  1½ T. minced garlic

  2 tsp. oregano

  2 tsp. basil

  2 tsp. sugar

  2 tsp. balsamic vinegar

  Salt to taste

  1 lb (454 g) spaghetti noodles

  Pour the whole tomatoes and juice into a medium saucepan. Crush with a spoon and add chopped tomatoes followed by rest of ingredients except the spaghetti. Simmer for approx. 45 minutes, stirring occasionally.

  Prepare spaghetti noodles according to package directions, drain. Pour the sauce over the spaghetti . Garnish with grated parmesan/Romano cheese.

  Also available by Betty Hechtman

  Crochet Mysteries

  Hooks Can Be Deceiving

  On the Hook

  Hooking for Trouble

  Seams Like Murder

  Knot Guilty

  For Better or Worsted

  If Hooks Could Kill

  Behind the Seams

  You Better Knot Die

  A Stitch in Crime

  By Hook or By Crook

  Dead Men Don’t Crochet

  Hooked on Murder

  Yarn Retreat Mysteries

  Knot on Your Life

  Inherit the Wool

  A Tangled Yarn

  Gone With the Wool

  Wound Up in Murder

  Silence of the Lamb’s Wool

  Yarn to Go

  Writer for Hire Mysteries

  Murder Ink

  Author Biography

  Betty Hechtman was born in Chicago, Illinois and on a particularly eventful weekend graduated college, got married, moved to Los Angeles, California and now lives in Tarzana. She has a degree in Fine Arts and has had a variety of professions. Her love of mysteries started with Nancy Drew and blossomed when she began to read Agatha Christie’s books. She has been doing handicrafts since she was a child. It is like a dream come true to be able to mix mystery and yarn craft in her books.

  This is a work of fiction. All of the names, characters, organizations, places and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to real or actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.

  PUBLISHER’S NOTE: The recipes contained in this book are to be followed exactly as written. The publisher is not responsible for your specific health or allergy needs that may require medical supervision. The publisher is not responsible for any adverse reaction to the recipes contained in this book.

  Copyright © 2021 by Betty Hechtman

  All rights reserved.

  Published in the United States by Crooked Lane Books, an imprint of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.

  Crooked Lane Books and its logo are trademarks of The Quick Brown Fox & Company LLC.

  Library of Congress Catalog-in-Publication data available upon request.

  ISBN (hardcover): 978-1-64385-732-9

  ISBN (ePub): 978-1-64385-733-6

  Cover illustration by Jesse Reisch

  Printed in the United States.

  www.crookedlanebooks.com

  Crooked Lane Books

  34 West 27th St., 10th Floor

  New York, NY 10001

  First Edition: August 2021

  10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1