by K. J. Emrick
Leo slumped against Jon’s grip, knowing he was beaten. Darcy waited for him to look her in the eye, then said, “We have some questions about the murder of Roger August, too.”
At the police station Darcy and Grace were waiting in the main office. Jon was in the interrogation room with Leo Hanway.
“So now maybe Roger can rest in peace,” Darcy said. She had been filling Grace in on the whole story, including the ‘haunted’ Santa suit.
“What a way to spend Christmas Eve,” Grace said.
Jon came into the office and stood next to the desk where they were sitting. He ran a hand through his hair, leaving it mussed and out of place. “Is everything all right?” Darcy asked.
“As fine as it can be, I suppose,” was Jon’s answer. “He confessed. He discovered that Rose and Roger were having an affair and was so upset that he decided to kill Roger. His first attempt was the night of the Christmas pageant. He dropped a sandbag from the stage on him but it only injured his leg. When that didn’t work he snuck into Roger’s house on Christmas Eve and shot him in the back. Roger never saw it coming.” Jon sat down on the other chair across from Darcy. “He also confessed to attacking me and you, Darcy. He got scared when he thought that we were getting too close to solving the case and panicked.”
“He confessed to all that?” Grace said with surprise.
“Yeah, solving this case was easy in the end. He didn’t even try to pretend it wasn’t him. He told me he doesn’t have a lot of time left. Cancer, apparently. Rose Abbington died a few years ago and he’s got no reason to keep it inside anymore, I guess. He’s very sick and was grateful just to get this off his chest. People are like that, sometimes. He did seem honestly sorry about attacking us, if that means anything.”
“So, no haunted Santa suit, then?” Grace asked with a smirk.
“No,” Darcy agreed. “No haunted Santa suit.”
It was late when they reached Darcy’s house and they headed straight upstairs to the bedroom. They collapsed onto the bed both too exhausted to even bother with changing out of their clothes.
“So,” Jon said, his voice thick with coming sleep, “explain something to me. Why were you having such a hard time contacting Roger’s ghost? What was standing in your way?”
Darcy rolled into him more. “Like I said, I think someone didn’t want us to know the answer. Someone, a spirit, was trying to block my efforts and that made communicating with Roger more difficult.”
“What? Who?”
“The person who loved Roger but had secrets of her own to keep. I figured it out when you told me Leo had said Rose Abbington had died. That was a piece of the puzzle we didn’t have. Rose was having an affair with Roger. She wouldn’t want that to come out. At the same time, she might have still felt something for Leo, too, and not wanted him to get in trouble.”
“Wow,” Jon said to her. “I guess true love extends even beyond the grave.”
With her head on his chest, she sighed. “Of course it does.”
Darcy was about to close her eyes when something caught her eye in the corner of the room. She tugged on Jon’s arm. “What?” he mumbled.
“Roger has returned,” she said as she pointed at the ghost shimmering in the corner. Something was different about him. His ghost seemed calmer and more peaceful. His scowl was replaced by a beaming smile and there was a glow to him that hadn’t been there before. The cold that he had always brought with him wasn’t there this time, either.
Darcy started to explain what was happening to Jon but he put a hand on her arm to stop her. “I can see him,” he whispered. There was wonder in his voice.
“Thank you so much for what you did for me. Now I can rest in peace,” Roger said. That was all. When his ghost vanished the clock struck midnight.
Darcy turned to Jon and said, “Merry Christmas.”
He was still staring at the place where Roger had been standing. He slowly turned to look at Darcy. “How did I see him?”
“Welcome to my world,” she said, snuggling down under the covers with him.
Darcy slowly opened her eyes as excitement filled her from head to toe. It was Christmas. She jumped out of bed and smiled when Jon complained in his sleep. Smudge lifted his head to glare at her for being up so early and taking away part of his warmth. It seemed that she was the only one interested in starting the day.
She rushed over to the window and looked out to find that it had snowed through the night. A sigh escaped her lips at the sight of the wonderland outside of her window. Thick snow covered everything and the tree branches were hanging low under the weight of it. The morning shone clear and bright. The mists were gone again. For now.
This day was going to be the best Christmas ever, she just knew it. She spent a few moments thinking about the night before when Jon had seen Roger’s ghost. That had been a true gift. He would never doubt what she could see now. Not after seeing Roger for himself. She truly felt that their troubles were behind them at last.
She took a quick shower and headed back into the bedroom to dress. She found Jon awake and looking out of the window. “It snowed overnight,” he said, happy and a little drowsy still. His hair was sticking up at all angles and he looked adorable. Smudge was nowhere to be seen now and Darcy figured he was probably in the kitchen already waiting for his breakfast.
Jon came over to her and pulled her into his arms. “Merry Christmas Darcy,” he said as he lowered his head to kiss her lips.
“Jon,” she laughed, “I’m naked!”
“Oh, how scandalous,” he teased.
He was so nice and warm and she snuggled in closer to him. They stood like that for a few minutes and then she said, “Come on we need to get ready. Grace and Aaron will be here soon.”
“Spoil sport.” Jon grinned at her and then sobered. “About last night…”
“Roger’s ghost. I know.” She shook her head as she picked out her clothes. “I don’t know what to tell you, Jon. It was real, I can tell you that. And, I can tell you I’m very happy that it happened. Let’s just call it a Christmas miracle and leave it at that, okay? At least for now.”
Jon nodded. “I can do that. I could help you get dressed, too, if you want?”
She laughed as he made a grab for her. “Go get showered,” she squealed, happy to be with the man she loved on this magical Christmas day.
The fire flickered and danced in the fireplace as Darcy, Jon, Grace and her husband Aaron all sat around Darcy’s decorated Christmas tree. There was a lot of laughter and joking going on as they exchanged gifts.
“Wow, thank you so much for this book Darcy, I’ve been looking forward to this one.” Aaron smiled at her as he flipped through the pages of the latest spy novel. Grace was trying on her new boots from Aaron and was walking backwards and forwards in front of him pretending she was in a fashion parade.
Jon handed Darcy a brightly wrapped gift and said, “I hope you like this.”
She ripped the wrapping away and sucked in a breath when she found a rare copy of one of her favorite books, Mansfield Park. “Oh my, Jon…” She looked at him watching her. “This is so…I have no words to describe how much this means to me. Thank you.” She leaned into him and kissed him. “I love you,” she said in a low voice that only he could hear.
His face broke into a beautiful smile as she handed him his gift. “Merry Christmas Jon.” She’d been dying to give this to him.
He ripped the paper off the small box and slowly flipped the lid off. He stared at the contents for a moment and then looked up at her shaking his head. “Is this what I think it is?”
“What do you think it is?” She said teasingly. By now Grace and Aaron had stopped their fooling around and were watching with interest.
Jon took the end of the ribbon that was inside of the box and pulled it out slowly to reveal a brand new shiny key hanging from the end. He laid the key in the palm of his hand, almost reverently, and stared at it.
“Is this…?” he tried to
ask. “Are you…?”
Darcy was amused at his surprise. “Yes, Jon. I’m asking you to move in with me.”
She squeaked when he hauled her into his arms.
“I love you so much Darcy.” And then they were kissing each other passionately and the world disappeared.
Until Grace said, “About time.”
A loud crashing noise had them pulling apart in alarm. Darcy turned to find that her Christmas tree was sprawled across the floor with decorations spewed everywhere. And there sitting on top of the upturned tree was Smudge looking very pleased with himself.
The four of them looked at each other before breaking out into laughter. Smudge may have accepted Jon being part of Darcy’s life, but he wasn’t above reminding them that he was the center of attention.
Darcy picked him up from the tree and held him in a tight hug. “Merry Christmas to you, too, Smudge.”
-The End-
Volume Five
BOOK FIVE – The Stolen Valentine
First published in Australia by South Coast Publishing, February 2014. Copyright K.J. Emrick (2012-2017)
Description
Love is in the air for the folks in Misty Hollow as they prepare for their annual Valentine's Day dance. Darcy Sweet thinks that she has nothing more to worry about than decorating the Sweet Read bookstore, and what to get her boyfriend on the most romantic day of the year.
She couldn't have been more wrong!
There is cause for worry when Aaron, her brother-in-law, fails to return home one night after receiving some exciting news. Things look even more dire when he doesn't turn up the next day either. His family begins to fear the worst.
What has happened to Aaron? Is he in danger? Will they find him before it's too late?
Chapter 1
Darcy Sweet folded another piece of tape against the back of the big red heart she had cut out of construction paper and decorated with scrapbooking lace. She positioned it just right on the end of one of the metal bookracks in her store, the Sweet Read Bookstore. It was the final touch among all the other Valentine’s Day hearts, cupids and roses. When it was in place she stood back to admire her work.
“I think it needs more streamers,” Sue teased her. Sue Fisher, Darcy’s young and enthusiastic assistant, tapped a finger against her lips. “Yes. And maybe some more roses. There has to be some left in Misty Hollow somewhere.”
“Very funny,” Darcy told her, sticking her tongue out. She did a slow circle in the middle of the store, checking out the decorations that hung from the ceiling or were propped up on the tables in the reading corner or just stuck on the walls and windows. “I think it looks good. Have you ever seen a better looking Valentine’s Day display?”
Sue raised her dark blonde eyebrows. “Nope. It’s the best I’ve ever seen,” she said, her tone flat.
Darcy wondered what was eating at Sue. Come to think of it the girl had been a bit distracted all morning. “Um, Sue? What’s up?”
At first she thought Sue wasn’t going to answer her. She kept her head down over the magazine she’d been leafing through half-heartedly all morning. Darcy was just about to let it go when Sue suddenly dropped her hands to her lap and smiled in a sheepish kind of way.
“I’ve met someone new,” she said.
“Well, that’s good isn’t it?” Darcy asked. Sue had finally broken up with her on again, off again boyfriend Randy just before Christmas. Darcy had never really cared for the guy anyway. Sue had never seemed happy with him. Now with a new guy, and at Valentine’s Day no less, maybe Sue could be happy again.
Sue’s smile got bigger. “Oh yes Darcy, he’s the most wonderful guy. It’s only been a few weeks and already I just can’t stop thinking about him. He could be, you know, the one,” she said, her fingers making air quotes to show how serious she was. “His name is Zachary Kendell. I met him at college. Same courses. Same taste in music. He even likes mustard on his hamburgers. Can you believe it?”
Darcy couldn’t help but smile back at her. “Yes. I can believe it. It’s the season of love after all.”
“Oh, well, now, I wouldn’t use the big L word just yet,” Sue said, but even as the words were coming out her cheeks were coloring red. “Anyway, with winter break and all, he promised to come visit me here. Maybe you’ll get a chance to meet him.”
Darcy could see Sue really had strong feelings for this Zach. Not that it surprised her. Darcy had fallen for her boyfriend, Jon Tinker, within days of meeting him. They’d taken the big step now of moving in together. She’d never been happier than she was waking up next to him each and every morning.
“So, yeah,” Sue continued. “Things are going really well with us. I’m just kind of worried, you know?”
“Worried? About what?”
Sue grimaced and then sighed. “I’m worried about Valentine’s Day.” As Darcy scrunched her face up in confusion, Sue quickly explained, “I’m worried that it’s going to put too much pressure on him. You know how guys are. I don’t want Zach trying to go over the top or stressing that I won’t be happy with whatever he does. I don’t want him to think I expect some big gesture.”
Darcy thought about it. “Can I give you some advice?”
Sue practically beamed at her. “Oh Darcy, I’ve been waiting all morning to ask you! You’re the perfect person to give me advice. You and Jon are like the most loving couple I know. Tell me. What are the two of you doing for Valentine’s Day?”
Darcy bit her lip and kind of rolled her eyes as she sat down in the chair next to Sue’s. “I have no idea. I keep trying to get hints from Jon but he won’t tell me anything.”
“Or maybe he doesn’t have anything yet,” Sue said.
Darcy giggled. “He better have something or I’ll make him sleep on the couch for a month!” The two girls laughed together. “No, really. I don’t care what he does. I just want it to be from the heart. Anything he does that he really means will be fine for me.”
“Is that your big advice?” Sue asked, a little disappointed.
“Yup, that’s it. That’s what you need to do with your new guy. Find something to give him from the heart, and let him know that’s all you want from him in return. Expensive doesn’t make something special. Love does.”
She felt foolish, talking like this about her and Jon and love and all. She chalked it up to Valentine’s Day being next week. Love was in the air. It was in her thoughts, too. Turning the antique ring around her finger like she did when she was nervous or distracted, she realized that Sue was still staring at her. She shrugged her shoulders. “I just wish I knew what I could get Jon.”
“You should take Jon to the dance in the square on Valentine’s Day,” Sue suggested with a smile. “You know. A man, a woman, music, dancing. And…whatever.” She winked at Darcy when she said it.
Darcy knew Jon was something special in her life. They had gone through a lot together, what with his being a police officer and her special gift. It had taken a little while but he accepted who she was now, all of her, and she loved him all the more for it.
Of course, there were the mysteries and murders that had swirled through their quiet little town over the last year or so, too. Hard to forget those.
To Sue, she said, “Dancing? That sounds like fun. Jon is not such a great dancer when you put him on the spot, but at home, every once in a while he’ll take me by my hand when we’re alone and the radio is playing some silly song, and we’ll just dance around the kitchen forever.”
“See? That’s what I’m talking about. That’s the kind of romance I want to find with someone. Guys are just jerks, that’s what I think.”
Darcy looked at her out of the corner of her eye. “What about Zach? Is your new guy a jerk?”
Sue’s face melted into a dreamy smile. “No. No, he’s not.”
Darcy got up and went to fiddle with straightening the books in their stacks. “Well, I already volunteered to help plan and decorate the town square for the dance. I’ll ask Jon if
he wants to take me there for Valentine’s Day.”
“Shouldn’t he ask you?” Sue suggested.
“Sure. But here’s my other bit of advice. Don’t wait for the guy to ask you to do things, if there’s something you really want to do. We aren’t kids anymore, and love takes two people.”
Sue nodded, looking for all the world like she was taking notes in her head from everything Darcy was saying.
Pulling back her long dark hair from her shoulders, Darcy looked around the empty store. Business had dropped off during the last two weeks, but it was sure to pick up for Valentine’s Day. Either people were buying books for loved ones or people buying books about how to meet people. Or even the older ladies coming in to buy romance novels, who like to live vicariously through the dashing deeds of fictional men and women living in perfect worlds.
Darcy’s life had been anything but perfect, but she wouldn’t trade it for anything. She wouldn’t give up her friends here in Misty Hollow or her incredible boyfriend Jon or even being the owner of her Great Aunt Millie’s bookstore.
Just as she was thinking that, all of the streamers hanging from the ceiling fluttered to the floor in a messy heap.
Darcy shook her head, hearing faint musical laughter that seemed to come from all around her. Departed, but not forgotten, Great Aunt Millie could be a real handful when she wanted to. Sometimes, she wished she could be the owner of a store that wasn’t haunted by the former owner. “Oh for Pete’s sake, settle down, Millie,” she whispered.
The laughing faded away. Sue sighed heavily and pushed her magazine aside. “I’ll get more tape,” she said.
Chapter 2
