by Thea Cambert
Alice and Luke stepped over to the telescope.
“It’s getting cloudy,” said Alice, peering through the lens. “But I can still see a few stars up there.”
Luke took a deep breath of the cold, fresh air. “This place is amazing,” he said, looking all around. “We’ll have to come back again sometime.”
Alice smiled at him. “I’d love that.”
He stepped closer and pulled her into his arms, took a quick look back at the crowd around the bonfire, and then kissed her.
At that moment, the snow began to fall. Ironically, Alice realized that she no longer felt cold. Not in the least.
“This is the perfect night,” Luke said, looking at the fluffy flakes drifting in the air.
Alice closed her eyes and turned her smile toward the moon, which had just peeked through the clouds to illuminate the snowflakes. She felt what could only be called elation. And not because of any promise of the future. Not because of the “Question” Luke had hinted at. Just because the moment itself was pure magic—between the loved ones gathered around, the snow, the air, the mountains. Alice loved her life. Future and past faded away, leaving only this perfect present moment on this snowy night. Just then, an owl who’d been hidden by tree boughs took flight and swooped past them, only a few yards away.
Alice gasped in amazement.
“Owls all over Tennessee probably revere you because you named your bookstore after them,” said Luke, kissing her hair. He pulled back a little and looked at her, and Alice had the sense that he was feeling as full and as joyful as she was. He opened his mouth to speak, when suddenly, a bright light flashed in their faces.
“Say cheese!”
“Owen!”
“Hey, you’ll thank me when you have a framed four-by-six to commemorate this moment.”
“Did you see the great horned owl?” Alice’s dad hurried over.
“I certainly did,” said Owen.
“Let’s try to follow it. See if we can get a few good photos. Is your flash working?”
Owen smiled. “Yep. I just tested it out on Alice and Luke here.”
“Let’s go,” Martin said, and they hurried off in the direction the owl had gone.
“How about a toasted marshmallow?” Luke asked, as he and Alice walked back to the bonfire.
“After a five-course meal, that’s about all I have room for,” Alice said with a laugh.
Luke took her hand. “Midnight,” he said softly, as if talking to himself.
“What?”
Luke grinned and shook his head. “Nothing.”
Chapter 6
By the time the group made its way back to the lodge around nine o’clock, the snow was coming down in earnest. Big, fat flakes were falling—and sticking to the ground . . . and beginning to form small drifts here and there. Owen cursed his weather app and was forced to admit that Alice’s gut and Franny’s nose had been right.
“I don’t know why you would question my wisdom,” said Alice.
“And now, if you will all step into the ballroom, we’ll enjoy dessert and crack open the champagne!” Roz announced.
Owen’s creation received a well-earned round of applause. Before the cakes were cut, everyone admired them, pointing out the different constellations and marveling at the swirls of color in the Milky Way. People could be overheard asking Owen about ordering customized party cakes and wondering at how the tiny twinkle lights set off the metallic frosting. The praise didn’t stop when the cake was cut and served, and people found that it tasted even more wonderful than it looked. Owen took photo after photo of people happily enjoying their cake, but the senator—although he’d taken a generous slice—eluded Owen’s lens. Every time he’d start to take a bite, another person would walk up to him to say hello or shake his hand or ask him a question. Owen’s quest for the perfect photo became almost laughable when the senator set down his cake to speak to a guest, and Zeb Clark, the local coroner, also set down his cake to get a cup of coffee. Then, Zeb’s wife picked up Zeb’s slice, thinking it was hers, and finally, Zeb, looking around for his own slice, walked off with the senator’s. Owen quickly rectified the matter by bringing the senator a second slice, but still couldn’t catch him eating it.
“Ooh! Get your camera ready, Owen!” Alice said, as the senator finally loaded a forkful of cake.
Owen fumbled with his lens cover and had just focused in when Roz, who seemed to be more interested in the champagne than the cake, called the senator to join her by the ballroom’s fireplace.
“I know you’d all love to hear a little bit from Adam—Senator Matthews—about his latest legislative proposal for the preservation of this very land and more like it!”
There was a round of applause, and the senator was obliged to set his cake down and address the group.
“Why won’t he eat the cake?” Owen groaned from where he, Alice, and Franny stood, toward the back of the group.
“Who knows? Personally, I can’t get enough of it!” said Franny, taking a big bite of her third piece.
“People keep interrupting him,” whispered Alice. “Every time he tries, someone grabs him. It must be awful to be a politician.”
“And now, let’s really get this party started!” Roz announced, after the senator had finished his impromptu speech.
That must’ve been the band’s signal, because they began to play the first song. The Fenders and the Matthews took to the dance floor immediately, encouraging others to join them.
“Hold it. Isn’t that the Gothic Trolls? The same band that played at the medieval faire last spring?” asked Owen, raising a brow at the band.
Sure enough, Dante Johansen, the Trolls’ lead singer, had traded his dulcimer for an electric guitar, and Fenrir Larsen had swapped out his lute for a set of drums. Sía Olsen was still playing the harp—but she was rocking it. The band had an entirely different sound than they had at the medieval faire and was currently playing their own rousing rendition of “Mustang Sally.”
“Come on, Owen! Let’s show them our new moves!” Granny Maguire said, grabbing Owen by the arm and leading him toward the dance floor.
“New moves?” Alice called after them.
“We’ve been taking lessons!” Owen called back over his shoulder.
Granny, who lived in a house on Azalea Street just a block off Main, had been traveling the world for the past few years. But, she’d come home over the summer for Ben and Franny’s wedding, and surprisingly, had stayed put—for the time being, anyway. That made Alice very happy, because her grandmother was her friend, her hero, and generally, a person who made everything more fun. Granny had come to the party tonight on the arm of her old friend and next-door neighbor, Chester Lehman. But, apparently, during the past few months, she and Owen had been taking dancing lessons—and it showed. They were by far the most exciting couple on the floor.
“Dance with me, Alice?” Luke said, just as Ben grabbed Franny’s hand and whisked her away.
Alice felt a little giddy as “Mustang Sally” melded into a slow song, and Luke pulled her close. She rested her chin on his shoulder and marveled at how easily they moved together.
“It’s funny. Usually, I have two left feet,” she said into his ear. “But dancing with you, I feel like I finally found my right foot.”
Luke laughed and kissed Alice’s hair.
As they moved about the floor, Alice enjoyed watching the other couples. Norman and Pearl Ann danced like old pros. Alice’s parents twirled effortlessly in one another’s arms, as they had for forty years now. Doc and Mrs. Howard—the doctor who’d delivered half the people in the room and his wife, who’d taught high school English to at least as many—laughed and talked as they danced.
Then, Alice noticed that Roz Fender had maneuvered herself and Chad over to the corner where the Matthews were dancing and was in the process of swapping partners. The Matthews politely obliged.
Owen and his current partner, Magnolia Anderson, who owned the Parkview C
afé, quickly danced over to where Alice and Luke were.
“Did you see how Roz cut in just then?” said Owen, a note of gossipy scandal in his voice. “That was bold.”
“I know!” Alice answered over Luke’s shoulder.
“What are we talking about?” said Franny, who had stepped on Ben’s toes a few times as she took the lead to get them over to the same area.
“The way the Fenders and the Matthews just swapped partners,” said Owen.
“I know!” said Franny. “If I were that Nan Matthews, I’d give Roz a good swift kick in the shin!”
“Look! Now Chad is asking Sadie to dance!” Owen said.
“You three are horrible!” said Magnolia. “Owen, I’m going for punch.”
“So are we,” Ben said, taking Luke’s arm. “If you three want to whisper together, you should dance together!”
With that, Ben gave Luke a little bow. “Shall we?”
“Why, thank you,” said Luke, and the two of them clomped off together in the direction of the punchbowl in what could be construed as the clumsiest dance anyone had ever witnessed.
Alice, Owen, and Franny, when they’d finally stopped laughing, decided to take some more photos. People who’d been dancing for a while were starting to wander back over to the cake table for seconds.
It was a wonderful evening. The Gothic Trolls turned out to be a huge hit, the party-goers enjoyed dancing, wandering from time to time into the great room to stand by the fire and watch the snow fall from the huge windows, nibbling on cake and sipping champagne. By a quarter past eleven, Alice found herself anticipating the midnight hour with a level of energy she wouldn’t have normally felt at that hour.
She and Luke, along with Owen, Franny, and Ben made themselves at home on the cozy couches next to the fire.
“I hope the roads are going to be in decent shape when we head home in a bit,” Ben said, looking worriedly at the snow, which was still steadily falling outside.
“If not, we’ll just have to stay,” said Franny with a laugh.
“But since that is highly unlikely,” Owen said. “Everyone stand in front of the fireplace. I want to get a group picture. I’ll use my wide-angle lens and capture this gorgeous room.”
Just then, Roz, who’d just come out of the ballroom in the company of her husband and Sadie, gave a loud groan. “Chad, I’ve had too much champagne. I’m going upstairs for a bit.”
Alice noticed her shooting a meaningful look in the direction of Adam, who stood on the other side of the room, quietly talking to his wife. Roz went over to a couple of wingback chairs in a small alcove next to the stairs, picked something up, and then sent one more parting glance at Adam. This time, Alice saw his eyes move over Roz.
“Great! Now, everyone stand over here by the stairs,” said Owen.
“Owen! How many pictures do we need to take?” asked Ben.
“Sadie! Could you take a picture of all of us together?” Owen asked.
“Sure,” Sadie said, and came over and snapped a few shots.
“You okay?” Alice asked, as Sadie handed the camera back to Owen—who went off gleefully to take more pictures.
“I’m fine. Why?” asked Sadie.
“You look a little gloomy. Just checking,” said Alice with a smile.
“I’m fine,” Sadie repeated, and looked at the grandfather clock that was set on the wall opposite the fireplace.
“Alice, come here.” Owen waved Alice over to the staircase where he and Franny were conspiring. “I’ve had a fabulous idea. I’m going to film everyone saying their New Year’s resolutions! It’ll be a hoot!”
“You can shoot videos with that thing, too?”
“Absolutely. Now, come on. It’s almost midnight.”
Once Owen had filmed Alice and Franny discussing their New Year’s hopes and dreams, he went around to all of their friends and family, eliciting the same from them.
“It’s eleven forty-five!” said Alice, grabbing Franny’s hand and searching through the crowd for Luke. “Almost time to toast the new year! I’ll get us some champagne.”
“None for me, thanks,” said Franny with a yawn. “I think I’ll toast with coffee.”
“Good idea,” said Alice.
“Has anybody seen the Fenders?” Owen asked, scanning the crowd with his telephoto lens. “Surely one of them will want to lead the countdown to midnight in a few minutes.”
Alice and Franny looked around. “I don’t see either of them,” said Alice, frowning, then looking at her watch.
“Somebody has to lead the countdown!” said Franny, as Ben and Luke both emerged from the crowd and joined them.
“I’ll ask Senator Matthews!” said Owen, and he hurried off.
Luke took Alice’s hand. “Do I really have to wait until midnight to kiss you?” he whispered into her ear.
“Yep,” she said, smiling.
Owen returned, panting. “I’ve looked everywhere. No Fenders. Neither the senator nor his wife is anywhere! What are we going to do? It’s literally fifteen minutes to midnight!”
Just then, Sadie wandered by.
“Sadie! Where are the Fenders? We’re about to count down!” said Alice.
After looking around the room, Sadie seemed to be as perplexed as everyone else. “Roz will be furious if she misses midnight at her own party. I’ll go upstairs and look for them,” she said, rushing off.
“Meanwhile, I’ll take more pictures!” said Owen, snapping a shot of Alice’s parents with Granny and Chester.
A few minutes later, when Sadie still hadn’t returned, Alice suggested that they ask Mayor Abercrombie to do the honors. He was very glad to oblige.
“Okay, everyone, let’s count down together!” the mayor announced, checking his watch. “Ten! Nine! Eight!”
As the crowd joined in, Alice stepped closer to Luke and looked into his eyes. It almost seemed like they were the only two people in the room.
“Three! Two!”
A blood-curdling scream snapped Alice out of her bubble of romance.
Close on its heels, there was another scream. And then another.
“What’s happening?”
Luke immediately switched to detective mode. “Pearl Ann. Was that you screaming?”
“Yes!”
“It was me, too,” said Bea, who was standing right beside Ben and Franny, and had turned as white as a sheet.
“What happened?” Ben asked, putting a supportive arm around his mother and easing her to the couch that was right behind them.
“A body,” said Bea, a tremor in her voice.
“What? Where?” asked Luke, kneeling down next to Bea.
Bea shakily pointed at the huge windows, where outdoor lights were still illuminating the falling snow. “It fell. Past the windows.”
“I saw it, too,” said Pearl Ann.
“So did I,” said Owen. “I was the third screamer.”
“We have to get out there,” said Ben.
“Right,” said Luke. “Alice, call an ambulance. Ben, I saw some snow shovels in the front office. Let’s grab them and be on our way.” He looked through the crowd and spotted the coroner. “Zeb, you’d better come, too. The rest of you folks just stay right here.”
But nobody did stay right there. Everyone tried to stay right there, but in the end, they couldn’t see well enough from the windows, and they couldn’t subdue their curiosity. After Ben and Luke left, shovels in their hands, the rest of the group gradually donned coats and gloves and trickled casually and quietly out the front door and followed the freshly shoveled path that wound around to the side of the building. Alice was shocked at the depth the snow managed to accumulate while they’d all been inside dancing.
“What’s happened? What’s going on?” Senator Matthews ran to join the group as they rounded the building.
“We’re not sure,” Alice told him, noticing he had a long, jagged scratch on his left cheek, and a line of blood that was starting to clot. “Senator Matthews,
you have a pretty bad cut there on your cheek.”
He reached up and touched his cheek, then looked at the blood on his hand.
Nan walked up behind him, bundled in her husband’s designer jacket. “We thought we heard screams,” she said.
Shortly behind her, Sadie caught up with the group, her eyes red and puffy, as though she’d either been crying or had had a sudden attack of hay fever—which was unlikely in the snow. “I heard them, too,” she said, out of breath.
“Several people thought they saw something fall past the window,” Alice explained, not wanting to alarm them until they knew for sure what—or who—it had been. “We’re going to check it out.”
Chad, who had come outside just behind Sadie, heard this and rushed past them in the direction the rest of the group had gone.
From up ahead, where the group had already rounded the side of the building, there was another scream, which sounded like Pearl Ann again. Alice forged ahead and caught up with Franny and Owen, clearing the corner just in time to see Zeb getting up from where he had been kneeling next to a motionless mass in the snow. When Zeb stepped away to talk quietly to Ben and Luke, Alice got a better look. She rubbed her eyes and looked again.
She felt her stomach turn over as she recognized the body. It was Roz Fender. And she most definitely was dead.
Alice looked up into the darkness, above the bank of windows in the great room and there, in the blowing snow high above the spot where Roz lay, was the empty widow’s walk.
Chapter 7
It took twice as long for the ambulance to arrive as it should have. The snow was getting thicker, both on the ground and in the air. But soon, red flashing lights could be seen moving slowly up the drive toward the lodge. Zeb, Luke, and Ben stood in the driveway, waving flashlights, and Chad had turned on every one of the lodge’s exterior lights. The ambulance pulled in, and two paramedics, along with Officer Dewey—another member of Blue Valley’s tiny police department—jumped out.
“Good, Dewey. Glad you’re here,” said Ben, patting his colleague on the back.
