The Christmas Tree Caper
Page 7
“Can you imagine Murray Middleton and Harry Lavine both living at Wintervale Glen? They’re going to have to paint a line down the middle of the place just to make sure they never cross paths!”
She had a point, and soon, Ross and I were both laughing at the thought, too. Now that the star had been found, and everything could get back to normal, maybe even Murray and Harry could learn to be friends. Eventually, everyone became friends in Wintervale!
Epilogue
We were all gathered in Golden Oldies on the night of the Christmas Eve festival, since it was the tradition of the Green Mountain Grannies to have a glass of eggnog together before the party started in the center of town. Everyone had unveiled their store windows for the contest and they were beautiful. Liza Matheson had created a stunning fairytale gown on a silver mannequin, surrounded by blue stars and sparkling snow. If anyone was going to give Steve and Kit a run for their money this year, it was her. Kit was sure they didn’t have a chance without Ruthie’s star, which was still in police evidence, no matter how much we tried to convince her otherwise.
Even as we sat around, sipping eggnog and laughing about all the crazy things that happened during the year, I could see in Kit’s eyes that she was sad. As beautiful as their window was, set up like an old-fashioned living room at Christmas, I knew she was never going to see it as complete without that star. Which was why I was so happy to see Will and Ross crossing the street with a special visitor in tow.
The bell over the door rang its jolly tune when they walked inside, Will, Ross, and Murray Middleton with a brand new shiny walker right behind them.
“Murray Middleton, as I live and breathe!” Steve said with a laugh. “When was the last time we saw each other old friend?”
“Not since we were practically boys,” Murray answered, tipping his page boy hat. “Mrs. Farmer, a pleasure to see you.”
Kit looked baffled as to what was going on and I didn’t want to keep her in the dark too long after everything she’d been through.
“Kit, Steve, Murray wanted to stop by with an early Christmas present. I thought they could join us for some eggnog before we go out there and start tracking down our kids,” I said as I led Murray over to Kit. He didn’t stand on ceremony, removing a box from inside of his coat and handing it to Kit with a shaky hand. When she opened the box, Ruthie’s star was inside, sparkling and bright like it was brand new.
“Murray…” Kit whispered as she took the star gently from the box. The lights from the Christmas tree in the window glittered off of the ornament, making it even more beautiful than it was before. “This is yours. You should keep it. Ruthie would have wanted…”
“Ruthie made it very clear what she wanted Mrs. Farmer. You were her friend and she trusted you to take care of a bit of our family history. Now it can be a part of your family history, too. Besides, it will look a lot more beautiful in your window than it would sitting in a box in my closet. It was always meant to be yours.”
I dug through my bag for a second and pulled out a sign Belle made for me at the print shop in Hadleigh.
“I thought maybe we could put this in the window?” I asked, handing the sign to Kit. It said,
Ruthie Middleton’s Christmas Star
Courtesy of The Middleton Family of Wintervale
We heard Murray sniffle from behind us when he read the sign and nodded grateful. “It’s a nice gesture. Ruthie would have liked it.”
We all watched as Kit walked over to the tree in the window and hung the star back in its place of honor on the very front. It was as if the whole Christmas scene lit up with its return. I don’t think there was a dry eye in Golden Oldies that night. I certainly had to wipe away more than a few tears.
“We should really get out there and see who won, right?” Steve asked, wiping some of his own tears away. “It’s going to be a real horse race!”
Kit wrapped her arm around her husband and pulled him close. “I don’t think it matters who wins. Ruthie’s star is home, Murray here knows he has family again, and maybe we can even convince old Harry Lavine to mend his ways. We might even make it to the spring without anything crazy happening again!”
Gladys winked at me and we all couldn’t help but laugh. A dull moment in Wintervale?
Not anytime soon!
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The End…
until the Green Mountain Grannies return in Death by Chocolate!
Recipes from Wintervale
The Flour Girl’s Holiday Special - Orange and Cranberry White Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Ingredients:
2 eggs
3/4 c of brown sugar
3/4 c of raw sugar
1 c melted butter
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp orange extract
2 & 1/2 c all purpose flour
1 tsp salt
1 c dried cranberries
1 c white chocolate chips
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Directions:
1.Preheat oven to 375 °F
2.Mix melted butter into sugar until incorporated and creamy
3.Add eggs and extracts to sugar mixture and mix until incorporated
4.Slowly add sugar mixture to flour and stir until a dough forms
*You can absolutely use a stand mixer for this step!
5.Add cranberries and chocolate chips to dough until fully mixed through
6.Put a sheet of parchment paper on a baking sheet
7.Roll up dough into balls (size depends on your preference… you’ll get at least two batches of cookies!) and place two inches apart on the baking sheet
8.Bake for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown on the bottom and lightly brown on top
9.Let cool on a rack and enjoy with a glass of eggnog!
Coming Soon to Wintervale Mysteries
In Wintervale… the sweets at the local bakery are to die for!
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When a famous food critic dies suddenly after eating one of the new artisan chocolates at The Flour Girl, it’s up to Meg and the other Green Mountain Grannies to prove it wasn’t the sweets that made his trip to Wintervale so sour…
* * *
Pre-order the next Wintervale Mystery today!
Coming in January 2020 to the Wintervale Promises series:
He believed his work as a pastor was more important than romance.
* * *
She decided that her work in the news industry was more important than a personal life.
* * *
But when Valentine’s Day feels like spring in Wintervale, love is sure to bloom!
* * *
Pre-order your copy of Somebody Else’s Love today!
Letters from Wintervale
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About the Author
Author photo by Crissha Figarella
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Melodie March is a dreamer and a lover of nature who grew up in Vermont and can’t imagine living anywhere else. When she isn’t writing, she is drinking tea on her porch or volunteering at her local animal shelter. She could never pick a favorite holiday, but every winter, she’s the first to start decorating her old farmhouse. She lives in Vermont on her very own Pine Street with her husband and rescue yellow labs, Honey and Lemon. If you'd like to contact Melodie to ask about your favorite Wintervale Promises character, tell her your best Christmas story, or just have a question, join her on Facebook!
Also by Melodie March
A Sugar Cookie Christmas
Christmas at The Cranberry Cottage
Love and Espresso
Ice Angels
A Star-Spangled Romance
The Bridal Train
Thankful Hearts
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The Ghostwriter of Christmas Present
bsp; Melodie March, The Christmas Tree Caper