by Ellery Adams
Jon chuckled, the blue eyes crinkling at the corners as he enjoyed their repartee. “Is it working?”
“I’m thinking about it. I’ll let you know what I decide later.”
Cooper swept past him and into the banquet room, where the dinner and dancing would soon begin. Mindy greeted her in the doorway.
“Jon’s a good guy, Cooper. I think you should give him a chance.”
“Have you been talking to my Bible study friends?” she asked, eyes narrowed.
“No. It’s clear as can be that he likes you.”
“Oh, Mindy, I’m thirty-five years old and I haven’t had the best judgment with guys. I’m not sure I can trust myself.”
“I completely get that, but it’s not about putting trust in yourself at all, and there is a way around that. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he will direct your path.”
“Ah, Proverbs 3:5–6,” Cooper said. “You’re right about that.” Cooper didn’t miss the irony that the group had been studying Proverbs since they first found out about Atwood Inn. “I’ll keep that in mind, Mindy. And thank you.”
“No. Thank you. You and Ashley and your friends have turned things around. Today is just the start.”
Cooper’s glance spanned the room. Tony Mancuso had provided roses for every table. At the bride’s table, the bride and groom sat laughing and smiling with their guests. To the left of the table the beautiful cake Maggie had baked stood waiting to be cut. Swirled vanilla buttercream and piped pearls gave the three-tiered cake a simple elegance.
Today was a new beginning for everyone, and Cooper was proud to be part of it.
• • •
“How was your friend’s wedding, Cooper?” Trish asked. She poured a cup of coffee and grabbed one of Magnolia’s Marvels from the Sunday school refreshment table. This week, Cooper brought soft gingersnap cookies.
“Really, perfect,” Cooper said. “And my sister said that Angela’s Yorkshire terrier is going to be on the cover of Richmond Bride Magazine in her little doggie tutu and tiara.” She pulled out her phone and shared the pictures with the members of the group as they gathered around her.
“That is the sweetest thing ever,” Trish said. “You know, my niece is beginning her wedding planning. I’ll have to tell her about this cute dog in the wedding idea.”
Quinton took the phone from Trish and grinned. “Look at you in that dress,” he said. “You look like a model, Cooper.”
“Can you enlarge it so I can see it?” Savannah asked as she too moved closer.
“I’ll send the photos to your email so you can enlarge them on your computer.”
“Oh, bless you.”
“Is that Jon Eason?” Quinton asked as he touched the screen, revealing another photo. He raised his brows and shot Cooper a look of approval.
“It is. The bride invited him.”
“Don’t you two make a very nice-looking couple,” he continued.
“We weren’t a couple.”
“Sure looks like it to me. Aren’t you dancing with him in that picture?” He nodded. “Yes, indeed, you are. Look at that expression on your face. Cooper, you are feeling no pain.”
“I don’t even know where that picture came from. My sister must have taken it when I wasn’t looking.” Cooper peered at the screen of her phone in Quinton’s hand. He was right. It was a very nice picture. Dancing with Jon was the highlight of her day.
Next, the phone went to Bryant, who grinned as he looked through the pictures. “Who was the wedding planner?”
“My sister, Ashley.”
“I’ll need her number immediately, so I can book her for Jane and my wedding. We’re thinking about September.”
“That will be here before you know it,” Cooper said. “Wow, another wedding.”
Savannah returned to her seat and lightly clapped her hands. “We’d better begin.” She picked up her Bible. “It’s surely taking us much longer to get through Proverbs than I would have imaged.”
“This has been quite a wild ride,” Jake said. “We stop a burglary last Saturday night and are back into Proverbs today.”
Quinton sat down and looked at Jake. “When did we begin this study?”
“Early June, and now a good chunk of July has come and gone,” Jake said.
Cooper poured her coffee and added a generous amount of cream before heading to her seat. “Who would have imagined seven weeks ago that we’d have been in the thick of another murder?”
“I still can’t believe that Helen was the mastermind,” Bryant said. “That mousy little thing. Why, I never.”
“Detective Olson came by to see Mindy and to wrap up the case yesterday,” Cooper said. “I’m sorry I didn’t notify everyone when she called me, but I’ve done nothing but sleep since we left Atwood Inn.”
“What did the good detective have to say?” Quinton asked.
“According to Helen’s statement, the lipstick was supposed to cause Loretta to have a reaction that would keep her away from the inn so that they could remove the paintings. The plan was never to kill her.”
“She admitted she’s guilty?” Bryant asked.
“Actually, Dax admitted he was guilty first. Once he came out of the coma, he asked to see the police and made a full confession. He was terrified of Helen after she tried to run him over.” Cooper nodded. “And Bryant was right. Originally, Loretta hired Dax and Helen to do the job, but they demanded a bigger cut. That’s why she wanted to fire them.”
“Aha,” Bryant said. “That makes sense. Helen decided they’d take matters into their own hands. They’d do the same plan. The soft launch weekend was the best time. All they had to do was get Loretta out of the way, and the paintings out the window. Except Cooper interrupted the plan.”
“And the lipstick? What happened there?” Trish asked.
“We were right on that score as well. Helen stole Mindy’s lipstick and replaced the lip color with Loretta’s shade, laced with nuts.”
“What’s Alice’s role in all this?” Bryant asked.
“Passive observer, I guess,” Cooper said. “Helen has protected her from a narcissist mother who bullied her all her life.
“Why did Alice agree to work at the inn?” Quinton asked. “It was clear she didn’t want to be there.”
“The whole thing is really sad,” Cooper said. “Alice came to Atwood Inn because Loretta promised to pay back all the money she’d borrowed. Mindy said that every time Alice got settled, her mother bilked her out of her savings. Loretta was addicted to expensive painkillers.”
“How did we miss that?” Quinton asked.
“Loretta was very good at hiding her addiction. She was married to Mindy’s father, and neither he nor Mindy ever figured it out,” Cooper said.
“What will happen to Helen?”
“She struck a deal, pleading guilty and leading them to the painting. Since the painting was recovered, Mindy has dropped those charges against all three of them.”
“The painting was found. That’s wonderful,” Savannah said.
“What about Alice?” Bryant asked. “She was an accessory.”
“Helen claims that Alice didn’t find out what she had done until after the car accident. Detective Olson believes that Alice has suffered enough. He’s not charging her.”
“That was quite a performance Helen gave at the inn on Sunday morning, when we found out that Loretta was dead,” Quinton said. “Trish did tell us that Helen was the president of the drama club. We overlooked her because the woman is a chameleon.”
“I’ll say,” Cooper added. “She deserves an Oscar. I would have never guessed that she was the mastermind. Friday night, she played the reticent and timid wallflower for the performance of a lifetime.”
Helen and Alice. Friendships forged in steel, Angela had said. Cooper thought about Angela and Mona. The two were a far cry from Helen and Alice.
“What about Dax Wilson
?”
“He’s been moved from ICU to a regular room. He’s expected to make a full recovery.”
“That’s good,” Savannah said. “We’ll add an extra prayer for Dax today.”
“What do you say we celebrate another closed case with breakfast after church?” Cooper asked. “My treat. Mr. Farmer was so pleased with the wedding, and a certain wedding gift idea I gave him, that he surprised me with a bonus check before they left on their honeymoon. Breakfast is on me.”
“Breakfast it is,” Quinton said. “I’m all in for Belgian waffles, but you’re not paying. We’re going to treat you. You’re the one who invited us to Atwood Inn to start with. Thank you for allowing us to see, once again, how blessed we are to have good friends and the good Lord in our lives.”
Cooper smiled. He was so right.
Chapter Sixteen
“I can’t remember the last time we used this dining room that it wasn’t Christmas or Thanksgiving,” Maggie said.
“It’s a special occasion,” Earl said. “We have so much to be grateful for.”
“Plus, we have a full house. We’d never fit in the kitchen,” Cooper said, looking around the table. Ashley and Lincoln were at one end with Hannah and her high chair. Mama and Daddy were at the other end. Grammy and Frank sat on the left, and on the right she was with Jon Eason.
“You always get a full house when there’s a free meal,” Grammy observed. “You sure outdid yourself, daughter-in-law. This spread looks mighty fine.”
“Grammy, Chef Eason made dinner,” Mama said. She nodded toward the steaming bowl of spaghetti and another of meatballs with extra sauce. A basket on each end of the table held warm bread fresh from the oven. “Imagine that. A real chef in my kitchen.”
“Then why are we jabbering. Earl, say prayer, quick-like, so I can see what all the fuss is about.”
“Yes, Mama,” Earl said as he took his wife’s hand. “Dear Lord, thank you for the abundance of blessings you have given us. Family, faith, and good food. Bless each person here today, and thank you for keeping them safe. Amen.”
“Amen,” sounded around the table.
“What will happen to Atwood Inn?” Earl asked. “Mindy being arrested can’t have been good for business.”
“Business is booming,” Jon said. “So much so that I had to quit my job at the Italian restaurant to man the kitchen at the inn full-time. She’s booked now through the holidays.”
“That’s wonderful!” Maggie said.
“How did that happen?” Cooper asked. She took the serving dish of meatballs that Jon handed her and placed a generous amount of sauce and meatballs on her plate. For the first time in days, she was starving.
Jon looked toward Ashley. “Your sister. That’s how.”
“Ashley? What did you do?” Mama asked.
“What any friend would do. I called every gallery, art school, and museum in the tristate area and let them know about the Deveraux paintings. Oh, and I called the press as well. I let them know the only way they could see the paintings was to book a night at the inn.”
“And that did it?” Cooper asked.
“Then I told Mindy she needed a packaged deal. You know, like an art appreciation special. She now has the Art Connoisseur Weekend Package. It includes a Saturday chat about the history of Austin Deveraux, and an opportunity for art classes held in what used to be the storage room and is now the inn’s own classroom.”
“Ash, you’re a genius. Forget the wedding planning. You need to go wide. Event planning.” Cooper swept the air with one hand. “Love Event Planning.”
“Thank you. I got a good start with Richmond Bride Magazine, and I’m already working on Bryant and Jane’s nuptials and Trish’s niece’s wedding. I’ll put the rest on hold until after the birth of little Love number two.” She patted her abdomen.
“I have news as well,” Maggie said. She offered a wide grin, and her eyes twinkled with delight.
“Tell us, Mama,” Ashley said.
“Magnolia’s Marvels will now be available at Lamplighter.”
“Oh, Mama. My favorite coffee and my favorite treat, all in one place,” Cooper said. “I’ve died and gone to heaven.”
Ashley whooped with joy at the words. “I am so proud of you, Mama.” At her words, little Hannah laughed and banged her fork on the table of her high chair.
After a few minutes, Jon nudged Cooper. “What about your good news?”
“Oh, that’s no big deal.”
“Sure it is,” he persisted.
Cooper felt her neck and face warm as all eyes turned to her. “My birdhouses are being featured in Richmond Magazine. Plus, all of the birdhouses consigned to a shop downtown have sold out, and I’ve been commissioned to make a dozen more.”
“Cooper, that’s wonderful. Richmond Magazine. My goodness,” Maggie said.
“You’re a Lee,” Ashley said. “I’m not surprised.”
Well, Cooper was surprised. She didn’t have a single birdhouse left. She’d have to make more, and Jon promised to help her on his days off.
Grammy gave a nod of approval. “With all that money, maybe you’ll be able to get your own place and quit freeloading off your mama and daddy.”
“Grammy!” Maggie said.
“Aw, come on,” Grammy said as she stabbed a meatball. “She’s thirty-five years old. I had two kids in high school by then.”
Earl laughed. “That might be a slight exaggeration.”
Cooper waited for her grandmother to remind them that she had been married for twenty years, a mother for fifteen years, and the owner of her own farm stand for ten years by the time she turned thirty-five as well, but Grammy spared the group the remainder of her accomplishments.
“Cooper, I’m so proud of you,” her mama said. She filled her plate with spaghetti and reached for the meatballs.
“Thank you. I have to tell you that Jon is responsible.”
“You’re lucky to have a friend like Jon, Daughter,” Earl said with a smile and a quick wink.
Cooper reached for Jon’s hand beneath the table. “Yes, Daddy, I surely am.”
They’d closed the study on Proverbs, and the lesson they’d begun with and concluded with drifted to her mind: A man’s heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps.
Magnolia’s Marvels
Chocolate Spice Balls
1¼ cups margarine
1¾ cups sugar
4 eggs
5 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 tablespoon orange rind
½ teaspoon allspice
½ teaspoon cloves
½ teaspoon nutmeg
½ teaspoon black pepper
1¼ cups cocoa
¾ cup buttermilk
1/3 cup orange juice
¼ cup raisins (optional)
1 cup nuts (optional)
Cream margarine and sugar. Add eggs and beat well. Sift flour, soda, salt, spices and cocoa together in a separate bowl. Add dry ingredients to the egg and sugar mixture, alternating with buttermilk. Blend in orange juice; fold in raisins and nuts, if using. Drop by rounded teaspoon onto greased baking sheets. Bake 8 minutes at 400 degrees. Do not overbake. Should be moist and not dry. Cool and frost. Makes two dozen.
Seven Layer Bars
¼ cup butter
1 cup graham cracker crumbs (regular or chocolate)
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 cup chopped nuts (walnuts or pecans)
1 cup flaked coconut
1 (15-ounce) can sweetened condensed milk
Preheat oven to 350F. Melt butter in 9-inch square pan. Sprinkle in graham cracker crumbs evenly. Layer the chocolate chips, nuts, and coconut on top of the graham cracker mix. Pour the sweetened condensed milk evenly over the entire mixture. Bake for 30 minutes. Cool in pan before cutting.
Chewy Gingersnaps
¾ cup margarine
1 cup sugar
¼ cup molasses
1 egg
2¼ cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
½ teaspoon ground cloves
½ teaspoon ginger
½ teaspoon salt
Cream margarine and sugar. Add molasses and egg. Beat well. Add remaining ingredients; mix and chill. Form into 1-inch balls. Roll in sugar. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes on ungreased cookie sheet. Makes 4 dozen.
Books By Ellery Adams
Hope Street Church Mysteries
The Path of the Crooked
The Way of the Wicked
The Graves of the Guilty
The Root of All Evil
Fate of the Fallen
The Deeds of the Deceitful
Antiques & Collectibles Mysteries
A Killer Collection
A Fatal Appraisal
A Deadly Dealer
A Treacherous Trader (with Parker Riggs)
A Devious Lot (with Parker Riggs)
A Killer Keepsake (with Parker Riggs)
A Bidder End (with Parker Riggs)
A Fatal Fabergé (with Parker Riggs)
The Secret, Book & Scone Society
The Secret, Book & Scone Society
The Whispered Word
The Book of Candlelight
The Book Retreat Mysteries
Murder in the Mystery Suite
Murder in the Paperback Parlor
Murder in the Secret Garden
Murder in the Locked Library
Murder in the Reading Room
Murder in the Storybook Cottage
The Charmed Pie Shoppe Mysteries
Pies and Prejudice
Peach Pies and Alibis
Pecan Pies and Homicides
Lemon Pies and Little White Lies
Breach of Crust
The Books by the Bay Mysteries
