by Emily Greene
“I am concerned for everyone in Prairie Cove. I don’t want anyone to be in danger.”
That adorable smile didn’t move as his eyes searched mine.
“I will be careful, Harper.”
I tried to act as nonchalant as possible and probably failed miserably.
“Good.” I glanced at my watch and nearly jumped up when I saw how late it was. “Andrew, I have to get going. It’s almost time to close the bakery.”
“Okay, I’m sorry I kept you so late. Thank you for taking the time to go over the list with me, you have been a big help.”
“Anytime. Let me know if there is anything else I can do to help.”
“I think the police department has it from here, Harper. No more snooping or sleuthing from you. Agreed?”
I crossed my fingers behind my back as I smiled at him. “Agreed.”
“Good, take care.”
As I walked to my car I practically giggled with giddiness as I thought about Andrew worrying about me. I felt a little silly that I had crossed my fingers behind my back as I promised to stay out of the investigation, but I didn’t want to lie to him. A little fib couldn’t hurt, right? I was able to help crack Melanie Clark’s murder and I knew if I asked around and did a bit more snooping on my own, I could help solve Sarah’s murder. Joe Dibello sounded dangerous and I didn’t want to risk getting hurt, but I had to know if he was responsible for Sarah’s murder.
Little did I know things were about to get very dicey for me.
Chapter Nine
I lay in bed the next morning and I could not get Sarah’s murder out of my head. I thought about things that motivate people to murder, and money was definitely one of them. I had done a little bit of research online about underground poker and learned that people could win ridiculous amounts of money. I wondered how much Sarah owed and if there was any way to find out. Short of going to a game myself and finding Joe Dibello, I didn’t know how I was going to get that information.
Andrew slipped into my mind and I was pretty sure a detective could find it, especially since he knew who Joe Dibello was, but I didn’t even want to suggest it because I did not want Andrew to get hurt. I found myself worrying more and more about Andrew’s line of work and wondered if anything ever happened between us if I would be able to handle the danger of his job. I pushed that thought out of my head because he was clearly very happy with his girlfriend.
I could hear Gracie purring at the bottom of my bed and would have loved to stay in bed all day, but I had a busy day at the bakery and then I was having dinner with my mom and sisters later that evening. As I was putting on lipstick I heard my phone ding and saw that Matthew sent me a text wishing me a happy day at work. I smiled to myself as I texted back a quick thank you.
He was a very nice man and I enjoyed spending time with him but if I was being honest with myself, I did not get butterflies when I was around Matthew. I felt extremely comfortable with him and I thought of him more as a friend than anything else. He had asked me out for that night and thankfully I had plans with my crazy family so I had to take a rain check. I knew that he wanted to go on a double date with his friends, but I really had no interest in doing that because I knew it would only increase his interest in me and I just was not feeling the same way. At some point, I was going to have to have a talk with him to let him know how I was feeling. I thought about Justin and how Sarah strung him along and I did not want to do that to Matthew. He was too nice and he deserved someone who was really into him. I did not want to lose his friendship because I really did value that. He helped save my life during the Melanie Clark case and I would be forever grateful to him for that. I let out a deep sigh as I grabbed my purse and kissed Gracie goodbye. Why didn’t I have the same feelings for Matthew as I did for Detective Sloane?
The bakery was buzzing when I walked in and I had to pinch myself sometimes when I realized I didn’t have to be there at the crack of dawn every day. Expanding and hiring more help was the best business decision I had made since starting the bakery. My employees were priceless to me.
Everyone seemed to be in a good mood except for Natalie. Something was bothering her, it was written all over her face, and I wanted to make sure that she was okay. I also wanted to make sure the customers did not notice how visibly upset she was.
I gave Carrie, who was elbow deep in making coffee, a look as I glanced at Natalie and she shrugged her shoulders. I started to walk over to Natalie, when Edna stopped me.
“Harper, it is just dreadful what happened to Sarah, we still can’t believe it’s true. Things like that just don’t happen in Prairie Cove.”
“Well, actually they do, Edna. Let’s not forget what happened to Melanie Clark a few short months ago,” Mavis piped in.
“Oh dear, I know, I was just hoping that was a rare, random act. I just don’t know what is happening to our quaint little town. Harper, do the police have anyone in custody yet?”
“Not that I know of, Edna. But don’t you ladies worry, I have every confidence that the Sheriff and Detective Sloane will find the person who murdered Sarah.”
“I have to agree with you there, Harper. Sheriff Anderson is the best, and Detective Sloane is a fine detective and I am sure they will find the person responsible and we will all be able to sleep easy again. I have not had a good night’s sleep since the night Sarah was murdered!” Doris looked upset and I felt bad for her.
“I bet things will be back to normal around here sooner than we think, ladies. Don’t worry, Prairie Cove is still the safe, wonderful place it always was,” I smiled as I walked away.
I made my way over to Natalie, thinking about what I just said to the ladies, and I believed what I said. There was no reason to think that a killer was on the loose in Prairie Cove. Based upon what I had learned about Sarah’s gambling habit, I was convinced that someone had specifically targeted her. I just had to find out who that was.
“Natalie, can you step in the back with me to help me bring out more cupcakes and cookies?”
She gave me a half-hearted smile and nodded her head as she followed me to the back. As soon as we were out of ear shot I turned to her and gave her a warm smile.
“Is everything okay, you seem a bit down today.”
She slowly let out a deep breath and raised sad eyes to mine.
“Even though she wasn’t the nicest person, I miss Sarah. I just can’t believe she’s gone.”
I touched her arm and gave it a gentle squeeze.
“I know, it’s awful.”
I didn’t know what else to say so we stood there in silence for a few seconds and then I could see a light bulb go off in Natalie’s head.
“I just remembered something that I wanted to tell you, Harper. I was thinking about the night that Sarah died this morning, and trying to recall if I noticed anything out of the ordinary at the gala, and then it hit me. That creepy guy who came into the bakery harassing Sarah last week was the guy I saw at the gala!”
“Natalie, are you sure it was him?”
“Yes, because I saw Sarah a little bit later that night and she was pretty shaken up.”
“Did she happen to mention what he said to her?”
“No, but she was definitely scared. As much as she tried to hide it, it was written all over her face. I asked her if he threatened her, but she changed the subject because Justin walked over to us. I guess she didn’t want him to know she was scared or maybe she didn’t want Justin to know the guy was after her. From what she told me about her relationship, she didn’t tell Justin a whole lot about what was going on in her life. She always called it a surface relationship and poor Justin was all in with two feet, fully immersed.”
“Natalie, you spent a bit of time around Justin and Sarah, right?”
“Yes, we double dated a few times.”
“I’m not accusing anyone of anything, but I am curious about something.”
“Yes?”
“Did you ever see Justin get physical with Sarah
?”
“Oh, no, not at all! He worshipped the ground she walked on and he treated her like a queen. She was all he ever talked about whenever I would run into him. It was a bit much at times. He was weak when it came to her and I just don’t understand it.” She clearly was annoyed.
“Really? You see caring for someone as a weakness?”
“Well, in that case, yes. Harper, it was the strangest relationship I have ever seen. The nicer he was to her, the nastier she was to him. It actually bothered me that Sarah treated him like that because Justin is a really nice person.”
There was something in Natalie’s voice that gave me pause for a minute. She was extremely upset that Sarah mistreated Justin. Did she have a crush on him? I dwelled on that thought for just a few seconds before pushing it out of my mind. Natalie was Sarah’s friend so she wouldn’t go after her boyfriend. Would she? I looked at Natalie and she was still visibly upset so I had to wonder if it was really because Sarah was gone or if it was because she wanted Justin.
“Did you ever tell Sarah how you felt about the way she treated Justin?”
“Yes, and she did not want to hear it. She always got snippy with me whenever I talked about him and she even accused me of wanting to date him. Can you believe that? I have a wonderful boyfriend and in addition that, I would never do something like that to a good friend.”
“Do you think you and Sarah were good friends?”
She hesitated and looked a bit nervous.
“Was she my best friend? No, but we definitely were not enemies. I cared about Sarah and wanted her to be happy because she seemed so miserable. I would say we were friendly acquaintances.”
“So, you wouldn’t do that to a friendly acquaintance either?”
She just looked at me and before she could say anything, Carrie poked her head around the corner.
“Hey, we’re getting slammed out there and could use some extra hands.”
“Okay, we’re coming out now.” I followed Carrie out and decided to drop the Natalie inquisition for the time being. I wasn’t sure if something more was going on with her and Justin, but I would have to dig into that later because the bakery was packed.
The day passed quickly and before I knew it, it was time to meet my family for dinner. As usual, I was the first daughter to arrive at the restaurant and my mother had her hand way up in the air, flagging me down, as if I couldn’t see her in the intimate space. Mother chose Forest, a new, quaint little restaurant for dinner, and I was excited because I had been dying to eat there but just had not had the time. She kissed me hello, and literally beamed at me as I sat down. She was up to something.
“Mother…what is going on in that imaginative brain of yours?”
“I want to have a dinner at the house this Saturday, something intimate, and you should invite Matthew. Your sisters and their significant others will be invited as well, and I think that will be all. Just family.”
“The reason for the dinner?”
“Harper, do I have to have a reason?”
“No, but I know you Mother, you have an ulterior motive.”
“Darling, I just want to spend time with my family. No ulterior motive at all, sweetheart.”
Using darling and sweetheart in the same sentence? Yes, she was definitely up to something.
“Okay, I will drop it for now. I don’t have any plans for Saturday night so I will be there. I have no idea if Matthew is available so it may just be me.”
“Well, why don’t you call him right now and see? That way I can plan accordingly.”
My mother was forcing me into a date with Matthew. He was nice enough and he was a very good friend to me, but I just didn’t get butterflies when I was with him and butterflies meant everything to me.
“Mother, I hate to burst your bubble, but I am not so sure Matthew and I have a future together.”
She looked positively crushed.
“Did something happen? Did you have an argument? Those things can always be worked out, Harper, you just have to…” The speed of her rambling was increasing and I had to stop her.
“Mother! We did not have an argument. Matthew is one of the nicest people I know and he is a very good friend to me. But that’s it. I just think of him as a friend.”
She looked heartbroken and I almost giggled because it was ridiculous that she was so invested in my relatively new friendship.
“Friends make the best husbands, Harper.” I could see the glimmer of hope in her eyes and I almost felt bad that I was crushing her dream of me marrying a doctor.
“Mother, we are just friends. Nothing more.”
“Does he know that?” Her eyes gently searched mine.
“Not yet, but I am going to tell him before things get complicated.”
“I hope you are not pinning your hopes on that detective, Harper. I have seen him around town with a very attractive woman. Besides, marrying a doctor would be so much better for you, honey.”
My mother was too much. I was pretty sure half the reason she wanted me to end up with Matthew was so she could brag to her friends that her daughter married a doctor. No matter how I tried, I just didn’t see us being anything more than friends.
“Hi guys!” Nicole waved her hand high in the air as she walked over to us and as I watched her mannerisms, I mused to myself that she was my mother’s twin. They really were the same person and I dreaded the second she sat down because I knew my mother would feel that she had Nicole to back her up about me dating Matthew. Oh, how I wished it were Katie that was the next one to arrive instead of Nicole. I plastered a smile on my face and braced myself as she hugged us and then sat down.
“Boy, you two look like you are in the throes of a heated discussion. What did I miss?”
Here we go.
“I was just telling Harper that she should give Matthew Carson a chance because he is a very nice man.”
I playfully rolled my eyes as I looked at Nicole for support. I have no idea why I thought she would be on my side because she was the mini me of our mother.
“Harper, I don’t understand why you two are not in a serious relationship myself. I mean, he’s handsome, successful, and kind. I can’t imagine what more you could want!”
See, what was I thinking? I chose my words carefully because they both were beginning to annoy me.
“Nicole, as I told Mother, Matthew and I are just friends. There is no spark there for me so that is why we are not in a relationship. It is that simple.”
“Harper, feelings can grow over time. Please don’t tell me that you are pining over Detective Sloane. I don’t think he’s available anyway because I have seen him all over town with a very attractive woman.”
“Nicole…” Just as I was about to respond to her, I noticed the open look of disgust as her eyes slowly crawled over my face and down my clothes. She slowly let out an exasperated sigh as she looked over at our mother.
I looked down at my clothes and then back and forth at the two of them. Did a little bit of flour here and there really justify such a nasty look?
“Why on earth are you looking at me like that, Nicole?”
“Harper, you looked so beautiful the night of the Hanson’s gala. Why can’t you put that same effort into your everyday look? I know you’re at the bakery just about every day, but what I don’t understand is why you can’t take 10 minutes to clean yourself up, throw on a little bit of lipstick and curl your hair every now and then. Would that be so hard?”
Of course, Mother had to chime in.
“She’s right, honey. You don’t want to look like a slob all the time, do you?”
I looked back and forth between the two of them and almost laughed out loud. I wished I could have captured the moment with a photograph, because my mother and my sister were looking at me with the exact same expression. They truly looked like twins.
“Oh, my goodness, you two! You have to stop! Thank you for your concern, but I am a grown woman and I do not need this lecture. One day I w
ill meet someone who doesn’t mind a little bit of flour here and there and who appreciates that I respect people’s time. Rather than be 30 minutes late meeting someone for dinner I prefer to show up on time, and maybe that means I won’t always look perfect. But that’s me. I am not going to change.”
My mother reached out and gently patted my arm.
“That’s very nice dear, but I would love to see you put a little more effort into your appearance. You’re a beautiful woman, Harper. Let the world see that, okay?”
My mother was something else. After my little speech about being myself it was like she didn’t hear a thing I’d said. I had learned a while back that the best way to handle my mother when it came to shallow matters like my appearance, was to just agree with whatever she said. It didn’t mean I would actually follow her advice. I had to smile because she really didn’t mean me any harm, she was just a bit overbearing.
