Page 52 of Merry Murder Season
I grabbed my planner and checked one person off my gift-buying list. She’d just get her present early. Most of my presents came from my shop.
People needed books. Even when they didn’t knowthat they did.
On the way to Bakerstown, Beth turned down the music and turned to me. “Do you feel lonely?”
“Right now?” I joked, but I knew what she was asking. “I’m kidding. I suspect you’re talking about Greg and his missing dinner during investigations.”
Beth nodded but waited for me to answer her question.
I glimpsed the Pacific on my left as I drove. “Honestly? Sometimes, yes. But it fades. When he’s in the middle of an investigation, sometimes it feels like I’m single again. But with chores for two.”
I paused for a minute, searching for what I was trying to say. “I like having time alone. Emma’s always with me. I’ve got the bookstore to run and my books to read. And I’ve got friends and some family. So yes, at times I feel lonely, but if I stay in that mood, it’s my fault for not reaching out to someone to meet me for dinner. Or figuring out something else. Like Carrie’s book club. After the wedding and finishing my MBA, I found that I had a lot of free time. Of course, it was during an investigation. So we built the book club. Our lives are always changing and expanding. If I choose to stay stagnant and unhappy, that’s my fault.”
“You’re a wise woman.” Beth smiled at me.
“I’ve just had to adjust more often than others. Especially when I left the job I’d wanted all my life to start something new.” I tapped the steering wheel as I thought. “Maybe it’s just my personality. I like to change more than the average person.”
“One of the classes I’m teaching this year is on learning your personality. We’ll be taking a bunch of personality tests, then we’ll compare them. I’m hoping to take the materials further and try to pin down the most likely personality type to be swayed by a cult. And the one most likely to become a leader. It should make an interesting book someday.” Beth stared out of the window thinkingabout her work.
“You are a complete nerd. There is no way you can let Jim stop you from doing this. He just needs to get with the program.” I smiled as we turned off toward the craft fair. “And if he doesn’t get it? He’s notworthy of you.”
“I wouldn’t say that,” Beth demurredthe compliment.
“I would.” I parked the car on the field next to the community center holding the fair. “You should own who you are. Greg’s even given up on complaining about my keeper bookshelves. Although he did take over my office. I’m much more of a couch and laptop person than sitting at a desk. I’m glad the room is being used. Jim needs to see the entire you. Do you talk to him about things like this personality class?”
“No, I haven’t.” Beth didn’t elaborate.
I looked over at her as we walked toward the fair. “Maybe you should. If he ignores you, at least you cansay you tried.”
“He’s going to freak out when I get home and make a list of what we’re going to do before the wedding. But I’m not going to back down.” Beth’s phone rang. She checked the ID and put it back in her purse.
“Expecting a call?”
Beth shook her head. “It can wait. Come on, I need help figuring out what to buy for Amanda. I bet you already have all your gifts bought and wrapped.”
“Hardly.” I followed her into the madness that was a Christmas craft show.
Three hours later, we were back in the Jeep with bags filled with Christmas joy and a lot of candy. I now had to stop at the craft store to buy some sort of Christmas-themed containers for all the small gifts and treats I’d bought for the staff. “Now all I want to do iseat chocolate.”
Beth took a big whiff of the sweet smell that filled the car’s insides. “We should spend the day tomorrow making Christmas cookies. And peppermint cocoa. We can buy jars at the craft store and that can be my addition to the barista boxes. They were allso nice to me.”
“You were a warm body to help the store when Toby disappeared and Deek freaked out.” I laughed at the look on her face. “Fine, they were nice to you. Hold on and I’ll get directions to the craft store. I also want to stop at the grocery store. Do you need anything from there?”
“Probably.” Beth pulled out a small notepad. “I’ll start making a list while you figure out where we’re going.”
Her phone buzzed again. She looked at the message, then asked, “What’s the craft store we’re going to?”
“Bakerstown Crafts and Yarn. Why?” I put the car in gear and headed out of the parking lot.
She texted something, then put her phone away. “Don’t freak but Dom’s meeting us there. He needs to showme something.”
I turned onto the street and headed into town.
“You’re not going to say anything?” Beth didn’t look up from her list-making.
I shook my head. “I’ve said this before. Not my circus or my monkeys. I’m just going to be grumpy when Lille kicks me out of the diner for knowing you.”
“She’s not going to kick you out of the diner.” Beth grinned as she snuck a look at me. “I promise.”
