Page 55 of Merry Murder Season
My phone rang as soon as I tried to set it down. It was Carrie. “Hey, what’s going on?”
“Just checking in to see if Beth will be here for book club, or if she’ll be home to Zoom in with Amanda,” Carrie asked. “I’m making treats, so I’m getting a roll call. I can’t reach Gunter but Dom’s in for Monday. He’s so nice. I don’t think I’ve heard him say this many words since he started dating Lille. She kept him outsideof the diner.”
“Yes, Dom is very nice.” I smiled at Beth and she had the grace to blush. “How long have he and Lille been dating?”
“Four years now? I think it’s getting serious, at least that’s what the rumors are saying. I can’t see anyone marrying Lille. She has a heart of stone, that one.”
“Maybe not for Dom.” I covered the mouthpiece and asked, “Will you be availablefor book club?”
Beth shook her head. “Probably not. I think Jim and I will be having dinner, but if I happen to be alone that night, I’ll attend. Have Carrie send methe Zoom link.”
I relayed the message. “So why the treats? Early Christmas baking?”
“No, we’re celebrating Chris getting off the hook for Chip’s murder. She let a friend’s sister and her husband stay at her place and they were up talking with this sister until late. Joanie, the friend, is dating a jerk and everyone including Chris and her sister is worried. Joanie’s sister didn’t get the message that Greg was trying to reach her until yesterday. She dropped her phone while they were traveling back home outside San Diego. Then she had to order a new one. Cell phones are a pain.” Carrie summed it up. “Okay, so one more invite for Zoom and one less to consume the treats. See you Monday.”
I hung up and started washing the jars Beth had sitting out on the table. “Chris is off the hook. She was with us all night at the dart tournament and Chip was still alive when we all left. Then she had a friend’s sister alibi her today. Carrie’s making treatsfor book club.”
“I’m sorry I’m going to miss out.” Beth grabbed a clean jar and started drying. “You all are a tightly knit community. I’m going to miss that when I get home.”
“You and Jim have the church.” I washed another jar.
Beth shrugged. “Maybe. I’m beginning to think that my pastor isn’t on my side and he’s got a vested interest in me staying at mysecretary job.”
“You were too good at it.” I smiled as I finished washing the last jar.
“Whatever. But today and tomorrow are all about Christmas, family, and friends. I hope Greg can be here for dinner because I’m cooking.” Beth counted the washed jars.
“I’ll let him know in the morning.” I let the water out of the sink and dried my hands on a towel. “If we’re baking all day, are you sure you want to make dinner too? We could go out to that seafood place you like.”
Beth hit me with the towel she’d been using. “Stop tempting me. I want to cook to thank you for letting me stay for an extra couple of weeks. You didn’t have to letme crash here.”
“You’re family,” I said. “Now let’s get those packages done for the staff. I still want to watch a cooking show before I crashfor the night.”
* * *
I didn’t dream of sugar plums, candy canes, or even Santa’s reindeer that night, but I wish I would have. It would have been better dreams than the ones I had with poor Chip tied to his chair, begging for his life. When I finally climbed out of bed, I wasn’t in the mood for the Christmas carols and making too many cookies. But I figured if I drank enough coffee, I could get there.
Besides, I heard Greg’s laughter downstairs and realized I was the only one still in bed. I hurried downstairs to see a pancake flying in the air.
Emma was watching too, probably hoping that Greg would miss the pan. No one looked at me as I came into the kitchen. “Good morning, family. I see breakfast is well on the way?”
“I think you just pretend to sleep in so you don’t have to cook.” Greg set the pan back on the stove and pulled me into a hug. “Did you sleep well?”
“Not really, but thanks for asking.” I kissed him and headed straight for the cup of coffee Beth had just poured me. “Oh, Carrie said you cleared Chris of killing Chip. Thanks. I know it was weighing on her.”
“I didn’t clear her because she was upset. She has an alibi. She couldn’t have done it.” He put the last pancake on the top of my plate, drizzled it with warm maple syrup, and set it in front of me at the table. “Now eat before you start getting grumpy.”
I’d argue with him, but not eating didmake me moody.
“So if Chris and Dom are off your list, who’s still on it?” Beth asked, sipping coffee. Since Greg had turned off the stove, I assumed they’d bothalready eaten.
“Who said Dom was off the list?” His eyes twinkled and I could see he was messing with her.
“Lille,” Beth shot back. “Because she said if you put her boyfriend in jail she was going to close the restaurant.”
“She’s not closing the restaurant, but yes, Dom has been cleared.” He turned to me. “Your uncle came forward and told me he had a late-night visitor at the Train Station the night Chip was killed. He said Dom stayed until three that morning when your aunt came down and broke up the boys’ club. He said they had some things to discuss.”
“What would Dom be chatting with Uncle Harrold until three in the morning for? Is Harrold becoming an investor in his newbar and grill?”
