“
While Julie cried, a defiant Emma proudly confessed to the murders. Peggy slipped out the door. She’d done her part. She didn’t want to hear the rest. Two more squad cars joined the group, and a Channel 3 news van pulled smoothly up. She was glad Steve’s car was parked on the street.
Her cell phone rang. “Peggy?” Steve’s voice sounded desperate. “There’s a man here who wants to order two hundred tulip trees. I don’t even know what the hell a tulip tree is. Are you coming back soon?”
She laughed. “I’m on my way. Don’t let him leave the shop.”
FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE John Lee died, the blue spruce in Peggy’s house was decorated for Christmas. She decided to do it in grand style by inviting half of Charlotte to help her. The drop-in party was so large that the police sent complimentary officers to help with parking and traffic.
“It’s the least we can do since you went to so much trouble to make us look like idiots,” Jonas told her as he put a star on the tree.
“Don’t listen to him.” His wife, Georgette, smiled at Peggy. “He got a big commendation for solving the murder here and helping with the Stone case in Columbia.”
“I never listened to him anyway,” Peggy replied. “He can testify to that. But I’m glad everything turned out okay.”
Jonas asked her, “How did you know? The whole Santeria thing. It didn’t look like anything to me.”
“I was in Cuba last year touring a new botanical garden they’re working on,” Peggy replied. “One of the gardeners was involved with Santeria. If Emma had chosen any other orisha, I wouldn’t have known. Sometimes things just seem to fit together, don’t they?”
She left the Rimers by the tree with a cup of eggnog for each of them. The house was so full, she wasn’t sure if there were enough food and drinks. She walked toward the kitchen, stopping every few seconds to talk to someone she knew.
Jane Cheever and her father arrived. Joe was in a wheelchair, but his faded eyes twinkled at Peggy. “Greetings, my dear. What a splendid party. Thank you for inviting us.”
Peggy hugged him. “You’re just like your old self!”
He glanced at his legs. “Not quite, but I’m working on it. My daughter tells me that I owe you a great debt.”
“No, she owes
“You mean, how pitiful am I that I had to come with
“Never mind.” Peggy stepped between them. “Go and get some punch and put an ornament on the tree. Walk around like you don’t know each other. No one will notice.”
Hunter leaned close to her. “Any eligible men here?”
Sam did the same. “Yeah. Tell me first, Peggy. She can have my leftovers.”
“I’m sure there are plenty for both of you. Now, scoot!” Peggy helped Jane take her father into the foyer where everyone was milling around the food and the tree.
Keeley was helping Steve look for the bottom plug behind the tree that would turn on the twinkle lights. Lenore was watching her and smiling. Peggy introduced her friend to the Cheevers.
“It’s nice to meet you.” Lenore took Joe’s hand. “Peggy’s told me so much about you.”
“And this must be your daughter.” Joe looked at Keeley. “ ‘The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, as daylight doth a lamp.’ ”
She stopped searching the bottom branches of the tree and smiled at him. “Uh—thanks. Nice to meet you. I guess we’ll always have something in common, huh? We were both accused of the same murder.”
Joe agreed but added, “True. And, most importantly, we were both innocent.”
“I found it!” Steve yelled, taking pieces of spruce out of his mouth as he climbed through the tree.
“Eureka!” Joe raised his glass and smiled.
“Let’s light it up,” Peggy suggested. “Would you do the honors?”
“Of course.” Steve put the plug in the wall, and the tree came alive with lights. There was a round of applause and a great deal of oohing and aahing. A spontaneous burst of “O Christmas Tree” followed but died quickly when no one knew more than the first two lines.
Paul came up and put his arm around his mother. “Looks good. I didn’t know if we’d ever do this again.”
She hugged him. “I didn’t know either. But it feels good, doesn’t it?”
“Yeah. I think Dad would be happy to see it.”
Peggy wiped a tear from the corner of her eye but kept her smile. “Where’s Mai?”
“Probably trying to get through this crowd. She headed for the eggnog.” He looked past the people surrounding them. “There she is. She’s really great, Mom.”
“I know. And I’m so glad you found each other.”
“How’s it going with you and Steve?” He glanced at the other man who was accepting congratulations for his
