I grinned, not bothering to hide it, carrying the washed potatoes over to the chopping board on the silver countertop. I peeked through the porthole windows on the swinging kitchen doors as I passed them. We had ages until lunch, but there were already a few guests hovering around in the dining room, chatting.
The kitchen door opened, and Smulder stood on the doorstep, wearing a pair of jeans and a plain white t-shirt. He smiled at my grandmother and Lauren, then looked at me.
“It’s time,” he said. “I’ve got to go.”
“We’ll miss you, Brian.” My grandmother’s tone was serious. “You keep safe, all right?”
“I will. I’ll be in touch.”
“I’ll walk you out,” I said, and joined Brian walking down the steps into the sunny grounds of the inn. He grabbed his suitcase and carried it down the side path toward the front of the inn, where a black sedan waited, its windows tinted so that I couldn’t make out its occupants.
“Charlie,” Brian said. “I can’t tell you how much being here has meant to me, and how… I—look, I wanted things to work out between us, but—”
“I know you did.” There wasn’t much left to say. Brian was a good man, but he wasn’t the good man for me. We were too different, and while I had finally found a home, a place I adored full of people I enjoyed spending time with, he wanted more.
“No hard feelings?” Brian asked.
I threw my arms around his neck and squeezed him tight. He patted me awkwardly on the back.
“Never,” I said. “Safe trip, Smulder. I hope your next partner is better than your last one.”
“Eh. Who needs a perfect partner when you can have one who shoots you in the butt cheek by accident?” He flashed me an impish grin then loaded his suitcase into the trunk of the sedan.
I watched the car leave, smiling, a little sad, but mostly happy.
The last thing I’d expected when I’d arrived in Gossip, wearing a lurid dress covered in gamboling cats might I add, was to fall in love.
Just not with a man.
I had fallen in love with a town, an inn, and the idea of being my own woman again.
I couldn’t wait to see what this next great adventure would bring.
Is this the end of Charlie and Gamma’s story? Turn the page to find out more about an exciting new release featuring the girls!
What’s Next for Charlie and Gamma?
Charlie’s story regarding her ex-husband may have ended, but she’s got so much more to share. Gamma and Charlie will be featured in a new series of stories, available on all retailers! The Gossip Cozy Mystery series will track Charlie’s life in Gossip and all the shenanigans she gets up to with her grandmother.
You can grab the first book, The Case of the Waffling Warrants, here!
Dear Reader,
I found writing the final installment of Charlie and Gamma’s story—at least as far as the Mission Inn-possible Series goes—difficult at best. First, it wasn’t a traditional cozy mystery, but I felt I had no choice but to write it this way so there would be a fitting conclusion to Charlie’s struggles with her husband. Second, emotionally, it was so tough to say goodbye to one character in particular.
Brian Smulder.
While he was so fun to write, and incredibly fun to use as a tool to freak out Charlie and test her strengths and weaknesses, I couldn’t help but feel that he wouldn’t want to stay in Gossip after the events of this series.
After all, he is an agent who has always taken his job seriously and “always does the right thing” as Charlie would say. Whereas our girl Charlie is a bit of a wild card. I felt it would be best for both of them if they found people more suitable for their unique personalities.
I’ll miss Smulder, but I’m looking forward to the mischief Charlie and Gamma will get up to in the Gossip Cozy Mystery series!
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading the Mission Inn-possible Series, and that my friends have become yours. During this very strange time we’ve experienced over the past few years (2020-2021), they’ve given me great comfort.
I pray they’ve done the same for you.
Stay safe and healthy.
Yours,
Rosie
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