“Ah-ha!” Juni holds up her phone with triumph. “Tonight at seven-thirty there’s an end-of-life bash for Chip at a place called the Village Kitchen in Rose Glen. Both Bobbie and Lacey will be there.”
“The Village Kitchen?” I blink back as my mind does its best to retrace where I last heard that name. “That’s the food kitchen where Chip had a spot on the board. Jasper was telling me they help feed the hungry. And I do believe Jasper mentioned the fact Chip had an office there, too. All right, girls. Seven-thirty. It looks as if we’ve got a date with destiny.”
Georgie threads her arm through her daughter’s. “Come on, kid. Let’s get pampered before our big night out on the town. Where there’s a free meal, there’s a smorgasbord of men. I’m getting my hair done.”
“I’m getting my lips done,” Juni is quick to tell her. “Dr. Buggywhip said he’d plump my kisser for free anytime I wanted.”
“Ooh, I’m going to get my kisser plumped up, too.” Georgie turns my way. “How about you, Bizzy?”
“No thanks. I like my kisser just the way it is.”
“Suit yourself,” Juni says as they head for the door. “But fair warning, men won’t be able to resist our lips once we’ve fluffed our puckers. Jasper can’t be blamed for his actions once he sees us.”
“In that case, I’d better give him a pass.”
They take off, and I don’t waste any time in texting my handsome hubby.
Hot date tonight, you and me at the Village Kitchen, seven-thirty.
He texts right back. See you there. I’ll head straight over from Seaview.
Perfect. Just FYI, Juni and Georgie’s kissable lips are off-limits to you.
My phone lights up again. Fine. But that means your brother’s kissable lips are off-limits to you. Turnabout is fair play.
“Jasper thinks he’s funny,” I say to my furry menagerie circling around the Valentine’s Day tree. Two want to climb it, and one is itching to pee on it. And I certainly didn’t need to be a mind reader to know that.
I glance out the window, at the frost clinging to our world. It’s icy cold in Cider Cove, almost as cold as the killer running around on the loose.
He or she thinks they’re in the clear.
They think they’ve gotten away with murder.
I’m about to prove them wrong on both counts, and hopefully I’ll do it tonight.
Chapter 14
The Village Kitchen is located in downtown Rose Glen near the city park. And since throngs of people have showed up for the event, most of the overflow is milling around outside in the snow as a jazz band plays from the sidewalk.
The Village Kitchen is a giant cafeteria, brightly lit with a boisterous crowd inside. The tangy scent of tomato sauce lights up our senses as just about everyone in here is holding a bowl of spaghetti and meatballs.
Next to the entry sits a large framed picture of Bobbie and Chip on their wedding day. They both glow with joy and their happiness is palpable. I crane my neck into the crowd, and right off the bat I spot Bobbie and Lacey talking to a small group of women. Come to think of it, women are the vast majority here.
“Would you look at this?” Juni snips through her bloated kisser.
As it turns out, both Juni and Georgie’s kissers have fluffed up ten times their natural size, and oddly enough, they look far too swollen to do any kissing.
“There’s not a man in sight,” Juni grunts.
“I want my money back,” Georgie shouts to no one in particular. “How are we supposed to wrangle up some dates for the big dance tomorrow night?”
“Don’t worry, Mama,” Juni snorts. “My testosterone antennae just went up. I see a man up front doling out the mashed potatoes. I’d best head over and claim the gravy before he’s scooped up. With all these women fighting over one man, things could get ugly.”
“You go get yours, hon. And don’t come back without some eats. If you find a man with some real meatballs, you send him my way.” She pulls me to the right. “Come on, Biz. It’s showtime.”
Georgie ushers us right into the nexus of Bobbie and Lacey’s holy huddle. Bobbie hardly looks like the grieving widow with her purple dress with its shapely form. And Lacey looks toasty, bundled in a baby blue sweater and matching jeans.
Bobbie gasps as she sees me.
“Bizzy!” She wraps her arms around me as if we were old friends. “Oh, please tell me you have Sugar with you? I’m ready for her to come home.”
“No, actually, sorry, she’s at my cottage with my cat and dog. But don’t worry. They’re all getting along just fine.” The truth is, once they heard that this was akin to a funeral, none of them wanted to tag along for the ride. And yet it’s virtually a party scene—not to mention there are meatballs dropping to the floor at an alarming rate. They could have used Sherlock’s help in keeping this place tidy.
“Don’t apologize.” She waves the idea off. “I’m the one that needs to apologize. But I’m all better now, so I’ll pick her up tomorrow night after the event.” And then we’re off to my mother’s for some real R&R.
“I’ll be sad to see her go.”
Georgie nods over to Lacey. “How’s it going, Toots? You ready for the big shindig tomorrow night? Did you get ordained so you can marry those crazy kids?”
Lacey’s mouth falls open. “I completely forgot. I guess I’ll have to find a minister to take my place.”
“Don’t look any further.” Georgie waves a hand in the air. “They don’t call me Madame Matrimony for nothing. I married this kid off right here.” She hitches her head my way. “And she and her hubby are still standing.” Georgie rolls her eyes. “For how long, who knows? All I can do is make it legal. It’s up to her to bring the heat to the
