A Winter's Tail E-Book

Diane Wing

• Herausgeber: Modern History Press
• Sprache: Englisch
• Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2022

Seitenzahl: 263

Beschreibung

The Perfect Wedding..... Cursed?
In this 4th installment of the Chrissy the Shih Tzu cozy mysteries, Autumn Clarke and Ray Reed are planning the winter wedding of the year, and the first major social event at Autumn's newly renovated Peabody Mansion Bed & Breakfast. Autumn's dreams are about to come true-a spectacular, romantic ceremony with the handsome love of her life. After their beloved Shih Tzu, Chrissy, discovers the body of a popular local psychologist in a snowdrift weeks before the wedding, a series of unexplainable setbacks begin to foil their wedding plans. Is it deliberate sabotage, or is the wedding truly cursed? Will dangerous, uninvited guests create matrimonial mayhem and ruin their special day? Wing's Cozy fans can expect an exciting, romantic whodunit with an abundance of twists and turns that will keep them on the edge of their seats until the very last page is turned.
"Diane Wing throws some new and interesting characters into the storyline of A Winter's Tail, and they fit in seamlessly with the current cast of old friends. I love how the animals, Chrissy, Ace along with Mickey and others, don't just play second fiddle to the human characters. Each canine has their own identity and a necessary part of the plot. Kudos to Mrs. Wing for another great cozy afternoon read!"
--Antoinette Brickhaus, Leonardtown, MD
"Treat yourself to A Winter's Tail--the latest gripping addition to Diane Wing's wildly popular Chrissy's Mysteries cozy series. Things turn dark and strange as Autumn encounters a series of bizarre and shocking events before their wedding day. Are the nuptials really cursed, or is it a vengeful foe returning for the ultimate revenge and desecration of Autumn and Ray's happily ever after? Snuggle in for this delightful treat."
--Maxine Ashcraft, Oakland, CA
"This installment of the Chrissy the Shih Tzu cozy mysteries finds Chrissy's pet parent, Autumn, preparing for her wedding to Ray Reed, a local police lieutenant. Autumn's friend and cousin, Bea, is worried that Autumn and Ray's nuptials are cursed because of several setbacks to Autumn's plans. Meanwhile, Chrissy discovers a body in a snow pile and Ray is assigned to investigate the victim's death. This is the best book of the series so far! I couldn't figure out who was sabotaging Autumn and Ray's wedding until the final reveal. A fun, cute, and enjoyable read.
--Terri Chalmers, Sicklerville, NJ

Leseprobe

A Winter’s Tail: A Chrissy the Shih Tzu Cozy Mystery

Copyright © 2022 by Diane Wing. All Rights Reserved.

Learn more at www.DianeWingAuthor.com

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, businesses, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. Thanks for indulging me in taking artistic license within the fictional town of Knollwood, Pennsylvania.

ISBN 978-1-61599-622-3 paperback

ISBN 978-1-61599-623-0 hardcover

ISBN 978-1-61599-624-7 eBook

Published by

 

Modern History Press

www.ModernHistoryPress.com

5145 Pontiac Trail

[email protected]

Ann Arbor, MI

tollfree 888-761-6268

 

fax [phone]

Distributed by Ingram (USA/CAN/AU), Bertram’s Books (UK/EU)

Audiobook editions available at Audible.com and iTunes

For the fur babies who enrich our lives

Books by Diane Wing….

Cozy Mysteries with Chrissy the Shih Tzu

Attorney-at-Paw

The Dog-Eared Diary

Trick-or-Doggy Treat

A Winter’s Tail

Dark Fantasy

Coven: The Scrolls of the Four Winds

Thorne Manor and other bizarre tales

Trips to the Edge

Non-fiction

The True Nature of Tarot: Your Path to Personal Empowerment,10th Anniversary Ed.

The True Nature of Energy: Transforming Anxiety into Tranquility

The Happiness Perspective: Seeing Your Life Differently

Contents

Acknowledgements

Dramatis Personae

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Acknowledgements

I’m grateful to all the people who contributed to the creation of this book. The food maven, Chef Jacqueline Peccina Kelly, created the wedding menu and provided scrumptious recipes at the end of this book. Thanks to the beta readers, without whom I’d stay in my own head: Maxine Ashcraft, Antoinette Brickhaus, and Terri “Eagle Eye” Chalmers. Special thanks to Judge Patricia Richmond for her guidance on legal ethical questions. Much gratitude to Sergeant Roger Gillispie of the Abington Police Department for giving me insight into police procedure and guidelines. I appreciate the feedback of Bob Rich, Ph.D. for doing the final edits and catching issues no one else saw. And last but never least, many thanks to my publisher, Victor Volkman, for his support, guidance, and trust. I’m so fortunate to have all of these wonderful people in my circle.

Notes

Book club questions, recipes of meals from the book, appear at the end of the book. Enjoy!

This work was professionally edited and proofread. However, if you encounter any typos or formatting issues, please contact [email protected] so we can correct it.

Dramatis Personae

Autumn Clarke’s Human Family, Friends, & Staff

Autumn Clarke—Chrissy’s mommy and owner of the Peabody Mansion B&B

George Clarke—Autumn’s Father

Stella Clarke—Autumn’s Mother

Lisa Coleman—Steve’s daughter and owner of Coleman’s Kitchen

Steve Coleman—Neighbor, Father of Lisa Coleman, and Mickey’s pet parent

Stephanie Douglas—Autumn’s Best Friend & 5th grade teacher

Stacey Eldridge—bookshop owner, town historian, knows about wedding superstitions

Ward Everly—Landscaper for the Peabody Mansion B&B and protector of the family

Brad Hall—Neighbor, Julie’s husband, and pet parent to Teddy the Yorkshire terrier

Julie Hall—Neighbor, Brad Hall’s wife, and pet parent to Teddy the Yorkshire terrier

Dr. Wesley Harper—Autumn’s psychiatrist

Elizabeth Johnson—Event planner and décor designer

Sarah Kelly—Chef for the Inn

Beatrice Peabody—Autumn’s cousin

Maureen Roberts—Realtor

Kim Stokes—Assistant manager, Peabody Mansion B&B

The Canines

Ace—Ray Reed’s German shepherd dog

Chrissy—Autumn Clarke’s Shih Tzu and pet detective

Clay—Stacey Eldridge’s miniature poodle

Mickey—Steve Coleman’s standard poodle and Chrissy’s best friend

Teddy—Julie & Brad Hall’s Yorkshire terrier and Chrissy’s friend

Ray Reed’s Family & Friends

Adam Miller—Knollwood Police officer, Stephanie’s boyfriend, and Ray’s best man

Carol Reed—Ray’s mom

Kevin Reed—Ray’s dad

Raymond Reed—Lieutenant in Knollwood Police Department, Groom, and pet parent to Ace

New Characters Introduced in Book 4

Pamela Brown—Scandal/gossip podcaster

Barry Cromwell—Terri Cromwell’s son

Terri Cromwell—Local judge who lives in New Hope

Angela Curry—Victim and therapist who knows people’s secrets

Jodi Fallston—Professional Executor/Attorney for Angela Curry

Brittany Farmer—Owner of Tying the Knot, a wedding accessories shop

Faith Halifax—Harry’s wife

Harry Halifax—Award-winning ice sculptor

Megan Harris—Owner of the bridal shop, With This Ring

William Moore—Detective in New Hope

Dr. Tim O’Brien—Psychiatrist at the hospital

Officer Jim Osgood—New Hope police officer

Frank Pangborn—Limousine driver and private detective

Mayor Josh Snyder—Knollwood Mayor

Chief Bruce Stanley—New Hope police chief

Obituary: Angela Curry, Ph.D. (1980-2021), New Hope, PA

Psychologist Angela Curry, 41, died December 1, 2021. She was born in New Hope and attended school in Philadelphia, where she earned her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from Drexel University. Dr. Curry returned to New Hope and opened her private practice.

Dr. Curry published articles on the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders in the Annual Review of Clinical Psychology and Clinical Psychology Review.

She was the last member of the Curry family.

In her final wishes, she asked for donations to the National Alliance on Mental Illness in her name.

- 1 -

It was the worst November they could remember, and so early in the season. Most years the snow waited until Thanksgiving to make its first appearance with flurries. But this year, back-to-back snowstorms hit Bucks County, and everyone was tired of shoveling and the sound of snow blowers. Roadside snow piles grew higher with each storm. Days above thirty-five degrees were few, but when they came, they did little to thaw the deep snow piles, as the cold, dense air sank to ground level and maintained the frozen drifts.

Autumn did what she could to make it more bearable for Chrissy, her precious Shih Tzu, but the 16-pound ball of fur with short little legs struggled in the snow. Even her pink suede and Sherpa fleece-lined winter coat with matching snow boots that stayed on for a minute-and-a-half at most didn’t make trudging in the snow to do her business any easier. Autumn dug out a space in the yard that led from the patio to a large, open circle for Chrissy to mark.

Today, Autumn had to drive to New Hope to address some wedding details, like picking up the invitations that were already late. The wedding was in two weeks. Good thing she’d sent an email a couple of weeks ago to hold the date for December 11th, but the major obstacle to holding the wedding on that date was the weather. She had no intention of putting her guests at risk, especially since she owned the venue and could change the date whenever she chose. The Peabody Mansion Bed & Breakfast was hers and available any time, since she decided to not officially open until January.

She and Chrissy parked in the fully plowed municipal parking area in town. Autumn lifted Chrissy from her car seat and clicked the pink-with-rhinestones leash onto the metal loop of the harness that poked through the opening of her pink snow jacket. To get to the shoveled sidewalk, she held Chrissy while she navigated the narrow paths from the parking lot to the main walkway and placed her treasured cargo onto the sidewalk.

Chrissy shook beneath the thick jacket and waited for her mommy to walk, staying by her side. Autumn noticed the large chunks of snowmelt pellets on the sidewalk and hoped it was the paw-friendly type. She had baby wipes in her purse to use on Chrissy’s paws once they got to their destination.

The bell tinkled a welcome into the charming wedding shop that provided brides with invitations, party favors, cards, champagne flutes, hair accessories, and wedding décor. The brisk walk from the parking lot made Autumn appreciate the warmth surrounding her when she closed the door. She wiped her feet on the doormat and crouched down to clean Chrissy’s paws.

“Weather’s not fit for man nor beast,” said Brittany Farmer from behind the open-front, ornate cream-colored desk and matching carved chair. She wore her shiny black hair long and straight. Her elaborate makeup included smoky eyes and bright red lipstick. Long, red nails and lots of rings accentuated the tight black jumpsuit that clung to her curvy figure.

“Hi Brittany,” said Autumn. “You’re certainly right about the weather.”

“Risky, having a December wedding,” Brittany commented.

“We didn’t want to wait until spring. I’m sure everything will be fine.”

Chrissy went under the desk to sniff Brittany’s black spike-heeled shoes, shook her head when Brittany tried to pet her, and then went over to the wall and explored the wedding favors with her nose.

“Come here, sweetheart.” Autumn gently tugged her leash.

“She’s fine,” said Brittany, rising from her chair. “I’ll be right back with your invitations. I know they’re late, but I have no control over the printer’s schedule.”

She sashayed to the back room.

Autumn looked around the store to see if she was forgetting anything. She still hadn’t decided whether to wear a veil or a headband with crystals. She’d bring her cousin Beatrice to the bridal shop with her to see what looked best with the antique gown. After all, Bea was the one who’d found the dress in the attic and suggested Autumn wear it. Bea was an unknown cousin found when Autumn had inherited the Peabody fortune. As rough going as it was in the beginning, they grew close and now were a part of each other’s lives.

Brittany returned with a cardboard box and placed it on the desk. Autumn opened the box and saw a different font than she had chosen, inviting people to join her on December 27th to witness her marriage to Raymond Rudd. Not only were they late, the invitations were completely wrong.

She looked at Brittany, astounded.

“Did you check these when they came in?”

“No, the printer is superb, so there’s no need.”

“These invitations not only give the wrong information, but aren’t in the font I chose.”

Brittany glanced at them and said, “Oh. Well, I guess it’s getting late in the game to have them redone.”

Brittany owned the shop, and Autumn, shocked by her nonchalant attitude toward the botched order, held back her anger. Chrissy head-butted Autumn’s leg and took her out of the headspace that could result in an outburst. Chrissy was astute at reading Autumn’s moods and how to get her back to center. Autumn picked up her smart little girl, feeling the intensity subside.

She felt her feet on the floor and then said, “Well, I’m not paying for these.”

Brittany shrugged. “It’s the printer’s fault, so he’ll have to eat it.”

Autumn preferred to support local businesses, and even with her hopes of getting wedding referrals for the bed-and-breakfast, there was no way she would recommend Brittany or do business with her from now on.

Without a word, Autumn and Chrissy left the shop. The frigid air hit their faces and cooled down Autumn’s emotional heat. She kissed Chrissy on the head and put her down. Chrissy shook and looked up at Autumn.

“Let’s take a little walk and get rid of some of this negative energy,” she said to Chrissy, who followed Autumn’s lead. Chrissy pranced down the sidewalk like nothing major had just happened. Autumn watched her and went into an in-the-moment perspective, where Brittany didn’t exist and her wedding invitations weren’t a disaster. This little fluff ball had taught Autumn so much about being centered and joyful.

They walked past piles of dirty snow that lined the streets. Chrissy occasionally sniffed the piles and then moved on. They walked down Main Street and looked in the windows of a boutique, a jewelry shop, and a bookstore. Autumn went into the bookstore and bought the latest mystery fiction from one of her favorite authors. She had so many unexplored volumes at the Peabody mansion, but most were antique. She wanted some current books to read, even as she went through the older volumes. They walked past side streets, where charming townhouses and small single-family dwellings stood tightly packed.

With all the snow, the township prohibited parking on the street. The barrier of snow between the sidewalk and the street blocked them from crossing, except where paths opened to access the crosswalk. The snow was especially free of street grime in a pile just before the crosswalk ahead. As they came closer, Chrissy put her nose to the sidewalk and followed it to the pile. Her sniffing intensified until her face pushed into the snow. She wagged her tail and looked at Autumn before digging.

“What did you find?” Autumn asked.

Chrissy’s digging accelerated, her paws digging deeper. Autumn tried pulling her away, but she resisted. Bright red dots showed through the indentation before a gloved hand appeared. That’s when Autumn picked up Chrissy, who reluctantly relinquished her quest, and hit Ray Reed’s number on speed dial. Autumn’s fiancé, Ray, and his loyal German shepherd dog, Ace, a retired police dog, would bring the troops to manage the situation.

- 2 -

As a lieutenant with the Knollwood police department, Ray’s relationship with the New Hope chief of police, Bruce Stanley, was collaborative and friendly. Each municipality ran on a tight budget and a lean staff, so they partnered when needed.

Within a half hour of Autumn’s urgent call, police were on site and the area cordoned off with yellow tape. A crowd had gathered near the area and cars driving by rubbernecked to see what was going on.

Ray stood on the sidewalk with Ace, who guarded Chrissy and Autumn. He looked down at Chrissy.

“What is it with you, little one? Is it your destiny to uncover dead bodies?”

Chrissy smiled her doggy smile and licked her nose, which was running from the cold.

“I hope not,” Autumn answered for Chrissy. “This better be the last one.”

“Maybe we should swear her in as a detective,” said Ray.

Autumn playfully punched his arm.

The moment of joking quickly passed as they focused their attention on the body being dug out from the ice-encrusted snow pile. A deep wound in the center of the chest made Autumn cringe.

Ray inspected the body. A V-shaped puncture differed from knife and gunshot wounds he’d witnessed in his years on the police force or even as a soldier in Afghanistan.

Autumn asked, “Do you recognize her?”

“No, but it looks like her purse is with the body. We’ll find out soon enough.”

Autumn rubbed her arms and noticed Chrissy shivering. She opened her coat, picked up Chrissy, and snuggled her inside, closing the coat so Chrissy’s head stuck out.

“You two are freezing,” said Ray. “Go home, and we’ll come over after we’re finished here.”

“Okay. I’ll take Ace with us, too.”

“Good.” Ray squeezed Autumn’s gloved hand.

Autumn gave a tired smile and nodded.

Chrissy came in from playing her new game of what Autumn called snow pile. Chrissy liked to take a running leap, land in the snow up to her chest, and then push her face into the dense whiteness. Snow clumped above her eyes, around her nose, and under her chin. Chrissy’s doggy smile looked like a clown face amidst the dangling chunks of snow and made Autumn laugh. A good shake freed only some of it and left compact balls of snow clinging to Chrissy’s luxurious locks.

Ace watched instead of playing the game, but his fur also had balls of snow clinging to his underbelly.

Both seemed unfazed after this morning’s discovery of a dead woman hidden in a snow pile on a public street. Autumn, however, was tense from the encounter over the wedding invitations, followed by Chrissy the detective finding another body. She called Beatrice to come hang out by the fire to talk it through.

Autumn loved the cozy way snow made her feel inside her childhood home and loved sharing it. The blazing fire in the stone fireplace crackled and helped to melt the winter chill from Chrissy, Ace, and Beatrice. Chrissy’s pink and white striped bath towel and a larger sage green towel for Ace warmed on the hearth. Bea had a warm cloth to work on the snow clinging to Ace’s fur as he lay on his side, while Autumn held Chrissy in her lap, gently removing caked snow from her face and paws.

Autumn grabbed the soft towel from the hearth and dried Chrissy, then finished the process with a kiss to the top of her head and a little squeeze before putting her down on the floor. Chrissy shook and charged across the den, wiggled under her dog bed, which was piled with toys, and, tail wagging, lifted her body, scattering them all over the floor. She looked over at them, tongue flopping from an endearing, mischievous grin. Autumn and Bea laughed.

Bea finished drying Ace, and he ran over to where Chrissy batted a ball across the floor toward her mommy. Autumn picked it up and tossed it across the room, Chrissy in hot pursuit. Ace stopped the ball from going under a chair and waited for Chrissy to catch up.

“I’ve been talking to Stacey,” said Bea.

Stacey Eldridge owned the local bookstore and oversaw the historical wing of the Peabody Mansion Museum. As the town historian, her knowledge extended beyond local lore and into surprising subjects. Her miniature poodle, Clay, was a friend of Chrissy’s.

“She told me about wedding superstitions and all the things that could go wrong if they’re not heeded. A curse could befall the ceremony or your marriage. I’m trying to avoid a wedding disaster.”

“We’ve already had one with the invitations,” Autumn answered. A flash of her ruined invitations popped into her mind. “Even so, I don’t believe in curses.”

“See, it’s already happening. I should go down to that shop and give Brittany a piece of my mind!” Beatrice groused.

Autumn considered letting her. Bea could be quite intimidating, as she’d learned early in their relationship. After a small, internal debate, Autumn decided against it. She wanted to put the incident behind her and move on.

“The operative word is superstition. I can order new invitations online, and they might be even better than the original ones would have been. Think of all the things that can go right. Everyone associated with the wedding wants the best for us, and that brings luck.”

“Wouldn’t luck be a superstition?”

Autumn paused. “Okay. I concede that the idea of luck is also superstitious. So, if I knock on wood,” she stood and rapped her knuckles against the mahogany mantle, “then we should be okay.” Autumn laughed at her own joke.

Bea smiled. “Ah, so you do believe,” she said, crossing her arms in triumph. “All I’m saying is that a Wednesday would be better than Saturday. Stacey said Saturday is the unluckiest day to get married. Followed by Thursday, according to English tradition. Maybe it’s divine intervention. When you reorder the invitations, just change the date to the eighth or the fifteenth.”

“All I know is that I’m lucky to be marrying Ray, and love brings everything good, so any day will do, but Saturday is when the most people can attend.”

Chrissy and Ace galloped past, each with a squeaky toy in their mouth. The sound increased their excitement, making them chew harder to make even more ruckus. Autumn pictured them having so much fun together when Ray and Ace moved in.

“How many people did you invite?”

“About one hundred. We’ll have it at the Peabody Mansion. Ten tables in the living room, buffet set up in the lobby. Plenty of room for milling about.”

Chrissy had swapped her toy for a ball and brought it over to Autumn, dropping it in front of her, tail wagging furiously. Autumn bounced the ball, and Chrissy hopped after it, pinning it into the corner, where she growled playfully. That was Autumn’s signal to come over and try to take the ball away from her. She crawled across the floor toward her fur baby, who saw her, and went for the ball more aggressively, protecting it from Autumn. Reaching around Chrissy, she pretended to try to take it away, finally grasping the now soaked ball and tossing it across the room. Chrissy ran after it but tired of the game, and trotted over to where Autumn knelt on the floor. Autumn lifted her fur baby and settled onto the deep-cushioned chair next to the fireplace so Chrissy could snuggle on her mommy’s lap. Ace opted for his spot in front of the fire.

“What about the ceremony?”

“There’s a beautiful spot down the trail next to the old sycamore tree. My arborist said it’s likely 200 years old.”

“I love that tree,” agreed Bea. “Even without leaves it’s so majestic.”

“It’s a symbol of love, support, protection, and fertility,” said Autumn, rubbing Chrissy’s soft body. “It’s also the tree of gifts. It’s perfect to have a wedding ceremony there.”

“Maybe in the spring, but it’s a bit chilly for an outdoor wedding.”

“Elizabeth said we could get outdoor heat lamps to surround the area, the kind restaurants use.”

Elizabeth Johnson was the Peabody Mansion decorating and event planning consultant. She did a marvelous job organizing the Halloween event. Her creativity gave rise to a festive and spooky atmosphere. Autumn looked forward to seeing what she planned for the wedding’s winter theme.

Autumn stroked Chrissy’s silky hair. “And you, my little lovey, are going to be my flower girl.”

Chrissy sleepily grunted in agreement.

The doorbell rang, and Chrissy sprung off the chair and ran barking toward the door, with Ace close behind. The tone of her barks let Autumn know who was at the door. She had a high-pitched bark when it was Ray and Ace, but this bark had a slightly lower tone, a signal that Mickey, the standard poodle, and his human, Autumn’s neighbor, Steve Coleman, were at the door.

“Hey guys!” Autumn welcomed them in. She grabbed the towel she kept by the door for wet paws and bent to dry Mickey’s large, well-groomed paw. “Come on in.”

Steve unhooked Mickey’s leash from his collar. The poodle, Ace, and Chrissy exchanged sniffs and then trotted to the kitchen to wait for a snack in front of the cabinet they knew held goodies. Autumn kept several types of treats for the pups and went through the ritual of letting them smell each one before choosing the one they wanted. When Chrissy decided on her snack, Mickey usually followed suit and ate the same one. Ace decided independently of the other two.

“So spoiled,” said Steve, watching the scene play out as he had many times before.

“That’s their job,” said Bea from behind them. Not having been a dog-lover in the past, connecting with Autumn and seeing the love she and Chrissy shared lifted her heart. It helped her understand unconditional love and made her consider getting a dog of her own someday.

A couple rounds of snacks and a good long drink of filtered water later, the pups satiated, they galloped into the den. Steve peeked around the wall and saw them each pick a toy—Mickey, a large rope, Ace, a long, stuffed toy with multiple squeakers, and Chrissy a small stuffed pig—and settle in for a chewing session.

If only that was all it took to feel content in life. Steve’s health problems weighed on him most days. Watching the canine friends made him vow to make the most of each day and enjoy the moment.

“How about some hot chocolate?” Autumn asked, putting the ingredients onto the granite counter next to the stove.

Grabbing a silver pot from the island cabinet, she remembered her mother saying it was the perfect size to make hot chocolate for three people. Back then, it had meant Autumn, her father, George Clarke, and her mother, Stella Clarke; a cherished memory she held onto.

When her parents had died in a car accident with Autumn in the back seat, the devastation was overwhelming. The trauma of the accident and losing her parents resulted in post-traumatic stress disorder. Therapy for the condition included adopting Chrissy, who helped Autumn heal, while she did the same for Chrissy, traumatized by the loss of her pet parent. Autumn was no longer alone in the world. She had Chrissy, Ray, wonderful friends and neighbors, and now Beatrice.

Autumn topped the steaming, rich chocolate with mini marshmallows and handed Bea and Steve an oversized mug printed with snowflakes and friendly snowmen.

“I’m thinking of having a hot chocolate bar at the wedding,” she said, cradling her mug as she led the others into the den.

Bea blew on her drink and took a tentative sip. The marshmallows were just starting to melt, making the chocolate even creamier. “Great idea! That’s where you’ll find me if you need me at the wedding.”

Autumn watched Chrissy attack her pink piggy and pull at the toy’s tummy. She was on the verge of ripping the seam apart again. That’s why Autumn bought this same toy five at a time, so her baby had a back-up.

“Did you hear about the body they found in a snowdrift?” Steve asked. He sipped his beverage. He had a way of delivering horrific news as though he was talking about clipping coupons.

“Of course,” Bea replied, pointing a thumb toward Autumn. “I’m tired of reports of dead bodies in the area.”

“Yes, Chrissy actually found her,” said Autumn. “Did they identify the body?”

Steve paused for dramatic effect. “Angela Curry, Ph.D. She’s a psychotherapist in New Hope. Her office is across the street from where they found her body.”

Autumn thought for a moment. She had been so focused on window shopping that she hadn’t noticed an office.

“How did you find out? Ray hasn’t called yet to let me know,” she asked.

“Pamela Brown’s podcast. I listen every day on my phone,” said Steve.

“The gossip columnist?” asked Bea, as Ace came over and dropped his moist rope toy at her feet.

“He likes you,” said Autumn.

“Great,” said Bea, picking up the rope toy with her thumb and forefinger and tossing it far enough so that Ace could run after it. She rubbed her fingers vigorously with her napkin to get the slime off of them.

Steve asked, “Are you thinking of getting a dog of your own, Bea? “It’d be nice to add another furry friend to this circle.”

Mickey ran over to his daddy and plunked down at his feet. Steve rubbed his fluffy head, a perfect poodle topknot.

“I’m thinking about it, but not completely convinced just yet.”

“Back to Pamela,” said Autumn. “The police have barely processed the body. How could she know?”

“On her show, she talks about her knack for being in the right place at the right time,” Steve said.

“Or she has someone on the inside feeding her information,” Autumn thought out loud.

- 3 -

Ray walked in the door as Autumn prepared dinner. He kissed Autumn and saw that Chrissy and Ace were already eating theirs. They looked up, gave him a brief wag, and put their heads back into their bowls.

Autumn saw the disappointed look on Ray’s face.

“You know they focus on their food and then give you a welcome home,” Autumn assured him.

He nodded, obviously exhausted.

“How did they find out the body is Angela Curry?”

“You know?”

“Yep, Steve Coleman told me.”

“How did he get that information?” Ray said in an accusatory tone.

“Pamela Brown’s podcast.”

“The scandal reporter? New Hope PD hasn’t even notified Angela’s next of kin!”

“How do leaks usually get out? Someone on the inside, right?”

Ray scowled. Autumn knew that look. It was the face he made when running unsavory information through his mind; in this case, likely the list of staff members who knew about the situation.

“You’ve had a long day. Go change and wash up. Dinner is almost ready.”

He left the room just as the pups finished their meal, and they ran after him. Autumn heard the delight in Ray’s voice as he petted and played with them. The fur babies went a long way in helping him manage the stress of his job.

The three of them returned to the kitchen, Ray looking refreshed. Chrissy and Ace sat on either side of Ray’s chair.

Autumn plated the meal of salmon, herbed rice, and mixed vegetables and put it on the table along with ice water. The food plus the dogs distracted Ray from his thoughts, and Autumn saw his body relax.

“Won’t it be nice when you finally move in here for good?”

“It will. Only a couple of weeks more.”

“Why wait until after the wedding?”

“We’d have waited another six months if we hadn’t moved up the wedding date.”

Autumn chewed her food and nodded.

“True, but these are modern times, after all. There’s no rule that says you can’t move in sooner.”

“But there is a recent study that shows those who live together before marriage are more likely to divorce after the first year. Also, the quality of marriage is lower. I want our marriage to last forever, so let’s give it the best chance we can.”

“At least you didn’t say you based it on some wedding superstition, like the groom can’t see the bride before the wedding.”

He took a bite of rice mixed with vegetables.

“Of course not. I’m a realist,” said Ray, giving her a puzzled look.

“Bea told me that Saturday is the worst day to get married and that we should get married on a Wednesday for the best luck.”

“How does that make sense?”

“Stacey Eldridge told her about wedding superstitions. She’s worried that we’ll be cursed if we don’t abide by the rules.”

Ray chuckled, and then shoveled the last of the salmon, rice, and veggies into his mouth. Autumn noticed that no matter what he ate, there was always an equal amount of each so he could mix them together and end his meal with all flavors.

“I pooh-poohed it, too. But then when I went to pick up our invitations at Tying the Knot, they were all wrong: the date, the font, your name.”

“It’s a coincidence. What are you going to do about the invitations?” Ray asked, wiping his mouth.

“Order them online. I’ll never use that store for anything ever again and certainly won’t recommend them.”

“Do you want me to go talk to them?”

“No. I told her I wasn’t paying for the cards. Brittany didn’t seem to care, so I left.”

“Brittany?”

“The owner of the shop.”

“Whatever you think is best. If you need my help with anything, just ask.”

“I know you’re there when I need you.” Autumn squeezed his hand. “I also have Bea and Elizabeth. I’m so lucky.”

“It’s not luck. It’s because you’re always there for everyone else. People love you, so they’re there for you.” Ray smiled lovingly at her.

“I’m still sad that my parents can’t be there.”

“Even though I don’t know what to believe about the afterlife, I have a feeling that you’ll feel their love on our wedding day.”

“And your parents will be there. I really like them.”

“They love you. Mom said she can’t believe someone finally reeled me in.”