by Patti Larsen
Instead, I sighed as I closed the door behind me, standing in the foyer for a moment with my head down, my skin warming to room temperature, even as I realized two things in quick succession. Petunia was nowhere to be found, her usual appearance at my return missing. And, if my ears were working right, someone was in the dark in the sitting room and they were crying.
Déjà vu struck as I realized I’d been here before, a week ago, before another death and the uncertainty of Reading’s future had been decided.
“Daisy?” I knew it was her because this was now familiar, finding her crying in the front room with my pug in her arms. I hurried to her where she perched on the sofa, my pug crushed against her, the smoosh faced creature licking tears from her face. My bestie reached out to me as I sank down next to her, hugging her and Petunia as Daisy choked a sob into my hair.
The last time we’d had a heart-to-heart. This time wasn’t quite so comforting. “Oh, Fee,” she finally whispered. “It’s terrible.”
“What happened?” I pushed her back just enough to meet her eyes.
They were bloodshot, her lovely face mottled and tear stained. Whatever occurred happened in the short time between our phone call and my return. If it was Rose? I was going to kick her butt to the curb and call the garbage man to come get her.
But when Daisy hugged me again, I knew it was much more than anything her half-sister could have done to trigger this kind of response. And, when she spoke, my heart broke despite knowing there was nothing I could do to help.
“My dad,” she choked. “He had a heart attack, he’s in a coma. I have to go to Montpelier. And I might not make it before he’s gone.”
What could I say to that? About the absentee father she’d never really known, the man I couldn’t bring myself to like or respect because of how he’d treated his wonderful, amazing, gorgeous daughter? How could I comfort her when I couldn’t speak a word past my own pounding fear that this would break my lovely friend in ways I wasn’t ready for and that meant I was the worst kind of selfish?
“I’m ready, Daisy.” I looked up to find Rose standing in the foyer, waiting, purse draped over one arm. Looking more grim than sad, focused. Predatory. Or was that just my imagination running off with my heart?
This truth was the last blow, really, to my ego, to my love for my best friend. How painful to realize in that instant if Daisy’s dad did pass away, this hideous human being would be her own remaining blood relative.
I’d never save my bestie from her now.
It was the hardest thing I’d ever done to let Daisy go with Rose. But what else could I do?
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Coming soon! Book Nine of the
Fiona Fleming Cozy Mysteries
www.pattilarsen.com
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Author’s Note
Sometimes Fee makes me nervous. She’s so gung-ho about leaping into danger and not thinking about the consequences, I can barely keep up. Thing is, though, she has the whole story wrapped up already, knows exactly how it ends. And, like one of my other favorite lead characters, Syd Hayle from the Hayle Coven Novels, she has decided it’s much more fun to only give me bits and pieces along the way.
The Pattersons. The Reading hoard. Siobhan Doyle. Vivian French. Crew. All of it, meted out to me in the cruelest fashion, slow and agonizing. So, I feel your pain, I swear I do. And while it seems with every book I learn more that gives me willies and excites me to reach the end, I’m honestly anxious. As much as you are, likely, if not more.
Will she give me everything I need to give you what you need when book thirteen is over? Yes. Of course. I have faith and know it will all work out just as she has planned. But she doesn’t mind torturing (me) us along the way…
(And for those of you who don’t know I hear voices and honestly don’t get a choice in the matter, now you do!) Bossy characters are bossy.
Happy reading in Reading,
Patti
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About the Author
Everything you need to know about me is in this one statement: I’ve wanted to be a writer since I was a little girl, and now I’m doing it. How cool is that, being able to follow your dream and make it reality? I’ve tried everything from university to college, graduating the second with a journalism diploma (I sucked at telling real stories), am an enthusiastic member of an all-girl improv troupe (if you’ve never tried it, I highly recommend making things up as you go along as often as possible) and I get to teach and perform with an amazing group of women I adore. I’ve even been in a Celtic girl band (some of our stuff is on YouTube!) and was an independent film maker (go check out the Lovely Witches Club at www.lovelywitchesclub.com). My life has been one creative thing after another—all leading me here, to writing books for a living.
Now with multiple series in happy publication, I live on beautiful and magical Prince Edward Island (I know you’ve heard of Anne of Green Gables) with my multitude of pets.
I love-love-love hearing from you! You can reach me (and I promise I’ll message back) at [email protected]. And if you’re eager for your next dose of Patti Larsen books (usually about one release a month) come join my mailing list! All the best up and coming, giveaways, contests and, of course, my observations on the world (aren’t you just dying to know what I think about everything?) all in one place: http://smarturl.it/PattiLarsenEmail.
Last—but not least!—I hope you enjoyed what you read! Your happiness is my happiness. And I’d love to hear just what you thought. A review where you found this book would mean the world to me—reviews feed writers more than you will ever know. So, loved it (or not so much), your honest review would make my day. Thank you!