“Well, we will come back to visit him when he’s better. And to see all of you,” Ashley said.
“You better,” Hernandez said. “You caused us so much trouble, you’re part of the family now.”
Sani stood there with a big grin on his face and then walked to the door.
As soon as they got outside, Sean yelled and threw his arms up in the air. “Finally!”
Ashley smiled at the relief on his face. “Now all we have to do is get something to eat and find a hotel. But we have to be on a morning flight tomorrow back home. I can’t keep giving excuses to my parents,” Ashley said.
“You will not be going to a hotel. You are coming home with me,” Sani said.
“Only if you have cell service up there. I have to call my parents,” Ashley said.
Sani laughed. “Yes. As I told you, I do live in the twenty-first century.”
He drove them up to the mountaintop where his home was. It was incredibly beautiful. Everywhere Ashley looked, she found something amazing to look at.
“Nicer than your cave,” Sean said.
Sani laughed again. “Sit and relax. I will make us dinner.”
“And I’ll call home,” Ashley said.
They passed the evening talking about many things. The stars came out, and Ashley felt a sense of peace. She couldn’t wait to get back to Comfortville, but sitting here with Sani, she felt at home.
As if he read her thoughts, Sani softly spoke to them. “This is your home. Come back anytime. I will never forget what you have done for us.” He stood up and smiled. “Go to sleep, my friends. I will see you off tomorrow.”
Ashley held Sean’s hand that night. The dark night enfolded them, and she looked out the window before falling asleep. Something deeper had connected them. She couldn’t define it yet, but she would be able to understand it one day.
She softly whispered from Hamlet. “We know what we are, but not what we may be.”
Chapter Thirty-Four
Ashley and Sean were so glad to be home, they could barely stand it. They had arrived early in the morning from the airport and gone straight to their apartment. She wanted to get Charlie and Susie Q right away, but they would pick them up that night from her parents’ home when they went for dinner.
They headed out for a big breakfast at the local diner. All the townsfolk were asking them about their trip and welcoming them back.
Ashley and Sean wisely kept the drama a secret and focused on telling everyone about their adventures rafting and hiking in the Southwest. After breakfast, they wandered into town to shop for food and wine and a “big fall bouquet” for their table. Sean wanted to check on his bakery as well.
Autumn was in full force in the northwest. The sun was out, but cool breezes blew down from the mountains. Everywhere you looked, pumpkins, cornstalks, and bales of hay decorated the town square and parks. Every shop had a festive holiday display for Halloween and Thanksgiving.
Delicious autumn fruits and vegetables were stacked in bins at the farmers markets. Children played in the park under the last of the season’s sunshine. The folks in the diner had told them the nights had already turned cold and crisp, and people were lighting their fires. Ashley breathed in deeply.
“I think the Southwest is beautiful, but I love it the most here,” she said.
Sean smiled at her. “Me too. We grew up here. This is home.”
Ashley silently nodded. She couldn’t get over the surreal beauty of the desert and the amazing colors and vistas they had seen. Even though the murders and suspense during their trip had dampened her spirits, she had to separate it from the spectacular scenery they had witnessed.
Still, this was home, and the familiar surroundings in all their natural beauty comforted her. For her, there was no more beautiful autumn than the one in Comfortville.
“What time is dinner at your parents’ tonight?” Sean asked.
“Mom wants us there at six for hors d’oeuvres, then dinner at seven. She is making a ‘special fall dinner,’” she said. “I can’t wait.”
“I’m already hungry for it,” Sean said.
“Well, we have food shopping to do, so let’s go!”
***
They stopped in the local deli and then headed over to the open market in town. They got everything they needed to stock their pantry, and Ashley also got a big pumpkin to put by their front door and a few small ones to decorate their table.
Then they walked to the flower shop, and Ashley chose several red and orange geraniums, chrysanthemum, bright yellow sunflowers, and calla lilies. They looked beautiful together and would look lovely on their table with the little pumpkins. Then she got a separate bouquet to take to her parents for dinner tonight. She smiled at the thought of sitting with her Mom and Dad and Sean. How lovely to all be safe and together.
“One last thing, we need a good bottle of wine,” she said.
Sean smiled, and they walked to the local wine shop. Ashley chose a lovely bottle of Pinot Noir, and they headed home to put all the groceries away and finish unpacking from their trip.
***
Soon it was time to head on over to her parents, and their stomachs were rumbling like crazy in the car. As soon as they parked and walked in the house, the dinner smells almost knocked them over.
“Mom, Dad, we’re here!” Ashley said.
Ashley headed straight to the kitchen with the bouquet and wine, and Sean headed straight to the living room, where he could hear sounds of the football game on and Burt yelling at the TV.
“You lousy bum! You only have one job, and you can’t punt the ball between the posts? You blew it!” Burt jumped out of his chair and shook a fist at the TV. “Bum! I hope they trade you next season!”
Sean was laughing his head off as he walked up to Burt. The two men embraced.
“Nice to have you home, son. Sit down with me and watch my team finish losing. More fumbles and missed kicks than I can even count!” Burt said.
Sean laughed and joined Burt on the couch while he finished yelling through the last quarter.
No sooner than Ashley had walked into the kitchen than she heard a long yowl. Charlie came around the corner. She spread her arms out, and he jumped right into them.
“Oh Charlie, I missed you too,” she murmured as she buried her head into his soft fur. His purr crackled louder than ever.
Susie Q came streaking over as if to say, “Don’t forget me,” and twirled around purring at Ashley’s ankles.
April popped out from behind the pantry and ran to hug her daughter while Charlie was still in her arms. Then she picked up Susie Q, and they had a group hug that nearly squashed the cats.
“Oh darling, I’m so glad you’re home!” April said.
“Me too, Mom. Me too.”
Ashley gave her mother another fierce hug.
April smiled at her daughter. “Goodness. You’d think you would never see me again with that kind of hug.”
Ashley held on tightly to her mom. There was no need to fill her parents in on what had happened on their trip. When things happened in town, that was one thing. She was going to let this one go. They had worried enough about her these past years.
“What can I do, Mom?” Ashley asked. “Put me to work.”
“Nothing. You must be exhausted after your travels. You can put those beautiful flowers in a vase and on the table. The rest is almost ready to go. Just pass these hors d’oeuvres to the men,” April said.
April held out a platter of crudité and small cheeseballs and crackers.
Ashley grinned. “Are those your pimento cheeseballs?”
“They sure are. And vegetables for the healthy stuff, although I’m sure your father will have none of them,” April said.
Ashley walked into the living room and set the platter of veggies and cheeseballs and crackers in front of Burt and Sean. True to what her mom said, the men ignored the vegetables and dived into the cheese.
I’m sure that will be gone in ten m
inutes, she thought.
Ashley walked back into the kitchen. Charlie was trotting right behind her, following her every move. She picked him up and cuddled him again.
“How did Charlie do in general? I’m sure Susie was okay but was Charlie a pain in the you-know-what?” Ashley asked.
“Yes, he was. Waking us up at the crack of dawn for his walk was the worst. Your father grumbled the whole time. But just before dinner, Charlie sat on the couch with him, and they watched the games together. And your father fed him all sorts of things, like crackers and salami and just about everything else. I’m sorry to say, but he might not eat regular cat food for a while,” April replied.
Ashley laughed.
Charlie gave her a look as if to say, “What do you expect? A king has to be treated like one.” He then looked at April for a treat.
“And you, Mom? Didn’t you spoil him too?” Ashley asked.
“A little.”
April held out a piece of chicken for both Charlie and Susie. They gobbled it up.
Ashley and April chatted about all the gossip in town, and Ashley brought up the nice parts of the trip.
Before they knew it, it was time to eat. And not a minute too soon.
The men had walked into the dining room.
“The troops are starving! We’ll sit here and eat anything you throw at us,” Burt said.
“It just so happens that dinner is served!” April said.
Platter after platter of food came out of the kitchen. Sean’s eyes popped out of his head. There was a roasted garlic chicken and a small honeyed ham. A bowl of buttery mashed potatoes and a plate of potatoes au gratin. Steamed green beans with almonds and roasted brussels sprouts. Cornbread and soft buttery rolls.
“Is this early Thanksgiving?” Sean asked.
“Not technically, of course,” April said. “But there is a lot to give thanks for. Like having you home.” She glanced at the loaded table. “And also, I couldn’t decide what to make, so I made two of everything.”
“Well, it looks like a mighty fine dinner, dear,” Burt said. “Although, I could do without the two vegetables.”
“Now Burt, the doctor said you are supposed to eat more veggies,” April said.
“Well, the doc’s not here tonight, is he? Pass the mashed potatoes, please.”
Ashley laughed.
All was as it should be. Her wacky and wonderful parents, Sean by her side, and Charlie and Susie begging for tidbits under the table.
I’ll never stop loving this, she thought.
As if on cue, Sean piped up. “I can really get used to this, Mrs. C.”
“For the last time, call me April, dear!”
“Yes, ma’am. More cornbread, please,” Sean said.
Charlie sat at Ashley’s feet and yowled. She handed him a tidbit of chicken. He gobbled it down and gave her a winky look as if to say, “I’m so glad that you’re home. And that I’ve trained you to obey my every command.”
Burt reached for more food. “Now Ashley, what’s a Shakespeare quote for having our just desserts?”
April cut in. “Homemade apple pie, dear. With ice cream.”
“Now that speaks for itself. I daresay that ‘ole Will and his merry band of men in the forest would have approved,” Burt replied.
“Are you confusing Will Shakespeare with Robin Hood?” Ashley asked.
“Who cares? They all wore tights. More potatoes, please,” Burt said.
Sean laughed.
The evening wrapped up with sitting in front of the fire and Charlie purring contentedly on Ashley’s lap. Before long, everyone felt sleepy, and Ashley and Sean said goodnight and drove home with the cats. Susie purred on the seat, and Charlie looked out the window. The sky was pitch-black, and the stars were scattered across the clear sky. The wind had picked up, and it had become quite cold. They rounded the park and saw the lovely autumn moon hanging in the sky.
So beautiful, Ashley thought.
She flashed back to Sani and how much he had done for his people and all the residents of his town. What an amazing man. She wondered how long it would be before they saw him again.
Looking up at the moon, she thought, Perhaps he is thinking of us too. I hope he knows how much we admire him.
Sean turned down the last street on the way to their apartment. At the far corner of the park, they noticed a figure standing with its arms held up.
“Oh my—” Ashley began to say.
“Is that Sani?” Sean whispered.
They pulled over and stared. The moon was shining down on a tall majestic tree. Its leaves had fallen off for autumn, and its limbs were outstretched to the sky. Soon the lunar glow lit up all the trees behind it. The scene resembled a tall man and his people.
“I thought…” Sean started to say.
Ashley whispered. “Me too. It’s a reminder of where we’ve been and who is in our lives now.”
They kept staring into the park. The grove of beautiful trees shone brightly in the dark night.
Charlie stood transfixed on his hind legs, looking out, and then let out a low, soft howl. Ashley smiled to herself as a tear ran down from the corner of her eye.
Sean pulled out slowly, and they headed home. No one spoke. No one needed to. The luminescent moon seemed to smile down at them. The circle was complete.
The End.
Long Paw of the Law Five
Special Note: Parts of this book were excerpted from William Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor.
There are also various other Shakespeare quotes sprinkled throughout the book.
Chapter One
Ashley opened her eyes slowly and looked around the room. She wanted to sleep in that morning, but something was bothering her. She couldn’t exactly put a finger on it, but it was a sense of sadness. Only, she had everything to be happy about. Her fiancé, Sean, had already left for work after giving her a kiss on her forehead, she had plenty of catering gigs booked months out, and best of all, her mother was helping her plan her wedding. She was at a very happy juncture in her life.
She sat up and opened up her computer to look at more Hawaiian honeymoon ideas. As she scrolled down the list of islands, her soft smile faded. Her brow knitted with worry. Her instincts were sending her a message, but what? What was coming over her?
She had no way of knowing it, but miles away, a murder had just occurred the night before.
Her phone rang. She grabbed it and quickly answered. Her mom’s excited voice filled her ear.
“Morning, dear. Hope I’m not waking you,” April said. “I know you said you wanted to sleep in, but I thought Charlie had already woken you up by now for his walk.”
Ashley glanced at her cat, Charlie, stretched out at the bottom of the bed with his feline companion, Susie Q. They were both purring.
“Actually no. Sean must’ve walked him this morning as he’s been really quiet.”
“Oh, I’m sorry honey, go back to sleep and we will talk later,” April said.
“No worries, I’m awake. Just sitting here looking at honeymoon information. What’s up?”
“You mentioned that we should get together later this afternoon to go over the flowers, but my friend Mary knows a new shop that is getting quite a reputation for its wedding bouquets, and I thought we could visit it earlier and then have lunch. We could try out that new café in town, then head over to Sean’s bakery for a piece of pie.”
Ashley smiled. She could tell her mother was excited, but she didn’t want to go out earlier. She had too many things to attend to for her upcoming work week. And the truth was, she was trying to avoid pieces of pie or anything else fattening as she wanted to look great in her wedding dress.
“I’d love to Mom, but I really have to work on my menus and paperwork this morning. This afternoon is still best for me. And I really want to cut down on my sweets so I can fit in a nice dress.”
“Oh honey, Sean loves you just the way you are! You don’t need to lose an inch!”
<
br /> Ashley could hear her dad, Burt Crane, in the background grumbling away.
He shouted near the phone. “Eat the pie while you’re still young! And sneak a piece back for me. Your mother is cracking down on my diet and doesn’t even have one cookie in the house!”
Ashley could hear him walk off in the distance still mumbling to himself. She had to stop herself from laughing. “Is that true Mom?”
“Well dear, his latest checkup showed that his cholesterol is too high, and apparently, he’s got high blood sugar readings. He’s also getting a spare tire. The doctor cautioned him about diabetes. Doctor’s orders, not mine,” April said.
“No wonder he sounds so grouchy,” Ashley said. “Well, he will have to get used to it. You’re only watching him so closely because you love him.”
April sighed. “You and I both know that, but that doesn’t stop him from being upset with me.”
“That’s okay Mom. You’re doing your best. Don’t stress over it. Let’s meet at three o’clock and we can hit up that flower shop Mary recommended, and then go taste some more wedding cakes. That way you can have your sweets, and I can have just a few small bites without over indulging.”
April whispered low into the phone. “Okay dear. Just don’t tell your father we spent the afternoon tasting cakes!”
Ashley laughed. “Deal. See you later.”
She swung her legs out of bed and headed down the hallway to the shower. As she washed, her mind went over her catering menus. She always seemed to revise them at least three times before settling on the right one.
I think I’ll add another vegetable to the dinner menu for Thursday, she thought. It will round it out nicely and give it more color.
She toweled off and grabbed her robe. Before she put it on, she glanced at herself in the mirror and saw that she had lost some weight. Not much, but if she lost about ten more pounds, she should look great on her wedding day. She wrapped the robe around her and then instantly frowned.
Ashley Crane Cozy Mystery Boxed Set Page 60