Her heart was full of gratitude as she scanned the crowd. There were so many people here who had helped her make this evening happen. Lisa, the reporter, was laughing over a glass of wine, and flirting outrageously with one of the James’ brothers, Ethan. He definitely looked more than interested, his hand propping him up on the doorway as he leaned toward her. Meg had been an absolute trooper, helping with all the food and setup, and only leaving to pick up her grandmother and her date for the party. George Ortiz had brought his entire family, his four children only too happy to slide down the wooden banister on the back stairway again and again, all under the watchful eye of their mother, Amy.
Amanda was just ducking into the kitchen for another tray of petit fours when she saw James come through the front door with a very pregnant, very pretty blonde woman on his arm. He smiled and nodded at Amanda, as he escorted the lady toward her.
Amanda tried to keep her face neutral but a thousand questions were whirling in her head. Who was the pregnant lady with the deep blue eyes, and why was she hanging on James’ arm?
“Amanda, I’d like to you to meet my sister, Christy Donovan. Christy, this is Amanda Graham.”
It was amazing how the relief washed over Amanda with the simple knowledge that her handsome detective friend was escorting his sister, not his lover. Her grin may have been a bit too big, her handshake a bit too hearty, as she introduced herself to Christy. James’ sister smiled warmly and shook Amanda’s hand while James rocked on his heels and grinned, seemingly smug that’d he’d introduced the two ladies. Christy gestured to the decorated foyer. “What an incredible building! I can already imagine how beautiful it will be when you decorate for the holidays this year.” Amanda nodded, happily agreeing. She’d discovered several boxes of vintage Christmas decorations among the boxes stored in the attic and had been itching to pull them out. “Thank you! I’ve been thinking the same thing, actually. This first Christmas in Ravenwood Cove will be very special for me.”
James leaned forward so Amanda could hear him over the burst of laughter from a group of teenagers nearby. “Christy’s in town for a few days with her husband, and they were going to stay at my folks’ ranch but there’s a water leak on the upper floor that made their room unlivable. I know it’s short notice, but I wondered if you had any rooms available?”
A fellow with dark auburn hair came bounding up to the front desk, holding two overnight bags, and James quickly introduced him as his brother-in-law, Rick.
“I happen to have every room vacant tonight, Detective, and I’d be happy to put your sister in our most spacious guest suite. You’ll be my first,” she admitted, smiling at Christy as she typed in her computer, and slid the leather bound guest register over for their signatures. Amanda couldn’t suppress a thrill at the idea of having her very first guests sleep in the inn on such a special night.
Once everything was logged and signed, Amanda led them upstairs, with James and Rick each carrying a suitcase.
“So, after all you’ve been through, Amanda, it hasn’t been that bad, has it?”
The laugh began at her toes and bubbled out of her mouth, as free as the relief that had washed over her. She looked out at her happy partygoers, her new neighbors and friends, and the happiness, for once, was real.
“Everything I’ve gone through has led me here, to tonight. This is what I wanted my life to be.”
Amanda jumped a bit when she felt James’ hand gently touch the small of her back as they climbed the staircase to show his sister and her husband to their room. Amanda shivered, the sensation of the warmth of his broad palm on her spine so natural, so good that she didn’t want it to move away.
Not a boyfriend, but maybe something someday.
“Well, you don’t have to worry about anyone else being buried in your garden at least. That must be a relief.”
She laughed and agreed. “I could stand with some quiet while I get the inn and the business up and running. I’ve had so much interest from the website that I’m going to be pretty busy.”
“Looks like it’s up and running just fine.” The sounds of laughter and Dixieland jazz floated up the stairs as Amanda looked down on the happy crowd. Not a cobweb or drifting ghost in sight.
“Besides, what else could happen in this little town?”
James turned toward her, a definite twinkle in his eye. “Have you met all your neighbors? This town is full of weird secrets.”
Even though the room was warm, Amanda shivered with excitement. “I can’t wait.”
***
AUTHOR NOTES:
Wow! That was fun to write, and I hope you enjoyed it, too! If you liked what you read, please consider leaving a review. Being an independent author means this is my own small business, and I appreciate any feedback you can give, so other readers will know if my writing is their cup of tea or not Thank you for stopping by!
Author website at http://CarolynDeanBooks.com/ You can see what’s new there, and if you’d like to be informed about what’s NEW or FREE you can sign up for my newsletter. It’s spam-free, I PROMISE.
CUPPA’S ‘TO DIE FOR’ CINNAMON ROLLS
Did the description of Cuppa’s amazing cinnamon rolls make your mouth water? Every time I described them in this book I thought about my family’s favorite recipe for cinnamon rolls, and I’ve included it here for you. I think Tory and Meg would approve.
All measurements/temperatures are in US units. Makes 12 wonderfully large rolls
Dough:
2 packages active dry yeast
1 cup warm water
2/3 cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided
1 cup warmed milk (I microwave this and then stir to be sure there are no hot spots)
2/3 cup softened butter
2 teaspoons salt
2 eggs, beaten
7 to 8 cups all-purpose flour
Filling of Deliciousness:
1 cup melted butter, divided (that’s 2 sticks)
1-3/4 cups dark brown sugar, divided
3 Tablespoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg (fresh, if possible)
1 to 2 cups chopped pecans (optional)
1-1/2 cups dark raisins (optional)
Frosting:
1/2 cup melted butter
3 cups powdered sugar
1 and a half teaspoons real vanilla
5 to 8 Tablespoons hot water
DIRECTIONS:
To make dough combine yeast, warm water and 1 teaspoon sugar in a cup and stir. Set aside.
In a large bowl mix warmed milk, remaining 2/3 cup sugar, butter, salt, and eggs. Stir well and add yeast mixture. Add half the flour and beat until smooth. Stir in enough of the remaining flour to make a slightly stiff dough. It’s okay for the dough to be sticky.
Turn out onto a well-floured board and knead for 5 to 10 minutes.
Place in a well-buttered glass bowl. Cover loosely and let rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in bulk, about 1 to 1-1/2 hours.
When doubled, punch down dough and let it rest for 5 minutes. Roll out onto floured surface into a 15 x 20-inch rectangle.
Filling: Spread dough with ½ cup melted butter. Mix together 1/-1/2 cups brown sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Sprinkle over buttered dough. Sprinkle with pecans and raisins, if you want. Sometimes I go really crazy and add a cup of finely-chopped apples, too.
Roll up jellyroll-fashion and pinch the edges together to seal. Cut into 12 slices. Coat bottom of a 13”’x 9” and a square 8” pan with the last ½ cup of melted butter, and sprinkle remaining ¼ cup of sugar mixture on top. Place slices close together in pans. Let rise in warm, draft-free place until doubled in bulk (about 45 minutes).
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, until nicely browned. Let cool slightly and spread with frosting. Share with others, and be prepared to get marriage proposals ;)
Frosting: Mix melted butter, powdered sugar, and vanilla. Add hot water a tablespoon at a time, mixing after each, u
ntil frosting is of desired consistency. Spread or drizzle over slightly-cooled rolls.
DUNE, DOCK, and a DEAD MAN: A Ravenwood Cove Cozy Mystery (book 2)
By Carolyn L. Dean
Dedication
For my children. No matter where your feet go, your mother’s heart will always go with you.
For Miss Kay, who would’ve probably been Mrs. Granger’s best friend.
And for my favorite retired homicide detective, who answered a lot of questions to help me try to get it right.
Chapter 1
“Meg, you can’t bring a date to a funeral.”
Amanda’s bubbly blonde friend set down her coffee cup on the marble kitchen island and looked disgruntled. “He’s not a date. He’s my boyfriend.”
Rolling her eyes, Amanda couldn’t hide her disapproval. “He’s not a boyfriend. You met him a week ago on the internet and this is only the second time you’ve seen him in person. He can’t come to Mr. Peetman’s funeral. What would your grandmother think?”
“I think she’d envy the fact I have a date. She hasn’t had one in years.”
Amanda’s mouth dropped open in mock horror. “Meg!” She tried to picture the ninety-year-old Mrs. Granger being escorted into the church by an internet boyfriend. The thought was too ludicrous for words. It may have been decades since the feisty old lady had been widowed, but she seemed perfectly happy with her solo life.
Meg sighed, looking down at her hands as she toyed with the handle of her coffee cup. “I’m not trying to shock anyone. I’m just enjoying having something of my own, that’s all. Lisa’s got the newspaper, you’ve got the Inn. I’ve just got a job working in someone else’s coffeeshop and pushing pastries. So what if I have a little fun?”
“Funerals aren’t about fun.” Amanda opened the inn’s commercial-sized fridge and put the cream away. “They’re about being respectful. Besides, you do have something of your own.” She turned and smiled at Meg, who was busy sulking. “You’ve got us, and we’re your friends.”
“Maybe, but you and Lisa aren’t exactly the type I’m gonna kiss,” Meg responded, her mouth a thin line of resentment. “Okay, fine, but he’s taking me out for pizza and a movie afterward, and I don’t want to hear a word about it, okay?”
Amanda nodded and picked up her purse. “Deal. I’ll meet you at the church.”
***
The sanctuary of the Presbyterian church was nearly empty, with an enormous bouquet of lilies set on the altar and a lone organist playing solemn music in the back corner. A large picture of Mr. Peetman, probably taken twenty years ago when he’d had a dapper mustache and a bit more hair, was placed on a stand at the front of the church.
His daughter, Jennifer Peetman, was already in the front pew and sniffling into a handkerchief, sitting next to an older man with thick silver hair. Amanda raised a hand in silent greeting and Jennifer nodded, handkerchief clutched to her face beneath her red-rimmed eyes.
It had only been a month since Amanda had truly met Mr. Peetman, though she had seen him several times before that, disguised as a Russian lady living next door. It wasn’t until he had stopped Amanda’s attacker by bashing him in the head that Amanda had learned the truth. After years in the witness protection program, Mr. Peetman had come home to die, against all advice from the federal authorities. Even the thought of being found by his previous shadowy companions didn’t stop him from wanting to be with his daughter, but he’d wisely chosen to disguise himself so that he’d been nearly impossible to discover. It hadn’t been easy to see him in the final weeks of his life, but Amanda had found a new friend in his shy daughter, Jennifer, and felt privileged to have gotten to know him a bit. His previous profession as an accountant for some shady criminals made him a target in many ways, and Amanda had tried not to think about that part of his life when she had brought over meals or just spent time visiting with them both.
There was the sound of slow shuffling coming down the church’s center aisle, accompanied by a familiar squeaking, and when Amanda turned around she wasn’t surprised to see Mrs. Granger pushing her walker and grinning at her. What was surprising was the fantastically bright broad-brimmed hat that she was wearing. It must’ve been two and a half feet wide, and was completely covered in a riot of bright silk flowers, glorious with happy spring colors. She was also sporting a new hot pink pantsuit, which perfectly matched her amazing hat. A spiffy pair of white orthopedic shoes completed her amazing ensemble.
Meg was following behind her grandmother, wearing a somber black dress and an annoyed expression. Without a word, Amanda scooted over in the pew to let Mrs. Granger sit down. Meg folded the walker and stood it up against the outside wall, then slid in on the other side of Amanda.
“I couldn’t stop her. She always wears the same damn outfit to funerals.” The words were hissed out of the side of her mouth and full of annoyance.
Amanda raised her eyebrows but didn’t comment. Mrs. Granger was ninety years old and a bit eccentric but Amanda had grown to love and appreciate her, even if she was a notorious gossip who could be bribed with chocolate pastries.
When the pastor entered Amanda took a quick headcount of the crowd that wasn’t sitting in her pew. There was just Jennifer and her companion, the three church ladies in Jennifer’s pew, and two familiar-looking men in the back corners of the church, sitting on opposite sides of the aisle.
A sad ending to a sad sort of life, she thought. Wish there were more people who missed him.
James Landon was sitting in the back and staring stoically ahead, apparently ignoring her, but she was genuinely surprised that he was there. She hadn’t seen James since Mr. Peetman had died a week earlier, and she’d only glimpsed him through the front window at the Peetman’s cottage. He’d been talking to a police officer and seemed frustrated by the conversation, finally smacking his hat against his thigh as he strode briskly back to his car. Even though she’d only known James for a few weeks, she’d been surprised that he hadn’t come inside the snug little house, especially since she was the one to text him and let him know that her sick friend had passed away. When she first met James, because of the investigation into why there was a dead guy buried underneath the scarecrow in her back garden, she’d thought they’d hit it off, but right after that he’d gone to a two-week long training seminar on the East coast and had only been back for a couple of days before Mr. Peetman had died.
The other man in the back of the small church was a guest at the Ravenwood Inn, Amanda’s historic bed and breakfast. He’d just checked in the night before and his name was Richard Loomis. Amanda recognized him immediately by his light brown hair and deep tan, which wasn’t usually seen in Oregon unless it had come from a tanning bed. Meg had giggled when she saw him, and called him ‘Fake and Bake’ until Amanda stopped her.
Unlike the four other guests she currently had at the Inn, Richard Loomis didn’t socialize at all. It was a well-loved routine that Amanda offered some sort of snack and wine-tasting or other quiet event in the evenings, and her guests normally really enjoyed having some time to relax by the stone fireplace or sit on the front porch. When the weather was clear during the summer, more than one couple would wander into the back sunroom to admire the sunset over the ocean, but Amanda’s latest guest seemed content to stay holed up in his room, after giving minimum information or conversation when he’d checked in. He’d paid in cash and nodded tersely when she’d given him a receipt, then headed straight for his room, taking care to avoid her big orange cat, Oscar, who considered himself the Inn’s welcoming committee.
He certainly hadn’t mentioned that he knew Mr. Peetman, or that he was in town for his funeral.
The service didn’t take long. Pastor Fox talked briefly about Mr. Peetman’s life, leaving out anything that might have hinted at the fact that he used to work for criminals as their accountant. There were a couple of prayers, the organist played a contemplative hymn, and every once in a while there would be a faint sniffling from Jennifer’s p
ew. As they all stood for the final prayer, Amanda couldn’t help but wonder about Mr. Peetman’s life and the choices he had made. She’d bet good money that if Pastor Fox knew about the details of Mr. Peetman’s nefarious past, the eulogy may have been quite a bit different.
The reception after the funeral was also a small affair, with dishes of homemade food made by some of the ladies from the church, and a sheet cake donated by the local hospice. Several large round tables had been pulled out for the occasion and folding chairs set around them, but with only a few people in attendance everyone wound up bringing their full plates to one table and sitting together. Amanda’s mysterious guest, Mr. Loomis, didn’t attend but slipped out the side door as soon as the funeral was over.
James settled into a spot next to Amanda and made conversation with several other people but not with her. At first, she thought it was just the fact that he was trying to be polite to everyone, but it became more and more obvious that he wouldn’t even meet her eyes. She wondered about that a bit as she took a bite of the gooey lasagna on her plate and pretended to listen to what the other people were saying. She had the feeling James wanted to tell her something and that he didn’t seem too happy. He didn’t eat much but after about ten minutes of chatting he excused himself, and dumped his uneaten food in the trash and the crockery plate in a plastic dishpan. Easing the heavy church door shut behind him, he headed back to his car without having said a word to Amanda. She was puzzled and had a sinking feeling that perhaps the reason he left had something to do with her but for the life of her, she couldn’t figure out what it was.
Ravenwood Cove Cozy Mysteries Books 1-3 Page 17