How to Frame a Fashionista

by Debra Sennefelder

  She stayed to finish her second cup of coffee and ponder the advice Marvin had given her over breakfast. All sound guidance and she should follow it. But then, her track record with following good advice was pretty iffy.

  She glanced at her empty plate. She’d wolfed down the egg and cheese sandwich along with the muffin. There was a ten-mile run in her near future to burn off those calories.

  Kelly lifted her gaze and noticed the store was filling up with the after-church crowd. Sundays were a busy day at Doug’s all year long. The line at the counter was growing, and she realized she’d have to give up her table soon.

  “Come on, it’s an old story. Remember Mandy Gallagher?” a petite redhead said as she passed Kelly’s table with a coffee and a wrapped sandwich. Her voice was thick with a Jersey accent and nasal to boot.

  “Sure, I do. She was in love with her best friend’s husband,” said the woman, following the redhead. She carried a coffee and muffin while a Kate Spade satchel dangled off her wrist.

  The women settled at the table behind Kelly and her ears perked up.

  Eavesdropping was wrong and impolite, but she was curious about the person the women were talking about. Who was Mandy, and what had she done?

  “She wormed her way into their lives. All those articles recounted how she got them to trust her, and then she set out to seduce him, lure him away from his wife,” Satchel Lady said.

  Kelly made a face. Mandy Gallagher sounded like a horrible person. Now she needed to know more. She lifted her cup and sipped, impatiently waiting for one of the women to finish the story.

  “When he wouldn’t stray, she killed the wife,” the redhead said.

  “I bet Serena Dawson is still in love with her ex-husband, and she killed Tawny to get her out of the way,” Satchel Lady said.

  Kelly peeked over her shoulder, tempted to say something in Serena’s defense, but remembered her vow only moments earlier. Whatever she was about to say vanished before it could reach her lips. She wouldn’t defend her former boss any longer.

  The two women continued their conversation, and Kelly tuned them out. Their topic was too close for comfort for her. It seemed the Mandy person they were talking about had been overwhelmed with jealousy, anger, or a combination of both emotions, and lashed out. And quite possibly, Serena could have fallen victim to the same fate.

  “Good morning, Kelly. Do you mind if I join you?” Liza stood beside the seat Marvin had vacated a few minutes ago, holding a cup and a wrapped sandwich.

  “Oh, hi, Liza. Please do.” Kelly gestured to the empty seat across from her.

  “I always forget how busy Doug’s gets after service.” Liza removed the lid from her cup and took a drink. She then unwrapped her bacon and egg sandwich, and its aroma got Kelly’s mouthwatering again. No, she wouldn’t indulge in another bite.

  “Me too.” Kelly always forgot because she didn’t go to church service on Sundays. Until December, she worked on the seventh day, so her morning began late, resulting in her missing Mass. And more recently, she relished leisurely greeting the day. If the weather was good, she’d head out for a run, popping into Doug’s for a post workout coffee to go.

  “This morning, the service was even more beautiful. The reverend spoke about Tawny and how much her light will be missed by all of us, but now it’s shining up in heaven.” Liza took a bite of her sandwich.

  “Wow. What a striking image.” Kelly leaned forward. “Liza, could I ask you a question?”

  “Sure. What is it?”

  “You said Tawny confided in you that she was scared of Jason. He’d lost his temper with her.”

  Liza’s gaze darted downward for a moment, and she then pushed aside her breakfast.

  “I shouldn’t have said that. I guess all marriages have their difficulties. Bad moments, you know. While I’m sure Tawny felt unsafe at the moment, I don’t for a second believe Jason killed her. You saw how grief struck he was yesterday. No, it was his ex. She did it. I’m certain of it.” Liza’s eyes were serious, and her tone was confident.

  Yep, she tried and convicted Serena, much like the press had.

  “It’s for a jury to decide on Serena’s guilt or innocence.” Darn. There she went defending the woman again.

  Liza’s head tilted slightly to the side. “You’re a good person, Kelly Quinn. You’re standing by Serena, and I’m sure she’s very appreciative to have you on her side.”

  Not exactly.

  Kelly chose not to share with Liza her own suspicions and doubts about Serena. Why add fuel to the fire?

  “Did Tawny ever mention being threatened by anyone in Lucky Cove? Like an unhappy PBF customer?” Kelly couldn’t shake the image of Tawny being chased out of the gift shop the day before her murder. While it probably was only an argument, there was a chance that the woman confronted Tawny one last time.

  Liza rolled her eyes, and then a shield of embarrassment covered her face. “I’m sorry. That was unkind of me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “PBF was an idea Tawny came up with to expand her fitness coaching business. Once she partnered with what’s his name…Damien…Andrew…”

  “Adrian.”

  “Right. Adrian. She mentioned it several times when she volunteered at church. Once he got involved, she was sucked into working sixty hours a week. She barely had time for anything but her work. Never mind, Jason. Now, look at what happened to her. All that drive and ambition. For what?”

  Kelly’s cell phone buzzed, and she shifted to retrieve it from her jacket pocket. The text was from Julie. She spoke to Andrea Cooper’s assistant who confirmed there had been a message left by Ella requesting an interview. Kelly groaned. It was official. She jumped to the wrong conclusion yesterday and it had almost landed her and Liv in a big freaking pot of hot water—all the more reason she should walk away from the investigation.

  “Anything wrong?” Liza pulled her sandwich back in front of her.

  “No, nothing. But I should get going.” While she had the day off from working in the boutique, she still had administrative work to do. Today was a perfect day to tackle those things. It would keep her mind off Serena and how close she’d come to sitting in a jail cell overnight.

  “Have a good Sunday.” Liza took a sip of her coffee. “Oh, Tawny’s service will be on Thursday. Her parents have to fly in from overseas. They’re on a relief mission with their church.”

  Kelly’s heart constricted. She couldn’t imagine how devastating the news of their daughter’s death was.

  Outside, the morning turned bone-penetrating cold, and a cover of gray clouds drifted overhead. She picked up her pace back to the boutique.

  Her pace slowed and she came to a stop. Neither Jason nor Liza knew who the name of the person who accosted Tawny on Main Street the day before she died, but there was one person who might know. And Kelly was standing in front of that person’s store.

  Chapter 16

  A bare flower box ran the length of Courtney’s Gift Shop front window, but in a few weeks, it would spill over with colorful annuals. It was another reminder to Kelly that she needed to up the game at her storefront. A beautiful window merchandise display wasn’t enough. She needed to draw passersby close enough to stop and look at the window.

  Peering into the gift shop, she didn’t see anyone except for Courtney. Good. They’d be able to have a private conversation.

  Kelly opened the door and walked inside. She told herself she was satisfying her own curiosity. This had nothing to do with clearing Serena. Only a few steps in and her senses were on overload. The shop smelled like vanilla and cinnamon with a light note of salt air from the abundance of candles for sale.

  “Hey, there, neighbor.” Courtney looked up from the display counter of decorative birdhouses. Surrounding her were stacks of unpacked boxes and discarded tissue paper.

  �
��Those are beautiful.” Kelly weaved through the shop, passing shelves of pretty items and plush throws draped over chairs and wooden display ladders.

  “They are, aren’t they? It’s taking all of my self-control not to keep them all for myself. Kind of like the chocolates.” She glanced to the sales counter where she sold gourmet chocolates from a local chocolatier.

  “You have more willpower than I do.” Kelly lifted a birdhouse and admired it.

  “They’re all handmade. Perfect gifts for Mother’s Day.” Courtney pulled out another birdhouse from a box and found a spot for it on the shelf.

  Mother’s Day was right around the corner, and then it would be a quick blink-and-you’ll-miss-it slide into summer. Kelly had the urge to buy one for her mom and mail it to her as a surprise, but her mom wasn’t big on birds, their homes, or gardening. Actually, Kelly couldn’t recall if her mom had any hobbies. All she remembered was how much her mom loved working, much like her brother, Ralph.

  “Has Opal spoken to you yet? The flower sale is coming up for Mother’s Day, and they’re looking for donations for the 50/50 raffle.” Courtney balled up a handful of tissue paper. She was a few years older than Kelly and several inches shorter. Her brown hair was kissed with golden highlights and cascaded below her shoulder. Enamel ladybug earrings added a pop of color to her round face.

  “No. Thanks for the warning.” Kelly enjoyed being a part of the community and supporting the many charitable causes in town, but being hit up for donations was a financial burden for the boutique. Even still, she always came up with something to contribute. She didn’t want to be known as the Scrooge among her peers.

  Maybe she’d offer a gift certificate because once she had the customer in the boutique, it was easy to upsell a few more items.

  Courtney squatted and adjusted a few birdhouses on a lower shelf.

  Kelly noticed her dark jeans—mom jeans, to be exact. How had they ever made a comeback? The white and black polka dot sweater tucked into the waist of the jeans was cute and a good choice for the unpredictable weather between seasons.

  “What brings you by? Do you need another candle? We just got in a delivery of lemon lavender scented. They are heavenly.” Courtney straightened and stepped back from the display to give it a once over.

  Kelly never needed another candle. They were an indulgence, and she justified them because the soothing scents helped calm her. These days, she needed a lot of calming.

  “Tempting but maybe next week. I’m hoping you can help me with one of your customers. The other day, Tawny Fallow was in here.”

  Courtney frowned. “So sad about what happened to her. I heard her husband’s ex-wife was arrested for the murder. Unbelievable.”

  “It most certainly is. Anyway, the day Tawny was here, she argued with another customer who followed her out of the store. I saw them arguing on the street. Do you know who the woman was?”

  “Talk about a scene. I was so thankful that Tawny left on her own because I had other customers in here.”

  Kelly could relate. Last October, her big three-day sale was turned upside down when a psychic had a vision of a dead man in the middle of the boutique. The spectacle mesmerized all of her other customers, and they’d stopped shopping, preferring to gawk at the show that unfolded in front of them. Courtney was indeed lucky Tawny and the other woman had taken their disagreement outside. If only Kelly could have been so lucky last fall. No, instead, the police and an ambulance had arrived. Lucky her.

  Courtney folded her arms and tapped her check with her forefinger. “Let me think. Della. No. Delia…Wyland. Yes. She loves Camellia Blossom candles and those artisan soaps I sell. Anyway, as soon as she saw Tawny enter, she went ballistic. She started yelling at Tawny, who looked like a deer in the headlights. She never saw Delia’s wrath coming. Wait. You don’t think Delia killed Tawny?”

  Kelly shrugged. “I have no idea. I was simply curious who the woman was. When she was yelling at Tawny, did she say why she was upset?”

  “Something about scamming money out of people and preying on vulnerabilities. Tawny looked so shocked. She tried to calm Delia down, but Delia was having no part in it. I swear she was out for blood.”

  Out for blood? Kelly’s mind quickly concocted the scene at Tawny’s cottage. Delia arrived, still enraged, to continue their argument. Tawny tried to get Delia to leave. One of them laid a hand on the other, and then a struggle ensued, leading to Delia pushing Tawny and her body falling through the coffee table.

  “Kelly, are you okay?” Courtney asked.

  Kelly snapped out of her fictional murder scene. Where had that come from? Probably one too many Law and Order episodes, and one too many dead bodies discovered since coming back to Lucky Cove.

  “I’m…I’m good. Does Delia live in town?”

  Courtney stacked the empty boxes into each other and lifted them. “Yes. She lives near Pepper.”

  The bell over the door jingled, letting them know a customer entered, so it was time for Kelly to leave. She’d gotten the information she came for.

  “Kelly.”

  She turned around at the sound of Mark’s voice. He was the last person she thought she’d run into at Courtney’s store. “Hey, what are you doing here?”

  “I need to pick up a gift for my mom. I’m heading over to her house for lunch.” He gave Kelly a kiss on the cheek. “I left you a voice mail earlier, didn’t you get it?”

  Shoot. She’d been so involved with working out her problems with Marvin and then eavesdropping on the two women at Doug’s, she hadn’t noticed the message. How could she have missed it?

  “I’m sorry. I had breakfast with Marvin this morning. But, if you give me a few minutes, I can change and be ready to go with you.” Even though things had been rocky between them, she still wanted to work things out. Being a couple was never easy, but it was impossible if both partners didn’t make an effort.

  “Did you want a jar candle for your mom? Or, we have beautiful decorative globes. She collects them,” Courtney said.

  “I think a candle. Something summery.” Mark flashed an appreciative smile while Courtney went to find a candle for him. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his khakis, and his smile slipped away. “Look about lunch. I’m going solo.”

  Kelly blinked. “What? Why?”

  “Well, my dad’s buddy and his wife are going to be there. I think it’s best if I go alone. Hey, you’re busy today. You have stuff to do.”

  “You don’t want to introduce me to your dad’s friends? Are you serious?” Kelly’s insides twisted as she saw flashes of red.

  Mark pulled his hand out of his pocket and guided Kelly out of Courtney’s earshot. “Kell, don’t make a big deal out of this. It’s not a social occasion. It’s business. My dad’s friend is a partner in a prominent law firm. I have to make a good impression.”

  Kelly yanked free of his hold. Her mouth opened and closed several times before she could trust herself to speak. Had he heard what he’d said to her? Had he realized how insulting it was?

  “So, you’re saying having me there won’t make a good impression?”

  “You tell me. When Gerald asks what you’re doing, you’ll say what? You’re chasing down a killer, interfering with a police investigation, and neglecting your business. What part of that sounds like a good first impression?”

  “Did you want to pay with a credit card?” Courtney asked from the sales counter.

  Mark averted his gaze to her. “Yes. Be right there.” He turned his attention back to Kelly. “Don’t be like this. I’m doing this for us.”

  “Excuse me? For us? You mean for yourself. I…I can’t have this conversation. Not now. Not here.”

  Mark drew back, and his eyes darkened. “When do you want to have this conversation?”

  “Never. How dare you say I’m neglecting my business.” She jabbed
a finger into his chest. “I work twenty-four seven to keep the boutique open. It’s my number one priority.”

  Courtney approached the couple with her purse slung over her shoulder. “Mark, Angie will ring you up. I have to run out for a minute. Kelly be careful with Delia. If her outburst with Tawny is any indicator, you need to watch yourself if you talk to her.” She dashed out of the shop.

  Kelly cringed. Why did Courtney have to mention Delia in front of Mark?

  “What are you up to, Kell?”

  “Nothing you need to be concerned about. Enjoy your luncheon.” She stormed past him and exited the store in a huff. Her walk back to the boutique was quick because she was moving so fast to put a lot of distance between herself and Mark. He had some nerve.

  “Going solo. Yeah, well, get used to it, buddy,” she muttered to herself as she approached the boutique. Her ringing phone interrupted her private rant. Despite the urge to ignore the incoming call, she pulled the phone from her purse. “Hello,” she said after she raised the phone to her ear.

  “Kelly, it’s Jason. Sorry to call on a Sunday.” His voice sounded shaky and profoundly sad.

  “Hi, Jason. No worries. Is there something I can help you with?” She welcomed any distraction from thinking about Mark.

  “I’d like you to come over and take Tawny’s clothing for consignment. I was talking to Liza after service, and the proceeds can go to the food pantry.”

  Kelly stopped herself from saying, so soon. She reminded herself everyone grieved differently, and for Jason, he needed his wife’s clothes out of his home.

  “I can do that for you. And I’m sure the food pantry will be grateful for your donation. When did you want me to come over?” Kelly arrived at the back door of the boutique.

  “Tomorrow. Morning would be best.”

  “Tomorrow?” Kelly’s mind raced through the items on her to-do list for the following day. Both Breena and Pepper would be in, so she could get away early for the clear out. That shouldn’t be a problem. What could be a problem was that she didn’t know how much clothing she’d have to remove from the house.