Murder to Go (The Heights Bed and Breakfast Cozy Mystery Series Book 1)
Page 7
“I told you,” Carolyn replied. “I’m just looking. I haven’t made any decision about it one way or the other.”
Sarah looked at David, and then at Karl. They both looked down at the table. Sarah jabbed a finger at both of them at the same time.
“We don’t want you to leave. Right, everyone?” Sarah asserted to Carolyn. Karl and David nodded in unison.
Carolyn looked back and forth between the two men. “We don’t?”
Sarah sat up straighter. “No, we don’t. I’ve talked it over with David, and we both want you and Dad to stay here with us, in the manager’s apartment. David never really had any problem with you living here. He was just worried about finances. Now that he knows you’re contributing, he wants you to stay.”
Carolyn faced him. “Is this true, David?”
David peeked up from his cereal bowl. “I wasn’t planning to share the apartment with my in-laws, but you’ve been here so long, I’ve gotten used to you. It hasn’t been the same since you’ve been gone. I really would like you to stay—if you want to. I understand if you want to rent your own place, though. Things have been pretty tense around here lately.”
Sarah leaned across the table. “You and Dad were always around the restaurant when I was growing up. I miss those days. It’s been great getting off of work and coming in here to talk to you about my day.”
Carolyn broke into a grin. “I would love to stay on at the B & B. I love the time I spend here with both of you, and I would hate to leave on a sour note. I’m sure your father feels the same way. He’s been a new man since he started cooking again. I know he loved being back in a big kitchen.”
David interrupted. “You can only stay if Karl goes back to work as our chef. We’ve gotten more complaints about the food since Karl’s arrest than we ever got before you two moved in. The guests won’t have anyone else cooking their meals.”
Carolyn chuckled. “You were cooking while Karl was in jail, weren’t you?”
David stirred his cereal. “Well, yes.”
Carolyn smiled. “I’m sure Karl would love to be your chef for as long as you will let him.”
Karl put his coffee cup on the table and stood up. “I better go then.”
Sarah whirled around. “Where are you going?”
“I need to start prepping,” he replied. “I have a house full of guests, and a lot of catching up to do. I have to stock the inventory. I have the produce order to fill out. And I have today’s baking to do, and I’m already behind.”
Sarah hugged her father. “Welcome back, Dad. I mean, Chef.”
He kissed her on the cheek. “You have your mother to thank that I’m not in prison.” He came to Carolyn's side and took her hand. “I also have to do some preparation for our champagne dinner.”
Carolyn’s eyes popped open. “Karl!”
Karl shook his head. “I should have told you a long time ago, but I was too stubborn. I’m lucky to have you. I should have never made fun of your blog. I guess I was jealous of all your success. People love your blog and I should too.”
Carolyn threw herself into his arms and kissed him a thousand times. “Hearing you say those words is the greatest compliment I could ever receive. You know I admire your culinary genius. If my blog can live up to your standards, I wouldn’t ask for anything more.”
Karl folded her in his arms. “It goes way beyond my standards. You know as much as I do about the culinary arts—maybe even more. Maybe that’s why I got defensive about it. I always thought of myself as the great genius. I never wanted to admit a mere waitress could know as much as I did.”
They kissed and hugged until both Sarah and David blushed and turned away.
“I think I’ve changed my mind about you guys staying here,” David quipped. He laughed when Sarah elbowed him.
Karl gazed down into Carolyn’s face with burning eyes. “Will I see you tonight for dinner, then?”
Carolyn laughed through her joyful tears. “Absolutely, then we can go to see Kat’s perform later.”
Karl nodded. “That sounds perfect. Let’s plan that week’s vacation at the Mountain Veil Lodge you mentioned. We can hire a chef to take my place.”
Carolyn pressed her body against him. “I can’t wait.”
He gave her one last kiss before he left the room. “Me, neither.”
Carolyn gazed after her husband as the door shut behind him. Then she wiped her eyes and sighed. “You’re father surprised me. I never thought he had it in him to apologize like that.”
David stood up. “I better go, too. I have to finish weatherizing those windows on the east wing.”
Carolyn gave David a hug. “Thank you, David.”
“Welcome back,” David nodded. He grabbed his tool box and walked out of the room.
In the quiet that followed, Sarah settled into her chair. “Put your laptop away, Mom. You’re making me nervous.”
Carolyn laughed. “I really am just looking. I’m not planning to move anywhere.”
“Still,” Sarah replied. “Put it away—for my peace of mind.”
“All right.” Carolyn closed the laptop.
Sarah reached over and held the top of her mother’s hand.
“I never got a chance to say thank you,” Sarah admitted. “Thank you for keeping the family together.”
Carolyn gasped. “I am pretty overwhelmed at the amount of apologizes and compliments today. You know this is going straight to my head.”
Sarah grinned at her. “How does it feel to be the greatest sleuth in town?”
“Hardly!” Carolyn returned. “I’m a food blogger who happened to put two and two together. That hardly makes me a sleuth.”
“Admit it, Mom,” Sarah told her. “You enjoyed every minute of it. If another crime occurs around Evergreen Cove, you’ll try to solve that, too. I know how your mind works.”
Carolyn shot her a radiant smile. “I won’t deny it. I never had so much fun, and I’ve never experienced the thrill of catching a killer. But for now, I am going to enjoy sticking with blogging and leave the crime solving to the police.”
Carolyn stood up and lifted her coat from the back of the chair. “Wait, what time is it? I’m going to be late.”
Sarah shot out of her chair. “What? Where are you going?”
Carolyn put on her coat and hugged and kissed her daughter. “I’m delighted we are going to be staying here, but right now I have to go. I have an invitation to review the chef’s tasting menu down at the Foxtrot Cafe.”
Sarah laughed in relief. “Okay. I guess I’ll see you later.”
Carolyn rushed out the door before coming back and announcing, “While I’m out, no one else is allowed to be framed for murder. I am just too busy to get anyone else out of jail right now.”
Sarah snickered.
Carolyn continued, “At least until after I finish my review.”
The End.
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