Franklin started toward the door after Silas, “I warned him ….” but Thor cut him off he got too far.
“Mom,” Thor said, “do you want to stay with me or Franklin for the night?”
“She’s staying with me. After all, we’re almost married, and we have to plan our Christmas celebration. It will be a good time to get both our families together right before the wedding and attend church together on Christmas Eve.”
Granny had been silent through all of this planning. “Yes, I’ll stay with Franklin. Mavis, can you see if Mrs. Bleaty can stay with Mr. Supercilious? I have a feeling she won’t leave that darn bird. The rest of the animals will come with us. I need to find out if Franklin snores before the wedding. If I can hear him down the hall in the guestroom, it could be a wedding breaker.” With a smug smile on her face, she turned, winked at Thor so Franklin couldn’t see, and walked into her bedroom to pack a bag.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
When Granny woke up the next morning in Franklin’s new house, the sun was shining into her eyes through a window above her bed. There were no shades on the window. Franklin had explained the night before that since the window was high up on the wall there was no need for shades. Granny wondered as she blocked the sun from her eyes whether Franklin had ever slept in his guest room.
Hearing no sounds coming from the rest of the house, Granny deduced that Franklin was still snug in his bed. Granny pulled on her street clothes and folded her night clothes, putting them in the suitcase. She had settled on her winter red velour pajamas with the fur trim to bring with her for the night. They seemed appropriate to wear in case the house caught fire in the middle of the night, and she and Franklin would have to meet somewhere in the smoke as they were fleeing the fire. Since no such emergency had ever happened, Franklin had not seen her middle-of-the-road nightclothes.
Granny wandered down the halls to the kitchen in search of coffee. Looking around the kitchen, she didn’t see a space occupied by a coffee pot. There was a tea kettle on the stove. Granny opened the cupboard and started sifting through the ingredients, looking for a coffee pot and coffee. All she could find was tea. Why was it she didn’t know that about Franklin? He always had coffee when he was at the Pink Percolator.
Granny had nothing against tea. She even sipped a cup here and there but it was coffee that revved her engines in the morning and got her sparkling personality quippy and sharp. Hearing the sound of soft snoring coming through the door of Franklin’s bedroom, Granny turned and walked into the mudroom between the house and garage. There were the keys to the cars hanging on the hook. Quietly, Granny grabbed her coat from the closet where Franklin had put it the night before. Stepping out of her furry slippers and into her snow boots sitting by the door, Granny found the keys to her ‘57 Chevy Corvette Convertible. Slowly, and with great care so as not to disturb Franklin’s sleep, she edged her body through the door into the garage. Her face lit into a huge smile when she spotted her car.
“I have missed you,” Granny declared to the ghosts of the garage. Granny stopped first at Franklin’s black ‘57 Chevy Corvette convertible, opened the door, and grabbed the garage door opener off the visor at the driver’s side of the car. Quietly closing the door, she proceeded to her car.
Granny lovingly ran her fingers over the hood of her ‘57 Corvette. Settling herself in the driver’s seat, she put the key in the ignition and held her other hand on the garage door opener wanting to make a quick exit in case Franklin heard the garage door opening and tried to stop her. Granny counted to three under her breath and hit the ignition switch and the garage door opener at the same time. The car started and Granny hit the foot feed, making sure the car was in reverse first, and the car glided smoothly out of the garage.
Turning into the street, Granny saw that it was a warm Minnesota winter day and the snow on the streets had melted. Feeling the warmth of the sun through her front window, Granny decided to breathe some cool, crisp air, stopping down the block to take the top down on her convertible. As she got back into her car, Granny glanced back at Franklin’s house. There was no sign that Franklin had heard her exit. Driving away, feeling the frosty air on her cheeks, Granny let out a yell to the empty streets, “This is living!”
Pulling up in front of the Pink Percolator, Granny took the time to raise the top on her car and note where she had parked it. There were some days that Granny forgot where she parked her car or even if she had driven her car downtown. Since her car had been locked up at Franklin’s, her garage having burned down, she might have forgotten how she got here.
Delight had seen Granny drive up and had her coffee and donut waiting for her. “You have your car back.”
Granny took a sip of coffee before answering. “I do, hijacked it out of Franklin’s garage this morning. Do you know he doesn’t have a coffee pot?”
“You stayed at Franklin’s last night?” Delight asked, ignoring the coffee pot question in lieu of finding out about Granny’s overnight stay with her fiancé.
“It’s not what you think. Someone broke into my house last night and Thor wouldn’t let me stay there, something about processing the crime scene. So I stayed with Franklin. Get your mind out of the gutter, Delight.” Granny gave her a piercing look.
Delight giggled, “The gutter is a great place to be sometimes; it’s steamier.”
The Pink Percolator was busy this morning and the door bells chimed as customers came in to partake of the delicious, delightful, delectable part of the coffee and confections of the Pink Percolator. Granny glanced at the door each time it opened, expecting Franklin to have found her.
“Why would someone break into your house? What were they looking for?” Delight questioned.
“Probably something I forgot that I know.”
“I remembered something I forgot.” Delight gave Granny a sneaky smile. Granny leaned closer to hear what more Delight had to say. “Before leaving on his last business trip, Delbert gave me a key with the instructions that should something happen to him I would be taken care of. He bought me a crypt in the mausoleum and the key belonged to the crypt. I completely forgot about it when he died. After he left, I threw the key in a basket but it must have fallen behind the dresser. I wasn’t too happy at the time, thinking that if he died, he wanted me to commit ‘hari-kari’ and end up in that crypt, dead, too.”
Granny leaned back with a thoughtful look on her face. “What were his exact words, Delight?”
Delight took a few minutes to think back to the last few moments she had seen her husband, “His exact words were, ‘This is the key to the rest of your life. I took care of you.’ Since it was a key to the crypt and he used the words the rest of my life and I took care of you, I thought perhaps he wanted my life to end soon after his did.”
Granny frowned, “You never told me that. You’ve been carrying this burden around with you ever since Delbert died?”
“No, I blocked it out. I didn’t want to think about being in that crypt. I had Ella to raise.”
The door to the Pink Percolator opened and a couple of young women dressed in pink flamingo costumes danced in the door, interrupting their conversation. Delight and Granny watched as they danced around the room, throwing pink feathers and candy canes at the customers. They chirped, “Parade at five, the Flamingos are alive” and broke into the song Jingle Bells pulling bells out of their costumes and shaking them to the tune.
“Oh, I so love the Christmas Flamingo Parade!” Delight stood up and started dancing with the flamingo-costumed girls. Granny took the square cover off her shovel and started tapping it on the floor to the tune. Soon the rest of the customers were clapping and singing Jingle Bells along with the girls.
When the Pink Flamingo girls exited the store and Delight sat back down, Granny voiced the question that had been running through her mind, “Have you ever visited your crypt to see if there’s anything inside?”
Delight gave Granny a funny look. “No, I just found the key again yesterda
y and I’m not there so it must be empty.”
“Maybe Delbert meant something else. Maybe Delbert was involved in something you didn’t know about and it’s connected to all the grave shenanigans. Ferdinand was in Delbert’s grave, two million dollars was in Ferdinand’s grave and they exchanged clothes after they were dead. That has to mean something.”
“Have you found out who bought your crypt at the same time Ferdinand died?”
Granny shook her head. “They think I did; it looks like my signature. I would forget now but back then I was sharp as a tack. Someone must have pulled the wool over my eyes when I was signing something.”
Granny looked up to see Franklin eyeing her car parked out front. “Delight, meet me at the lift in the underground streets at 5:00. We’re going to see what’s in your crypt. I’ll bring Mavis as a lookout. I don’t have the code for the lift anymore; they made Gravy change it, so you have to call Gravy and get the code. Tell him you want a few moments of peace by your crypt to plan your passing some day.”
“You want to visit the mausoleum? In the dark? While the parade is going on? I love the parade,” Delight rambled in fear.
“Delight, get a grip. Franklin’s coming and he can’t know. It’ll be fine. We need to talk the cemetery association into putting lights in the mausoleum. But until then, we’ll be fine.” Granny stood up as Franklin approached, turning back to whisper to Delight, “Remember to call Gravy and get that code.” With a smile, she turned to Franklin, “You don’t have a coffee pot.”
“You could have woke me up and I would have driven you to the Pink Percolator.”
“Oh, but your snoring was so sweet. I couldn’t bring myself to stop it.” Granny stood on her tiptoes and, uncharacteristic of Granny, gave Franklin a kiss on the cheek to throw him off.
Franklin eyed Granny suspiciously. “What are you up to besides taking your convertible out in the winter?”
“I always took my convertible out in the winter until my garage burned down and you held it hostage in your garage. The Pink Flamingo dancers were just here and they reminded me of the joy of Christmas and the weddings that are going to take place in a couple of days.” Granny smiled sweetly at Franklin.
“Speaking of Christmas, I talked to our kids and we are going to have one big celebration. Both our families will go to church on Christmas Eve. We Save You has announced for once ahead of time of Christmas Eve that Pastor Snicks will be preaching that night. Since I now own the Mayor’s house and he left it furnished, it’s big enough for all our families that do not live in Fuchsia to spend the night there. We can celebrate the holiday as one big happy family.” Franklin grinned broadly at the plans he’d made.
“I don’t recall us deciding that last night,” Granny reminded him with a frown. “I thought we decided this year that we would let our families have their respective Christmases on Christmas Eve, and then we will all get together on Christmas Day.”
“This will give you a great chance to see what it would be like having a house big enough for the entire family to visit during the holidays. And…we’ll be moving in soon after our wedding.”
Granny’s eyes became little slivers as she looked at Franklin. Deciding she had other things on her mind at the moment, she let Christmas go. Maybe it would be fun. “I’ll drive back to your house and we can put my car in the garage. Can you drive me back home? I have to see if Mavis can take me shopping in Brilliant today while the weather is good. I need to go to Red Hot Momma’s Boutique and do some Christmas shopping.”
Franklin raised his eyebrows and a wide smile lit up his face when Granny mentioned Red Hot Momma’s Boutique. “Sure, we can do that. It’s important to shop for our wedding night.” He took Granny’s arm and led her to the door.
Delight had been silent listening to the exchange between Franklin and Granny, expecting Granny’s crotchety ways to erupt at hearing Franklin’s plans for Christmas. However, the wink Granny gave her as they left the Pink Percolator reminded her that the plans she and Granny had for the evening were taking precedence over Christmas.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
Franklin dropped Granny off at her house after leaving her car safely back in his garage, having made plans to meet with her after the Christmas Flamingo parade. Granny mentioned that she had promised to help Delight during the busy time of the parade and she didn’t want to let her down. Of course, Granny told herself, she had promised to help Delight; they just wouldn’t be attending the parade.
The shysters and Baskerville didn’t seem to be around. Mrs. Bleaty was soundly snoring snuggled in Granny’s soft bed, back from spending the night at Silas’s house. Granny thought it was a good thing Mrs. Bleaty was a small goat and that she liked to take baths or Granny would have to clip a clothespin on her own nose to sleep.
Granny pulled out her cell phone, “Mavis!” Granny barked into the phone.
“Yes, Granny; we’re in the middle of taping, ‘George’s Gorgeous Boxer Short Designs.’ Can you make it quick?”
“Don’t let on what I’m saying to George.”
“A recipe? What recipe is that, Granny?”
“We have a new mission. Zero hour is 5:00 p.m.”
“You would like me to deliver it?”
“Meet me here at 4:55 and we’ll take the underground street.”
“Do you need any ingredients for the recipe?”
“Bring a flashlight, dress warm and bring your courage. No screaming.”
“Recipe, ingredients, and wine; got it. See you then.” Mavis hung up the phone and turned to George. “I have to help Granny at 5:00. She’s working on a tough recipe and she needs my help.”
Now that she had Mavis on board, Granny looked at the time on her cell phone. She had a little over five hours before they started their investigation. Granny looked at the mess the intruder had made of her house. She was about to start cleaning up the mess when the doorbell rang Santa Got Run Over by a Reindeer. She was going to have to change that ring. Angel might get upset.
Starshine and Penelope were on the other side of the door when she opened it. Their arms were full of grocery bags.
“It’s not Christmas. I didn’t order any food. Why are you here?” Granny asked, thinking about her plans for later in the day.
“We’re going to clean up this mess for you,” Penelope stated, moving past Granny into the house, “I called Starshine so she drove over to help. It will be fun. Your wedding’s almost here and…we can learn more about Starshine’s fiancé.”
Starshine followed Penelope into the house. “I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love, I’m in love with a wonderful boy!” Starshine sang out of tune as she put her groceries down and twirled around the room.
“We have yet to meet this boy,” Granny reminded her.
“You’ll meet him at Christmas, since we’re all spending it together.” Starshine twirled and kissed her mother on the cheek.
Penelope was already straightening drawers and cushions. “Starshine, why don’t you dust? Mom, you sit down and rest. I’m so glad you have Franklin now so we don’t have to worry about you living alone.”
“How’s the hardware business, Penelope?”
“Fine, just fine,” Penelope said briskly, changing the subject, “We thought once Thor took you away from your secret sleuthing you’d be safe.”
“I’ll go upstairs and get the bedrooms ready for Christmas and the wedding company.” Starshine headed for the never-used upstairs bedrooms.
“Don’t bother,” Penelope informed Starshine, “Everyone’s staying at Mom’s and Franklin’s new house.”
“I don’t have a new house. And I haven’t been upstairs since last Christmas so it probably does need a little spiffing up,” Granny retorted. “In fact, Penelope, why don’t you take Starshine downtown and show her your hardware store, and I’ll take care of cleaning up here.”
Penelope quit arranging drawers and pointed to the grocery bags on the counter. “We brought lunch. Sit down and w
e can talk about Christmas.”
Granny moved to the table, looking into the grocery bags. Lifting one of the packages out of the bag she held it out in front of her. “This is rabbit food and I don’t have rabbits.”
Starshine took the Greek Salad out of Granny’s hands, took the cover off and set it down on the table. Taking out the rest of the salads, yogurt, and juice, she held up the last item in the bag and with a statement of triumph, she announced, “And for dessert, tofu sundaes!”
At the word tofu, both Penelope and Granny gave a sigh. Granny sat down resigned to eating rabbit food for dinner. “Tell us why we haven’t met your fiancé. What’s his name again?”
“Lars, and you haven’t met him yet because he’s shy. He’s such a gentle soul and he’s very nervous about meeting you, Mom.” The look Starshine gave Granny was one of warning.
“Me? Why would he possibly be nervous about meeting me?”
“Possibly because the first time you met Butch, he ended up in the Brilliant County Jail because you reported that he’d stolen your daughter. They put out a warrant for his arrest because they thought he kidnapped me. They wouldn’t believe me when I told them I was with him because I wanted to be,” Penelope reminded her.
“I can’t help it if they mixed up stole and kidnap. I maybe forgot to add stole your heart when I was reporting it. Oh, well, all’s well that ends well.” Granny dug into her salad. “Speaking of Butch, he seems to be avoiding me.”
Penelope averted her eyes. “He avoids what he knows he needs others to know so others know what he knows,” Penelope exclaimed.
Starshine looked confused for a moment and then she let out a delightful Starshine laugh, “Oh, Penelope, you’re turning into Mom!”
“I’ll warn your kids,” Granny said with relish and a chuckle.
“I thought you were going shopping? I ran into Franklin and he said you and Mavis had plans. That’s why we came over. We thought we’d have lunch and then you and Mavis could shop and we’d clean.” Penelope got up from the table taking the dishes to the sink.
3 Granny Snows A Sneak Page 14