Merriment & Murder

by Jenna St James

  I gasped. “She’s like the meanest woman in town.”

  “That she is,” Chef Granger agreed.

  “Can we help you do anything tonight?” Peyton asked.

  Chef Granger finished mopping up the champagne and handed the mop back to Aunt Aggie. “Maybe. How about you come and check every half hour or so to see if anything needs replenished in the dining room. I’m having the servers pass out the hors d’oeuvres and the champagne. The coffee and desserts will be in the dining room. If you girls could check in on those throughout the night, I’d appreciate it.”

  “We can do that,” Raven said.

  “The extra cookies will be in the butler’s pantry,” Chef Granger said. “I want the counter space in here for the hors d’oeuvres.”

  I thought the butler’s pantry was one of the coolest rooms in the house. In between the kitchen and the dining room, before you reached the entryway, there was a white pocket door. Inside was like a second kitchen. Lining three walls were countertops, cabinets, a sink, and a tiny island sat in the middle of the room. It wasn’t big by any means, just enough space for three people to move around in.

  “You can count on us,” I promised.

  “Good. Now scram. All of you.” He winked at Aunt Aggie. “Get out of my kitchen.”

  We all hurried back into the dining room. While I had no doubt his bark was worse than his bite, I didn’t want to stick around and find out.

  “He winked at you, Aunt Aggie!” I giggled and snatched up another cookie.

  “He did not!” Aunt Aggie chided.

  But I could tell she was pleased.

  Chapter 3

  By seven, Aunt Aggie’s open house party was packed with townspeople. Everyone from the mayor to business owners, to every-day citizens were milling around the rooms and hallways eating, drinking, laughing, and having a great time.

  “Look who just walked through the door,” Peyton said, pointing to the foyer.

  I gasped. “It’s Temperance Clairmont. She really did come.”

  Temperance pushed aside a group of five people without bothering to apologize. She was dressed in a black sheath dress with the tiniest threads of silver glitter running throughout, and her white-blonde hair was piled high atop her head. I would place her in her fifties, and even though she was of average height, there was something about her that made her seem taller. I think it was the way she could look up at someone and still manage to somehow look down her nose at the same time.

  She stood in the middle of the foyer, eyes narrowed, and carefully surveyed the room. When one side of her nose curled up in disgust, my fists clenched at my sides. If she didn’t want to be here, why did she come?

  “That’s her son Percy.”

  Startled, I glanced to my left. Mariah stood next to me, tray in hand, eyes brimming with tears.

  Percy was dressed in a black pin-striped suit with a dancing Santa tie. His dark eyes matched his dark slicked-back hair and pencil-thin beard. He was trim and nice looking.

  “And the flashy woman with him,” Mariah said bitterly, “is his new fiancée.”

  “That didn’t take long,” Raven said.

  Mariah shot her a quizzical look. “You know about our breakup?”

  I grimaced. “Chef Granger may have mentioned it. Just because he didn’t want Aunt Aggie thinking you weren’t competent. And the more I talk the worse I’m making things. I’m sorry.”

  “It’s okay,” Mariah said. “And, yeah, it didn’t take long for him to replace me.”

  I turned and stared at Temperance, her son, and his fiancée. They looked totally out of their element.

  “What’s his fiancée’s deal?” I asked.

  “I’m not sure,” Mariah said. “I think I heard she’s the back-up weather girl on a local news station.”

  “Back-up weather girl?” Raven snickered. “Is that even a thing?”

  Mariah shrugged. “I guess so.”

  “And he’s already asked her to marry him?” I asked in disbelief. “That’s weird.”

  Percy chose that moment to look our way. When his eyes landed on Mariah, his demeanor instantly changed. His eyes widened and his features softened. He took a small step forward, causing his fiancée to give him the side eye. When she saw where he was looking, her eyes narrowed and she purposely brushed up against Percy and laid her head on his shoulder. It was enough to break the contact between him and Mariah.

  “He’s obviously not over you,” Peyton said.

  A tear slid down Mariah’s cheek, and she quickly dashed it away.

  “Doesn’t matter. I’d never marry him as long as his mother is alive. And I pretty much told him that.” Mariah laughed sardonically. “Of course, that was right after she told me no uneducated waitress would be marrying her son.”

  “I do like the fiancée’s dress though,” Peyton said. “Very glamorous.”

  Raven snorted. “A little much for an open house party.”

  I studied the red, body-hugging, long dress that was beaded with rhinestones and glitter. Both girls were right…it was a little over-the-top for Copper Cove, but it sure was beautiful. Her strawberry-blonde hair cascaded in loose curls down her back, and her makeup was flawless. She looked like a beauty pageant Miss Claus.

  “You’re in luck, Mariah,” Raven said. “It doesn’t look like she’s a fan of Temperance, either. Look at the way she’s glaring at her.”

  I chuckled. “Almost like she’s wishing the chandelier would fall on her.”

  “Well that would make two of us,” Mariah said.

  I laughed.

  “I should circulate and hand out these snacks,” Mariah said. “But not over there. I can’t do that yet.”

  She turned and circulated throughout the great room, pausing here and there to let people take the goodies off the tray.

  “There’s my family,” Peyton said. “Let’s go say hi.”

  We spent some time laughing and joking with Peyton’s parents—and snagging hors d'oeuvres from the passing trays—before heading to the dining room to see if the cookies needed replenishing. And to fuel up on more sugar and caffeine.

  “You girls look like you’re having fun,” Grams said as Henley handed her a coffee.

  “We are,” I said. “It’s fun people watching.”

  “I saw Lenora,” Grams said. “I’m glad she made it out.”

  Lenora Sanders owned the only movie theater in town. And I’m being generous by calling it a movie theater. It had one room and showed the same movie for a solid month. And it wasn’t even a new release movie. Mostly they were old movies…sometimes so old they didn’t have color! She and Grams have been friends since childhood.

  “I can’t believe this turnout,” Aunt Aggie gushed as she hurried into the room, careful not to spill her glass of champagne. “I bet there are already fifty people here and we officially just opened the doors not even a half hour ago.”

  Chef Granger strolled out of the kitchen, a huge smile on his face. “I better go mingle real quick before it gets too hectic. Make sure everyone is enjoying the food.”

  Aunt Aggie set her glass down on the table. “Let me introduce you around.”

  Chef Granger offered Aunt Aggie his arm, and I smirked at Peyton.

  “Here less than a month,” Grams grumbled, “and already the men are sniffing around.”

  “Grams!” I exclaimed. “Shame on you.”

  Grams shrugged. “What? She always was a bit of a hussy.”

  “Winnifred,” Henley admonished. “Your sister has always been a vibrant, energetic woman.”

  Grams rolled her eyes. “Like I said…a hussy.”

  Raven crooked her finger at me. “Let’s go see what’s hiding in the butler’s pantry.”

  “I suppose we should go make the rounds too,” Grams said.

  I followed Peyton and Raven into the kitchen. Trays holding tons of tiny, fancy foods lined the countertops. I was about to snag one when Peyton dragged me into the butler’s pantry.


  “Better goodies to choose from in here,” she said.

  “Plus we can hide out,” Raven said.

  We gathered up a handful of cookies and plopped down onto the floor.

  “Did you guys notice the way Aunt Aggie and Chef Granger have been acting?” I asked.

  Peyton took a huge bite of a sugar cookie and nodded. “Totally. I’m thinking there might be a hookup in their future.”

  I winced. “Please. It’s weird enough I have to think of my Grams dating…I don’t want to have to go there with Aunt Aggie. It’s too much.”

  Raven gleefully snapped off a gingerbread man’s leg.

  “You shouldn’t look so happy when you do that,” I said.

  She grinned, shoved the leg in her mouth, then stared me down as she gleefully snapped off the other leg. “I think it’s cool the old ladies still have it.”

  I shuddered. “Just stop.”

  We ate in silence for a little while longer.

  “I don’t feel too well,” I groaned, holding my stomach.

  “Me either,” Raven said.

  “We just ate six sugar cookies and a handful of gingerbread men,” Peyton said. “Of course we aren’t going to feel well.”

  I grinned. “But totally worth it.”

  We staggered to our feet, laughing and groaning. I was about to open the door when I heard raised voices in the kitchen. I put my finger to my lips and silently slid the door open a few inches.

  “Are you threatening me, Temperance?” Chef Granger hissed.

  “Just stating a fact,” she said. “Now, are you going to fire that girl or not?”

  “No.”

  “I can make you regret that decision,” she said.

  “I pay my loan to the bank on time every month. You have no hold over me.”

  “I used to. We were good together once,” Temperance purred. “We can be again.”

  Chef Granger snorted. “We dated for less than a month last year. That’s all it took before I saw your true colors.”

  “Meaning?”

  “You’re a cruel woman who likes being cruel to others,” Chef Granger said. “Look what you did to your son and Mariah.”

  “You better watch yourself, James,” Temperance said. “You forget I sit on the board of directors for the bank.”

  “Don’t threaten me, Temperance,” Chef Granger said. “You won’t like the outcome.”

  Temperance laughed. “Is that so? Then I think I will call a special bank board meeting Monday. Be prepared to lose your restaurant.”

  I jerked back when Temperance stalked past the door, simultaneously holding my breath. I had no idea what to do.

  “This is huge,” Peyton whispered.

  “I know,” I whispered back. “But what do I do now? Do I open the door and risk Chef Granger seeing us?”

  Raven reached over, slid the door open, and pushed me out into the kitchen.

  And into Chef Granger’s path.

  Chapter 4

  “What’re you girls doing in here?” Chef Granger asked. “Stealing cookies?”

  I cleared my throat. “Guilty as charged.”

  He looked over my head toward the dining room and frowned. Afraid he’d ask me something I didn’t want to admit to—that we’d overheard the argument—I decided to tuck tail and run.

  “Well, we better go see how the party is coming along.” I turned and pushed against Peyton and Raven. “See ya.”

  We fled out of the kitchen, through the dining room, and into the great room. I had to find Aunt Aggie and tell her what we’d overheard. Figuring she’d either be in the great room or the formal front parlor, I pushed ahead of the girls and quickly wove through the crowd. When I didn’t see her in the great room, I was about to cross the foyer to the parlor when Peyton grabbed hold of my arm.

  “Look over there in the corner,” she said.

  In between the fireplace and the Christmas tree, Temperance and Percy’s fiancée stood glaring and hissing at each other, while Percy looked miserable. I tilted my head, letting Peyton and Raven know I wanted to eavesdrop. We stood on the other side of the Christmas tree, pretending to look at the ornaments.

  “That’s enough.” Temperance snatched a glass of champagne out of Percy’s hand and plunked it down on the nearest table. “Lay off the booze, Percy.”

  “Don’t you tell my man what to do,” Percy’s fiancée huffed. “He’s not your little boy anymore. He’s a man.”

  Temperance raked her eyes over the young woman and scowled. “Best you learn this now, Barbie. Percy will always be my son first and foremost. Even if he goes against my wishes and marries you…I will still be in charge. After all, I hold the purse strings.”

  “As if you’d ever let us forget that,” Barbie hissed.

  “Not another drink, Percy,” Temperance said.

  “Yes, mother.”

  Temperance narrowed her eyes at Barbie before striding across the foyer to the other side of the house.

  “It’s always ‘yes, mother’ with you, Percy,” Barbie pouted. “When are you going to stand up to her?” She put her hand out and admired the huge engagement ring adorning her hand. It sparkled almost as much as the rhinestones on her dress. “It’s so unfair she’s making me sign a prenup.”

  Percy nodded, but his eyes were on the glass of champagne his mother had set on the table.

  Barbie grinned. “You trust me, don’t you, Percy?” She reached over and picked up the glass of champagne and handed it to him. “You know I’m not marrying you for your money, right? You won’t make me sign the prenup, will you? You’ll stand up to Momma Temperance?”

  Percy tossed back the drink in one big gulp. “Sure, babe. Whatever you say.”

  Peyton tugged at my sleeve, and I turned and followed her and Raven into the foyer. We stopped next to the stairs.

  “That’s one messed up family,” Raven said.

  I snickered. “Aren’t we all?”

  Raven shook her head. “Not like that.”

  “I want to find Aunt Aggie,” I said, “and tell her about Chef Granger and Temperance having words.”

  “Do you think Aggie’s in the parlor or the library?” Peyton asked.

  I snatched an hors d'oeuvre off a passing tray and popped it into my mouth. “Let’s try the front parlor.”

  “The front parlor is packed,” a young male voice said behind me.

  Turning, I frowned at the guy standing there. I knew I should know his name, but he was a year under me in school.

  “Brandon Powell,” he said.

  “Junior, right?” Peyton asked.

  He nodded at her, his ears turning pink. Not that it should be a surprise, a lot of guys went pink when they looked at Peyton.

  “You here with your mom and dad?” I asked.

  Brandon winced and shuffled his feet. “Not exactly.”

  “Then what exactly?” Raven asked.

  Brandon cleared his throat and looked around the foyer. No one paid us any attention, but I guess he wanted to make sure.

  “Um, my dad is here looking for Temperance Clairmont,” he mumbled. “Do you know her?”

  I scoffed. “Not very well. But from what I’ve seen of her tonight, she’s pretty good at throwing shade.”

  Brandon, Peyton, and Raven laughed.

  “We’ve been dealing with her for about three years now,” Brandon said. “We rent from her.”

  Peyton patted his arm. “I’m sorry. She seems like a difficult woman to deal with.”

  Brandon looked down at her hand and blushed again. “That’s why my dad’s looking for her. We went out to her big fancy house and the butler guy told us she wasn’t home. When Dad lost his temper and threatened the poor guy, he finally told us Mrs. Clairmont was in town at some party.”

  “Which led you here,” Raven said. “Your dad looking for trouble, Brandon?”

  I hid my smile. Leave it to a girl whose parents are both lawyers to ask the tough questions.

  �
�I hope not,” he whispered. “I really do. We can’t afford any more trouble.”

  “What’s going on?” I asked.

  Brandon blew out a breath. “We got an eviction notice today.”

  “Oh Brandon,” Peyton said. “I’m so sorry.”

  Again Brandon didn’t say anything, just looked all moony-eyed at Peyton. It was all I could do not to roll my eyes. Peyton honestly had no idea the guy was going all puppy love when he looked at her.

  “What did Temperance say in the eviction notice?” I asked.

  “She said we have to pay the back rent immediately or we’re out in three days. We were almost caught up, so I don’t know why she’s suddenly done this.”

  I bit my lip. I wanted to ask how they’d gotten behind, but I didn’t want to seem insensitive.

  “How’d you guys get behind?” Raven asked.

  “It’s just me, my dad, and my little sister, ya know? My mom ran out about four years ago when Jillian was just a baby. Dad’s a commercial fisherman. A little over a month ago, he sliced his hand and arm deep enough he did some nerve damage and had to have like a hundred stitches. It laid him up a couple weeks. He’s still not fully recovered, but at least he’s back to work. I tried to help him after school, but it wasn’t enough to keep up with our bills. We fell a little behind, but we’re almost caught up now.”

  Raven clucked her tongue. “And now Temperance is threatening to kick you out the week of Christmas? Not cool.”

  “I’m trying to find a part-time job,” Brandon said. “Something I can do after school and on the weekends, just to help out. But I’m not having much luck. Not many people want to hire a kid.”

  I gasped. “I may know of something. Do you have your license?”

  “Yeah. But I don’t have a car.”

  “You may not need one,” I said. “Just a license. Let me talk some more to the people looking, and I’ll get back with you.”

  Brandon’s face lit up. “That would be gre—”

  “Unhand me, you vulgar man!”

  Temperance’s shrill voice rang out from the front parlor. The conversation in the foyer stopped and everyone turned toward the commotion. Not wanting to miss anything, I linked hands with Peyton and Raven and pushed aside the people standing around.