by Wendy Tyson
A façade, indeed, Megan thought as she pulled away. That was all it seemed to be. She wondered what conversation was going on inside.
Two
Megan left Merry’s house feeling shaken and ill-tempered. It wasn’t the weather or the unfruitful trip into the city exactly. Something else was bothering her. She was channeling Merry’s unease. Merry had a reputation as the town busybody, but tonight she’d looked like she’d rather Megan stay out of her business. Megan was happy to oblige. She wondered, though, who Paul was and why Becca Fox had such a visceral reaction to him.
It had stopped snowing, but cold wind blew through the streets, creating swirls of snow and chilling Megan to her core. Megan was anxious to get back to Bibi and the farm, but she needed to swing by Denver’s house first. Dr. Daniel “Denver” Finn was the town veterinarian and Megan’s boyfriend. Megan knew animals didn’t care about things like inclement weather and bad roads, and she’d promised him she’d swing by and check on his dogs while he was attending to the various barnyard emergencies.
Denver’s driveway was empty. She parked on one side of the unshoveled pavement and unlocked the front door of his bungalow with her key. All five dogs—a motley crew of rescued pure breeds and mixed breeds, tiny and giant—met her with fawning and kisses. They were a well-trained lot, but like any dogs, they knew who would spoil them.
Megan laughed, petting them in turn, and slowly made her way to the kitchen and their dog food, her mood lightening. She found their bowls already lined up on the counter, Denver’s square handwriting denoting which dish was for which dog and how much food they should receive. His Great Dane, a gentle giant if ever there was one, sat calmly watching her, while the blind Beagle ran in circles around her feet, whining with anticipatory joy.
They all ate in a matter of seconds. Megan was just leading them into the snow-covered backyard when she heard the front door open and Denver walking in. He met her by the back door. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around her, burying his face in her hair.
“Mm, Megs, ye smell fine.” He tilted Megan’s face back, and looked into her eyes. Then he kissed her, his lips soft and insistent against her own. Pulling back, he said, “Long day?”
Megan was reluctant to let go. “You could say that. I have to get home to Bibi, but how about a nightcap first? I was just going to take the pups out—”
“Let me pour two brandies and I’ll meet ye out back.” Denver was Scottish, and his brogue became especially noticeable when he was tired or upset. Tonight he looked tired.
Like the rest of southeastern Pennsylvania, “out back” was buried in more than a foot of snow with more expected over the next day or two. But Denver’s deck was partially cleared, and Megan found a spot on a dry bench under an awning, against the house. From that vantage point, she watched the dogs go about their business with reactions that ranged from total disdain for the white stuff to outright glee. Of all his rescues, his Golden Retriever seemed happiest to be in the snow, and the dog threw a ball into the drifts and dug around tenaciously until she found it again—her own solo game of fetch.
“Aye, that dog’s a single-minded lassie.” Denver handed Megan a small sifter of brandy. “Not unlike someone else I know.”
Megan smiled. She wondered for a moment what it would be like to be that carefree and focused only on the moment. Somedays it felt like worrying was what she did best.
“Tell me about your trip to Philadelphia. Any takers for those winter greens Clay has growing in the greenhouses?”
“One chef seemed interested. Otherwise I gave away some samples, heard a few excuses. ‘We’ll wait until you have your organic certification,’ ‘we already have a provider,’ or ‘we don’t know anything about Washington Acres.’” Megan sighed. She took a sip of brandy, her lips curling at the jarring flavor. She’d never gotten used to the taste of liquor. “Hopefully a few will pan out.”
Denver eyed her with his biting blue gaze. “You’re worried?”
“Yes and no. A steady source of income during the winter months would be nice. I’m hoping selling greens and microgreens to local restaurants will fill that void.”
“Patience and tenacity.”
Megan smiled. She had the latter; she struggled with the former.
Denver said, “You’re back later than you anticipated. Roads that bad?”
“Once I got off the main thoroughfares, they were awful.” Megan told Denver about finding Becca Fox along the road, about what she’d witnessed at Merry’s house. “In all the time I’ve known Merry Chance, I’ve never seen family there. I didn’t even know she had a niece. As for the man, obviously Becca knew him, but I’m not sure who he is.”
The Golden Retriever dropped a tennis ball in front of Denver, tail wagging expectantly. He tossed it out into the yard and the ball landed in front of the thick line of trees at the back of his property and sank into the snow. They watched the dog dig furiously for the lost treasure.
“If I had to guess, I’d say that was probably Paul Fox, Merry’s brother-in-law. Becca is Paul’s daughter. She had a big fallout with him years ago.”
“Paul Fox? Blanche’s husband? I’d forgotten Merry has a sister.”
“Had a sister. She died about five years ago.”
Megan wondered what had Becca and her father in town at the same time. Merry’s attempt at reconciliation—or Paul’s desire to see his daughter? Based on what she’d overheard, it was a do-good effort on Merry’s part.
“How do you know so much about Merry’s family?” As the town vet, Denver often heard his share of gossip, but Merry was no animal lover. As far as Megan knew, she had no pets. “Your normal rounds wouldn’t take you to Merry’s house or business.”
“Aye, you’re right about that. I know about Paul from my Aunt Eloise. She had hired him for a spell to work with some of her patients.”
“Becca’s father is a doctor?”
“Psychologist. Specializes in trauma. I’m not sure what happened, but I do know Aunt Eloise asked him to leave her practice.”
Interesting, Megan thought. “Eloise seems like a shrewd business woman on top of being a pediatrician. I wonder why she let him go.”
Denver shrugged. “You’d have to ask her, Megs. She never much talks about that period in her life.” Denver scratched the Beagle behind the ears. The dog leaned into his touch. “Why is Becca here? Just for the holidays?”
“Actually, Merry is helping Becca with her new venture. She’s a chemist who calls herself a love chemist.”
Denver laughed. “Now that’s a new one. What exactly is a love chemist?”
“She says she mixes love potions and creams using pheromones—to increase attraction and affection from others. That’s what she’ll be selling at Merry’s nursery: love potions.”
Denver’s eyes widened. He stood and let all the dogs back in the house except for the Golden Retriever, who showed no inclination to go inside. “So she’s here at Merry’s invitation. And her father shows up too? I don’t know. Sounds suspiciously like Merry’s playing family counselor.”
Megan nodded. “And Becca was having none of it.” The Golden dropped a ball at Megan’s feet and she threw it with fingers stiff from the cold. Thinking of Becca’s physical reaction to her father’s presence, Megan asked, “Do you have any idea what Becca’s fight with her father could have been about?”
Denver sat back down next to Megan. He took his hand in hers and rubbed her fingers with warm, gentle strokes. “Becca Fox claims her father murdered her mother.”
It was Megan’s turn for widened eyes. “Seriously?”
He nodded. “Based on what I’ve heard—and it’s not much, mind you, and may be totally false—there was no evidence of foul play. Blanche’s death was ruled an accident. Becca is a bit mental, and she took her anger at her mother’s death out on her father.”
“Ment
al as in—”
“Based on what Aunt Eloise says, Becca is flighty and dramatic and always has been.”
Megan remembered Becca’s kind smile and warm eyes. Her easy demeanor and obvious intelligence. Definitely a contrast to the she-devil she’d become in her father’s presence. “I don’t know. The Becca I met seemed pretty together.”
Denver shrugged. “There’s a Scottish proverb that says, ‘Bees that hae honey in their mouths, hae stings in their tails.’”
“Don’t be fooled by appearances?”
Denver grinned. “You’re learning.” He looked out at his dog frolicking in the snow, a golden angel now dressed in white. His eyes darkened. “That about sums it up, Megs. Things—and people—are not always as they seem. But then, I think ye know that as well as anyone.”
Three
It was several days before Megan found herself in contact with Becca Fox again. This time she met Becca at her café, Washington Acres Café and Larder, where the young woman was deep in conversation with the café’s ornery chef, Alvaro Hernandez. Becca looked up and smiled when she saw Megan. A moment later, she ended her conversation with Alvaro and met Megan by the storefront counter where Megan was stocking shelves.
“I was hoping to run into you,” Becca said. “I’d like to introduce you to my products. As a thank you for helping me out the other night.”
“It was no problem at all,” Megan said. “Did you get your car squared away?”
“I did. It’s in the shop. I’m borrowing my brother’s until it’s ready.”
“You have a brother in town too?”
“Luke. Another one of Aunt Merry’s surprises. We hadn’t seen each other in almost two years.” Becca bounced up and down on boot-clad heels. She was dressed in striped Nordic tights, a wool miniskirt, and a black turtleneck. Her hair hung loose around her shoulders. “It’s okay, though. I was happy to see him.”
Megan put the box of ginger snaps she was stocking down on the counter. “The other night—”
Becca shook her head vehemently back and forth. “About that. I’m so sorry you had to witness that fiasco. I had no idea Aunt Merry had set me up that way. She knows how I feel about my father.” She shrugged. “She wants peace in the family. It’s just not in the cards.”
Megan gave her a reassuring smile. “Well, I’m glad you seem more at ease with it. Would you like some coffee? Maybe a bite of Alvaro’s pecan pie?”
“I already sampled the blueberry pound cake and the gingerbread. Divine.” She rubbed her stomach. “Your chef’s a sweet man. I wouldn’t have guessed it based on his demeanor, but that’s what I get for stereotyping people, right?” Becca dug around in her oversized shoulder bag. “But that’s not why I came. Here, these are for you.” Becca handed Megan a box gift wrapped in brown craft paper decorated with tiny Christmas trees and red ribbons. “Don’t open it now. I hope you like it.” She bent forward, winked. “Use it around someone you’re attracted to.”
“Thank you, Becca. You didn’t have to do this.”
“Nonsense. If you like it, spread the word. And come visit me at the nursery. I’m setting up today.” She glanced around the café, her gaze falling on the one decoration Megan had put up, an elaborate holiday harvest wreath that sat on the far wall. “And while you’re at it, why don’t you pick up some decorations. This is the cutest little store and café I’ve ever seen, but it definitely needs more holiday cheer.”
Megan arrived back at the farm after three. She found Bibi in the kitchen with Emily, a younger woman from Winsome who they’d befriended earlier that year. Emily had lived with them for a spell. Although she was back in her own home now, she visited regularly, and Megan often found her chatting with Bibi or Clay, the farm manager, her infant daughter in her arms.
Today Bibi was teaching Emily how to make German Christmas cookies—small spicy delicacies that Bibi formed using holiday molds passed down to her by her own mother—while Emily’s daughter slept in a Pack-n-Play. Megan’s two dogs, Gunther and Sadie, slept soundly next to the baby. They both looked up when Megan entered, their tails thumping against the stone floor. The kitchen was warm and smelled of cinnamon and vanilla—a wonderful contrast to the bitter cold and icy roads outside. Megan was happy to be home.
“There’s some fresh coffee,” Bibi said. “And the first batch of cookies are cooling. Help yourself.” She nodded at her granddaughter, her eyes silently appraising.
“Thanks, Bibi.” Megan gave each woman a hug, patted the dogs, and poured a cup of coffee.
“How did things go at the café?”
“Fine. A little slow still, but picking up.”
Things had been slow since a pair of deaths a few months ago had rocked the small historical town of Winsome during Oktoberfest. The café had become a hub of activity, but folks seemed less likely to socialize—and that hit the café’s bottom line. Megan was more worried than she’d let on to her grandmother, but Bonnie Birch was no one’s fool. She saw what was happening and wanted success for the farm and café as much as Megan did.
“What ya got there?” Emily asked. She pointed to the gift-wrapped box Becca had given Megan.
“Ah, that. It was a present.” Megan glanced at Bibi. “Remember the woman I told you about? The one I drove to Merry’s.”
“Her niece, Rebecca.”
“Yes, Becca. She brought this by the café. As a token of thanks for the ride.”
“Well open it.” Bibi was pulling another tray of cookies from the oven. She transferred the cookies to a cooling rack, placed another tray in the oven, and then wiped her hands on her “Everybody Loves Winsome” apron—a leftover from Megan’s father’s souvenir shop. “Let’s see.”
Megan unwound the ribbon and carefully removed the wrapping, revealing a pink box with a single white orchid on the outside. She opened the box. Inside, two old-fashioned apothecary bottles were nestled side by side. One was pink—the same color as the box—and contained a clear liquid. The other was clear with a rubber-stopped dropper lid. It, too, was full. A parchment card labeled “The Love Chemist” lay inside atop the bottles. It held instructions for use.
Emily stood near. “So pretty! What is it? Perfume?”
Megan explained Becca’s line of business. Perusing the directions, Megan said, “It looks like you place a few droppers of the pheromones into the perfume bottle and dab the perfume on your upper lip and other spots on your body. This perfume is called Promises.”
“And voila, you have a boyfriend?” Emily looked skeptical.
“Something like that.”
Bibi crossed the kitchen and picked up the box. “Well, if it’s a scheme, it’s a nicely packaged one. I wonder how much these sets sell for.”
“No idea.” Megan opened the cap on the clear bottle. The perfume was light and floral and quite lovely. “Who wants to try it?”
Emily glanced at Bibi. “Any older gents at Bridge club these days, Bonnie?”
“I want another husband like I want another colonoscopy. Megan already has Denver. Why don’t you give it a go, Emily? Who knows?”
Emily shrugged. “Why not.”
Megan followed the directions. Emily placed drops of the liquid on her upper lip, behind her ears, and on her neck. “There, do I smell sexy?”
Megan and Bibi both said “Definitely!” at the same time.
While Megan put the bottles away, Emily read the card that contained the directions. “The Love Chemist.” She looked at Bibi. “Do you remember Rebecca or her mother, Bonnie?”
Bibi stopped what she was doing long enough to consider the question. “I remember Blanche, Merry’s sister. She was Merry’s opposite. Quiet, deferential, soft-spoken. Pretty in a plain sort of way. Merry was thrilled when she married that psychologist. I think she wanted him for herself, to be honest. But to have a professional in the family? And a handsome one at that? It w
as all Merry could talk about for months.”
“And Becca?” Megan asked.
“I saw Becca and her brother, Luke, a few times, especially during the holidays. They lived in Winsome for a spell while you were in college, Megan. I remember Becca as a shy child, afraid of her own shadow. Shy and awkward. The boy was very outspoken. Smart, definitely more precocious than his younger sister.” She paused before returning to her task. “Despite what Merry said, they never seemed like a happy family.”
“Denver said his Aunt Eloise and Becca’s father had a falling out.”
“I wouldn’t know anything about that. One day, the family was just up and gone.” Bibi waved her hand in the air. “Merry said Paul found a better opportunity, but maybe there was more to it. Wouldn’t surprise me one bit. Merry says a lot of things.”
Bibi was not Merry’s biggest fan, so Megan took her opinion with a healthy dash of salt.
“Where’s Becca staying?” Emily asked.
Megan said, “With Merry, I presume. That’s where I left her.”
“How about Paul Fox?” Bibi asked.
Megan shrugged. “I figured he left town.”
“Oh, no,” Emily said. “He’s still here. Merry arranged for him to rent my grandmother’s old house. They have it until early January. Until now, I didn’t put two and two together. I didn’t recognize the name.”
The oven alarm went off and Bibi pulled out another tray of cookies. Megan could see crispy brown squares and rectangles molded with festive designs—Christmas stockings, wreaths, even larger cookies with tiny Bavarian villages. Once this round of cookies was cooling, Bibi pulled out a plate from the cabinet and placed a few of the cooled cookies on it. She held the plate out to Emily.
“Oh, Bonnie, I’ve eaten my fill.”