As always, Nikki outdid herself with the food. After Caprice made sure the guest list prepared by real estate agents was in order, Nikki readied her dishes and warming trays and slow cookers. There was roast goose, glazed ham, and herb-encrusted prime rib. The Cornish hens with raspberry sauce called to Caprice as well as the spinach-mushroom lasagna. Side dishes ranged from roasted apples with carrots and parsnips to baked cheese and vegetable pastries, sautéed broccolini, and zucchini au gratin. The dessert bar carried everything from a peanut-butter and chocolate trifle to a peppermint-laced three-layer cake with fluffy white icing to an assortment of cookies—sand tarts, snowballs, and macaroons included.
As Caprice pulled a prosciutto, feta, and arugula wrap from the hors d’oeuvres tray and tasted it, Nikki shook her finger at her. “You can sample. Just don’t mess up my star arrangement.”
Nikki had arranged the hors d’oeuvres to form a star. Caprice rearranged the wraps so the star was in perfect shape again. “What did Brett think about Thanksgiving with the De Lucas?” She hadn’t had a chance to talk to Nikki since the gathering.
“I think he was a little overwhelmed, but not in a bad way. He said he’d never seen so much food. Then again, I don’t think he’s really visited one of our open houses.”
“You could have asked him to drop in.”
“I could have. But it seems a little too soon for that. We’re not immersed in each other’s lives yet. I’m still not sure if I like the fact I’m dating a detective. Almost every time we have a date, he gets called in.”
“As bad as dating a doctor,” Caprice said. She’d dated a doctor and had even thought he might be Mr. Right. But then she and Grant had connected again. For a while her world had been confusing until she’d listened to her heart.
“Have you seen Sara?”
“She breezed through here a little while ago. I think she said she was going into Chris’s workshop. Something about putting together more toys to box up to take to Santa’s cabin.”
“I’ll check on her,” Caprice said. “If I’m not back until Denise arrives, just tell her where I am.”
“Will do,” Nikki said as she spooned more raspberry sauce over the Cornish hens.
Caprice wound past Nikki’s assistants working in the kitchen and exited through the back door. She took the brick path to the workshop. She’d worn a midi-length skirt today, in cranberry. Her cream blouse was reminiscent of the seventies, with balloon sleeves and a bow at the neck. She’d worn her hair in an upsweep, fastened with a gold barrette. Her knee-high black boots rounded out the outfit. She hadn’t bothered to grab her coat so she wrapped her arms around herself as she walked.
The carriage door was partially open and Caprice hurriedly slipped inside eager to get out of the wind. But as soon as she did, she heard raised voices.
“I have to see him, and I need to see him now.”
A tall, lean man towered over Sara. He looked angry or maybe just upset. It was hard to tell.
To leave or to barge in?
Caprice wasn’t known for backing away from confrontation. She felt for her cell phone in her pocket. She liked clothes with pockets so she could always carry it. It had been her lifeline more than once.
She banged the carriage door closed so that both the man and Sara knew she was there. “Sara,” she said with a bright smile approaching the two of them, “Nikki has the food ready and wanted you to taste it. Are you available to do that now? Denise will be arriving soon.”
Okay, so a little white lie couldn’t hurt. Sara had already tasted Nikki’s samples of the food she was going to serve and had approved it.
Caprice got a better look at the man with Sara now. He looked to be about Chris’s age. Whether he’d started to go bald or whether it was just the style, his head was shaved. It looked good on him. He wasn’t dressed for the open house. He wore jeans and a red flannel runner’s jacket. When he turned to look at Caprice, his green eyes were sharp and she could tell he wanted her to go away. She’d definitely interrupted something.
Next to the man, Sara looked like a princess in a red wool, calf-length dress with long sleeves and an A-line skirt. She wore pearls at her neck, and she could have passed for a present-day Mrs. Claus. To Caprice’s eyes she seemed a little pale, but maybe that was because this man had cornered her.
Sara forced a plastic smile and moved toward Caprice and away from the man. “Caprice! Yes, of course. I can taste Nikki’s food. And I’m sure Denise is going to want to talk to me. I can’t wait to hear about the offers she might have for us.”
Caprice’s eyes widened a bit. So, Sara wanted to leave the carriage house too. But Caprice wanted to know who the man was. “I don’t think we’ve met,” she said to him, noticing a tattoo peeking out from the wrist of his jacket.
Now the man looked uncertain, as if he didn’t know what to do. Still, he came forward and extended his hand.
“I’m Ray Gangloff, a friend of Chris’s.”
Sara explained, “They served in Vietnam together. Ray was interested in . . . interested in . . .” Sara grabbed for something, then she swung her hand around the workshop. “He’s interested in the toys Chris makes. He might want to learn how to do some of it himself.”
“That could be a rewarding pastime,” Caprice agreed.
Ray seemed to find his composure. He focused on Sara again. “Please tell Chris to get back to me.” Then the veteran said, “I won’t keep you ladies. I know you have a party in the house.”
He made the idea of a party sound like a crime.
After he’d left the workshop, Caprice went to the door and stared out. He’d moved quietly and fast and was no longer in sight. She turned back to Sara. “Is everything okay?”
“I don’t know. I know Ray has PTSD that can cause him to be brusque, but today he was more than that. He was almost belligerent. He demanded to see Chris. I told him Chris was at the store, but he said he’d stopped there and he wasn’t.”
“Maybe he just stepped out for a few minutes. Maybe he went to the cabin to get it ready.”
“But you and he had already gotten it ready yesterday.”
Yes, she’d helped Chris make the cabin as cheery as it could be. They’d hung gingerbread men and she’d decorated a small tree. They’d made sure Candy Cane Lane with its sleigh and stacked pretend presents, its candy-cane lights and wooden candy canes lining the pathway to the little building, would draw children and adults alike.
“Have you tried to reach Chris on his cell?” Caprice asked.
“No, but I will now.”
“You do that while I go greet Denise and any guests that might arrive early. Let me know if you find him.”
“I will,” Sara assured her. She touched Caprice’s arm. “And Caprice, thank you. Thank you for walking in when you did. I’ve never been afraid of Ray, but something about him today just sent chills up my spine.”
Caprice understood that feeling because she’d felt it herself. She just hoped whatever was happening with the Merriweathers could be resolved quickly and soon. Maybe selling their house would help do that. Maybe Chris talking to his wife would help do that.
It seemed to her he was hiding something . . . maybe more than one something.
Chapter Four
The Christmas parade was a big event in Kismet. In fact, some of the residents who lived downtown put out lawn chairs the night before to make sure they’d have a place to view it. The police department was used to the tradition and, for the most part, didn’t mind. Keeping peace and having a few extra patrol officers on duty made sure there were no disputes if a neighbor tried to move a chair.
Today Grant had brought his SUV with crates for both Patches and Lady in the back, the safest way for them to travel. Since Vince lived downtown in a condo in an old school building that had been renovated, they were able to park in his guest spot and didn’t have to worry about walking a few blocks or securing public parking. As they walked their dogs from the parking garage in back alon
gside of Vince’s building to the main street, White Rose Way, Grant checked his watch.
“We have a little time before the parade begins,” he noted.
“Let me text Dad and see where he is. Mom will be on the high school’s float, and I know he’ll want to watch her pass by.”
After she texted her dad, she received a quick response. “He said he’s standing in front of Cherry on the Top, and he has Blitz with him. He’s watching the dog for Chris until he finishes with the parade and goes back to the cabin.”
“I bet the kids get a kick out of seeing a friendly, white Malamute as much as they do telling Santa what’s on their list.”
“I’m sure a few of them have dogs on their list. Blitz was a real find when Chris rescued him.”
“I haven’t heard the story,” Grant said.
Caprice grew serious. “Someone chained him to a tree on the outskirts of town and left him there one December. Chris had gone out jogging and found him. He put an ad in the paper and phoned the area veterinarians, thinking a beautiful dog like that couldn’t have been left behind. But no one claimed him, and Blitz claimed Chris. They’ve been inseparable ever since. That dog does seem magical in some ways. Everyone who comes in contact with him falls under his spell. He’s so friendly. I think everybody in town knows him because they see him at Chris’s store.”
They made their way through the lineup of people along the sidewalk to Cherry on Top, Kismet’s favorite ice-cream store. And there was her dad with Blitz. Lady and Patches trotted right up to Blitz. They all nosed each other. They’d been in contact before and were friends.
Caprice let Blitz smell her hand, then she ruffled the fur on the side of his face and behind his ears. He leaned into her palm as if he were in bliss.
When she straightened, he sat at attention by her dad’s side, looking toward the street.
“I think he knows he’s going to see Chris in his sleigh,” she joked.
“His concentration is better than mine,” her dad said wryly. “Are you two going to be good standing through the whole parade? I can find us a couple of chairs.”
“How about you?” Caprice asked. “Your knee was giving you trouble last week.”
Her father brushed her concern away. “It’s fine. I can’t see a thing when I sit, and I want to make sure your mom sees me.”
“I’m sorry Nana didn’t come, but I know how the cold affects her bones. We could be in for some snow early this year,” Caprice said.
“It’s predicted for next week,” Grant responded.
Patches and Lady sat smack up against each other, both looking all around at the people and at the street.
“I hear music,” Caprice said with a smile, turning to look in the direction from where it was coming. “Who’s the grand marshal this year?”
“The mayor dubbed Ray Butterworth from the Koffee Klatch to be grand marshal. He said Ray knows everything that goes on in this town, upside down and frontwards and backwards. So he could lead the parade. I think he’s going to be driving a Buick convertible that his father restored.”
The music was coming from the high-school band that was participating too. There would be Girl Scout and Boy Scout troops, 4-H club, and anyone else who wanted to put a float together or walk in formation.
As the music grew louder, they caught sight of the Buick convertible slowly making its way down the street.
Suddenly a voice behind Caprice said, “I enjoyed this more when I was a kid. Being a grownup takes some of the fun out of it.”
Caprice turned to see Vince and teased, “You’ll never grow up.”
“I made an offer on the house yesterday. It’s serious grownup time.”
She leaned closer to her brother. “You talked to Roz about it?”
“I did. She doesn’t entirely like the idea that I want to buy it on my terms, but she’s going to move in with me. We’re going to do this, Caprice.”
She gave her brother a huge hug. “You know I want this to work out for you. You took her to see the house?”
“Yesterday. She says it has plenty of room. I hope she’s not just trying to placate me.”
“Why would she do that? She tells you what she thinks.”
“I suppose. I guess we’re both a little nervous about moving in together.”
“She has the shop open today, doesn’t she?” Caprice asked.
All About You was a premier dress shop in Kismet. Roz’s philosophy was that she wanted to fit any woman from petite to plus size. She carried the latest styles and classic ones too. She’d rented a two-story row house on Bristol Row, dubbed Restoration Row, an older section of town that had been refurbished. Bella worked at All About You part-time and, according to her, the shop was doing wonderfully.
Vince nodded. “She wanted to take advantage of this foot traffic today. Holiday hours are starting for all the stores.” He leaned close to Caprice. “We could get an ice-cream sundae and skip the parade.”
“And miss Mom waving to us from her float?”
“What was I thinking?” Vince muttered.
“You were thinking that you’ve been at this parade most years since you were about three. But that’s the whole point. It’s a tradition.”
“Did you ever think the De Luca family has an awful lot of traditions?”
“That’s what makes a family work, son,” Nick De Luca said, apparently overhearing. “You’ll remember that when you start one of your own.”
Caprice could guess exactly what her brother was thinking. Moving in with Roz was one thing, having kids was quite another. However, to Caprice, contemplating the idea of having a baby was something she wanted to consider in her near future. She and Grant hadn’t talked about that yet. They hadn’t talked about several things they should. But they agreed on everything that was important, she hoped.
Grant pointed to the teenagers in elf costumes who were running down the street just behind the Buick. They held baskets of candy canes and were giving them out to children along the way.
Grant’s arm went around her waist. “Our first Christmas parade together.”
“You know, I really should start a journal or a log or something.”
“Like a diary?” he asked.
“I’ve kept diaries on and off over the years. I’ll find a special book to start writing in. I’d rather write it by hand than on the computer.”
After the high-school band played a rousing rendition of “Jingle Bells,” Caprice had to laugh at the float that came behind them.
“Look at the Perky Paws float. Dom and Dulcina are on it. They didn’t tell me they were going to be in the parade.”
Her father explained, “Perky Paws is carrying Dom’s business cards for the pet-sitting service, so they asked him if he’d join them on the float. He pulled Dulcina into it.”
Someone had gone to a lot of trouble to make life-sized papier-mâché dogs and cats that sat on the flat bed wagon. Greta Hansen, who owned Perky Paws, stood at a case that held her specialized cookies for dogs. They looked good enough for a human to eat. Dom and Dulcina held baskets with dog and cat treats. There was a beautiful cat and dog mural painted on the side of the float, and Caprice spotted the young man who she suspected was the artist: Danny Flannery. Danny was a teenager she’d helped during one of her murder investigations. He had painted beautiful murals at Ace Richland’s home. After Caprice had staged a local house on an estate and Ace Richland had purchased it, they’d become good friends. Caprice had suggested Danny’s work to the rock star. Ace had funded Danny’s schooling.
Apparently, Danny had come home for the Thanksgiving weekend. He was running around the truck with a basket holding dog and cat treats and giving them out to anyone who held out their hand. He was a good kid who was going to have a great start because Ace was helping him.
When Danny saw Caprice, he waved and ran up to her.
“How’s school?” she asked him.
“I love it. I’ll show you some of my paintings over
the holidays.”
“Sounds good to me,” she said.
A horseback-riding group came through on six beautiful chestnut horses, all decorated for Christmas. Their tails were braided with red and green ribbon, as were their manes. The riders wore red riding jackets and black jodhpur pants.
Businesses who wanted the publicity built floats too, including Denise Langford’s real estate office. When the high school’s float came by, there was a huge sign on it advertising Career Night the following week. Each of the teachers held a sign with a possible career choice. Her mother held the sign that said Interpreter. Kids who were headed off to college needed to know all of the possibilities they could choose from.
“Your mom looks forward to this every year,” Caprice’s dad told her.
“Tradition,” she said with a look at Vince who just rolled his eyes.
Grant asked, “Do you want to walk to the end of the parade run? The dogs could use the exercise and probably so could we.”
They all agreed that would be a great idea. The end of the parade run converged in the community park. There, Santa would move from his sleigh on the float to the cabin where he would begin to hear the kids’ long lists of everything they wanted for Christmas. Caprice, Vince, their dad, and Grant could watch the rest of the parade from the park. It was a prime viewing point and usually crowded.
After they reached the park, they found a spot by a tall oak behind some children. They could see over their heads. The kids looked back and forth between the parade and the three dogs who were sitting there watching too.
About twenty minutes later, Caprice could hear the sound of sleigh bells and the music playing “Here Comes Santa Claus” as Chris’s float came down the street. He was settled on a sleigh that an area farmer lent the town each year for the parade. After snowfalls, he actually took neighbors on rides across his fields. On the other hand, the huge sleigh near Santa’s cabin was one that had been built for decorative use only.
“I’d like to talk to Chris if I get the chance,” Caprice said. “Do you want to wait?”
Slay Bells Ring Page 5