Gretchen Birch Boxed Set (Books 1-4)

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Gretchen Birch Boxed Set (Books 1-4) Page 92

by Deb Baker


  Gretchen leaned back into the warmth of Matt’s arms and closed her eyes. She’d beat Nina’s tarot card reading, had changed her fate. Others had been ruined, had suffered despair and sorrow, and for that she was sorry.

  But those she loved had survived.

  At the moment, she was completely pain free.

  Life, she decided, couldn’t be better.

  Chapter 56

  The lights went on to the thunder of applause. The cast took one bow, then another. Bonnie had pulled off her part without a hitch. Nina, after minor complaints, had stepped into Julie’s role and had done an amazing job. Jerome, having served ten days in jail, performed magic with the lights.

  Mr. B. sat at the back of the room, clapping right along with the rest of them, his unlit pipe tucked between his teeth.

  What a huge success the luncheon was. Enough money had rolled in to open the museum and keep it operational for several months. They would easily fulfill the terms of the contract.

  One generous benefactor had pledged even more.

  The six-foot Barbie looked stunning in the full-length pink gown April created for her. “No cheerleading outfit for Barbie,” April said with pride. “This is a formal affair.”

  Daisy came in after the luncheon guests were gone. She wore her purple and red outfit, and her arms were filled with packages. Gretchen gave her a big one-armed hug, still favoring her healing shoulder.

  “The big day is right around the corner,” Gretchen said. “Are you ready?”

  “I bought my wedding dress,” she said, putting down several enormous shopping bags. “I’ll show it to you later.”

  Gretchen glanced at the bags and was surprised they were from expensive stores. What was going on?

  “I have a little money of my own,” Daisy said. “I don’t usually need it.”

  “A little? Don’t need it?”

  “Most of it’s in trust.”

  “In trust?” Gretchen sounded like a parrot, repeating everything her friend said.

  “I heard about Rachel and what she tried to do to you,” Daisy said. “I feel sorry for the way it ended up. I have some issues of my own, but I’m going to work on them.”

  Gretchen smiled at her homeless friend. “I think you’re wonderful just the way you are.”

  “I’m sorry the present I gave you caused so many problems.”

  “Present? What?” What had Daisy given her? Love. Loyalty. Friendship. All of those things.

  “The museum,” Daisy said.

  “What about it?”

  “I own the house. Well, not really. It will always be part of the family trust, but I get to decide what to do with it. Richard doesn’t want to get involved, so we can continue restoring it for a museum.”

  Gretchen was trying to comprehend. Daisy was their museum benefactor?

  Daisy winked. “It’s our secret,” she said.

  “I don’t know what to say. I’m speechless.”

  “Say you’ll accept the position of museum curator.”

  Gretchen sat down at one of the luncheon tables. Fell down, was more like it. The chair saved her from hitting the floor. This couldn’t be true. Daisy didn’t have twenty dollars to her name.

  “What about the repair business?” She stammered. “Mom can’t handle it alone.”

  “She already found a new helper.” Daisy adjusted her red hat. “Me. It will be my first paid job. She said you would teach me. Well? What do you say?”

  “Why don’t you want to run the museum?”

  “Me? No. Can you see me meeting with those wealthy people who were here for the luncheon? I don’t think so. Besides, it’s haunted.”

  Gretchen’s mind was fast at work. She’d bring in traveling doll collections and give presentations. The world of dolls was an endless parade of fashion and history. The traveling doll trunk was in the museum where it belonged. She’d made sure of that. What else would she discover in the storage boxes?

  On the sidewalk outside, she saw Matt coming toward her. He hadn’t been ready to face a stage full of dolls. They had plenty of time later to overcome his phobia.

  Tonight was the night. She was sure of it. The mating dance was about to end.

  Then he stopped. Put his cell phone to his ear. Glanced at her. Apologetic eyes.

  Gretchen sighed. She’d lost him again.

  Nina traipsed past on her way to her Impala. Stopped. Held up a deck of cards between long tapered nails. “Come with me,” she said. “The cards don’t lie. You suffered pain, did you not? Come. You need a new reading. Where will the future take you next?”

  Everything was back to normal.

  Whatever that was.

  THE END

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Deb Baker has lived in all the places she portrays in her books and knows many of the characters in her books. She now lives on a high ridge in Southeastern Wisconsin, with her husband and one aging cat.

  If you enjoyed this book, please consider writing a short online review. Your opinion helps other readers discover new authors!

  Visit Deb's Website

  BOOKS BY DEB

  Gertie Johnson Murder Mysteries

  Murder Passes the Buck - When her neighbor is shot and killed, Gertie investigates his death, even though it’s been ruled an accident by Gertie’s son, the sheriff.

  Murder Grins and Bears It - a game warden is murdered right under Little Donny’s tree stand. Little Donny disappears into the backwoods, forcing sixty-six-year-old Gertie to use her “unique” investigative techniques to find her favorite grandson.

  Murder Talks Turkey - Gertie Johnson, is standing in line at the bank when it gets robbed. The robber doesn’t make it out alive, but the money is missing.

  Murder Bites the Bullet – 7/2011, Gertie and the Trouble Busters get caught in the crosshairs of a long standing family feud.

  Cooking Can Be Murder – 100 tasty recipes from Gertie’s kitchen

  Gretchen Birch Murder Mysteries

  Dolled Up For Murder – back in print 8/2011 - For Gretchen Birch, her mother Caroline, and her aunt Nina, doll restoration is a family affair. But they have never imagined a valuable doll could lead to murder.

  Goodbye Dolly - Gretchen is at her first major doll show, praying she doesn’t botch any repair job. But glue-gun glitches turn out to be the least of her worries when a sleazy reporter is found dead with Gretchen’s craft knife stuck in his back.

  Dolly Departed -Gretchen answers an invitation to a party at an unfamiliar dollhouse shop - and winds up in the thick of a murder mystery of miniature proportions.

  Guise and Dolls -An anonymous donor...murder in a cemetery...a haunted house with hidden secrets. Someone's dream come true will soon prove more of a nightmare. Gretchen better solve the mystery, or it'll be her and her friends who are history.

  Queen Bee Mysteries (as Hannah Reed)

  Buzz Off - It's September - National Honey Month - in Moraine, Wisconsin and life seems pretty sweet for Story Fischer...until her bee mentor is found dead in his apiary. Now Story has to find her way out of a very sticky situation.

  Mind Your Own Beeswax - Story Fischer has a successful local market, her Queen Bee Honey business, and a new boyfriend. Then she finds the dead body of local woman with a checkered past right near her hive and things get sticky.

  Plan Bee

  Beeline to Trouble

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © 2011 by Deb Baker. All rights reserved.

  Cover Art Design: Patricia Ryan

  Table of Contents

  What The Critics Are Saying

  DOLLED UP FOR MURDER

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 1
1

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  GOODBYE DOLLY

  ONE

  TWO

  THREE

  FOUR

  FIVE

  SIX

  SEVEN

  EIGHT

  NINE

  TEN

  ELEVEN

  TWELVE

  THIRTEEN

  FOURTEEN

  FIFTEEN

  SIXTEEN

  SEVENTEEN

  EIGHTEEN

  NINETEEN

  TWENTY

  TWENTY-ONE

  TWENTY-TWO

  TWENTY-THREE

  TWENTY-FOUR

  TWENTY-FIVE

  TWENTY-SIX

  TWENTY-SEVEN

  TWENTY-EIGHT

  TWENTY-NINE

  THIRTY

  THIRTY-ONE

  THIRTY-TWO

  THIRTY-THREE

  THIRTY-FOUR

  THIRTY-FIVE

  THIRTY-SIX

  THIRTY-SEVEN

  THIRTY-EIGHT

  THIRTY-NINE

  FORTY-ONE

  FORTY-TWO

  DOLLY DEPARTED

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  GUISE AND DOLLS

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Chapter 44

  Chapter 45

  Chapter 46

  Chapter 47

  Chapter 48

  Chapter 49

  Chapter 50

  Chapter 51

  Chapter 52

  Chapter 53

  Chapter 54

  Chapter 55

  Chapter 56

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  BOOKS BY DEB

  Copyright

 

 

 


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