by Amy Lilly
I could see Shari working inside of her greenhouse. I called out to her. "Shari, it's me. Phee."
Shari popped her head out the open door of the greenhouse. "Phee! Come on in. I'm just pruning the roses." She held up a pair of garden shears in her hand. "You can keep me company."
I walked into the greenhouse and the wave of heat hit me as I left the chill of outside. Shari was clipping branches off of her pots of roses. I strolled over, stopping every few feet to inhale the fragrances of the various flowers. "How are you, Shari? I had the day off work unexpectedly. I had said that I would come see you. You promised me a root beer float!"
"Well, I'm happy as can be that you decided to come see me. I was feeling a little neglected," Shari joked. She moved to the next pot of roses.
I wandered through the benches admiring the different blooms. "Well, I've been a little busy. Someone tried to burn down the library last night." I stopped as I saw several large rose bushes filled with white blooms. Suddenly, the pieces of the puzzle fell into place. Shari was at Duane's talk about mushrooms. She had checked out the book. She and Grant had attended the benefit breakfast where Carla was poisoned. Shari was a crack shot with a gun. She had been acting strangely ever since her husband had passed away. I started to back out of the greenhouse and make my way to the door. I turned and Shari stood in front of me with a shovel in her hand. The last thing I saw was the shovel coming up to hit me in the head.
CHAPTER THIRTY SEVEN
“Being a hero means ignoring how silly you feel.” - Diana Wynne Jones, Fire and Hemlock
I awoke to a throbbing headache. I slowly opened my eyes and discovered that I was somehow tied to an old chair in Shari's kitchen. I tried to move my hands and feet and found that although I could wiggle my fingers, my wrists were too tightly bound to try to escape. A sticky wetness dripped across my one swollen eye where the shovel had connected with my head.
"Oh, good. You're awake. Really, Phee, I thought your mother had raised you better than to fall asleep at the dinner table. I was just getting ready to fix you your favorite root beer float," Shari said in an oddly sing-song voice.
"Shari, I'm hurt. Can you untie me, please?" I watched her warily through my one good eye. She was humming under her breath and moving quickly around the kitchen. "Shari, you need help. I can get you help."
She turned suddenly and I saw that she had a large knife in her hand. Her eyes were glazed over and I knew that she had finally left reality. I shrank back and said, "I miss your root beer floats, Shari. That was my favorite part of coming with Grant when we were kids."
"When you and Grant have kids, I'll have to fix them root beer floats, too. She took the large knife she held and cut a sandwich in half and placed it in front of me. "I'm really mad at you, Phee, but I'm ready to forgive you, now. I know that all girls have to have a wild fling before settling down to marry, but it’s time for you to be done with Clint and start your life with Grant."
"Shari, tell me you didn't hurt Huey, Carla and Duane." My head felt like it was ready to explode and my vision was blurring. I had to stay awake if I was going to stay alive.
"Well, of course I did, silly girl. Huey was always harassing you and you were much too nice to stand up to him. I decided to take matters into my own hands. You can thank me later for getting rid of him. I just wanted you to be happy and I could tell that Huey was making you unhappy. Carla needed to die. She seduced my son. A married woman and there she was out catting around with anyone and everyone!" She opened the freezer and pulled out a tub of ice cream. She started to scoop ice cream and put it into a tall glass.
"What about Duane? He never hurt a soul. He was Grant's friend, too." I attempted to move my hands again to loosen the knots.
"I'm sad about Duane, but he saw me take some of his poisonous mushrooms after his lecture. I told him that I wanted to compare them to some mushrooms I had found out in the woods behind the house. Once they figured out Carla was poisoned with a mushroom, I knew I had to get rid of him. He might tell them about me and I need to be here for you and Grant," she said in a matter-of-fact tone. She opened a bottle of root beer and poured it in the glass. I knew I had to keep her talking if I was going to get out of this alive.
"I understand," I said soothingly. I tugged futilely at the ropes again. "Shari, my hands are going numb and I can't eat with my hands tied. Can you please untie me?"
"I will in a bit. I don't quite trust you after you decided to cheat on my Grant with Clint. That's all going to stop now that you and Grant are getting married." Shari sat down at the table across from me and pointed the knife at me. "I worked hard to protect you so that you and Grant would be happy, but you went and messed things up when you decided to screw around with that cop. I've decided to forgive you though. Grant had his slip up with Carla, so you get a free pass with Clint but no more. It's time to put an end to that and be faithful to Grant."
"I will. I'm sorry about Clint. It was a mistake, I was just angry with Grant over Carla. I'm glad you got rid of her. I was jealous of her, " I said in what I hoped was a sincere voice. I had to convince Shari that I wanted to be with Grant.
"Well, she's out of the picture now. I think a spring wedding would be lovely, don't you?" Shari gave me a smile that chilled me to my bones. She truly had become unhinged. I closed my eyes briefly and offered up a prayer that someone would come looking for me.
"Um...yes, I think that would be lovely. What does Grant think?" I stalled for time.
"Oh, you know he is busy with his new job, I really haven't discussed it with him. I think you and I can handle all of the arrangements, don't you?" Shari continued dreamily, "It would thrill me if you could wear the dress I wore in my own wedding to Ed. You know he was my best friend and I've just felt empty since he died. But now you and Grant are going to start a family, and I can be a grandma and everything is going to be fine."
"Sure. I think that it would be an honor to wear your dress." I felt my vision darken and knew that I was going to pass out. As I started to sink into unconsciousness, I thought I heard a loud crash.
CHAPTER THIRTY EIGHT
“Sometimes, you read a book and it fills you with this weird evangelical zeal, and you become convinced that the shattered world will never be put back together unless and until all living humans read the book.” - John Green, The Fault in Our Stars
I awoke to two green eyes staring at me with concern. They did not belong to Ferdinand, but to Clint. "She's awake," Clint said to someone behind him. Juliet's tear-stained face peered around Clint.
"I thought you were dead!" Juliet sobbed as she pushed Clint out of her way and knelt down next to me. She grabbed my hand and held it tightly to her chest. "Don't ever, ever, ever get stalked and nearly killed by a lunatic again. Understand me?" I tried nodding my head and winced from the pain.
"Where's Shari?" I croaked through parched lips.
"She's in handcuffs sitting in the back of Sheriff Dawes' cruiser right now. Don't talk. An ambulance is on its way." Clint leaned forward and grabbed my other hand. "You gave me quite a scare, Phee. Be glad your sister is as pushy as she is. When you didn't meet her for lunch, she knew something was wrong. She insisted that we start looking for you. She remembered you said that you were going to visit Shari before meeting her. I put two and two together and knew that she must be behind the murders. I got here just in time, too. It turns out that she had put mushrooms on the sandwich sitting in front of you. I'm sure we'll find out that they are poisonous."
"Thanks for saving me. I'm really sleepy now. I'm gonna go back to...." I slipped back into unconsciousness.
When I awoke again, I was in a hospital bed. Mom and Dad were asleep in the chairs next to my bed. When I shifted and tried to sit up, Mom woke up and hurried next to me. "Don't move too fast, honey. Let me help you," Mom said as she helped me sit up and put pillows behind my head. She looked tired and scared.
"Can I have some water?" I croaked. My lips felt cracked and my head was pounding
. A bandage covered one eye. Mom poured some water from a bedside pitcher into a cup and lifted it to my lips. I swallowed some and then rested back against the pillows. Dad was awake now, too. His hair was a riot of red tufts all over his head and he was unshaven. "How long have I been out?"
"Almost twenty-four hours," Dad replied. "The doctors don't believe there is any swelling to your brain, but you got a mighty big knock to your noggin, Phee. I always said I had hard-headed kids. You've got about twenty stitches over your left eye where the shovel hit, but it should heal up fine."
"Oh, honey. I was scared. And I am so sorry. I can't believe Shari did this to you. We've been friends for years!" Mom's distress was palpable and I reached over and grabbed her hand. I squeezed it hard to let her know I was okay.
"Shari's not Shari right now, Mom. I think something broke inside of her when Ed died, and she just snapped. How long do I need to stay in the hospital?" I asked. I never did like hospitals and the sooner I could get out of here the better.
"Actually, the doctors said we could take you home tomorrow morning. You are coming home with us, too, young lady, so we can keep a close eye on you. Juliet told us all about how you two went out investigating. I don't know what you girls were thinking," Dad said sternly.
Mom laid a restraining hand on Dad's arm. "Honey, now is not the time. We can talk about that once Phee's up and about. Are you up for some visitors? Juliet, Rick and Clint have been pacing a hole through the floor outside the room all night."
"Sure. I bet I look awful, though." I reached a hand up and felt the rat's nests in my red hair.
"Based on the look on Clint's face when they brought you in, I don't think he would care if you had two heads and warts. I knew something was going on with you two." Dad smiled at me and then walked over and opened the door to the room. "She's awake. You guys can come on in."
Juliet, Rick and Clint rushed into the room. Juliet flew to the hospital bed and hugged me. "Ouch, Juls. I'm a little injured here, you know." I winced with pain.
"Sorry. I'm just glad you're okay. I was really scared. When we got to Shari's house and saw you tied to the chair with blood all over your face, I...I just thought I had lost my big sister. It was horrible!' Large tears rolled down Juliet's pretty face. Her eyes were puffy and bloodshot from the sleepless night.
"Hey there, Flea. Guess I'm going to have to keep a closer eye on you and Juliet from now on to keep you out of trouble. I can't believe you. First, you break into Huey Long's house, and now I find out you’ve been investigating crimes with Juliet. Really?" Rick came over and gave me a brotherly pat on the arm.
"Thanks for spilling all the beans, Juliet. Sheesh. I know not to give you any state secrets," I joked weakly.
"Juliet didn't spill the beans. I did." Clint said. "You might as well know that reporters from the local paper and from Burlington have been calling non-stop to get the scoop. Jaime is doing a statement to the press this morning. Shari's in custody and chances are that she will be found unfit to stand trial. She kept saying that we were interrupting her plans for you and Grant's wedding. She's lost complete touch with reality now."
"How's Grant?" I asked. I knew that none of this was his doing. "He must be devastated over his mom."
"He's holding up alright. He's already called in some big shot attorney friend of his to represent his mom," Clint said in a tight voice.
"He'll be alright once his nose heals, anyway. Clint punched him and broke it!" Juliet exclaimed gleefully.
"Clint! It's not his fault his mom did all of this! What in the world?" I gave him a questioning look.
"He came pulling up in that damn sports car of his when they were loading you into the ambulance. He came rushing over and wanted to know what was going on with his mom and his Phee. I answered him with my fist. You are no one else's but mine," Clint responded heatedly.
"Ahem," Dad cleared his throat. "I need a cup of coffee. Anyone else want to come with me?" He gave an exaggerated motion with his arm to clear everyone out of the room so Clint and I could be alone.
"I'm good," Rick said. He was totally oblivious and obviously wondering why his best friend was holding his little sister's hand.
"I need your help to carry the coffee," Dad said firmly and guided him out of the room.
Once the door was closed, Clint leaned over and gently kissed me on the lips, taking care not to hurt me. "I must look awful," I said self-consciously.
"You are the most beautiful girl in the world to me. Bad hair, war wounds and all." Clint gave me a smile and kissed my hand. "Phee, I've never been so scared in my life. I kicked down that door and saw Shari there with a knife. You were slumped over and covered in blood. I have to tell you, I about lost it right then and there."
“So, I guess you kind of like me?" I teased.
"I think that I most definitely want to be the only one who can call you his girl." Clint leaned in and kissed me.
EPILOGUE
I carried the turkey to the table and set it down in the middle. Mom and Juliet carried over the mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls and green beans. Carrie waddled behind them with the cranberry sauce. The table was practically groaning under the weight of all the food Mom had prepared.
"Go tell the boys that Thanksgiving dinner is ready. And tell them no football talk either!" Mom instructed me. I walked to the den and smiled when I saw Clint, Rick, Wade and Dad all laid back with their feet up watching the football game.
"Mom said dinner is served and no football during the meal." Clint pulled himself up off the couch and kissed me lightly on the lips.
Shaking his head, Rick said, "I don't think I'm ever gonna get used to this. Clint, you do know I will break your head if you break my sister's heart, right?" Rick play punched Clint on the arm.
"Yeah...yeah. You accidentally break my nose one time and you think you can take me." Clint laughed. We all walked into the dining room and sat down around the table. Mom lit the candles and Dad asked that we all join hands so he could say grace.
"Heavenly Father, thank you for the food we are about to eat. Thank you for my beautiful family. Watch over Carrie and Rick as they get ready to start their own family. Keep Juliet and Phee out of any more trouble and give Clint the patience to deal with them when they don't. Amen." Dad cleared his throat and gave Juliet and me a meaningful look. "Let's eat."
"That was not funny, Dad!" Juliet protested. "I was an innocent bystander. Phee made me help her!"
"Actually, you were the one who said to "live a little" and quit being...what was it you said, "too nice." So really, all of it was your fault!" I turned and stuck my tongue out at her.
"Um...everyone...” Carrie said quietly.
"Girls, quit bickering. I'm just glad Phee is okay. I hope Shari can get the help she needs. She was always such a happy, carefree woman and it just breaks my heart that she did all those awful things." Mom shook her head sadly.
"Hello everyone!" Carrie said louder this time. "I think my water just broke. The babies are coming!"
THE END
Acknowledgements
A huge thank you goes to my cheerleader, editor, friend and evil twin, Maricruz, who called me and drove me crazy every time I killed a character. She encouraged me daily and gave great advice through every step of the writing process. Thank you to Ashley Townsend for her amazing cover art. Thank you to my staff and patrons at the library who let me model characters after them. A special thank you to Caroline and the real Nellie Jo. And of course, my thanks and love to my husband, Dennis, who doesn’t understand this crazy writing thing that I do, but is always my biggest fan.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Amy Lilly can be found trapped in the basement of a library somewhere in southern West Virginia where she toils daily as the director. When she is able to escape, she spends her free time raising goats, chickens, a herd of well-fed cats and two hyperactive Jack Russell Terriers. She is married to her biggest fan, Dennis, and has two sons and two beautiful granddaughters. This i
s her first novel.