Peanut Butter and Jelly Murder

by Susan Gillard

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  “Eva's Delicious Mystery: A Donut Hole Spin-Off”

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  Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Copyright 2017 by Guardian Publishing Group - All rights reserved.

  All rights Reserved. No part of this publication or the information in it may be quoted from or reproduced in any form by means such as printing, scanning, photocopying or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

  Table of Contents

  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 1

  “We pick door number one,” Amy joked. “Just open it already.”

  “I can’t take the suspense,” Heather agreed. “Open the door.”

  Eva smiled at her friends with her on the doorstep. The older woman’s hand trembled as she raised it to the door handle.

  “Goodness me,” Eva said. “I’m shaking. I can’t tell if it’s from fear or excitement.”

  “Maybe it’s from hunger,” Leila suggested to her best friend. She turned to Heather with a wink. “You did bring donuts for us today, didn’t you?”

  “Of course, I did,” Heather assured her. “But why don’t we look at what we came to celebrate before we break open the celebratory snacks?”

  “You’re right,” Eva said. “Here we go.”

  However, Eva still hesitated before turning the doorknob. She was about to reveal the renovations that had been done to her house. Eva and Leila’s home had been the victim of arson, and it had needed extensive repairs before they could return to living in it. Heather had caught the man responsible for the fire (and murder), but it still made her blood boil to know that he had gone after her friends.

  Eva and Leila had started out as Heather’s favorite customers at her Donut Delights shop, but now the older women were close personal friends of hers. Donuts and sleuthing have a way of solidifying friendships.

  The women had also been houseguests of Heather’s while the repairs were made on their home. After having Eva and Leila live with her, they felt even more like family. She was going to miss them when they moved out and returned to their house. Of course, Eva was going to have to open the door first before that could happen.

  Heather and Amy had already complimented Eva and Leila on how the outside of the house looked after the renovation. It looked just as charming as it had before the fire, but also had some updates to the exterior that made it look even more vibrant and homey than before. Eva had agreed with the assessment, yet she was still pausing before she entered her home.

  “What if it doesn’t feel the same as before?’ Eva asked, showing a rare moment of vulnerability.

  “It will,” Heather assured her, before saying, “No. It will be even better. Because it’s still the house you lived in a loved for so long.”

  “I made so many memories here,” Eva agreed.

  “But now it had some upgrades and welcome modifications. It was a decidedly awful reason that forced the changes,” Heather said. “But now it will be even better than it was.”

  “You were involved in the planning,” Amy reminded her. “The new tub you told us about sounds amazing and will be easy for you to get in and out of even when you’re ninety-nine.”

  “And we made a few changes that will help it become both of our home,” Leila added, squeezing her friend’s hand.

  “Plus,” Heather said with a smile. “We’ll add donuts to the kitchen.”

  “You’ve convinced me,” Eva said. “Here we go.”

  She took a deep breath and opened the door. The women walked inside and relief flooded over them. The rooms felt just as cozy as before.

  “It’s wonderful,” Eva said.

  “We had visited the house a few times when they were making the repairs,” Leila said. “Sometimes there were just a few boards of wood where the wall was going to go up. Could you imagine it would become this beautiful room?”

  “I even like this wallpaper more than the old one,” Eva said. “I had meant to change it for so long.”

  “The new windows add so much natural light into the room,” Heather said. “And the living room feels so spacious.”

  “Right,” Amy said “I feel like we should have a dance party in this room. Or maybe go roller skating. There’s enough room for figure eights.”

  “We really have you to thank for this,” Eva said suddenly. “That bake sale that you had in our honor helped make this possible.”

  “It was my idea to have the bake sale, but it was the whole community who turned out to support you. Everybody in Hillside wanted to make sure that you were back in your home as soon as possible.”

  “Still, I do really appreciate it,” Eva said. “That sale raised so much we were able to make some improvements to the house. We did make this room a little larger. I hope you don’t think that was greedy.”

  “Eva, you don’t have a greedy bone in your body,” Heather said.

  “It’s true,” Amy said. “You have a wisdom bone, and a kindness bone, and a bravery bone. But no greedy bones.”

  “I’m just glad you didn’t say they were turning to dust,” Leila joked. “It feels like it sometimes.”

  “The money was raised to turn your wounded house back into a home,” Heather said. “And I think it’s done so.”

  “I think so too,” Eva said.

  “And they’re right about all this space,” Leila said. “Now it’s the perfect amount of room to have a gathering of friends. Our group does keep growing.”

  Heather smiled. That did seem to be true. When the two ladies were staying at her house, it raised the number of inhabitants to five humans and two furry four-legged friends. Amy and her boyfriend were also starting to become a unit when it came to sending invitations.

  “I think the best part about this is that it feels like my home did before,” Eva said. “I feel safe here again.”

  “Me too,” Leila said.

  “I was afraid I might feel differently about it,” Eva said. “After finding that body here and then the fire, I was afraid it might give memories of a house of horrors instead of the house that I lived in with my beloved husband for so long and now with my cherished best friend.”

  “You’re going to make me blush,” Leila said. “But I have to admit I’m relieved as well. I don’t want to have to be afraid of scoundrels breaking in to commit crimes.”

  “We’ve had quite enough of that here,” Eva said.

  “Now did you say you had donuts?” Asked Leila.

  Heather was about to respond to the request for snacks when she heard movement in the kitchen. Instead, she quieted her friends. They all moved against the wall to hide away from the doorway entrance. Eva and Leila held each other’s hands.

  Heather reached into her purse to take out her Taser, while Amy picked up the heaviest item nearby, which ended up being a globe. They heard footsteps moving towards them.

  “Not again,” Amy muttered.

  Heather raised a finger to her lips to silence her frien
d but inwardly echoed the sentiments. How dare somebody ruin Eva and Leila’s homecoming and make them feel less-than-safe in their own house.

  Heather raised her Taser, ready to face whatever came through the doorway.

  Chapter 2

  Heather mentally prepared herself to face an armed robber or a dangerous felon that might enter the room. She was not prepared to see a large potted shrub with purple petals shimmy into the room. Nor was she expecting the gasp of surprise that came from it.

  “You scared me to death,” the plant seemed to say.

  “It might be reciprocal,” Amy reported, putting down her globular weapon.

  Taryn Turner, the woman who had been renovating the house, emerged from behind the plant.

  “I didn’t expect you for another half hour,” she said.

  Heather put her Taser away, happy that there had been no need to use it. However, in her line of work, it was always better to be safe than sorry.

  “We didn’t expect to see you at all,” Heather said.

  “We thought you were all finished,” Leila said.

  “And we must admit, it looks wonderful,” Eva said.

  “We just love it,” Leila agreed.

  “That’s kind of you to say,” Taryn Turner said. “But I know you must be disappointed with the décor in this room. I really wanted to finish it before you arrived home.”

  The other women exchanged a look. The room looked fine to everyone there.

  “But don’t worry,” Taryn said. “I brought in this plant to put against the wall there. With the expansion in this room, that one wall was looking bare.”

  The other woman look at what she was referring. Now that it was mentioned, Heather could see that it was little more sparsely decorated than the other walls. However, she didn’t think it reflected poorly on the design. It still looked like a homey room to her.

  “But don’t worry,” Taryn said. “I brought in this plant to complete the look. I think this will tie everything together.”

  “It is very pretty,” Leila said.

  She came closer and touched a petal. Then she promptly sneezed. Eva walked towards the plant as well. She was about to compliment it on the beauty of its buds when she began to sneeze as well. The two women kept sneezing until they were on the other side of the room as the plant. Heather joined them, but Amy approached the plant.

  “I’m just curious,” Amy said before she let out an “achoo” as well.

  “I’m so sorry,” Taryn said. “I didn’t expect this. I guess I have a stronger nose that most people.”

  “It’s quite all right,” Eva said. “But I’m afraid we can’t keep this plant in the house.”

  Taryn agreed and brought the plant outside, while the other women searched for and found a box of tissues. They blew their noses and then an apologetic Taryn returned.

  “I’m so sorry about this,” Taryn said. “I wanted everything to be perfect.”

  “It’s still wonderful,” Eva assured her.

  “Our eyes loved it,” Amy said. “Just not our noses.”

  “That wall still needs something,” Taryn said. “But maybe I should let you choose the focal point since you were allergic to my idea.”

  “How do we chose it?” Eva asked.

  “I know exactly what to do. I know a great little antique shop in Hillside. Aunt Amelia’s Antiques. You can go there and find something that speaks to you,” Taryn said.

  “As long as it speaks and doesn’t tickle our nostrils, it’ll be fine,” Leila joked.

  “I can take you there this afternoon,” Heather offered. She had been planning on spending time with the ladies anyway, and her daughter Lilly was at her new friend Marlena’s house, so Heather was available until dinner time for an impromptu shopping trip.

  “I’d love to go too,” Amy said. “Maybe I can find something cool for my and Jamie’s new house. We’re going to move in soon.”

  “You know,” Taryn began. “If your house needs any improvements done to it, I am available—“

  “Thanks,” Amy said. “But we’re just renting. We haven’t committed to buying a house.”

  Taryn looked momentarily disappointed but then put on a smile and set about finishing her current project. “At the antique shop, either look for an eye-catching item like a decorative vase that I can set on an end table. Or look for beautiful furniture pieces like an Old-World desk or an upholstered chair. Then I can make little adjustments to fit the room to it.”

  “Are you sure it needs it?” Eva asked. “It looks so lovely already.”

  “It will give the place that final bit of pizzazz that it needs,” Taryn said. “And, as long as the item is under a thousand dollars, your whole project will be under budget.”

  “Thank you so much,” Eva said.

  Heather smiled. She had to admit that she had been unsure about hiring Taryn Turner for the project. Taryn’s ex-business partner sister had been blackmailing clients based on what she found in their homes while renovating, and Taryn had been their main suspect when Heather and Amy had investigated the sister’s murder. However, cleared of the charges, Taryn had proved herself to be honest and competent. She had saved Eva and Leila’s house from the fire damage without taking advantage of the seniors’ wallets.

  Taryn smiled at them. “Nothing to thank me for. This is just how I do my business. On time and on budget. And looking stunning. Though, of course, if you did really want to thank me, you could write a review telling people that I am talented and trustworthy.”

  “We’d be happy to,” Eva said.

  “And we’d be happy to spread the word too,” Heather said. “No one will confuse you with shifty renovators after we tell them about what you did for this project.”

  Taryn beamed with pride.

  “I can’t find a single thing to complain about,” Leila said.

  “Well,” Amy said. “I might have one thing.”

  “What?” Taryn asked.

  “Are you still using that old motto that you told us a million times before?”

  “That Taryn Tuner Will Turn Your Home Around?” Taryn asked as Amy tried to shush her.

  “Yeah, yeah,” Amy said. “Like I said, we already heard it a million times.”

  “Actually, I have been taking it under advisement to change my slogan to something new. Even if I rightfully came up with the line and it is clever, my sister, rest in peace, dragged its name through the mud. And so, I’ve been thinking of something new.”

  “What is it?” Heather asked.

  “Another one based on my name. Taryn down walls and building up dreams,” Taryn offered.

  “I think you should work on it,” Amy said.

  “But not right now,” Heather said. “Now it’s time for some donuts to celebrate what’s been done so far, and Eva and Leila’s return to their rightful home.”

  “Are these the new flavor of the week?” Leila asked.

  “Are we getting a sneak peek?” Eva asked.

  “I’m afraid I’m premiering the new flavor tomorrow,” Heather said. “For this occasion, I made the donuts that I created in your honor for the fundraiser to fix this house.”

  Heather brought out the chocolate and vanilla donuts with nuts and lavender drizzle that she had crafted for her friends and started handing them out around the room.

  “Hand me a napkin,” Eva said. “I’m either going to need it stop my mouth from watering or my eyes from tearing.”

  Chapter 3

  Aunt Amelia’s Antiques was practically bursting with interesting items, and yet it didn’t feel cramped. Eva and Leila were taking their mission of finding the perfect item for Taryn Turner to complete their room very seriously. They were finding all the furniture pieces in the place and discussing whether they were “Old-World” enough, as well as looking for vases that made a statement before flowers were even added.

  Heather and Amy took to meandering the store and enjoyed examining unique items. They passed some rustic farm eq
uipment, and Amy picked up a butter churn.

  “Could you imagine having to churn your own butter to make your donuts?” Amy asked.

  Heather made a face. “It sounds terrible,” she said. “I guess it would be great arm exercise though.”

  “I prefer the exercise of lifting donuts towards my mouth,” Amy joked. Then she looked at the price of the butter churn she was playing with. “Wow. These are real antiques. I better not touch anything.”

  Amy made a show of lifting her hands up in the arm so she couldn’t break any expensive items and joined her laughing friend.

  “It costs that much?” Heather asked after a giggle.