“Thanks, Bee,” he said, choking it out.
I gave him a hug too then moved onto Sam and Trouble. “Please keep safe,” Sam warbled, unable to keep her emotions in check. “And please call me. You’ve been such amazing guests and friends. And I just know little Trouble will miss you.”
Indeed, the calico cat purred and licked me on the cheek the minute I lowered my face to give him a little kiss on the furry head.
“We’ll be safe,” I whispered. “And we will definitely keep in touch. Hopefully, we can swing back this way some time.”
“You had better,” Sam sobbed.
I hugged her tight, gave Trouble one final tickle behind the ears, then waved to my friends. My friends. Sheesh, I would never have thought that I’d have been leaving this small town in Maine with friends when I’d arrived.
I’d come to hide from my past. To find adventure. To explore.
I’d gotten so much more than that.
Bee and I walked arm-in-arm to the food truck, both overcome by emotion, holding the box of croissants that Shawn had given us. We got into the cab of the truck and took a second to compose ourselves. I afforded myself one last view of the Oceanside, with its two stories, and the beautiful view of the ocean behind it.
Millie, Sam and Shawn waved from the porch, and I spared a last little goodbye for them, as well, then started the truck.
We drove off down the road, heading for the town’s exit, my heart heavy.
“Cheer up, Rubes,” Bee said. “We’re off on our next escapade. Just imagine what the future holds.”
“I know,” I said. “I’m just going to miss them.”
“At least, we have the memories. Imagine if we’d never stopped in Carmel Springs. I’m sure we’ll meet more fantastic people along the way.”
“Hopefully, we won’t have to solve any more murders.”
“The world is full of wonder and strangeness,” Bee said, turning to me with a gap-toothed smile. “I wouldn’t count on a lack of mystery in our future.”
I laughed, and some of the sorrow lifted. “So,” I said, “where are we spending the New Year?”
“We’re going to Muffin,” she said, tapping on the GPS to bring up the map.
“Pardon me?”
“Pardon you,” Bee replied. “Muffin, Massachusetts. I thought it sounded exactly like our kind of town.”
I blinked. A chuckle burst from my lips. “All right,” I said. “Muffin it is.”
“Merry Christmas, Ruby. Let’s have another adventure together.”
“Merry Christmas,” I said, my eyes on the road rather than the rearview mirror. “And a Happy New Year.”
If you’d like to find out what happens in Muffin, Massachusetts and read more cutesy cozy mysteries, turn the page for an exclusive offer.
(This isn’t the last you’ll be hearing from Rubes and Bee!)
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Thank you, Reader!
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Also by Rosie A. Point
The Burger Bar Mystery Series:
The Fiesta Burger Murder
The Double Cheese Burger Murder
The Chicken Burger Murder
The Breakfast Burger Murder
The Salmon Burger Murder
The Cheesy Steak Burger Murder
The Burger Bar Mysteries Box Set
The Bite-sized Bakery Cozy Mystery Series:
Murder By Chocolate
Marzipan and Murder
Creepy Cake Murder
Murder and Meringue Cake
Murder Under the Mistletoe (A Bite-sized Bakery Cozy Mystery Book 5) Page 9