An Isle of Man Ghostly Cozy Collection - ABC

by Diana Xarissa

  Fenella felt tears welling up in her eyes. “That sounds wonderful,” she said after she’d swallowed hard.

  5

  Shelly went back to her apartment to get her keys and handbag while Fenella quickly got ready to go out.

  “I’ve decided to be gracious and not hold it against you,” Mona said as Fenella walked through the living room on her way to the door.

  “What?”

  Mona sighed. “My dear, ‘pardon’ sounds so much better than ‘what,’ don’t you think?”

  Fenella blinked at her, feeling as if she’d wandered into the middle of the conversation somehow. “I’m sorry, but what are you talking about?”

  Mona shook her head. “Never mind. The important this is that I’m not going to get angry with you for refusing to tell me what happened and then telling Shelly all about it,” she explained. “Even though I am a bit, well, hurt.”

  “I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings,” Fenella said. “But I really didn’t want to talk about it. I only told Shelly because I had to explain why I was back for Katie so early, that’s all.”

  “Yes, well, you go and get some shopping in. We can talk about it later.”

  “Sure, yeah, whatever,” Fenella muttered. She had no intention of discussing the murder with Mona, or anyone else for that matter, aside from Daniel, and then only when she absolutely had to.

  The grocery store felt crowded to Fenella as she made her way through the aisles. She was sure it was just because she was feeling the tiniest bit overwhelmed by everything that had happened that day. She filled her cart with far more than she needed, adding bags of salty snacks and several different varieties of chocolate cookies to the real food, like chicken and rice.

  “Oh, my, it’s Fenella, isn’t it?” someone asked as she was studying the pastries.

  She turned her head and forced herself to smile as she recognized Nick and Brenda Proper. “Hello. This is a surprise,” she said.

  “And not a pleasant one,” Nick muttered. “Oh, no offense, but I was hoping to never see anyone from this morning ever again. I’ve rarely passed a more unpleasant morning anywhere and I’d quite like to put it right out of my head.”

  “It wasn’t that bad,” Brenda said, smiling brightly at Fenella. “And anyway, that Charlotte Masters was the main problem. Fancy making us all talk about ourselves like that. I suppose you have the same problem we do now.” She glanced into Fenella’s shopping cart. “We’ve no food in our house, either, so we had to rush down here to stock up.”

  “Yes, I cleared out everything in anticipation of being away,” Fenella agreed. “I was offered a spot on the replacement ferry, but I really just wanted to go home.”

  “Maybe we shouldn’t talk about that,” Brenda said, glancing sideways at her husband.

  “Why not?” Nick demanded. “I don’t mind people knowing that you turned down the replacement ferry in favor of completely rescheduling everyone’s lives for the next two months.”

  Brenda flushed. “When I heard that a young man was murdered, well, I felt quite unwell. I thought I might faint, if I’m honest. There was no way I was capable of continuing with our plans at that point.”

  “I understand,” Fenella said. “The whole thing is very upsetting.”

  “Yes, and his wife seemed so lovely,” the woman replied. “She was happy about their holiday and so worried about her husband. I have to say, I did wonder if he’d been in an accident or something when she was saying she didn’t know where he was, but I never imagined that he’d been murdered. Did you?”

  “I don’t think anyone ever expects to hear that someone has been murdered,” Fenella said, avoiding giving a direct answer.

  “This is the first time I’ve ever known anyone who’s been murdered,” Brenda said.

  “Except we didn’t know him,” Nick growled.

  “Well, I mean, it’s the first time we’ve been involved in a murder investigation,” Brenda corrected herself.

  “Except we aren’t actually involved,” he retorted.

  “We’re witnesses,” Brenda replied.

  “To what?” he snapped.

  “Well, we must be witnesses to something, or the police wouldn’t have kept us all morning, would they?” Brenda argued. She looked over at Fenella. “I was wondering if that Masters woman is actually a policewoman. Maybe she was there to try to get someone to say the wrong thing or something.”

  “Maybe she’s just a nosy old lady,” Nick suggested. “Anyway, we should be going. I’m sure Mrs. Woods has better things to do than stand around talking to us, and I know we do as well.”

  “Here,” Brenda said, digging around in her handbag. She pulled out a scrap of paper and a pen and wrote something on the back of the scrap. “Here’s my number,” she told Fenella. “Ring me if you hear anything interesting, won’t you?”

  Fenella took the paper and glanced at it. “I suppose so,” she said slowly. “Although I can’t imagine I’ll hear anything.”

  “Well, give me your number, too,” Brenda suggested. “I’ll let you know if we hear anything as well.”

  Unable to think of a reason to say no quickly enough, Fenella wrote her mobile phone number on another fragment of paper that Brenda produced from her bag.

  “I’ll be in touch,” Brenda promised as Nick began to walk away with their shopping cart. “Maybe we could get together for tea one day or something.”

  Before Fenella could reply, the woman had turned and followed her husband. While Fenella picked out a chocolate croissant and an apple cinnamon muffin, she wondered if Brenda would ever call and what she would say to the woman if she did. The lines at the checkouts were long, and Fenella was happy to find herself behind Shelly.

  “I was afraid you were done and waiting for me,” she told her friend.

  “Not at all,” Shelly replied. “I spent rather a long time studying the pastries, and then I got sidetracked by some new things I’d not seen before in the chocolate section. I only just remembered to get everything I needed for tonight’s dinner.”

  In spite of the lines, the pair was out of the store and on their way back to their apartment building before too long. Fenella sighed happily as Shelly pulled her car into the parking garage under their building.

  “I should have brought my little wheeled shopping trolley,” Fenella said as she tried to gather up all of her bags. “I think I have more than I can carry in one trip here.”

  “Me, too,” Shelly laughed. “But the second trip will be good exercise,” she added as they both gathered up what they could easily carry.

  “And I shall need it. I bought a lot of things I probably shouldn’t have,” Fenella replied.

  “You’ve had a very stressful and upsetting day. You deserve a few treats,” Shelly replied.

  By the time they’d made the second trip, it was getting late.

  “Would you rather just come over to my flat once I’ve prepared dinner?” Shelly asked in the corridor. “Or I can bring everything to your flat and make the meal there. I thought maybe you’d rather do that so you can be comfortable at home with Katie.”

  “Are you sure you don’t mind?” Fenella asked. “I’d much rather be at home, but I don’t want to inconvenience you.”

  “I used to do this all the time with Mona,” Shelly told her. “Mona didn’t like to cook very much, but she loved my cooking. Sometimes I would cook at my flat and sometimes at hers. Anyway, you’ve had enough stress for today. Go inside and put on your most comfortable clothes and just relax. I’ll be over in a few minutes with everything I need for our dinner.”

  Fenella didn’t have to be told twice. She let herself into her apartment and carried the second lot of shopping into the kitchen. After quickly putting everything away, except for the muffin that somehow managed to get eaten while she worked, she changed into a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt.

  “That’s what you’re wearing?” Mona asked from the bedroom doorway.

  Fenella glanced into
the mirror. “What’s wrong with this?” she demanded.

  “It’s horrible,” Mona told her.

  “It’s comfortable,” Fenella retorted. “I’ve had a difficult day.”

  “That’s no excuse for dressing sloppily,” Mona said. “You can be comfortable and still look elegant for your guest.”

  “It’s just Shelly.”

  “You should make more effort for your female friends than for your male ones,” Mona said. “They’re the ones who will be there for you when the men let you down, after all.”

  “Shelly doesn’t care what I wear. She suggested I should get comfortable,” Fenella argued.

  “Try something from my wardrobe,” Mona suggested. “I have some lovely and very comfortable loungewear that will be elegant and suitable.”

  Fenella opened her aunt’s wardrobe and found herself smiling at the racks of gorgeous clothes inside.

  “In the bottom drawer,” Mona told her.

  Fenella opened the drawer and looked inside. There were several pairs of beautiful pajamas in bright colors and patterns. She pulled out the top pair, which had a stunning turquoise and white design all over it.

  “They’re incredibly soft,” she said as she rubbed the fabric between her fingers.

  “They’re silk,” Mona replied. “Try them on.”

  Fenella pulled off her sweatpants and T-shirt and slid on the pajamas.

  “Much better,” Mona told her.

  Fenella looked in the mirror and smiled at herself. She looked elegant and exotic, but Mona was right. The outfit was incredibly comfortable and the smooth silk felt amazing against her skin.

  “Thank you,” she told her aunt.

  Before Mona could reply, Fenella heard a knock on her door.

  “Oh, but that looks lovely on you,” Shelly exclaimed. “Mona had such exquisite taste and had such beautiful things.” She walked into the room, carrying a huge box.

  “Thanks,” Fenella replied. “I feel a bit odd, wearing her things, but I think she would approve.”

  “Oh, absolutely,” Shelly agreed. “She’d hate the thought of them just sitting in the wardrobe being neglected.”

  Fenella followed Shelly into the kitchen with Mona right behind her. Mona settled onto one of the dining area chairs. “I did think about donating all of Mona’s clothes somewhere,” Fenella said, grinning to herself at the shocked look that flashed over Mona’s face.

  “Oh, you shouldn’t do that,” Shelly said. “Everything you’ve worn of hers has fitted you perfectly, and it’s all such wonderful quality. You should enjoy it.”

  Fenella nodded and then slid into a seat next to Mona, who was clearly invisible to Shelly. She watched as Shelly unpacked her box.

  “Is there anything I can do to help?” she asked after a moment.

  “No, no, you just sit there and relax. Once I get things started, I’ll open the wine. If I don’t start first, I might drink too much to finish.”

  Fenella laughed. While Shelly cooked, the pair chatted about the April weather, local politics, and recent happenings on a few of the television shows they both watched.

  “There we are,” Shelly said a short time later, as she slid a very full casserole dish into the oven. “Now we just have to wait.”

  “I’ll try to be patient,” Fenella said. “But it already smells amazing.”

  The bottle of wine was nearly half empty when someone knocked on the apartment’s door. Fenella glanced down at her outfit and shrugged.

  “I’m not sure I’m dressed for guests,” she laughed as she crossed the room.

  “You look wonderful,” Shelly called after her.

  Fenella pulled open her door and smiled at Peter. “Hello? What brings you here?” she asked, feeling just the tiniest bit tipsy.

  “I thought I heard someone talking in here,” he replied. “But you’re meant to be across.”

  “The ferry was cancelled,” Fenella explained.

  “I heard there was something going on with the ferry today, but I didn’t realize they’d cancelled it altogether,” Peter said. “It’s usually only the weather that does that.”

  “Fenella found another dead body,” Shelly called from the kitchen. “Come in and have some cottage pie with us and she’ll tell you all about it.”

  Fenella frowned, but took a step backwards to let Peter into the room. He walked in, but shook his head. “I’d love to chat for a few minutes, but I won’t interrupt your dinner and I certainly don’t want to hear about the dead body. I’m sure Fenella is upset enough without having to talk about it.”

  Shelly blushed. “I’m sorry,” she said to Fenella. “I wasn’t thinking.”

  “It’s okay,” Fenella assured her. “And you’re more than welcome for dinner if you’d like to stay,” she told Peter. “I would rather talk about other things, though. I’m sure the local paper will be full of the murder tomorrow, with far more details than I have anyway.”

  Peter patted Fenella’s shoulder and then followed her to the kitchen. Shelly was already pouring him a glass of wine. He perched himself on the edge of one of the chairs.

  “I really can’t stay for long,” he said. “I’m meeting a former business colleague for dinner and drinks. He has a proposition for me, apparently.”

  “Somewhere nearby?” Shelly asked. “Or should I take the wine away because you’re driving?”

  “We’re meeting at the pub on the corner,” Peter told her. “I shall be walking, so no worries there.”

  “It is nice, being so centrally located,” Fenella remarked. “I don’t know what I’d do if I was further away from everything and had to take taxis everywhere.”

  “The island’s bus service isn’t too bad,” Shelly told her.

  “And you could always learn to drive,” Peter added. “I keep meaning to find my friend’s card for you. He would have you driving in no time.”

  “No rush,” Fenella said with a laugh. “I’m not in any hurry to get back behind the wheel of a car. I’m enjoying being able to walk everywhere.”

  “If I were you, I’d be dying to drive Mona’s car,” Shelly said. “I’ve always wanted a fancy sports car.”

  “You should take it for a spin,” Fenella said. “I’m sure it isn’t good for the car, sitting around unused for months on end.”

  “Just take a few lessons and get driving,” Mona interjected. When Fenella had let Peter in, Mona had moved over to sit in the living room, possibly so that Peter wouldn’t sit on top of her when he joined the others. Fenella glanced over at her, but stopped herself just in time from replying.

  “Anyway,” she said loudly. “I hope it’s a successful meeting.”

  “I’m sure it will be,” he replied. “He wants me to invest in a project of his, and I’m quite interested in doing so. He doesn’t know that I’ve already done my research, but I know exactly how much I’m prepared to invest and what I will expect in return for that investment. He’ll buy the dinner and drinks and I shall listen politely. Once that’s all done, hopefully we’ll be able to reach an agreement. He needs me. I’m happy to invest, but I won’t feel bad if we can’t reach the terms I’m after, either. I have enough on my plate as it is.”

  “At least you’ll get dinner out of it,” Shelly said.

  “Exactly,” Peter agreed with a chuckle.

  He finished his glass of wine and rose to his feet. “And on that note, I really must go,” he said. “Thank you for the wine. I suspect my meeting will go on for a bit, so I probably won’t make it to the pub tonight. Maybe I’ll see you both there tomorrow?”

  Shelly shrugged. “You know I’m there most nights,” she said.

  “I certainly don’t feel up to going tonight,” Fenella told him. “I hope I’ll be feeling better tomorrow.”

  “I hope so as well, for your sake, not just so I have someone to talk to at the pub,” Peter said.

  Fenella walked with him to the door. Before she opened it, he turned and gave her a brief hug.

&
nbsp; “I do hope you haven’t been too traumatized by today’s events,” he said quietly. “I can’t imagine what you must think of the island, after everything that’s happened to you since you’ve been here.”

  Fenella shook her head. “I’m quite taken with the island, in spite of everything,” she assured him. “Even though I’ve only been here for a short time, I’m already struggling to imagine ever living anywhere else again.”

  “Excellent,” he beamed.

  Fenella pulled open the door, wondering if the man’s approval meant that he was interested in her or if he was just being friendly. Her thoughts were cut short as she looked at the man who was standing just outside her door.

  “Daniel?” she said.

  He chuckled. “I was about to knock,” he said. “I hope you aren’t on your way out?”

  “No, not at all,” Fenella replied. “I was just letting Peter out.”

  Daniel nodded and then he and Peter exchanged a few words before Peter headed back toward his own apartment.

  “I was hoping I could ask you a few more questions,” Daniel said to Fenella as they watched the other man walk away.

  “Of course you can,” Fenella replied. “Come in.”

  She stepped back and let the man in and then shut the door behind him.

  “Oh, hi, Daniel,” Shelly called from the kitchen. “Dinner’s almost ready. I hope you’re hungry.”

  “I can come back,” he said to Fenella. “I don’t want to interrupt your meal.”

  “Stay and join us,” Shelly insisted. “I made plenty.”

  Daniel looked at Shelly and then shrugged. “I’m not really supposed to socialize with susp, er, witnesses,” he said apologetically.

  “You aren’t socializing,” Shelly replied. “You’re questioning. You just happen to be doing it over a plate of cottage pie.”

  She pulled the oven door open and the entire apartment seemed to fill with the smell of rich gravy and spices.

  Daniel took a deep breath and then sighed. “I can’t possibly leave now,” he complained. “That smells wonderful.”