Macaron massacre, p.17
Macaron Massacre, page 17
part #10 of Murder in the Mix Series
“Lottie!” Mom breezes over with her arms outstretched. As soon as the sheriff’s department arrived en mass, everyone at Honey Lake was apprised of what went down. Both Mayor Nash and my mother thanked me profusely for helping to clear their names. “Oh my goodness, you are an angel.” She secures a tight embrace over me. “But you are not to do that again, young lady. You hear?” Her expression is stern. This is no playful scolding.
Mayor Nash tips his head my way. He’s exceptionally tan from a day at the lake, bordering on burnt, and his eyes glow against his skin.
“It’s a good thing you took his gun.” He nods as if this were a fact. “That was very brave of you, Lottie. I’m going to make sure you receive a citizen’s award.”
Mom gasps as she looks to him with the utmost admiration. “Did you hear that, Lottie? A citizen’s award! There truly is no higher honor.”
Mayor Nash wraps an arm around my mother and offers a husky laugh. “I’ve got a special honor I’d like to bestow upon you, too, missy. That is, if you’re up for the challenge.”
“Ooh.” Mom swims with carnal delight, inspiring my sudden need to vomit.
I’m just about to ditch the coital couple as a pair of sandy-haired blondes appear before us like unwanted apparitions—Mayor Nash’s daughters, Kelleth and Aspen.
“Daddy.” Kelleth falls over her father. “You were almost killed. I couldn’t bear it if anything happened to you.” She pulls back. Her lips are so heavily glossed it looks as if she should be nominated as a national oil reserve. Kelleth is pretty—as is Aspen. Both sisters are smart, and they have the Ivy League education to prove it. But it doesn’t change the fact they’re as snobby as they come.
Aspen grunts my way as if I were the one who almost killed him. And, knowing how bad my aim is, it was entirely possible.
“Lottie Lemon,” Aspen growls my name out as if it were a curse. Aspen has always reminded me a bit of a cartoon character with her exaggeratingly large eyes. She has a Betty Boop appeal to her, if Betty Boop were a blonde preppy. I’m not sure what either of them does for work, but I’m not motivated to pry either. “You could have hurt everybody there today.”
“But she didn’t.” Mom is quick to hop to my defense. “She saved us all from a very dangerous man.”
Both sisters turn their tiny noses up at me just as their mother, Chrissy Nash, walks in, and they quickly scuttle off in her direction.
Funny how Chrissy can be so down-to-earth, and her children can be so lost in space. I spot my sisters and politely excuse myself from my own mother and Mr. Octopus Hands, but I bump into a couple of faces I hadn’t planned on seeing instead—or at least I hoped I wouldn’t see.
“Britney, Cormack. I’m assuming your candidate won the election. So, in that case, congratulations.” I nod as I do my best to duck past them, but Britney yanks me back by my elbow.
“Not so fast, Lemon Tart.” Her lips twist in a knot, and her only visible eye looks decidedly angry as she glares at me with it. Both Britney and Cormack are staying at the B&B, so I’m not entirely surprised to see them. What I am surprised to see is Britney fuming while Cormack appears to be…gloating?
“Congratulations are in order.” Cormack shoves her left hand in my face, and I’m taken aback by the giant sparkler on her ring finger. A princess cut diamond the breadth of her finger glitters like mad even in this low lighting. “My fiancé should be here any moment, and I can’t wait to kiss him.” She winces as she covers that rock. “He doesn’t quite know I stumbled upon the big surprise, but what the heck? If I’m about anything, I’m about getting this party started.”
My mouth falls open. “Where did you find that?”
“On top of his sweaters in the closet. I was looking everywhere for Toby’s leash.” She leans in and giggles. “Who am I kidding? I was snooping hard. I’m telling you both I can smell a good diamond a mile away, and I just knew he was hiding a gem the size of a Volvo in that tiny death trap somewhere. The receipt in his junk drawer might have tipped me off a bit.”
“Oh my God,” I say, pulling her hand in to get a better look at the breathtaking beauty. Tears come to my eyes, and a lump the size of Honey Hollow forms in my throat. This is the ring that Noah bought for me. This ring represents all of the hope he has for us. This ring represents what would have been—could still very well be our future.
“Now, now, Leonora”—Cormack snatches her hand back—“this one’s mine for the taking.” She zips off to the refreshment table and heads right for the dessert.
“For the taking is right,” I mutter to Britney. “I think that ring was meant for me.”
“For you?” She jerks back as if I struck her. And then, just as quickly, her affect softens. “Well, that’s a relief. For a second, I actually thought he was falling for the twit.” She frowns down at my own ring finger. “Looks like you’re taken.” A wide smile glides over her face, but it doesn’t last long. “You do realize what a catch Noah is, don’t you?”
Now it’s me inching back. “You’re not asking me to put my hat in the ring, are you?”
She makes a face as she looks over at Cormack. “Let’s just say, if I had to choose a woman for Noah, it wouldn’t be that vapid mop. I’d better go stop her from starting up rumors.” She takes off, and I marvel at the fact she didn’t include herself on the list of women she’d like to see Noah with. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why she’s dragging out the divorce.
My phone bleats, and I glance down to see a message from the ineligible bachelor himself. It’s a text from Noah.
Hey, Lottie, I’m on my way. Sorry I’m late. Something very important came up. Please stay put until I get there.
Stay put until he gets here? I can’t help but recoil at his verbiage. Noah doesn’t speak to me that way, unless, of course, he thinks he’s being protective. And after the day I’ve had, I can’t say I blame him. He did say please, after all.
Meg and Lainey brighten as I come upon their small circle. Jana March has a notepad out. She seems to be making a list of some kind for the burgeoning bridezilla among us, and a spontaneous giggle evicts from me. Jana is tall, waifish, and her dark hair is sitting in a messy bun on top of her head. I hate to say it, but it looks as if my sister is running her ragged.
“Lainey”—I pull my sister in for a quick hug—“I am so happy your wedding is on the horizon. And that, for once, it’s the only thing I have to focus on. And I couldn’t have felt more relief when I said those words if I tried.”
Meg belts out a laugh. “I think the one relieved around here is Lainey. You got the killer just in the nick of time. That is, unless you stumble upon another body before the big day arrives.”
Lainey swats her on the arm. “Would you stop? The last thing I need is you calling out some seriously bad juju into the universe.” She turns my way, a sweet smile blooming on her beautiful face. “I’m relieved, too. And no, I don’t believe for a minute that you’ll stumble upon another corpse of any kind.” Lainey picks up my hand. “I’m positive everything will run smoothly. Right, Lottie?” She snips my name out with a little bite to it.
“That’s right.” I shrug over at Jana. “So, what’s with the list?” I’m almost afraid to ask, but it was either Jana or me, and I’d much rather have the white-hot spotlight of my sister’s anxious attention focused on her.
Lainey lifts a finger. “Jana is taking me to a wedding convention in a couple of weeks. We’ve just about shored up every last detail. Right, Jana? Right?”
“Right,” Jana squeaks as if fearing for her life, and at this point she probably is.
“Great,” I say, trying to lighten the mood. “And don’t forget. You and Forest still need to come in for a cake tasting. It’s very important that you get a cake you’ll be happy with.”
“We will, for sure. Oh, and before I forget, that design you sent me, the triple-tiered lavender cake with the gold dripping off the edges and the magnolia blooms? I must have that cake. It’s to die for!”
Meg cackles. “Now who’s calling out some seriously bad juju?”
Jana leans in. “Hey, Lottie, there’s still time to sign up to be a vendor at the convention. Why don’t you set up a cake tasting booth? That way, while you’re preparing all of those delicious flavors for Forest and Lainey, others can partake, too? I bet you’ll drum up a ton of business. Most of these brides are booking out up to two years in advance.”
“Two years? Two years ago, I didn’t even know Everett or Noah existed. I can’t imagine what the next two years will bring.”
Lainey pulls me in with a sideways hug. “They’re going to bring great things, Lottie. I just know it.”
A peculiar sight catches my eye from the corner, and I groan when I see it.
“Excuse me, ladies. I’ll be right back,” I say as I make my way over to a couple of spooks chatting it up with Carlotta.
I shake my head at this older, perhaps not wiser version of myself. “You really have no problem portraying yourself to be a lunatic, do you?”
Carlotta scoffs, and her hazel eyes avert toward my mother and Mayor Nash. “Some have called me worse.”
Greer shakes with glee. Both she and Winslow are glowing luminescent, and Greer’s dark hair looks as if she’s got an entire constellation trapped in her tresses.
“Lottie Lemon!” Greer beams. “You got another one!”
“That she did.” Winslow offers me a congratulatory nod.
“Yes, and there’s not a part of me that feels like celebrating. Hey? I hear you’re looking to adopt. Do I want to know how this otherworldly process might work?”
Greer wrinkles her nose. “It’s a bit long and drawn-out, but as soon as we hear some news, you’ll be the first to know. Nell is assisting us, just the way she assisted you. Now tell us everything.”
I offer Carlotta a forlorn look. “Nell may have helped me out just a little too much, and she was taken back to paradise before we had a chance to say a proper goodbye.”
Greer and Winslow exchange a knowing look.
“Come with us, Lottie.” Greer takes me by the hand and leads the four of us just outside of the mouth of the conservatory next to the overgrown silk plants my mother has dotting the B&B. Seeing that my mother has a brown thumb, this has been the way to go as far as offering her boarders a touch of nature indoors—never mind the touch of supernatural she offers them. Greer and Winslow really are the best when it comes to shaking chandeliers and bookcases alike.
“What is it?” I look to the two of them as an iridescent aura takes over the area, and soon there’s an all too familiar—beautiful, beautiful face floating between the two of them as Nell Sawyer comes fully to fruition. “Oh my goodness, Nell!” I leap forward to wrap myself around her but land hard on my feet, my arms meeting with nothing but air.
“Mama!” Carlotta does the same, and we both back up to get a better look at her. “You’re back.” Her voice breaks as we look to Nell in wonder.
Her ghostly frame is far more translucent than it has been. A heavenly spray of stars glitters inside her person as if she were forming an entirely new universe.
“I’m back, if only for a moment. Let’s just say it’s nice to have connections with the one in charge, upstairs.” She gives a playful wink, her warm voice chortling with delight. “Rich wanted me to extend his thanks for bringing his killer to justice. He apologizes for being such a brute while still among the living. He also asks that you give your precious mother a warm embrace for him.”
“Please tell him to consider it done. Nell, I’m so sorry you were whisked away so quickly. But I’m thankful you came back, if only for a moment. There’s still so much we didn’t get to do. So many questions I didn’t get to ask.”
“I know, my love. I feel your frustration, and I share that with you. I do have a bit of a surprise for you, however.”
Carlotta gasps. “You’re back for good? You’re about to knock Silly Willy out with a lightning bolt for holding up my inheritance? You’re gonna spill the secrets to the fountain of youth, and I’ll stop looking at Lottie and feeling like a hag?”
A dull huff expels from me. “So many questions, so little time.”
Nell’s features smooth out as she laughs gently at her daughter’s request, and right before our eyes Nell Sawyer is transformed into a beautiful young woman.
“The fountain of youth indeed is real. Unfortunately, you’ll have to cross the great divide to garner its benefits.” Nell is beautiful, resplendent, and she looks so much like Keelie’s mother, Becca, it’s scary. And yet if I squint just a little, I dare say she looks like me as well. “Nonetheless that’s no surprise.” She floats my way, her ghostly hands taking up each of my own. “My little Carlotta.” She offers a peaceable smile. Usually I’m affronted whenever anyone uses my formal name, but just hearing Nell utter it makes it sound like heaven. “Your powers are getting stronger. That also means the ability of those who come to assist you from the other side will be emboldened by your powers as well. You must be careful. You must mind the spirits lest they intermesh themselves where they don’t quite belong.” She takes a moment to glower at Greer and Winslow.
“My powers are increasing? What does that mean?”
“That, my love, is for you to discover on your own—and I have a feeling you’ll have the ability to enter those waters very, very soon.”
A groan works its way up my throat. “You can’t go, Nell. You have to help me with my life—with my love life. Noah’s wife might actually grant him that divorce soon, and it scares the pants right off of me!”
Carlotta nods as if agreeing. “Honey, Noah lives to scare the pants right off of you—and anything else you might be wearing.”
“Oh, stop.” I take a moment to scowl her way. “See what you’re leaving me with, Nell? I need the help only you can provide. Not to mention the fact you said some very cryptic things about Everett—and now he’s got this crazed person who’s been acting erratic and following him around.”
Nell pulls back a bit, her affect serious and sullen. “Yes, Lottie. I am aware.” She looks to Greer and Winslow. “Perhaps the two of you can offer my dear sweet one some sage advice when she needs it most. I’m afraid it’s my time to leave once again.”
“No, Nell,” I bark so loud I’m shocked bodies aren’t streaming out of the conservatory to see what’s the matter. “You can’t leave. I command that you stay.” Hey, it was worth a shot. Who knows? My new superpower might actually consist of being able to control what others do—at least in the celestial realm.
But, alas, Nell begins to fade right back into the pink and blue iridescent bubble surrounding Greer and Winslow.
“I love you both so very dearly,” she whispers to Carlotta and me. “Please take care of one another. As we have all learned so many times before, our time spent with family, even those you choose for yourself, is so very precious. We never know when someone’s time might come to an unexpected end. Love one another in the now. It’s the only moment that truly exists.”
And just like that, she’s gone.
Tears blur my vision as I try to take in everything Nell spoke over us. My heart aches for her just as desperately as it did the day she left us the first time.
“Lottie!” Keelie’s voice bubbles from behind, and I turn to spot Keelie along with her mother, Becca, and Naomi and Lily Swanson as they stride our way.
Becca and Naomi exchange polite greetings with Carlotta and me before ducking into the conservatory. Carlotta spots Mayor Nash sneaking off down the hall and heads over to accost him.
Lily hands me a small folded note. “Found this on your desk in the office. Pretty cryptic if you ask me.” She heads inside, and before I have a chance to read it, Keelie starts in on me.
“Lottie Kenzie Lemon,” Keelie scolds. “How dare you shoot down a man without me? You know I’d love nothing more than to put a bullet in one of those testosterone meatheads trying to come at my bestie with the intention to kill.”
“I had no problem doing it for you. And testosterone meathead? Has Bear goofed up already?”
“Nope. In fact, I get Jana March’s newsletter, and she says there’s a big wedding expo being held at the Ashford Convention Center in a couple of weeks. Bear has agreed to come with me.” She bumps her shoulder to mine. “You might say things are definitely heading in the right direction.”
“Keels, you’re moving way too fast again. Slow your roll before you let him slip a ring on your finger.” And knowing Bear, he would have appreciated me saying just that. He’s not exactly the marrying type.
“Too bad. I’ve got bridal fever, Lottie. And there’s not a thing you can say to stop it.”
“In that case, I’ll have a cake tasting booth at the expo, and I fully expect you and Bear to stop by.”
“We’ll be there with wedding bells on.”
Greer and Winslow let out a low moan that sounds spooktacular, and I follow their eyes to Carlotta and Mayor Nash where their voices are escalating.
Greer swoops over and leans in. “Things are really heating up over there. Maybe you should break it up?”
Mom comes out of the conservatory, along with my sisters, and just in time. I swear Carlotta is ready to slug him.
“Never mind, there he is.” Mom sighs with relief as Mayor Nash and Carlotta head this way in haste.
Mom attaches herself to his side rather aggressively. “You don’t know the scare you gave me, disappearing like that for so long!”
Carlotta grabs hold of Mayor Nash by the elbow and spins him her way. “Don’t you think we’re finished. You don’t get to talk to me like that. It’s the last time I let you put me down. You think I can’t do anything good? Take a look at that girl, right there.” Carlotta jabs a finger my way. “I did something great—we both did. Lottie Lemon—meet your father.”
The air stills around me. Can’t breathe. Mayor Nash and I look at one another like a couple of deer staring down a semi about to run us over—and strangely I already feel as if I’ve been flattened.
