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I REALLY DISLIKE HAVING to get up when it is still dark outside. Henry, my dachshund, isn’t a fan either. The other problem with dark mornings is that it is also cold outside. In the summer, you wake up to both light and heat. What could be better than that? I’ll tell you what’s not better — waking up to dark and cold!
Putting my bare feet on the cold hardwood floor, I flinched. Burr! I scooted down the length of the bed until I could reach my slippers and stuck them onto my feet. Henry opened one eye, looked at me with great disfavor, and went back to sleep.
I shuffled into the bathroom and did the necessary morning tasks. When I returned to the bedroom, Henry had buried himself beneath the covers. I rolled my eyes at him while envying his life choices. Quickly I pulled on my jeans, wool socks, and clogs. I topped it off with a black turtleneck sweater. What can I say? Once a classical musician, you always live in black!
After deciding to let Henry sleep, I went downstairs to make a chai. Eating a banana, I stood at the stove, whisking the tea ingredients in the small saucepan as it heated. I glanced at my watch, then realized I needed to get moving. I poured the chai into my pink travel mug, then hurriedly went upstairs to get Henry, so he could make his morning rounds in the backyard before I had to leave. Henry lost no time doing his required chores and scampered back into the warm house. I had recently gotten my backyard fenced, so I no longer had to leash Henry, but I still always went out with him. I live in a remote area, and there are numerous raccoons and other animals for whom a fourteen-pound dachshund would make a lovely dinner.
Henry gave me a another dirty look for making him get up so early. He jumped up on the blue denim couch and made himself a nest in the brightly colored afghan and went back to sleep.
Scooping up my bag, I went out, got in the car and just sat there, freezing, waiting for it to warm up and the windshield to defrost.
I hate coats. They are bulky and awkward. I strongly believe that being cold for a few minutes, while the car is heating, is still a better option than wearing a coat. So, here I sit, shivering. My car supposedly has a remote start, but I never remembered to use it. Finally, my windows cleared, and I backed out of the driveway and headed into Fairview.
I live in Fairview, Washington. I was born and raised here. After college, I went for the big-time stardom in Los Angeles. The closest I got to stardom was teaching piano lessons to the daughter of the guy who hosted the extremely early morning TV show, “Wake Up L.A.” At least he said he was the host. I never got up early enough to watch it. Besides, his daughter never practiced anyway. If she had practiced, maybe I could have attempted to get up obnoxiously early and watch her dad on TV. Maybe.
Anyway, things fell apart on several fronts for me in L.A., so about 8 months ago I moved back. I had my grandmother’s hand-me-down cottage waiting for me – rent-free. So, here I am!
One of the best parts of moving back was living close to my best friend, Julie Harkness. I came back, and it was like we had never been apart. Julie is the reason that I am up so early. Her cousin in New Mexico is getting married this weekend. Julie is a bridesmaid and needs a ride to the airport. That would be me, airport taxi extraordinaire!
It was still dark when I pulled into the parking lot of Julie’s condos. She was waiting for me outside her building.
“Good morning!” Despite the early hour, I maintained my adorable, perky attitude.
“How can you even talk at this hour?” Julie grumbled as she hung a garment bag on the hook above the back passenger side door, then plopped her carry-on down on top of it.
“Who gets married in New Mexico? If you live in New Mexico, do a destination wedding in Hawaii. Or anywhere besides New Mexico!” Julie was not having this early hour.
“I’ve heard it’s pretty. It should also be much warmer than here. I hope.” I pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the airport.
“And I haven’t even really seen Cathy since I was six.” Julie pointed at The Caffeine Machine, and I obediently turned in. The Caffeine Machine is our local coffee spot. I parked.
“Who’s Cathy?” I put the car into park.
“My dumb cousin! Be right back!” Julie jumped out of the car and headed inside. She was back a few minutes later with her hazelnut latte and my chai. I put my travel cup of chai from home into the backseat cup holder, then took a sip from the cardboard cup she handed me.
“Thanks!” I smiled. For some unexplainable reason, purchased chai in a cardboard cup always tasted better than my homemade. No matter what I did.
“You’re welcome.” Julie got back into the car and buckled her seat belt. “You know what? I bet Cathy doesn’t have any other friends or relatives that she could sucker into buying that awful dress. I am the only one that is that gullible.” Julie reached over her head and tugged on the garment bag.
“Who’s the maid of honor? She must know someone else.” I turned onto the freeway.
“Get this! Her maid of honor is the groom’s sister! How lame is that?” Julie humphed and took a big gulp of her coffee, which she choked on. “Can I just go back to bed?”
“No, we already got up. Besides, we are almost there. You can sleep on the plane.” I watched all the signs carefully at the airport. If you weren’t careful, the roads around the airport would bypass the airport. Then they would sneakily dump you out practically in the next town, and you would have to start all over again. I kept my focus, though, and pulled up next to the curb where Julie’s airline departed on the first try.
“Thanks, Lisa. See you on Sunday.” Julie scowled, and got her things out of the back seat. She gave me a less than enthusiastic wave, then shuffled into the terminal. Her coffee had done nothing to lift her spirits. I, on the other hand, was ready for my day to begin!
My Filofax contained a huge to-do list, and I was hoping to get the majority of the tasks checked off today. Since I was up so early, I was planning to get to the store several hours before we opened. I was looking forward to getting some much need quiet time in my office completing paperwork. The festival was quickly approaching!
I own and manage Fairview Music, our town instrumental music store. When I returned to Fairview, I had just intended to give piano lessons, and maybe an occasional singing lesson, out of my cottage. Then the owners, my longtime friends Jerry and Colette Charles retired. They made me an offer to take over the store that I could not refuse. I still taught some lessons, but I had also added a small 80 seat recital hall to the store, as well as three teaching studios and an office/teaching studio for me. Until I added the recital hall, the only places Fairview had for recitals, and such, was the high school theater, which was always booked with school events, or local churches, which have their own unique assortment of issues.
So, I got a building loan, had my recital hall built and was currently planning the inaugural venture, a chamber music festival! The festival would feature headliners, cellist Keith Klein and his wife, violinist Gianna Rossi. I was currently going over and finishing up the last details with the performers, clinicians, and students. I having a wonderful time doing it!
This first festival, which was happening next weekend, was going to be on the small side. Focusing on middle school and high school student groups, I was hoping the festival would become an annual event. I even had some local vendors coming in, like a lady who makes jewelry out of violin tuning pegs and instrument parts. Hannah was also going to bring her new food truck. It was going to be a major event for Fairview!
I was heading to the office supply store first. There are never enough file folders when one is planning an event like this! I had just gotten to the strip mall when my phone rang. It was Mother.
“Hello.” I pushed the button on the dash to answer the phone.
“Hello, dear. You are up early! I was expecting your voicemail.” Mom sounded surprised I had actually answered.
“I had to take Julie to the airport. She’s in her cousin’s wedding this weekend in New Mexico.”
“New Mexico!” Evidently, Mom and I had the same opinion of a wedding in Albuquerque.
“Yeah, I know.” I agreed. “Why are you calling so early?” I parked the car.
“Margie Hillerman just texted. I guess she and Barb Jeffries were going to head to down to Portland tonight to see Fiddler on the Roof, then do some tax-free shopping tomorrow. Anyway, Barb’s daughter is in labor. She wasn’t due for two more weeks, so Barb can’t go. Margie invited me to go instead. I was hoping you would take Delilah tonight.” Delilah is Mom’s Pomeranian.
“Sure, Henry would love the company. I was planning to leave the store about 3:00. Can I swing by and pick her up then?” My multiple chai teas that morning had crept up on me by this time. I needed to end this conversation and use the bathroom in Office Depot.
“That would be great! Thank you so much, Lisa!” Mom sounded really excited to have her girls’ weekend with Margie.
“No problem. Bye, Mom!” I was already out of the car, with my phone to my ear, power walking toward the store.
“Bye, dear, and thanks again!” I hung up and practically ran through the store to the ladies’ room, which was in the very back. Why do they always put the ladies’ rooms in the very back of the store? Annoying!
I bought two big boxes of file folders and headed down Pine to Fairview Music. I pulled around behind the store, where my staff and I parked. We don’t open for another 3 hours, so there were no other cars. I got my bag, file folders and my travel mug. Loaded down, I got out of the car, and went up the three steps that led to the back door.
I stopped. The door was ajar. Garrett, my guitar instructor, had locked up last night. He had even texted me when he had left and assured me everything had been shut down and locked.
I nudged the door open.
“Hello?” I was still standing outside, sticking my head in the door. “Is anyone here?” I gingerly went in. I lingered, looking at all the instruments that were on display on the walls and behind the counter. Nothing looked like it had been touched. I checked the cash register. There was no sign of anyone trying to force it open or anything.
I let out an enormous sigh. Maybe Garrett had just not gotten the door shut tight. I headed into my office to text him. As I stood in my office door, my blood suddenly turned cold. All the papers and festival forms were strewn all over the office. I looked up from the floor and there, above my new leather desk chair, in the freshly painted wall, was a bullet hole.