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THE NEXT MORNING, LAUREN and Zoe discussed Jeff’s alibi – delivering Baxley, the dog from the shelter, to Rhonda’s house as a surprise for her husband’s birthday.
“But surely the police would have checked it all out by now,” Lauren told Zoe as she steamed milk for a mocha. The café was half full that morning. “Do you really think Jeff would have lied to the police? Didn’t Rhonda say the police knew the truth?”
“He lied to us, didn’t he?” Zoe looked up from plating a lavender cupcake.
“But we’re not the police.”
Zoe grumbled something Lauren couldn’t quite catch. It sounded suspiciously like, “Almost the police.”
Annie tended to the customers, leading them to the tables, sitting with her favorites for a while, and at other times, having a quick doze in her bed.
Lauren understood why Zoe was so gung-ho about Jeff being the prime suspect, but why would he kill his ex-wife? Surely, if he were a murderer, he would have done the deed during the divorce – or perhaps just before he and Paula separated? Depending on Paula’s will, if he had killed her back then, he might have inherited everything she had owned, if she hadn’t gotten around to changing it.
With a sigh, Lauren resolved not to think about Paula’s death any more that day. They closed at lunch time on Saturdays, which meant she’d have a few hours to relax before getting ready for her date with Mitch that evening.
A couple of hours later, their last customer departed and Zoe bolted the front door.
“Now all we have to do is clean up and have the rest of the weekend to ourselves.”
“Brrt!” Annie agreed, jumping out of her bed and running to the door leading to the private hallway.
“Do you want to go home already, Annie?” Lauren laughed as she unlocked the door. “There you go.”
“Brrp.” Annie ran down the hallway and shimmied through the cat flap, landing in the cottage kitchen.
“I wish I could do that.” Zoe grinned.
They quickly cleaned and tidied the café, then ate lunch in the cottage. Zoe had saved paninis for them, as well as a lavender cupcake each.
“What am I going to wear tonight?” Zoe tapped her cheek after finishing her meal.
“Where are you going with Chris?” Lauren asked curiously.
“To the movie theater in Zeke’s Ridge. There’s a chick flick I want to see, and he said I could choose.”
“Let me know if it’s any good.”
“I will. If I love it, then I won’t mind seeing it again, and we can watch it together one day.”
“Sounds like a plan.” Lauren smiled.
After lunch, Zoe riffled through her outfits.
“We’re also having dinner,” she said in a muffled voice, her head stuck inside the closet.
“Brrp?” Annie jumped onto Zoe’s bed, kneading the purple bedspread.
“We’re helping Zoe find something to wear for her date with Chris tonight,” Lauren explained.
Zoe flung a few pieces of clothing onto the bed: a black miniskirt, black skinny jeans, white slacks, a red dress.
“Too cold, too casual, too dressy, too clingy.” Zoe pointed to each item.
“What else do you have?” Lauren asked.
“This. And this. And this.” Zoe pulled out more clothes from the closet.
“Brrt!” Annie jumped onto the red tunic Zoe tossed onto the bed.
“This one?” Zoe fingered it. “What about these black leggings to go with it, Annie?” She pulled them out of a dresser drawer and held them up.
“Brrt,” Annie said encouragingly.
“I think Annie wants you to wear that outfit,” Lauren said. “I think it suits you.”
“Well, if you both agree ...” Zoe nodded. “Okay.”
“Brrt.” Annie approved.
“Now we’ve decided on my outfit, what will Lauren wear, Annie?” Zoe asked.
“I’m going to wear my teal dress, and the necklace Mitch gave me.” Lauren touched the piece of jewelry.
“Good choice.” Zoe nodded.
Zoe took a shower and got ready. She’d just fixed her hair when the doorbell rang.
“He’s here!” Zoe looked panicked for a second.
“Annie and I will let him in.” Lauren headed toward the front door, Annie running ahead of her.
“Hi,” she greeted Chris as she opened the door. He wore black slacks and a navy sweater. “Zoe will be ready in a second.”
“Brrt,” Annie added.
“Hi, Lauren. Hi, Annie.” He bent down to talk to the feline.
“I’m ready.” Zoe’s voice sounded from behind Lauren.
“You look great.” Chris studied Zoe.
Pink tinged her cheeks.
“So do you,” she murmured.
Lauren hid a smile. Her cousin and Chris seemed equally smitten with each other, although she thought they were both trying to keep their attraction to each other low key.
“Let’s go,” Zoe said briskly.
“Bye.” Lauren waved to them.
Once they’d left, Lauren turned to Annie. “What are you going to do tonight? You’ll be in charge of the cottage.”
“Brrt!” Annie agreed. She trotted toward Lauren’s bedroom.
“Now it’s my turn to get ready,” Lauren told the feline as she pulled her outfit out of the closet.
Taking a quick shower, she slipped on her dress and blow-dried her hair. As she glanced at the cord plugged into the wall socket, she was transported to the moment she saw Paula’s dead body, her spine prickling.
She shook off the disturbing thought and concentrated on getting ready. Annie sat on the bed, watching her every move.
“Do you want me to leave the TV on for you tonight?” Lauren asked.
“Brrt.” Yes.
Lauren finished getting ready, the doorbell chiming just as she checked her appearance.
“Want to say hello to Mitch?” Lauren asked Annie, who reclined on the bed.
“Brrp,” Annie said agreeably, jumping down and scampering to the front door.
“Hi,” Lauren said as she opened the door, noticing he wore the scarf she’d knitted for him. The fawn color complimented his gray jacket and slacks.
“Hi,” Mitch replied, his dark brown eyes warm as he surveyed her.
“Brrt!” Annie interrupted the little moment of silence.
“Hi, Annie.” He crouched a little and smiled at the cat.
“I’ll be home later,” Lauren told her.
“Brrp.” I know.
Lauren locked the door behind her, thinking it was a little strange that both she and Zoe were out on a Saturday night, and Annie was the only one at home. She hoped Annie wouldn’t miss her – or Zoe. Maybe Annie would enjoy a little time on her own to relax in the cottage.
Mitch drove them to their favorite bistro on the outskirts of Gold Leaf Valley. They told each other what they’d been up to that week; Mitch was still working extra shifts, and Lauren told him the lavender cupcakes had proven popular. However, she didn’t mention the night he had discovered her and Zoe near Paula’s house.
Should she say anything about it to him? She finally decided, no, she wouldn’t – not unless he asked her. She felt guilty reaching that decision, but realized she didn’t want to put Mitch in an awkward predicament by telling him that she and Zoe had entered Paula’s house without permission – even if they had found a spare key.
The bistro was moderately busy, the murmur of other diners providing a backdrop to their conversation. This time, Lauren decided to be adventurous and order something different to pork with four varieties of apples, and chose the braised beef with mushrooms, while Mitch ordered the pan roasted salmon.
To Lauren’s relief, nobody sneezed on her this time – and there weren’t any diners coughing, either.
“Maybe we should have come here last time,” Mitch spoke as they waited for their dessert of molten chocolate brownie with vanilla bean ice cream.
Lauren smiled, wondering if she should be surprised or not that he’d practically read her mind. The only area that they seemed to disagree on was her and Zoe’s sleuthing attempts, although Mitch now seemed to realize that he needed to accept Lauren’s involvement in such matters, however much he disliked it.
They lingered over coffee after their dessert. Mitch invited her to lunch at a local winery the following day, and Lauren accepted with pleasure.
Mitch pulled up outside her cottage. Lauren had left the porch light on when she’d departed.
“I wonder if Zoe is back from her date with Chris,” she mused. “They were going to see a movie at Zeke’s Ridge and have dinner.”
“Chris told me about that.” Mitch smiled. “He said Zoe’s different to any other girl he’s met.”
“I think they’re a good match.” Lauren turned to him. “Don’t you?”
“Yes.” Mitch traced his finger along her cheek. “And I think we’re a good match, too.”