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Zoe’s comment played on Lauren’s mind that night. Surely Mitch would find out whodunit quickly enough to satisfy her cousin? And what about Zoe’s interview with Nathan? Would that still be aired on TV?
Mitch came home very late, giving her a swift kiss before falling into a deep sleep. When she woke up the next morning, he was already gone. He’d left a note on his pillow explaining he was in charge of the case at the moment and he didn’t know what time he’d be home that night.
“Brrt?” Annie trotted into the bedroom.
“It’s church this morning.” She yawned.
After a quick shower, she got dressed and crunched granola in the kitchen, Annie sitting next to her, having enjoyed her own breakfast of chicken in gravy.
“Are you ready?” After a quick knock at the back door, which Lauren answered, Zoe zoomed in, wearing a lavender skirt and cream blouse, her church attire. Chris followed.
“Almost.”
“I wonder how much money was in the donation bucket?”
“Hopefully enough,” Lauren replied.
Chris drove them to church. Lauren felt a little heavy-eyed and was glad they were being lazy.
When they arrived, she apologized to Father Mike for Mitch’s absence, explaining he was in charge of the case.
“And if Mitch can’t solve it, I bet we can!” Zoe declared.
“Zoe, I saw you on TV last night!” Martha barreled toward them.
“You did?” Zoe looked delighted – then disappointed. “I forgot to check when we got home, with everything that happened. And I didn’t expect my interview would be aired, after Nathan ...”
“Me neither.” Martha nodded vigorously. “But I felt tired and energetic at the same time and couldn’t settle when I got home, with just myself to look after. So I turned on the TV and there you were! You looked real good.”
“Thanks.” Zoe smiled. “I’ll have to see if there’s a clip online of it.” She turned to Lauren. “We can do that after church.”
During Father Mike’s sermon about putting in the effort to do something worthwhile, Zoe nudged Lauren.
“That’s what we said to each other last night. About my script and the pottery mugs.” She paused. “And your knitting. You’ve stuck with it and made that cute blanket, and a matching one for Annie. Plus scarves and—”
Lauren nodded, nudging her back. It appeared that Father Mike was aware of their attention wandering. Zoe mimed zipping her lips, and he smiled back with a twinkle in his eye.
When he finished the sermon, he said, “I’m pleased to announce that last night the church received nine-hundred-and-forty-seven dollars in donations.”
“That’s great!” Zoe called out.
“Yes, it is.” He nodded. “And I want to thank everyone who made a donation at the premiere, and a special thank you to Zoe for announcing it during her speech last night.”
A round of applause started, swelled, and became enthusiastic, before eventually dying down.
“I’m going to buy the Gazette today to see if my photo’s in it!” A man called out good-naturedly.
“It would be wonderful if everyone did,” Father Mike replied seriously. “The Gazette has been having problems with its readership dropping, so this would be a perfect way to support them.”
“Sure thing, Father,” another man responded.
When the service ended, Lauren, Zoe, and Chris said goodbye to Father Mike.
“Did Mrs. Snuggle enjoy watching herself in the movie last night?” Lauren asked.
“I’m sure she did,” he replied. “And she was very well-behaved last evening as well.”
“She was,” Zoe agreed.
Lauren thought that Mrs. Snuggle had looked a little less grumpy than usual when the movie ended.
They got into Chris’s car and stopped at the little supermarket on the way home, grabbing two copies each of the Gold Leaf Valley Gazette, and Jill’s paper, The Sacramento Community Star.
Zoe flicked through the Gazette while Chris drove them home.
“I’m in it!” she squealed. “We all are. Oh, Lauren, you look really good.”
“Thanks.” She tried to peer over her cousin’s shoulder.
“Oops.” Zoe handed her a copy. “I forgot to give it to you.”
Lauren turned the page – there they were, on page three. “You look great, Zoe. And you, Chris.”
“Thanks,” he replied, a smile in his voice.
“And Mrs. Finch, Ms. Tobin, Hans,” Zoe continued. “Annie, of course – ooh – Molly, and there’s one of Molly and her parents, and—"
Chris pulled up outside their house.
“Thanks for the ride.” Lauren unbuckled her seatbelt.
“We have to show Annie!” Zoe zoomed out of the car and headed up Lauren’s porch steps.
“Do you have anything else on this morning?” Chris asked good naturedly.
“No.” Lauren laughed.
“Come on!” Zoe almost jogged on the spot. “Thelma’s done an amazing job.”
“Coming.” Lauren fished the keys out of her purse and unlocked the front door.
“Brrt!” Annie sat on the threshold.
“Look, Annie!” Zoe held up the paper. “You’re in it, and AJ and Mrs. Snuggle, but through their carriers, and me and Chris, and Lauren and Mitch, and—”
“Would you like a latte?” Lauren asked.
“That would be great,” Zoe replied. “Not that I need the caffeine right now—” she giggled “—but we can sit at your kitchen table and look at the newspapers together. And then I need to find the on-air interview with Nathan.”
“Brrt!” Annie led the way to the homey kitchen.
Zoe plonked herself down on one of the pine chairs.
“Thelma took a photo of Father Mike as well, and mentioned the church appeal. Ooh – there’s a good one of Martha with all the rhinestones on her sweater.”
When Lauren brought the lattes over, she sat down and flicked through the Gazette.
“There’s a nice photo of Brooke and Jeff as well,” she pointed out.
Zoe nodded, and turned the page. “Oh, Thelma’s written another story about the bouquets I received from Tara and Penny and mentions the movie again and how it was filmed right here in Gold Leaf Valley, and the café!”
“I’m glad she got to be a reporter,” Lauren said.
“Have you looked at Jill’s paper yet?” Chris opened it up.
“No.” Zoe leant her chin on his shoulder and peered. “She doesn’t have as many photos of everyone.”
“But there’s a good one of you,” he pointed out.
“Where?” Lauren opened her copy. “Oh yes. That red outfit looks great on you, Zoe.”
“Thanks.” Zoe smiled. “But so does your plum wrap dress.”
“Brrt,” Annie agreed.
“Look, Annie, Jill’s included a photo of you as well.” Zoe tapped the page with her finger.
Annie peered from her seat next to Zoe. “Brrt.”
Zoe turned the page. “Is that it?” She sounded disappointed. “Thelma’s story is a lot bigger.”
“But Thelma is local whereas Jill is Sacramento,” Chris said.
“I guess that’s true.” Zoe cheered up. “Now, we need to find my interview with Nathan.” She pulled her phone out of her small purse and looked at the screen. After typing her name and Nathan’s, her expression lit up.
“Here!” Zoe stabbed a finger at her phone screen. “That’s me!”
Zoe turned up the volume and they hunched around the phone. Lauren recognized the interior of the town hall, and Zoe talking animatedly to Nathan.
“You look good on camera,” Chris said affectionately. “But then, you look good all the time.”
“Ohhh.” Zoe kissed his cheek. “So do you.”
“I’m sorry we missed watching it on TV,” Lauren said when the interview was over.
“Yeah. But this way, I’ll have it forever. I’m going to download it right now. Let’s visit Mrs. Finch tomorrow and show her my interview and the newspapers, in case she doesn’t have her own copies.”
“Good idea,” Lauren replied. They tried to visit their friend on Sunday or Monday each week.
“We can also tell her about Nathan.”
“Brrt!” Yes!