I awoke with a start and was half out of bed before I realized where I was and that I did not have to worry about breakfast for a crowd. Even so, the dining hall was my first stop when I went across the street. I arrived to a very different scene in the kitchen. There were bags of groceries on the counter and a bunch of people in white uniforms in the midst of preparing food.
My next stop was the Lodge. The overnight guy had taken over and was manning the registration desk and a couple of housekeepers were moving around the room dusting and vacuuming. The barista was back at the espresso machine in the café. It was a relief to see everything back to normal.
I joined the group for the breakfast glad that I didn’t have to prepare it. It seemed as if the dancing the night before had released everyone’s tension and they were all subdued. I was surprised to see Tag sitting next to Lucinda, meaning that instead of taking her home he had spent the night. Their shoulders were touching and they seemed in their own little space. Madeleine had a forlorn expression as she looked at the pair’s closeness. Milton was having an animated conversation with everyone else at their table. I felt so bad for Madeleine and I wished there was a way I could fix it.
After breakfast, Crystal snagged everyone for the final workshop. She was back in her own clothes, but instead of a bunch of colors showing under her black sweater, there was only an aqua T-shirt. Her makeup seemed more subtle, too. She saw me looking and winced. “I had to do something since Stephanie was so upset with what I considered my look. I don’t want to be an embarrassment to my daughter.” She shrugged. “I agreed to comprise—to a point. No way am I going all neutrals.”
She started them off by handing out pieces of cardboard and showing them how to pin the hearts to it and then spray them with starch. While the hearts were drying, she demonstrated making the length of chain stitches and showed them how to attach the hearts. There were protests all around that they had not made enough hearts. “I said you would all go home with a finished project,” she said and turned her tote bag upside down. A cascade of red hearts poured out. “They are even already starched.”
While they worked on putting the last part of the project together, the conversation started. The first topic was James, or Wilson. “I didn’t even notice him until the whole thing with the cops yesterday,” Leon said. “With all that hair and beard, I wouldn’t have recognized him anyway.” He looked at Lisa. “I didn’t recognize you. But then, well, you weren’t this hot when I saw you before.”
Dorothy scolded him for his comment, but Lisa shrugged it off. “My job was to stay in the background so no one paid much attention to me. It was always all about Trent.” She put down her hook before she continued. “I had no idea he was going to be here, though when I saw him, I didn’t mind showing off my new look—like to show off what he was missing. He wasn’t happy to see me and told me I should leave. I probably would have if there had been a choice.
“I suppose Audrey knew it was me, but she didn’t let on and I wasn’t about to enlighten her. Though I couldn’t help myself and did make the comment about karma. Now I know why she said that she knew what I did, but that it didn’t work. She must have thought I was the one who killed Trent and tried to frame her.” Lisa turned my way. “You thought I did it, too.”
“I’m so sorry, but then you were the one who pointed me toward the real killer,” I said.
“She must have recognized Wilson even with all the long hair and beard,” Lisa said, looking at Mindy.
“I didn’t even really think about it,” the artist said. “I just automatically recognized his overall shape being the same as the caricature I did of the guy staying in the cottage.”
“As soon as I saw how Mindy had drawn him and Lisa told me who he was, I realized he was the one who had killed Trent and was trying to pin it on Audrey,” I said.
Lisa shook her head with regret. “He seemed so mild-mannered at the retreat that I never would have guessed he would be so vengeful.”
They wondered what would happen to him now and I said that he would probably be charged with the two murders, but then a jury would decide his fate.
That ended the subject and the topic became more personal. Lisa began to talk about herself. “In a strange way, I got what I wanted out of the weekend. I came here hoping to find a way to deal with my life better, and of course learn about working with yarn. It’s been an adjustment to this new look.” She patted the white-blond hair. “And to find out if blonds really do have more fun. This look is too extreme and not how I feel inside. But the plain Jane with the honker I used to be wasn’t me either. I’m thinking somewhere in between. I want to have my brown hair again and I think a pinky shade of lipstick is less look at me, look at me, but I’m keeping the new nose,” she said with a chuckle.
“It certainly wasn’t the weekend I had planned,” Dorothy said. “Everything went wrong. The food didn’t arrive. Most of my people didn’t arrive. Two people dying and it turning out to be murder. Whew, that was a lot.” She patted Mindy’s hand. “I’m so sorry that your mother won’t be pleased. You can tell her it’s my fault.”
Mindy had a big smile. “As far as I’m concerned, your retreat worked for me. That epiphany I had when I said no to more cake means everything. When I realized how I honestly felt—” She shook her head is amazement. “I think it’s a change that will last too.” She stood up and pulled out the loose apricot sweatshirt she was wearing. “You can’t tell because it was so baggy to start with, but it’s looser.” She chuckled. “Who knows, maybe I even lost five pounds.” She looked over the group. “And I used my art to help solve a murder.” She turned to Dorothy. “So, don’t worry about my mother. I’ve decided not to.”
JoJo took the floor next. “I’m not sure if I told all of you what I learned over my many, many wellness retreats,” she said, punctuating it with a self-deprecating chuckle. “And it was reconfirmed by this one. It’s not what the program promises, it’s what you do with it.” She gave a meaningful look at Leon.
He let out a heavy sigh. “I get it. Continuing to blame Dr. Nicholson or anyone else for the mess in my life isn’t going to make a difference for me. It’s up to me to fix it.” He had lost the angry scowl as his gaze moved around the group. “I called my wife this morning and told her how much I miss her and what a mistake I made.” He stopped and took a deep breath. “I took a shot and asked her for another chance.” He appeared hopeful as he said they were going to have dinner to discuss it. There were aww sounds all around and then a smattering of applause. That is, except from Evie Delano, who was taping the moment on her phone.
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry,” she said. “I was going to ask your permission before I posted it.” She shrugged. “It’s not like I could do it from here anyway.” She gazed at her phone lovingly. “I know what I said about thinking some of my followers might be stalking me and that they were unrelenting in demands for more posts. But I missed their feedback and all that attention. I would lose my sponsors, too.” She pushed the brim of her floppy hat up. “I can’t help myself, or really, I don’t want to.” She turned to JoJo. “JoJo’s company is going to be one of my sponsors now and I’m going to start mentioning her soap in my posts. You all know firsthand that it really is great.” Her glance went to Cloris. “I could certainly mention this place, too. Just tell me how you would like me to present it.”
“I’m speaking for Lexie and me,” Bella began. “We were thrilled with the weekend, even with being stranded, and of course we’re sorry about the two people who died and that James or Wilson ended up being arrested.” She let her gaze take in all of them. “Working with yarn in a group was all that we hoped for. We got to know all of you and got to make something to remember this weekend by.”
Lexie started unloading all of the little crochet creations they had showed off when they first arrived. “We want you all to have your own support amigurumi,” she said. As everyone went to pick one out, JoJo took out handfuls of her business cards attached to small bars of her fragrant soap and handed them out as well.
“I guess I’m next,” Milton said, addressing the group. “I got mostly what I came for,” he said without giving any details. “Since we’re giving out things, I thought I could make you all characters in my next book and give you a signed copy of my current one.” They all accepted his offer with smiles. Only Madeleine looked bereft. I was really going to have to fix it.
Tag was sitting next to Lucinda trying to use one of the kits. His row of stitches looked perfect and then one was uneven. Shaking his head with frustration, he ripped everything out and put down the hook and yarn. “I’m glad to be here. I was so worried.” He looked at Lucinda. “All I could think about was seeing you again.” He took a deep breath. “I didn’t even care if the knives were crooked.” Lucinda’s eyes widened in shock and she leaned over, kissing him on the cheek.
• • •
Lunch was over and everyone gathered in the Lodge to check out and hang out a last time. They all thanked Crystal and showed off their completed garlands. Even Leon, who said he was going to offer his to his wife. “It’s kind of mushy,” he said. “You know, like I’m offering her my heart.”
There was the sharing of emails and promises to subscribe to Evie’s YouTube channel. Mindy handed out the caricatures she had done of all of them. I was glad to see she had drawn a new one of Leon that didn’t have his head erupting. They were all lingering, not quite ready to say goodbye.
Except for Madeleine. She had gotten her suitcase and told me she was leaving. She seemed in a huff as she went out the door and I knew I had to do something.
I found Milton dropping off signed copies of his book in the gift shop and pulled him aside.
There was no time to be subtle and I went to confront him directly. “What exactly did you come here for?” I began. “You must have known that Madeleine thought it had to do with seeing her.” I didn’t mention her plan to stay in the cottage, not wanting to completely give away her expectations and disappointment.
He looked down and seemed uncomfortable. “I’m sorry,” he began. “I did want to see her, but there’s a problem.” He heaved a deep breath. “She’s wealthy and I’m not even close. I know her sister thinks I’m a fortune hunter. I didn’t want to go there for dinner and have Cora put me in a corner when there wasn’t anything I could say about my prospects.” He looked into the main room at the knot of people getting ready to depart. “I came here this weekend because there were numerous retreats going on and I wanted to study how they were done. I thought if I could put together a business of putting on weekends for mystery writers, I would have something more to offer.” He looked up at me. “I have my pride.”
I thought about how upset Madeleine was and how rejected she felt. “Why didn’t you tell her?” I said, throwing my hands up in frustration. “You should have told her how you feel. All of it. She thinks you don’t care and now she’s going home.” A voice in my head said that I was a fine one to talk.
Milton snapped to attention. “I was waiting until I had something concrete to show her. I had no idea she would take it that way.” He looked around hopelessly and said he had to find her.
I thought of the de rigueur scene in every rom-com when someone ends up running to catch up to their beloved before they flew off to Paris or got on a boat. “Then you better hurry. She’s parked near the Lodge.” He dashed off before I could wish him luck.
There were final hugs and then the ones who had driven went to their cars and those who’d flown got in the van to go to the airport.
Lucinda and Tag were sitting by the fireplace, enjoying each other’s company. Kevin St. John was pacing behind the registration counter and seemed frustrated. Crystal was pulling her plastic bin of supplies and heading to the door. She saw me looking at the manager and she chuckled. “He’s probably upset that everything worked out without him.”
Sammy and Cloris were on their way into the café. They stopped and he brushed his hand against her hair and a glowing butterfly appeared. It felt a little bittersweet, but I was happy that they had found each other.
When I went outside to go home, Madeleine’s golf cart was stopped in the middle of the driveway. I chuckled that Milton had caught up with her, but then golf carts only go so fast. He was holding her hand and looking into her eyes. She was absolutely glowing.
• • •
It was a relief to go back to the Blue Door that night. I looked forward to the peace of going into the closed restaurant and baking the desserts and muffins. I turned on the soft jazz and started in on the apple pies.
Dane had agreed to come by and we were finally going to have “the talk.” There was something final about it and I was ready to deal with whatever.
The knock came just as I was putting the new version of the pies in the oven. The weekend of cooking for the group had made me want to expand my horizons. I had made them in a rectangle shape with a shortbread crust.
“This is it,” I muttered to myself as I went to the door. My mouth felt dry. I was surprised at how nervous I felt, but then this was new territory.
He was wearing jeans and a pocket T-shirt under a hoodie. We said our hellos and then went to the sunporch. Neither of us sat and I avoided looking him in the eye, not sure how he would react to what I was going to say.
“Well, it looks like you survived,” he said in a light tone. It seemed like it was going to lead to some small talk and I wanted to get the whole thing over with.
“We might as well cut to the chase,” I began.
“Uh-oh,” he mumbled. “Look, I’m sorry—” I put my hand up to cut him off before he could say more.
“I have something to say first.” I forced myself to stand a little taller, hoping it would make what I was going to say easier. “When I heard about you and Stacy—from virtually everyone in town—I was going to react in my usual way. I would cut my losses and leave Cadbury, my baking jobs, the yarn retreats—all of it. And I would do something else, somewhere else. “But—” I looked in his direction but not at him directly, still not ready to see his reaction. “This has become my home. I have friends, a house, my work and a life. I don’t want to leave.”
“You don’t have to,” he started and I cut him off again.
“I’m not finished. All this is very hard for me. So please don’t stop me.”
He put up his hands in capitulation. “Okay then, go for it,” he said, clearly curious.
“I know that I have told everyone that I am okay with you and Stacy having your second chance, but I realized it wasn’t fair to not tell you the truth and how I really feel. I am not going to go quietly into the background. Stacy might be part of your past, but I’m the one in your present.” I was beginning to falter, but pushed myself to go on. “And, well, you offered your heart to me before and—” I reached in my pocket and took out one of the crocheted hearts I had made. “And now I’m offering you mine.”
Now, I finally looked for the reaction in his eyes. “I don’t know what to say,” he stammered. “It’s such a romantic gesture.”
“I know and not like me. I get it. You’ve already moved on.” I let out a heavy sigh. “Sorry if I made you uncomfortable, but at least I was honest about how I feel. Go on and be happy. You can keep the heart and give it to Stacy. But I wouldn’t tell her where you got it.” I tried to sound like I was taking it all so well that I could joke about the heart and started to move him toward the door. But he stopped me and shook his head. “How about you let me have my say.”
I didn’t want to prolong the misery, but it seemed like I had no choice. “Proceed,” I said, preparing for the truth.
“Finally, finally you stopped having one foot out the door,” he said. “And admitted that you want to stay here. And you admitted what I knew all along. You love me, you really love me,” he said in a singsong tone with a smile. I went back to pushing him to the door.
“I’ve heard enough.” It was my worst nightmare. I had been open and vulnerable and he was teasing me about my feelings. Instead of getting the message and leaving, he planted himself and looked me in the eye.
“If you hadn’t insisted on finishing your piece—which, by the way, was great and what I have been waiting to hear—I would have told you that Stacy left. It was a temporary fantasy about a second chance, but as you said, she was part of my past and you are my present and hopefully future. Now, if you’ll stop trying to push me out the door.” He wrapped his arms around me as it all started to sink in. “We have some catching up to do. I want to hear all about your weekend and how you all managed to survive.”
He sealed it all with a kiss that neither of us wanted to end and was only broken when the timer buzzed, notifying me that the pie was ready.