Page 20 of Christmas Fudge Fatality
Snow softly falls to the ground as Lily and I make trip after trip to carry in all the sweet treats we’ve whipped up for my mother’s speed dating debacle.
We still have about a half an hour before the trauma and drama officially gets underway, and both Lily and Keelie help me put the platters brimming with my sweet treats into the conservatory where the dating deception will take place.
My mother purchased this B&B with the insurance money after my father died. And it’s been every bit another child to her as are my sisters and me. The B&B is a stunning old mansion with plenty of rooms upstairs to house the masses. Downstairs there’s a grand dining room, a great room, and, of course, the glass conservatory which she recently had constructed. The conservatory is a large hall that has played host to many events, and unfortunately a few murders as well. And hopefully tonight it will play a factor in closing out a homicide investigation as well.
I glance around the blooming crowd of well-coifed and polished men and women as I search for either Everett or Noah. They both assured me they’d be here this evening, and I can’t wait to share the information I gleaned on that answering machine. No wonder both Joyce and Scott heard Tamara having a conversation with me—it’s because she was doing just that.
The conservatory is sprinkled with dozens of small bistro tables with two chairs apiece. And on every table sits a cardboard stand with a giant number over it. I suppose that’s how it will work. Everyone will move up a number as the night goes on until everyone has “dated” everyone. Creepy.
The lively crowd is dressed to the nines, already mingling and lighting up the room with laughter. In the corner I spot a couple of ghosts looking pretty dolled up themselves—Greer Giles and her boyfriend, Winslow Decker.
I offer up a cheery wave in their direction before ushering us out of the conservatory and down a dark hall where I can speak to them without people wondering if I’ve gone over the deep end.
Greer is a girl who was about my age when she was murdered just last year. She has on the very same white ruched gown she was killed in, and it’s still as stunning on her as it was the day she donned it. Her long dark hair and beauty queen features still serve her well on the other side as evidenced by the fact she scored a boyfriend not too long into her haunting stint here at the B&B.
Winslow Decker is a handsome twenty-something himself, with dirty blond hair and a toothy grin. Winslow used to have a pig farm out on the backside of Honey Hollow about two hundred years ago, and apparently he’s been haunting these grounds since he joined the great majority.
It’s funny how an age gap of just a few years can be cause for alarm among the living, but a couple hundred years aren’t a big deal once you cross to the other side.
Greer leans in. “There’s a ghostly little canine running around, and I’m madly in love. What’s he doing here, Lottie?”
Winslow grins. “Greer has asked to keep him.”
Greer nods furtively my way. “Oh, how I miss my purse puppies. Please, Lottie, please can I keep him?”
“I have no say over it. But his name is Noel and he’s trying to help me get to the bottom of a homicide investigation. A friend of mine was pushed from an embankment and I think they’re about to arrest the wrong person.”
Greer clutches at her chest. “That’s terrible!”
Winslow ticks his head to the side. “And that must mean that he’ll be returning to paradise upon the resolution of the case.”
I shrug over at the two of them. “I’m sorry. It always does. I’m not sure why the two of you get to remain, and yet those that come to help me always seem to get called back—but it just seems to work that way. Have either of you ever thought about moving to paradise permanently?”
They glance to one another and share a warm laugh.
“Oh, Lottie”—Greer fans herself a moment—“paradise is where you make it, and for me that’s with Winslow, right here at this beautiful B&B.”
Winslow nods in agreement. “Without my Greer by my side, I’m afraid that haunting this old place wouldn’t be the same. Sure, I could drop a few books from the bookshelf, but it’s so much more of a fright if she’s rattling the chandelier at the very same time.”
Now it’s me bouncing with a laugh. “I do know for a fact my mother’s haunted B&B tours have outstanding reviews and an even better referral rate. It’s safe to say you two are knocking it out of the supernatural park.”
No sooner do I get the words out than the aforementioned adorable French bulldog scampers up, panting with his little pink tongue hanging out the side of his mouth.
“Lottie Lemon. Why on earth are you entertaining spirits when we have suspects to winnow out and a killer to catch?”
I reach down and scoop him up in my arms. “Noel, this is Greer and Winslow. They find you precious beyond measure, and Greer wishes she could keep you for herself.”
Something between a howl and a whine comes from him. “Well, hello, beautiful,” he practically purrs the words out.
She reaches over and offers him a scratch on the head. “It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”
“The pleasure is all mine.” His tail wags so hard it’s swatting me on the arm like a punishment. “I certainly hope the two of you are in the mood to catch a killer. I’m anxious to be back to paradise before the big day. I’d love nothing more than to spend Christmas with my sweet Tamara. That is in fact the day we met. I was gifted to her by her father.”
Greer coos and looks as if she were about to cry all at the same time.
Winslow shakes his head. “I’m afraid we can’t help. There’s a haunting to be had.”
Greer waves him off. “We’ll be glad to help. But if you don’t mind biting an ankle or two, that would help us out, too.”