CHAPTER 4
I gasp as I glance around at the sea of faces, but not one of them gives away a single clue as to who could have said those maniacal words.
“All right, girls,” Georgie shouts to the room full of women. “Come this way. I’ve got a battle plan.” She motions the crowd in her direction, and just about everyone in the room makes a beeline for her.
“Now this I’ve got to hear,” Mom moans as she heads that way herself. And I have no doubt that if it has anything to do with undergarments, I’m sure my mother will be staunchly against it.
A blonde with bright pink lips and a brunette with angry narrowed eyes start to go at it to my right. And by the looks of it, things are getting heated. Not only that, but they’re garnering more than a few side glances from the other women in the room.
“Oh no, you don’t,” Mom says, stalking over. “Bizzy, you come here,” she says, grabbing me by the wrist and whisking me in their direction. “Blythe, Magda, this is my daughter, Bizzy. She was kind enough to lend us the café and provide all the provisions for this evening, free of charge.”
Both women gasp with delight my way, and whatever disagreement they were having seems to have up and disappeared.
“Bizzy, this is Blythe Betty.” Mom nods to the blonde with the bright pink lips. “She owns Memories and More, the scrapbooking shop right here on Main Street.”
“Oh wow,” I say, suddenly equally as delighted to meet them. “I walk past that place just about every day, and every day I want to jump inside. I just haven’t had the time. But with my best friend about to have her first baby, I’m determined to make the time. I think I’ll start a scrapbook for her new baby.”
“That would be a wonderful gift,” the blonde is quick to assure me. Her hair is curled softly under her neck and she’s wearing a pale blue dress made of velour that looks dreamy and perfectly cozy for this time of year. “In fact, come in this week and I’ll not only help you get started, but I’ll pass along our Black Friday specials to you a little early.”
“Thank you,” I tell her. “I’ll do just that.”
Mom waves a hand at the brunette wearing a red glittering gown that looks more suited to a formal affair than a cozy meal with friends. But she’s so glamorous in it I can hardly blame her for wearing it. Not only that, but I’ve been known to be chronically overdressed to a function or two myself. Once I put something on that I feel good in, there’s no looking back.
“Bizzy, this is my friend, Magda Cooper. She actually owns her own business as well.”
Magda nods. “Nice to meet you, Bizzy. And it’s true, I’m a partner with my siblings at the Cozy Corner Grocer and Gourmet.”
“Is that the one out in Rose Glen?” I ask. “I’ve been meaning to get there, too. I hear the ready-to-eat meals you have are better than most restaurants.”
“Well, they are.” She belts out a hearty laugh. “And we have a dine-in option, too. You can either order your meal at the counter or we have a self-serve bar where you can get cold or hot savory dishes that you pay for by the pound. And don’t get me started on the in-house bakery.” She pats her ample hips. “But as you can see, I have most certainly gotten started on the in-house bakery.”
We share a little laugh before Magda shoots Blythe the side-eye.
“It was nice meeting you, Bizzy.” Magda offers me a warm smile. “Ree, please pardon me while I go chitchat a little more with my other friends.” She casts another snide glance at the blonde in our midst. “My true friends.”
Wicked witch, Blythe muses to herself as she glowers at the woman. Then on a dime, her expression softens. But honestly, I fit that description far better than her.
Magda takes off and a gray-haired woman and a redhead step this way.
“Speaking of true friends.” Blythe waves them over. “Claudia, Vera, you must meet Ree’s adorable daughter. Girls, this is Bizzy. She’s the reason we’re standing where we are.”
“Claudia Franson.” The silver-haired maven extends her hand my way and I shake it.
Her hair falls past her shoulders in soft silver waves, and suddenly I have a whole new goal for my locks. That shade of silver is striking, and if my hair can do that, I won’t dare try to stop it.
“And I’m Vera Sparks.” The redhead quickly extends her hand as well and we give a quick shake.
Her hair is actually more of a soft auburn color with lots of gray roots that look as if they’re ready for a touch-up, but I kind of like the way the colors blend. I wouldn’t touch a thing there either.
“Blythe Betty is our very best friend in the whole wide world,” Vera goes on. “I hope she’s been telling you all about how the three of us have wreaked havoc and made merry for the last umpteen years while connected at the hip—our original hips that the good Lord gave us,” she adds with a chortle.
Blythe waves her off. “I was just about to get to the good part, but like usual, you beat me to the punch.”
Vera shrugs her way. “Have you told them the rest of the story?” Her expression grows serious as she makes big eyes at the woman.
Claudia stiffens as well and gives Blythe a quick nod.
“Go on,” Vera says, tossing up a hand. “Besides, everyone knows that Bizzy here is the best detective in all of Maine. If anyone can get to the bottom of this, Bizzy can.”
“Get to the bottom of what?” Mom squawks in horror.
Blythe shoots a quick glance over her shoulder. “Oh, it’s nothing really. I’ve just?—”
“Someone is watching her,” Claudia offers up with a note of horror in her voice as well.
Both Mom and I gasp.
“That’s not the worst part.” Vera leans in. “Someone has been leaving her nasty notes. And just last week, she had her tires slashed.”
Mom and I gasp again.
“Oh, it’s just silly stuff. Just some nuisance trying to cause trouble.” Blythe is quick to dismiss it. “Ree, don’t you worry one bit. And Bizzy, for the love of all things good, do not concern yourself with this.” She pulls both of her besties away and immediately begins to chide them. “Why in the world would you want to get that sweet girl involved in this?”
A loud crash comes from the corner and we look that way and we’re right back to gasping.