Page 12 of Toxic Apple Turnovers
Never before have so many been invited back to the scene of the crime just hours after the Ashford Homicide Department removed the caution tape.
First thing Monday morning, my mother sent out a series of spastic text messages inviting just about everyone she knows for an impromptu dinner catered by none other than the Honey Pot Diner.
Both Everett and Noah are still on their way back from work. No sooner do I arrive at my mother’s B&B than I note a bevy of photographers amassed near the entry.
“How does it feel heading into one of the most notorious haunted houses in all the United States?” one shouts my way. A barrage of camera flashes go off as I jog my way up the stairs.
Another shouts, “Do you think you’ll be the next murder victim? Entering through those doors ups your odds, lady. I’d think twice!”
I turn to glare at the sea of men and women hungry for a picture as I walk on in and slam the door in their faces.
It’s calm inside. Soothing classical music plays in the lobby, and I can hear the din of laughter coming from the dining room to my left.
The thick emerald carpet and dark wood paneling make it feel cozy inside. I spot a fire going in both the grand room and the dining room. My mother has always had a flair for playing hostess, and, lucky for her, she was able to turn it into a profitable business.
The sound of frantic whispering comes from my right and I step around the staircase, only to find Carlotta embroiled in a conversation with—
“Nell!” I shout her name out carefree as I wrap my arms around her ghostly frame. For whatever reason, the ghosts that visit can feel pretty solid when they want to. “Oh, am I ever glad to see you.” I pull back, holding her by the shoulders as I pause to take her in. She’s here, really here, and she looks better than I remember. Her sweet wrinkled face is just so for the sake of Carlotta and me.
Nell exposed herself as a young hottie the last time she was here, but she wanted to share with us the version we most recognized—the one we miss deeply. Her white hair is short around her ears and glows like a flame. Her pale blue eyes could light up all of Honey Hollow at night.
I take her in. “Nell, you have to tell me what’s happening. Those horrible break-ins? Is that why you’re here?”
“I’m afraid so.” She cups my face with her palms. “Oh, my precious Lottie, how I’ve missed you so.” She lands a sweet kiss to my lips, and an electric impulse bounces from her lips to mine, warming me from head to toe. “There will be more chaos by this destructive crew. Just know that we’re here for a reason. I want you to trust your gut, Lottie.” Her eyes bear hard into mine when she says it. “Don’t be afraid to dig down deep and utilize this wonderful power you’ve been given.”
“Nell”—I glance to Carlotta, my doppelgänger on any given day—“I don’t know what you’re talking about. And speaking of talking, the animals, they can speak now.”
A tiny giggle bubbles from her, and she sounds like a schoolgirl. “That’s right, Lottie. You should expect wonderful things from here on out. And how is your heart? Have you settled on a suitor yet?”
“Yup,” Carlotta answers for me. “She’s taking a page out of her mama’s playbook and she’s settling on both.”
My mouth falls open as I look to her. “Carlotta, you dated two men?”
“I’m taking about your other mother. She and Harry went out for dinner last night.” Her upper lip twitches as if she were about to growl.
“I’m sorry to hear it.” Really sorry. My mother was initially seeing Mayor Nash, but once she found out he was my biological father, it sort of put a damper on things, so she started dating Pastor Gaines. Then things really went south, and Carlotta decided she wanted another spin on the Nash Express. “Please don’t war over him.” This is usually that part where I say he’s not worth it, but now that Mayor Nash and I have grown a bit closer, I don’t feel that way anymore.
“Don’t be,” Carlotta snips my way. “He stopped by my place on his way home.” She thrusts her shoulders back and forth in a lustful manner.
“Ew,” I say at the visual. “Nell, please tell me what’s going on with this destructive crew you mentioned.”
Nell cocks her head to the side and looks up at me from under her glowing lashes. “I asked first. How is it going with Everett and Noah?”
“Wonderful,” I say it flat and full of sarcasm. “Noah’s divorce is final, and Everett stepped back to allow me to fully explore my feelings for Noah.”
“Now there’s a gentleman for you.” Nell nods sweetly as she says it.
“Ha!” Carlotta belts it out like a verbal exclamation point. “Now there’s an idiot for you. If Lottie falls for the Fox, the horny judge will live to regret it. Mark my words. He’ll be filled with regret the rest of his days for sponsoring these please-sleep-with-your-ex shenanigans.”
My insides cringe at the thought of putting Everett through that kind of pain.
I look to Nell and my heart fills with unmitigated joy once again. “Now that you’re caught up to speed, what’s happening, Nell? Is this in any way connected to Amanda’s killer?”
The soft moaning of what sounds like a dove emanates from behind as that gorgeous white snow owl expands his wings in a three-foot span at least. Its glowing feathers land softly over Nell’s shoulder, and she reaches up and gives it a pat.
“There, there,” Nell sings softly to it. “You’ll be assisting my granddaughter, Lottie, in the investigation. She’s quite good, you know.”
“Good evening, Owlbert,” I say, mostly because I’ve been dying to say his name in general. “And what a clever name you have.” I turn to Carlotta. “It’s OwlbertEinstein.” A small titter of laughter bubbles from me. “Don’t you love it?”