I pulled the door open without looking out the window to see who it was, a habit that drove Greg crazy. I kept explaining we lived in a small town. He kept saying I lived on the edge next to the heavily traveled Highway One. Anyone could be at the door. He had a point. One that I just ignored.
Emma whined at the visitor, Aunt Jackie. She and my dog had a love/hate relationship. Emma loved my aunt, my aunt claimed to hate my dog. Yet at times, I’d see her stroking Emma’s head.
Aunt Jackie was dressed in a coral pantsuit, pearls at the neck and sensible but cute walking shoes. She thrust a box from the shop into my hands. “White chocolate macadamia nut cookies. Sadie’s been experimenting.”
I opened the box, the smell of fresh baked cookies filling my senses. “Yum, did we buy some for the shop?”
“I told her to leave me a sample and I’d let her know next week.” Jackie smiled. “We have three dozen, which should sell nicely tomorrow.”
“Seriously, you have got to stop playing hardball with Sadie. She’s our primary dessert supplier. I’d hate to have to go into Bakerstown more often.” I followed my aunt into my kitchen, where she’d already started a pot of coffee. “Besides, she’s a friend.”
“Can’t let friendship affect business. Sadie knows what she’s doing. She’d be a fool to stop trying new things.” Jackie sat at the table, Emma lying quickly at her feet, her nose inches away from my aunt’s shoes.
I decided I’d talk to Sadie next week and make sure she charged us for the “sample” when she did her weekly order. Changing the subject, I joined my aunt at the table, opening the box of cookies and offering her one. “So, what’s up?”
She waved away the box and watched as I took a cookie and set the box down in the middle of the table, within reaching distance. I thought I saw regret in her eyes as she eyed the box. “Just checking in. Rumor mill says that Kent was still married and that’s why Sherry killed him. Is that what Greg thinks?”
I brushed the cookie crumbs off my lips before I spoke. South Cove’s small-town rumor mill was where I got my best intel. Especially since my aunt was plugged in to the main source. I wondered not for the first time where she found out her gossip. Maybe Mary? More likely Josh; that man would do anything for my aunt, including asking the inappropriate questions.
“You know, there are two subjects that are taboo between Greg and me. One of them is open investigations. And the other is Sherry.” I polished off the cookie and thought about a second one, but got up to pour a couple of cups of coffee from the just-brewed pot instead. “I did meet the former Mrs. Paine this afternoon at the funeral home. She and Sherry were ready to kill each other, and would have if they’d had real weapons. I’m just glad neither one of them had guns.”
Aunt Jackie took the coffee and leaned forward. Her eyes sparkled. “What were they fighting about?”
I shuddered a bit. “Kent’s funeral arrangements.” I took a sip of the dark brew. “Can you imagine anyone wanting that chore?”
She stared at me hard. “It’s an honor, not a chore. You wouldn’t have let some stranger handle Miss Emily’s requests, would you?”
My friend had died less than a year ago, but for the first few days after her death, I’d hoped for someone, anyone, to take over the planning. I hadn’t wanted to make a mistake. Luckily, Sadie Michaels had stepped in, and with Doc Ames’s help, my friend had been sent off to her final resting place without a hitch. As long as you didn’t talk about the unfortunate will-reading incident. Or the fact that her relatives tried to kill me. Shaking those memories away, I put on a customer service smile. “I guess you’re right. But who does get the honor? Current girlfriend or ex-wife? Seems like a dilemma.”
“Wife trumps girlfriend any time.” Aunt Jackie shook her head. “I would have thought you’d know that by now. Weren’t you a divorce lawyer?”
“Family law,” I corrected. “I was talking social etiquette, not legal regulations.”
“Same thing.” Aunt Jackie looked at me, pausing at my hair, tied back into a loose bun with a clip. She sighed, but instead of the lecture I’d expected over the mess, she asked, “Can you take my shift tomorrow? I know I told you I’d work, but I’ve got a few things I have to do in the city. Mary and I are leaving tonight after I close the shop.”
“Sure, Greg’s tied up with the Kent thing so I don’t have real plans except laundry. I forgot to mention that Mary was looking for you the other day. What’s going on?” I eyed another cookie, wondering if I could wait for my aunt to leave and therefore skip the lecture about eating too much sugar. Except she’d brought the box, so she must expect me to eat a few. My hand reached toward the cookie box, but my aunt snapped the lid shut and stood.
“We’re just doing a girl trip, why would you ask?” My aunt dug in her purse, avoiding eye contact.