Page 23 of Merry With A Milkman

Since it’s Tegan’s day to manage their store, and Walt is back delivering for Steve, I’m hanging around my place pretending to keep busy. There’s no reason to check on things at Mr. Omata’s property. Everything’s ready to go. Moving a floral arrangement three inches isn’t going to make a damn bit of difference.

I’m trying to read on my tablet when there’s a knock on my door. Welcoming an interruption, I open the door with a smile, only to come face to face with one of the local cops. “Uh, hi? Can I help you?”

“Are you Rhone Landon?”

“Yes.”

“I need to ask you a few questions. May I come in?”

Searching my mind for possible reasons the police might need to talk with me, I step back to allow the officer to step inside. “What’s this about?”

Ten minutes later, his questions complete and mine mostly unanswered, the cop leaves. The scumbag who’d hit on Tegan had been found dead. The cops expect murder. I sit in stunned silence for a long moment before reaching for my phone but it chimes before I can place my call.

“Tegan? Hi.”

“The police were just here to talk to me.”

“One just left here, too.”

“Guess I’m a little late to warn you. Can you believe what happened? I understand why they’d talk to us, but geez. A murder?”

My soft snort expresses my opinion. “Can’t say I’ll miss the guy. He was an asshole to you. Totally inappropriate. Who knows how many other women he tried to ‘charm’. I don’t doubt he deserved it.”

“Rhone, nobody deserves to be murdered.”

I know that’s true, but the creep hit on my woman. It’s not difficult to imagine what other lowlife activities he’d be involved with. “I’m sorry. I know. I just can’t dig up any sympathy for him.”

“I do understand and I’m trying not to feel the same way. What about his family?”

“I’m sorry for them, of course. Anyway, this isn’t our problem, or our fault. We’ve got more important matters to deal with. Are you ready for tomorrow?”

“You mean playing hostess for you? I am. It’s more important if you’re ready. Are you?”

“As much as possible. I have positive RSVPs from everyone you suggested we invite.” She prompted me to invite a few ofthe nearby business owners and the head of the city’s business association. Along with Steve’s customer list, thinking that those who had retail sales might be interested in adding cheese to their Landon Dairy offerings. The number of details she’s suggested astound me. I wouldn’t be anywhere near ready to open my business without her input.

“That’s great. You’ll have a good variety of people there. That will show community interest and them talking about the tasting will encourage everyone to check out the store when it’s open.”

“I’m shocked that even my brother’s leaving his sanctuary to attend. And get this, he asked to bring someone.”

“That’s fabulous. I wonder who.”

“He mentioned awhile back that Walt’s sister showed an interest in his goats, so she’s been at the farm every day learning from him.”

“And he wants to bring her to your party? Interesting.”

“Tegan, honey, I wish you were here.”

Her sigh wraps around my heart. “Me, too. But I need to help Noah finish up the chocolates to pair with your cheese samples. I’ll pick up the wine in the morning and meet you at the store.”

I don’t want to say goodbye but we both have final preparations to complete.

“Rhone, we’ll have a lot to celebrate tomorrow. I’ll see you then.”

“Until then, sweetness.”

With nothing else to do, I pull out my folio and go through Mr. Omata’s prospectus for our purchase arrangement one more time.

I hesitateto say the gathering is a success but even though the cheese plates are empty, people are still sipping wine and discussing the tastes and attributes of each of the samples I prepared. Boots has received compliments on her floral arrangements, with promises to hire her once her business is open.

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