Page 5 of Merry Murder Season
I grabbed the book and a cookie I’d brought home from the bookstore and headed to the couch with Emma in tow.
* * *
Thursday morning, I turned the alarm off and covered my head with a pillow, hoping to delay getting out of bed. Forat least a day.
“We have people coming over. You need to get up,” Greg’s voice called from the doorway.
“Tell them I’m sick. Or the house burned down,” I grumbled. I didn’t want to go through another meal with Jim and Beth sniping at each other. My new mother-in-law, Amanda, had tried to mediate last night. Greg tried changing the subject. I just watched and ate. Two bread baskets. The crab dip appetizer. My fish entrée. Amanda had extended the suffering by ordering dessert and coffeefor the table.
All the while Beth told stories about real women working while successfully raising children and managing a household—with a little help. Jim talked about men providing for their families by working, not doing laundry or changing diapers.
I was on Beth’s side, but every time I said something, Jim and Greg glared at me. For different reasons, of course.
“I don’t want to see anyone today. I did my share of peopling last night for the rest of the year,” I said through the pillow. I felt Emma nudging my arm. Her nose was cold. “And we haven’t even added Aunt Jackie and Lille to the mix yet. Thanksgiving dinner is going tobe a disaster.”
“No, it’s not. I pulled Jim aside and threatened him with a night in jail if he didn’t lighten up today. Mom’s going to talk to Beth. All we need to do is feed nine people and then send them back to their corners. It will be fine.” Greg always looked on the bright side. “Come on, get up and shower. I’ll start breakfast.”
“Ten. Ten people. Lille’s bringing a date.” I uncovered my head and climbed out of bed, hugging Emma before standing. I’d called my uncle for more information before we’d gone to dinner. “Dominic somebody.”
“Dom Reedy. He’s the head of the local motorcycle club. This will be interesting.” Greg looked thoughtful.
“What? Is he a bad guy?” Now I was worried about my aunt. She never kept her mouth shut with anyone. If she angered the head of a motorcycle gang, I didn’t know what would happen.
“There are rumors. But I’ve never arrested him for anything. So that’s a plus.” Greg grinned as I threw my body back down on the bed. “None of that. Get up and get ready. I’m making French toast and bacon. And we need to get the turkey in the oven soon. If we don’t, we’ll never get these people outof our house.”
“As long as we’re on the same page here.” I stood and headed to the bathroom. Maybe my mood would improve if I washed away all of last night’s bad energy. It was a new-age trick that Deek had taught me, but right now, I was willing to try anything.
What do you get when you mix a gangster, a cop, a grumpy aunt, a fighting couple, and the angst of a family holiday together?
I didn’t know, but I was about to find out. And I didn’t thinkit was a joke.
French toast and bacon soothed my ragged edges, as did a quick walk on the beach after the turkey had been stuffed and tucked into the oven. Greg stayed behind to make a salad while Emma and I met Beth on the beach.
I noticed dark circles shining under Beth’s eyes as we took the stairs down to the beach. The waves were calm and the beach surprisingly empty, so I let Emma off her leash as we walked. After a few minutes of silence, I turned to my hopefully soon-to-be sister-in-law and said, “Okay, out with it. What’s really going on? This can’t be about working at thechurch office.”
Beth’s smile was tight. “You picked up on that. No, the job in question is one I’ve hoped for all my life. I’ve been offered a fellowship in Omaha’s religious studies department. It’s driving distance, and I’d only have to be at the university for three days to teach and I could do my research time then. I’d be writing my dissertation at home. And they’d pay me year-round.” Beth’s face filled with excitement as she talked. “And, if I do well, there’s a chance at a full-time position,tenure track.”
“That’s wonderful. When do you start?” I knew Beth could do it. For her master’s, she’d written a thesis that was now being considered for mainstream publication by several publishers. Her agent was hoping for a significant deal after it went to auction next month.
“And that’s the problem. They want me to start at the first of the year. Jim’s upset that it might interfere with the wedding this June. And he says I’ll just quit after the wedding, anyway.”
“He didn’t say that.” I knew Jim was conservative, but he knew who he’d fallen in love with. There was no way Beth wouldn’t take this job and rock it.
“He did. Then he didn’t know why I got mad at him. I told him last night I was taking the job and I was going to work after we got married.” Beth picked up a shell and tucked itin her pocket.
“Good for you.” I knew she’d win this argument. It was stupid to think she’d just stay home and, what, darn Jim’s socks?
“I thought the matter was done, but then he opens his mouth again and gives me permission to work until the babies start coming.” Beth rolled her eyes. “He. Gave. Me. Permission.”
I didn’t want to laugh, but it sounded like Jim. “I take it you’re doing couples counseling before the wedding?”
“We can’t agree on that either. He wants to use my current boss because he knows Reverend Black will side with him. I want to use an actual marriage counselor in town.” She picked up another shell. “I feel like I’m choosing between being happily married and being a spinster with a house full of cats and a great job.”
“He’ll get past it.” I wondered what Jim’s first wife had done. Had she been the stay-at-home wife? They hadn’t had time for kids before she died. “And catsaren’t so bad.”
“I’m not sure that’s true.” Beth turned around and we headed back to the parking lot. “Jim, not the cats. You’re lucky Greg’s more open-minded. Amanda is ready tothrottle Jim.”
“It should make our first King Thanksgiving pretty interesting though.” I bumped her with my shoulder. “I’m so proud of you. The only thing that would make this better is if the offer was here in California, near me.”
