Page 30 of Secrets in the Stacks

“I’m thinking we’ll have a catered dinner at my house. That way we can talk books or whatever. It can be a holiday dessert potluck. Or a cookie exchange?” Rarity shot out some ideas.

“Let’s take it back to the group. They can tell you what they like and don’t like. I really don’t want to make decisions for everyone.” Darby nodded to the cart. “I better get this out there before Shirley comes looking for us. Bring the holiday party up when everyone’s here. I bet they’ll jump on the chance. And that way it doesn’t look like it’s just about Shirley. Or me.”

Rarity grabbed her planner from her desk as they walked out the narrow hall to the front of the store. “We should have thought of this before.”

Sam stood at the breakroom door to the front. She held it open for Darby to wheel the cart out. “I was just on my way back to help you. Malia’s screaming for some coffee. What should you have thought about before? Something for the case?”

Rarity joined her friend, and they walked toward the small group of women around the fireplace. “No, just something for the book club. I’ll bring it up when all the members are here. It’s going to be fun.”

Rarity greeted the other members and looked around. “We’re just missing Holly, right?”

“She’s on her way. Work had a meeting she had to attend that ran late. The city wants her to move to the utility files next, but some people want her to move to business licenses next. They want her to start building the websites for the city departments once she’s done with the scanning project. It’s all really exciting.” Malia bragged on her friend and the excitement she had over her job. “I’m hoping I can get some amazing job when I finish with school next year. Anything will be better than working at the Garnet, though.”

“I’m sure she doesn’t think scanning all the paper files for Sedona into a digital format for the last few years has been all that exciting.” Sam picked up a cookie and curled up on the couch. “I worked for the Flagstaff water department when I got out of school before I opened my shop. The days were excruciatingly long. And boring. I did my gem and jewelry work at night as a hobby. That’s when I found what I loved.”

“Again, better than working at the Garnet,” Malia pointed out again. She smiled at Rarity. “Although, when I stopped to pick up my check this afternoon, Gabby said you and Archer came in for lunch and were very cozy together.”

“I’m pleading the fifth on that one.” Rarity laughed, and then the doorbell over the front door chimed. She waved at Holly as she hurried inside. “Saved by the bell. Let’s let Holly get settled and grab some treats before we get started. I’ll go set up the sign.”

She moved the sign to the middle of the walkway, letting people know that the store was still open but a book club was in process. She had a bell on the counter that someone could ring if she was involved in the discussion, but she tended to watch the few customers that did arrive during book club, just so they didn’t feel like they were intruding, or overhear their discussions on investigations. Funny, she thought the most private conversations might be about cancer treatments and the way people felt now that they were past the worst. Instead, the survivors’ club had turned into much more.

Everyone was seated, and a few people had the book of the month out in front of them. It was an art theft caper; again, not the type of book she’d expected to have as a choice, but the group had voted. Next month’s book was a heartwarming Christmas read set in Montana. She handed out a piece of paper with twelve lines on it. “Before we get into this month’s book or discussion of our special project, I need you to give me twelve options for book selections for next year. I’ve got a few in mind, as long as no one objects to some magical realism. We haven’t read much in that subgenre, and I have a couple I think you’d love. But this is your group, not just mine, so I want to know your thoughts as well.”

“What if we know what type but not a name? Like I’d like to read something on organization or self-help, but I don’t know what book exactly.” Malia looked at the paper like it was going to bite her.

“Just put your ideas down, and I’ll find the book.” Rarity looked around. “Please bring these to the next meeting. If I don’t hear from you in two weeks, I’ll set our reading schedule up for the next year without your input.”

“And you know she’ll do it,” Sam said to the group, tucking her page into the book.

“Anyway, one more housekeeping thing, then we’ll decide on the topic for this week’s discussion.” She set her book down on her lap. “Darby and I were talking about having a holiday dinner for the group later this month. If anyone’s doing some traveling, we can avoid Thanksgiving week.”

Holly raised her hand. “I’ll be here Thanksgiving week, and I have no plans for the holiday. I was going to see if there was anyone else who wanted to get together for a book-club-giving. You know, like friends-giving?”

“Not a bad idea, unless someone has plans.” Rarity looked around. “I’m free. I haven’t even thought about doing something.”

Sam nodded. “No family meal for me. My mom’s going on a cruise that week to the Caribbean. She invited me, but I’m not big on ships. Especially big ships.”

Darby held up her hand. “You all know I’m free. Christmas, birthdays, it seems like I’m going to be free for all of it. And no, if you’re wondering, I still haven’t been able to reach my folks for Grandma’s funeral. It’s Thursday at two if anyone’s interested. You don’t have to come. But you’re all invited.”

“Where will services be held?” Shirley asked.

“The Methodist church here in town. My grandmother loved the pastor there. He came over last week, and we talked through what she’d given him for the service. No one but my grandmother would plan her own funeral.”

Shirley pinked. “Actually, George and I have our funerals already set up, including the service plan. We did it several years ago when I had my cancer scare. George was so sweet. He said I was going to be fine, but if we were going to plan my funeral, we were going to plan his as well.”

“That’s so sweet.” Rarity swallowed hard. “Okay, so if you’re available for the funeral, I’m sure Darby would love it if we could all come. Anyone against having an actual holiday dinner on Thanksgiving then? Maybe we could all bring a guest, just in case we have someone who would be alone?”

“I can make it.” Shirley pulled out her planner and started writing things down. “I can’t speak for George. The Cowboys play on Thanksgiving, and he loves his ‘boys.’ But I can have an early dinner with him and then come to our book-giving. Where are we having it?”

“My house is available, unless someone else wants to host.” Rarity smiled at Shirley even though she still hadn’t looked up. She should have thought about this before. Shirley needed their support, even if she didn’t know that most of them already knew her secret.

Darby held up her hand. “Can we have it at my house? I think Grandma would really love to see that the house is being a part of joy, not just pain.”

Chapter 13

After the housekeeping items were done, Rarity opened the floor to a vote. Talk about the book they’d read or talk about Catherine Doyle’s murder. It was a landslide.

“I think we need to make sure Darby’s not a suspect anymore.” Holly pointed to the whiteboard, where Rarity was writing down the brainstorming ideas. “Can’t the time of death fix that? She was at the festival most of the day on Saturday.”

---