Dying in a Winter Wonderland by Vicki Delany

Author:Vicki Delany [Delany, Vicki]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2020-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

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* * *

The store had a good day. All the restaurants and shops in town should be pleased: the perfect early-winter weather— a light coating of snow, the air crisp and clear without bone-chilling temperatures or strong winds—had brought the tourists and shoppers onto Jingle Bell Lane in droves.

At four, I gave Jackie money out of petty cash to get us drinks from Cranberries. She returned with a small plain latte for me, a medium peach iced tea for Crystal, and an extra-large concoction topped with a mountain of whipped cream and covered with chocolate sprinkles for her.

“There must be a million calories in that thing,” Crystal said as she accepted her cup.

Jackie sniffed. “Unlike some people, I can handle it.” As well as being a college student, jewelry designer, part-time store clerk, and voice student of my mother’s, Crystal was a long-distance runner. Jackie’s dig hadn’t been aimed at her. I hoped my assistant manager was thinking of someone not currently standing in Mrs. Claus’s Treasures. When I lived and worked in Manhattan, I’d regularly visited a gym and joined my coworkers twice a week for yoga. Since moving back to Rudolph and opening the shop, I . . . hadn’t. I’d also been dropping into Victoria’s Bake Shoppe maybe more than was good for me.

“Sorry I took so long, Merry.” Jackie handed me my change. “Jane Wolcott stopped me on the street and told me Tiffany Ambrose, used to be Ravenswood, is putting together plans for a party tomorrow night. An impromptu reunion for our high school class while a bunch of the out-of-towners are here for the holidays. Sounds like fun. You should come.”

“I wasn’t in your class.” I’m two years older than Jackie.

“Neither was Tiffany. I think she was in your brother’s year. But that doesn’t matter. Some of us were in the same clubs or took advanced classes together.”

“What about me?” Crystal said. “Can I come?”

Jackie’s face fell.

“She’s kidding,” I said. “Two or three or even five years doesn’t matter at our age. But fifteen sure does.” Crystal had only graduated this past spring.

Crystal laughed. “Yup. Some of your crowd are old enough to be our parents.”

“Let’s not go there,” I said.

“Excuse me . . .” A woman peeked out from behind the Christmas tree.

Crystal put her take-out cup on the counter and hurried to help.

“Speaking of high school,” I said to Jackie. “Did you know Luanne Ireland back then?”

“Yeah, I did. She was good friends with my sister. Your brother, Chris, was part of their crowd for a while. He stopped coming around, and my sister told me he and Luanne had broken up.” Jackie glanced around the store, saw that no customers were approaching us needing assistance, and stepped closer to me. I refrained from groaning. I could guess what was coming. She spoke in a whisper. “Some people are saying Luanne planned to dump Jeff Vanderhaven and get back with Chris. Some are saying that’s why Jeff died.”

“Are you saying that, Jackie?”

“Me? You know me, Merry, I never repeat gossip.

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