Fatal Frosty: A Christmas Shop Mystery by Kathleen Suzette

Author:Kathleen Suzette [Suzette, Kathleen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-12-23T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 11

The next morning I hummed along with the Christmas carols playing softly on the sound system at The Christmas Shop. I could feel the cheerful energy bubbling up inside me, like champagne fizzing over the rim of a glass. I didn’t even mind that I’d already heard Jingle Bell Rock three times before noon.

Maybe it was because I had a second date with Jake on the horizon. Me. Going on a second date. The very thought was surreal, like I’d stepped into someone else’s romantic comedy. Still, a nagging little voice crept in, whispering its doubts. What are you doing, really? Where is this going? I hadn’t decided about staying in Christmas Village. Wouldn’t it be cruel to start something and then pack up and leave?

But the bigger part of me—the part that hadn’t felt this alive in far too long—shushed the doubts. There were no strings attached to one more date. And besides, I was not about to cancel on Jake. I couldn’t deny I was looking forward to it.

“Why are you so happy?”

The question startled me, breaking me from my thoughts. Debbie stood behind the counter, one eyebrow raised and a sly grin on her face.

I turned to her, unable to stop the smile tugging at my lips. “Happy? Who says I’m happy?”

“Oh, please.” Debbie waved her hand dismissively, her eyes twinkling. “You’ve been humming and smiling since you got here. You’re giddy, for goodness’ sake.”

“She is very happy, isn’t she?” Carol chimed in. She leaned against the front counter, her arms folded, a teasing glint in her eyes. “Care to share with the class?”

I rolled my eyes but couldn’t hold back my laughter. They were relentless. “Fine,” I said, holding up my hands in surrender. “I’m going out on another date with Jake on Friday night.”

Debbie clapped her hands together, her face lighting up as if I’d told her she won the lottery. “Yes! I knew it. I’m so glad for you.”

“That sounds like fun,” Carol added, grinning.

“It does,” I agreed. “I can hardly wait.”

The front door opened with a whoosh, the cold December air sweeping in as the bell above it jingled. A woman stepped inside, pulling the door firmly shut behind her. She looked around cautiously, as though trying to take in the store’s layout without drawing attention to herself. Her black knit cap was pulled so low it nearly touched her brows, and a thick scarf was wrapped snugly around her neck. Only her eyes and the tip of her nose were visible, and her posture was tense as if bracing against more than just the weather.

“Hello,” she said softly, her voice muffled by the scarf.

I stepped forward, offering her my warmest smile. “Hello! Welcome. Can I help you with something?”

She hesitated, then gave a quick nod. “I just found out my grandmother is coming for Christmas,” she said, her words tumbling out like she’d been holding them in. She pushed her scarf down from her face. “I need to get her something. She loves red birds.

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