I'm Dreaming of a Battered Christmas: A Newfound Lake Cozy Mystery by Virginia K. Bennett

Author:Virginia K. Bennett [Bennett, Virginia K.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-11-20T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

The Daughter

She was working on borrowed time now, so she booked it back to her house as quickly as she could without risking getting pulled over. Apparently, not everyone knew she was the fiancée of the chief of police, so she couldn’t bank on pulling that trick out of her hat. She never had used that as an excuse to get out of something before, but she certainly knew she wasn’t above trying to use it if necessary.

In order to stop by Priscilla’s house, she’d need a reason, and knowing her mother from the library just didn’t seem like a good enough reason to stand awkwardly on the front steps of her house saying how much she would be missed. If she showed up with something to give Priscilla, it would be that much easier to explain.

Rebecca kicked off her shoes and ran through the living room, startling the two cats enough to jump from the loveseat and dive under it. She opened a container of extra raspberry thumbprint cookies she had on the counter and transferred one dozen into a smaller, reusable plastic container. Next, she opened the freezer and took out a frozen shepherd’s pie she kept in there for a night when she didn’t want to cook or when Kenny had the girls over unexpectedly.

Once she had both, accepting the fact she may never see her casserole dish again if things went poorly, she scooted back through the living room and out to her car. With both placed on the passenger seat, she made her way back into town, turning left at The Lakehouse, a gift shop across from the emergency services building.

She traveled along the rural roads that became Alexandria, and emerged in the center of town, looking for a white house across the street from the church. When she was confident she had the right house, because there was quite an assortment of toys in both the front and back yards, she pulled into the driveway.

Rebecca got out of the car with the frozen dinner and cookie container, slightly nervous about how this interaction was about to play out. She didn’t know Priscilla and only learned of her mother’s issues yesterday. The door could just as easily be slammed in her face as it could we opened with an invitation to come in.

There was no doorbell, surprising in this day and age where everyone seemed to have a camera at their front door, so she knocked and backed up.

“I’m coming,” was heard from inside. “Yes?” said the frazzled looking woman who opened the door.

“Priscilla?” Rebecca checked.

“The only one I’ve ever met.”

“I wanted to drop off a dinner and some cookies and tell you I’m so sorry for the loss of your mother.”

Priscilla stepped out, causing Rebecca to back up further, and closed the door behind her.

“The kids don’t know yet.”

Rebecca gasped. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t even stop to think about that possibility.”

“I’ve hardly had enough time to process it myself, so I think I might wait a day or two…” She teared up.

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