Shadows Over Thanksgiving by Jennifer J. Morgan

Author:Jennifer J. Morgan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: amateur sleuths, strong female protagonist, holiday mysteries, cozy mystery series, pets in mystery stories, murder mystery series books for adults, mystery series for women
Publisher: Columbine Publishing Group, LLC

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The morning passed by like a whirlwind. Lexi, Dana and her kids, Jordan and her kids, Bella, CB, and I stayed plenty busy baking pies. Lexi showed us a few spicy tricks with her pumpkin pie recipe and she whipped up a couple of pecan pies that turned out perfectly. Dana, Jordan, and all the kids peeled and chopped apples, pecans, and ginger. Bella, Cody, and Brad assisted as sous chefs today. My nieces, Apple and Annie, and I put together my mother’s delicious apple cranberry pie.

Apple stirred the fresh cranberries into the apple pie mixture, and I watched as my mom guided her granddaughters through the process.

“I want to own a bakery someday!” Annie stated.

Apple smiled widely. “We should open Apple Annie’s Pie Shoppe! We’ll make such unique flavor combinations—people will come from all over the state to get our pies.”

Cody and Brad cheered on the young entrepreneurial spirit, and we all chimed in with ideas.

“How fun would that be?” I asked. “I feel like I’ve heard that name somewhere before, though.”

“Down in Wilcox—if it’s not Apple Annie’s, it’s something close to it.” Bella picked up the mixing bowls and carried them to the sink, when she noticed how deflated both Apple and Annie became. “Hey! Don’t worry—by the time you open your pie shop, it will be completely unique. Don’t give up on your dreams.”

Their eyes perked up again, and they helped their grandmother tent the pie before putting it in the oven. After baking all the confections, we stirred together the ingredients for the green bean casserole and mashed both golden and sweet potatoes. Then we stored everything away in the refrigerator and collapsed in the living room.

“Whew! It feels like we’re literally feeding an army,” I said.

“How many are planning on coming now? I heard JJ mention our party to one of the officers who said he had no family here.” Hesitantly, Lexi added, “I hope that was okay?”

“Oh yeah, he ran it by me first. I mean, what’s one more person? I think we have close to thirty who have confirmed they’ll be here.”

Lexi’s eyes widened in shock. “I’ve never hosted, or been to, a Thanksgiving meal of that size. Where are you going to fit everyone?”

I looked around the room again, seeing the plywood still in place on my back slider and remembering that was a large part of the original plan. “We’ll work it out—everything is figureoutable.” I smiled, trying to reassure everyone that I wasn’t panicking internally. My stomach churned, though; I really didn’t have a clue what I was doing, much less agreeing with others when they wanted to add to the guest list. That was me, though; the more the merrier, I’ve always said.

About an hour later, I walked the last of my friends to the door. “Okay, don’t forget—we’re beginning with lefse and mimosas at nine on Thursday morning. Parades, munchies, and lots of camaraderie—don’t be late! It’ll be a fun-filled day.” I closed the door behind them and took a deep breath.

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