Something Borrowed, Something Bleu by Cricket Mcrae

Author:Cricket Mcrae [Mcrae, Cricket]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Mystery, Murder, Cheesemaking, Mystery & Detective, Soap Trade, Women Artisans, Fiction, Mystery Fiction, Women Sleuths, Reynolds; Sophie Mae (Fictitious Character), General
ISBN: 9780738719962
Google: rhLZLAj8A4AC
Amazon: 073871996X
Publisher: MIDNIGHT INK
Published: 2010-07-08T07:00:00+00:00

Thank heavens the wedding plans took a back seat at dinner, once more eaten on the patio, but for once not cooked on the grill. Dad brought out one of his reliable specialties: egg-battered chili rellenos stuffed with queso fresco, olives, and toasted pine nuts and drowned in his spicy pork green chili. Add a big side salad, fresh corn chips, garden salsa, and fresh guacamole, and it was a feast fit for royalty. The margaritas were classic, consisting only of aged tequila, Grand Marnier, and lime juice mixed with plenty of ice. After the single-malt Laphroaig Barr had offered, I limited myself to one.

We lingered over the food while my parents got to know Barr a little better, and he them. They asked about his work, about the changes we were making to the house, and about his family. He wanted to know more about their teaching careers and even managed to get my father to tell a few war stories from his reporting days.

When Dad brought out the dessert, we all groaned, but no one said no. Homemade angel food cake smothered in spiced peaches and heavy cream whipped with lots of vanilla.

“I'm not going to be able to move for a week,” I said, settling back in my chair and closing my eyes.

“We'll do the dishes,” Meghan said, reaching for her own plate.

I cracked one eye. She was such a tiny little thing, maybe tipping the scales to a hundred pounds with snow boots on, but she'd packed away a big portion of that wonderful food tonight and still felt frisky.

Kelly reached over and took her hand.

Oh. No wonder.

“You will do no such thing. It's my job to do the dishes when Calvin cooks,” my mother said, immediately taking the plate from Meghan and motioning my father to his feet. He obeyed with alacrity.

“Oh, let them do it,” I said to my parents. “They only got to spend the whole day together; don't deny them some kitchen time as well.”

Kelly grinned.

“Nonsense,” Anna Belle said and bustled into the kitchen with Dad trailing behind her.

“They didn't get to spend the whole day alone, though. Not with me there,” Erin said.

The trace of bitterness underlying her words made me open the other eye. Kelly regarded her with surprise, Meghan with concern. Beside me, Barr watched the tableau with one eyebrow slightly raised.

Erin saw us all watching her. She launched to her feet and ran inside.

“What,” Kelly said, “was that all about? Did I do something wrong?”

Meghan looked after her daughter with a combination of bewilderment and guilt on her face. “Of course not.”

“Does she resent me encroaching on your vacation?”

My housemate shook her head. “She seems to think she's the one encroaching.”

Poor Bug, I thought. Eleven wasn't easy to start with, and there were a lot of changes going on around her these days.

_____

The house wasn't set up for so many guests, but Anna Belle was surprisingly enthusiastic about having a houseful and had cheerfully made do. She'd made

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