The Loch Ness Papers (A Scottish Bookshop Mystery) by Paige Shelton

Author:Paige Shelton [Shelton, Paige]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781250127815
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group
Published: 2019-04-02T05:00:00+00:00

TWENTY-ONE

“Hello, lass!” Edwin said as Mom, Elias, and I walked into The Cracked Spine. “Welcome tae your celebration!”

Mom leaned toward my ear. “We couldn’t tell you. It was meant to be a surprise. I know you’re upset about the dress, but act happily surprised. We wanted a party to celebrate the wedding mostly, but everything else too. Your job, all these wonderful people you’ve met, everything!”

Elias sent me a tight grin, probably hoping I’d do what my mother said. I would.

Everyone was there. Dad, Wyatt, Aggie, Edwin, Rosie, Hamlet, Tom’s father, Artair, Tom, and even Regg. Hector too. He trotted over to me before anyone else could and demanded to be picked up and have full access to my slightly wet cheeks for some of his kisses.

The burn gave way this time and real tears fell, just a few of them, and they were happy tears.

“Edwin wanted it tae be a surprise,” Tom said as came forward and hugged me. “Are you all right?”

“I am better than all right. This is perfect,” I said.

My parents and brother were treated like they were royalty. I was touched by how important it was to my Scottish family that my biological family feel welcomed and comfortable. Even Artair joined in and offered himself up for the role of tour guide. He had the week off from his job at the University of Edinburgh library and was available to take people wherever they wanted to go.

No matter, though, that it was the best party I’d ever attended; my mind eventually went elsewhere. Though I cared about the dress, I had to push it to the least of my concerns. Suddenly, I couldn’t stop thinking about the article and the Nessie knife, and the fact that I hadn’t looked inside Norval’s apartment as he and Inspector Winters had wanted. Inspector Winters had all but driven me over and dropped me off. In fact, he might do just that if I asked him to. Instead, I’d used a call to him to report a defunct dress business. I hadn’t even added a quick post-script asking who the other suspects were.

Yes, weddings were stressful, but there really wasn’t a good reason why mine should be. It was small and simple. I looked around. In fact, everyone was there right then. We could have the wedding now, maybe just get it over with. My eyes landed on Edwin—no, everyone was not there. Edwin’s new girlfriend, Vanessa, was conspicuously absent. Maybe now would be a good time to call her to come over for introductions.

Edwin noticed me looking at him and approached. “Delaney, lass. You’ll show your family the warehouse, won’t you?”

“Of course, but maybe not until later. They’re hoping for some sightseeing today. Did you hear what I did with Loch Ness?”

“No.”

I told him about our visit to Wikenton and my sleeping family, and he laughed.

“I’ve heard worse stories, I suppose,” he said.

“I owe them a trip up there, but I really wanted to talk to Ava. I … I’m feeling remiss in not visiting Norval’s place now.

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