The Treasure Map Mishap: A Jericho Falls Holiday Novella (Jericho Falls Cozy Mysteries) by Brook Peterson

Author:Brook Peterson [Peterson, Brook]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: GS Publishing
Published: 2023-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

10

With or Without You

Unlike Grandma Lily, I find it terribly difficult, if not downright impossible, to maneuver someone else’s relationship. Heck, I can hardly maneuver my own! What I’m trying to say is, I had no idea how to fix what I had broken. Dr. Dunning was obviously sulking and Helena was about to steal our thunder.

Grandma noticed my brooding mood that evening as we sat in the parlour together. Jed and Elliot were sitting near us, getting their nightly cuddles.

“What is it, dear?” Grandma asked. Even though she said this in her typical loving manner, I could tell she was tired of my pouting.

“This whole thing. How did I let it get away from me so quickly? Why didn’t I manage it better? I mean, it could be Dr. Dunning and me having this press conference tomorrow, not egotistical Helena Reynolds.”

Grandma Lily said nothing. She sat stroking Elliot while staring at me.

“What?”

“I wish you could hear yourself,” she said.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“Blaming Helena for being egotistical when what you seem to want is recognition yourself.“ The emphasis she placed on the word stung. I took several long moments to think.

“All right, I admit it. I would love to be included in the find. But what really hurts is that once again Helena is undermining Dr. Dunning. And now I have to miss the trip to Apple Gulch so I can be at her stupid press conference. It’s not fair.”

Another long segment of silence filled the parlour. There was only the sound of Jed’s happy panting as I scratched his ear.

Grandma was the first to speak. “Leonard Dunning is a grown man, Chloe. He can defend himself. It’s a pity it’s turned out like this. But are you going to get bitter or get better?”

“Huh?”

“That’s the choice you have to make. Are you going to let this situation make you bitter, or better?”

With that, Grandma Lily folded the blanket she’d had spread across her lap and switched off the lamp that stood by her chair. She scooped up Elliot and then planted a kiss on my forehead. “I’m going upstairs to watch some TV. Lock up when you go out.”

I nodded. She was already in the hallway when I said, “I love you, Grandma.”

“I love you too, dear,” she said. I heard her soft steps moving away from me.

Grandma Lily’s words sank in. She was right. I could either stoop to Helena’s level and join in on a fight that might turn into a decade long grievance between us like the one she was fighting with Leonard, or I could rise above this competition and move on. And as Garner said, the rightful owner of the map was Jill. If anyone had the right to some recognition, it was her.

“What’s the better way for me to handle this, Jed?” I straightened his collar and stared into his dark chocolate-brown eyes.

He placed one enormous paw on my lap and seemed to smile. “Spend time with you instead of at some stuffy press conference, you say?”

Jed tilted his head.

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