A Blue and Gray Christmas by Joan Medlicott

Author:Joan Medlicott
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Pocket Books
Published: 2009-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Andrea, who had been leaning forward, devouring every word Milo read, sat back and smiled. “How wonderful of you to share John’s letter with me. What a nice man he must have been. I hope you’re successful in your quest to find your ancestors.”

They talked for a long while. Andrea had been a journalist and was preparing to publish her first novel, about murders that had taken place in Newtown over the years.

“It’s such a lovely little town and it feels so safe. Murders seem improbable here,” Milo said.

“This was a wild town around the turn of the nineteenth century: White Caps, the Ku Klux Klan, robbery rings, safecrackers, arsonists, hoboes and murderers, and an infamous red-light district. No one seems aware of the town’s criminal history, so I decided to create a fictional detective to tell about the true crimes and to comment on the times. My book’s called The Case Files of Detective Laszlo Briscoe: True Crime in Newtown 1889–1933.

“It sounds most interesting. I wish you great success with the book,” Milo said.

Then Andrea gave him directions to restaurants and sights that he and Amelia might enjoy. When he rose to leave, she stood and walked him down the stairs, and Milo stopped to admire the lovely framed landscapes alongside the staircase. Andrea suggested that he and Amelia might enjoy seeing the work of Patricia Barkman, an artist of some repute, whose work hung on the wall.

“Mrs. Barkman’s a wonderful woman—generous, kind, caring, and very involved with our state’s library system. She has a charming little art gallery in her garden. Her last show was in early June, but let me see what I can arrange for you and Mrs. Declose.”

Back at the inn, Milo knocked on Amelia’s door. When she invited him in he plopped onto the settee by the window, leaned back, and put his hands behind his head. “Let’s go have dinner. Andrea said there’s a new Japanese restaurant called Toro.” Then he launched into praise for the librarian. “She’s a delightful young woman, a writer, and the most helpful reference librarian in the world.

“I’m so glad this town was John Foster’s hometown,” Milo continued. “I’m thrilled we made this trip.” His voice was firm as he gazed into the future. “I’ll find my ancestors, and hopefully a relative or two who still live here. I can feel it in my gut.” He stood then, and rubbed his stomach. “Right now I’m famished. You ready to get something to eat?”

“Just putting the finishing touches on my face.” Amelia, sitting at the vanity, applied lipstick and turned from the mirror.

“You look fabulous, Amelia.” He extended his arm and they left the room, went down the stairs, and out to the car.

“After dinner, what say we go to Mocha for a latte and dessert?” Milo asked.

“What’s Mocha?”

“A place Andrea suggested. She says it’s got great coffee and desserts.”

“Sounds like fun,” Amelia replied.

When they parked at the Toro restaurant and stepped from the car, Amelia slipped her arm through Milo’s and they walked along the sidewalk to the front door.

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