Juniper Grove Cozy Mystery Box Set: Books 1-3 by Karin Kaufman

Author:Karin Kaufman [Kaufman, Karin]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2017-09-21T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 9

I had wondered if Justin Miller and Jenny Hannaford were having an affair, and if that was why Justin had changed the menu at the Porter Grill, but no longer. Whatever was going on between the two, it was in full sight of Tyler Hannaford, and middle-aged paunch or not, he didn’t strike me as a man who would sit still for his wife flaunting her love for another man right in front of him. But it went beyond that. Justin and Jenny’s embrace, though more than casual, had the appearance of deep friendship, not passionate love.

Julia and I decided to make a stop at Maureen’s old shop, Coffee and Cakes, to see if it was still open. And if it was, who was running it. The little drive-through was northwest of downtown, on Cedar Avenue, a two-lane road that led to parks and recreation areas in town and then into the foothills, where it became a county road. A brilliant location for a drive-through.

It being the lone building on a straight stretch of the avenue, painted sky blue to boot, we had no trouble finding it. But there wasn’t a drive-through customer in sight, and when we drove up to the order window, it became clear that Coffee and Cakes had closed.

“Such a shame,” Julia said. “Didn’t she have any employees?”

“I’m sure she did, but who would pay them now that she’s gone? If Kirk didn’t have a financial interest in the shop or his name wasn’t on the property, he wouldn’t try to keep it open. It’s a smart place to put a food establishment, though.” I drove around the building again, then pulled to the side of the circular drive that wove around it, parked, and got out.

“I don’t understand why Maureen thought Holly and Justin were threats to her,” I said as Julia joined me. “Her customer base couldn’t have been theirs. Their places are completely different.”

“I agree. This is for people who want a quick cup of coffee and a pastry before driving to the parks or mountains. No one else lives or works around here.”

The sky was a soft gray broken by patches of blue, and the clouds still tufts of white drifting by, but I could smell rain on the air. “It’s going to rain again,” I said. “A storm’s coming. Do you smell that?”

“I do. Let’s get in the car.”

I stood for a minute longer, taking in the sweet scent. This part of Cedar Avenue was on a low ridge, and from my vantage point, I could see a shallow valley not far below us, studded with trees that were half bare and half a brilliant autumn gold. Thank you, God. How could I not be grateful for a sight like that? I was fortunate to live here. Fortunate to be standing in that place, not in a big-city office. Fortunate to be dressed in jeans and hiking shoes rather than the dressy work clothes I loathed.

I could have breathed it

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