Merry Christmas, everyone!
This month's Round Robin Blog Fest features an excerpt from one of our stories. Since we're knee-deep in holiday spirit, I chose a section from "The Bakery Lady" to share. Enjoy!
The Bakery Lady
(Wild Blue Mysteries, Book 3)
From the moment Leo Blue meets the local tattoo artist's sister Christina, he's drawn into a web of bread dough and lies. Christina Davidson has returned to Packham with a duffle bag full of secrets. Leo soon discovers her biggest secret is Christina's alter ego and her husband, who stands accused of murdering an up-and-coming artist. He promises to help set things straight and plans to bring husband and wife together for Christmas—even if it costs him his sanity and the love of his life.
"I could visualize that bookstore, smell the coffee and pastries, and see the colorful characters. This book has lots of twists and turns, and I never knew who to trust, all the way to the end. I'll look for future books by this author." ~ Paul Carr
"I could visualize that bookstore, smell the coffee and pastries, and see the colorful characters. This book has lots of twists and turns, and I never knew who to trust, all the way to the end. I'll look for future books by this author." ~ Paul Carr
Mimsy’s soirees were the highlight of the
Christmas party season. The Lexington mansion would be decorated from eaves to
basement with white lights. Trees glowed and tinkle with metal icicles made by
a local artist. Christina and her family were invited every year, but they’d
only ever been to one. Her mom brought her and Clancy one year since Mel
couldn’t stand all the frivolity. They’d missed out on a lot of events. The
bakery was the one place he’d left them all alone. He hated the mess and the
people coming in to visit. Was that why her mother had worked so much?
Christina closed her eyes and sighed. Reality
stunk. She should go back to Newville while she had the chance before she got
stuck in her mom’s shoes for good. Then she reconsidered. There wasn’t much
left there anymore either.
When she returned to the store front, Clancy
and Mimsy were deep in conversation. Mimsy had removed her furry hat to reveal
a glittering tiara on the top of her head. What kind of person walked around
town wearing a sparkling tiara and used a walker decorated with blinking,
battery-powered Christmas lights? While Mimsy Lexington was old and batty back
when Christina knew her, she appeared to have become crazier in the past few
years.
“Is there anything else for you today, Mrs.
Lexington?” Christina rang in the purchase.
“Darling, please call me Mimsy.” She allowed
Clancy to help her to her feet. “Everyone else in town does.”
“Mimsy.” Her mouth twitched into a small
smile. “Sorry.”
“The people at my writing meeting this
evening will love these.” Mimsy’s smile faded. “Oh, darling, you made me two
boxes? I only wanted one dozen.”
“Sugar cookies.” Christina bowed her head. “For
old time’s sake.”
“Oh, you are a gem!” Mimsy clapped her hands
together. “I’ll be sure to tell everyone where they came from and you’ll be
busy from now until Christmas.”
Once Mimsy was gone, Clancy leaned on the
display case and gawked. “Well, that was uncharacteristically nice of you. What
gives?”
She shrugged. “Like you said, it’s Christmas.
Good will towards man and all that crap.”
“I should tattoo that on your forehead, including
the crap part.”
Christina placed her fists on her hips. “Don’t
you have any customers?”
“Yes, I do. One of your favorite guys.” He
grinned. “Leo Blue.”
Christina’s heart leaped and her step
faltered. She hoped Clancy hadn’t noticed. “Since when is Leo my favorite guy?”
“Since he got your name tattooed on his
bicep.” He winked.
She narrowed her eyes. “He did not. He hardly
even knows me. Besides, Leo doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to tattoo anyone’s
name on his bicep. A snake or a hula girl maybe, but not anyone’s name.”
“You can ask him yourself. We’ll come by
later so he can show it off.”
He had to be joking. Leo didn’t come across
as the kind of guy who’d hand his heart to anyone except maybe science. And
even that would be a fight.
Her cell phone rang as she locked the front
door. She didn’t remember turning it on and hesitated, not wanting to answer. Maybe
it was really Gage who’d decided to take her back and would explain why some
woman had called using his phone. Curiosity consumed her and she pulled her
phone from her pocket. “Gage?”
“Wait, don’t hang up,” the same woman who’d
called earlier said. “I’m Detective Beverly Wallis with the Newville Police. I
found your name in his phone listed as Rosie and I need to ask you some
questions. Were you a friend of D.J. Gage?”
“I modeled for him.” Her entire body lurched.
Something was definitely wrong. “What do you mean ‘were’? What’s happened to
him? Was he in an accident or something?”
Detective Wallis’s voice softened. “Perhaps
you can come to the station and we can talk.”
“I can’t.” Her shoulder’s sagged. Come in to
talk to a police detective about Gage? What was going on? “I’m not in Newville.
I’m in Packham.”
“May I ask what you’re doing there?”
Detective Wallis asked.
Christina didn’t want to answer, but what
could it hurt? She blinked back tears. “I’m looking after my family’s bakery. My
mom had cancer. She died in September.”
Detective Wallis extended her condolences. “How
long have you been out of town?”
“Since a couple days before the funeral.” Her
stomach clenched. The stress would send her running for the toilet soon. “Why
are you calling me? What’s happened to Gage?”
“Have you talked to Mr. Gage since you left
Newville?” Detective Wallis ignored Christina’s questions.
“No. Like I said, I’ve been busy with family
matters.” She leaned against the cooler door. “What’s this all about? Is Gage
okay?”
“Were you close to him?”
“At one time.” Her voice crackled.
“Do you happen to know a woman named Rose
Ryan?”
Christina wiped the flour off her shaking hands.
Her heart hammered and knocked the air from her lungs. She’d hoped not to hear
the name Rose Ryan ever again. “Why are you asking me about Gage and Rose? What’s
going on?”
Detective Wallis let out a sigh. “D.J. Gage
was shot and killed two days ago. Apparently, a jealous husband caught up to
him. The shooter’s wife is still missing. I’d hoped that since you were
obviously close, personal friends with Mr. Gage, maybe you’d know Mrs. Ryan as
well.”
The room seemed to spin and she sagged to the
floor as her worst nightmare came to life. All the horrible things she’d done
and was confident her family would never find out would now be exposed. All the
things she’d tried to block from her memory would become real. The truth would
tear apart what little family she had left.
“Are you still there?” Detective Wallis spoke
softly, like Christina was a young child she’d startle if she raised her voice.
“Gage is dead and you’re the one of the few people I haven’t been able to speak
to.”
“How did he die?”
“He was shot. We have a suspect in custody,
but have to wait for autopsy and lab results.” Detective Wallis didn’t give her
much information, which didn’t help make Gage’s death any more real. She
paused. “I know who you really are. I think you and I need to talk.”
Christina took a deep breath and leaned
against the cooler door. Her stomach sank and tears welled in her eyes. “Yeah,
we do. I’m Rose Ryan.”
Merry Christmas to all!
Please stop by and spread some cheer to my fellow authors!
Victoria Chatham
Marci Baun
Dr. Bob Rich
Anne Stenhouse
A.J. Maguire
Fiona McGier
Beverley Bateman
Rhobin L Courtright
