Marriage and Murder (Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Book 4) Read online

  Marriage & Murder

  By

  Dianne Harman

  (A Cedar Bay Cozy Mystery Series - Book 3)

  Copyright © 2015 Dianne Harman

  www.dianneharman.com

  All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book, or portions thereof, in any form without written permission except for the use of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales, is entirely coincidental.

  Website, Interior & Cover design by Vivek Rajan Vivek

  Paperback ISBN: 978-1508465270

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  First of all, I want to thank all of my readers who have made this series so popular, I truly appreciate your taking the time and spending the money to read them. I always appreciate your thoughts about this book or any of my others. I’d love to hear from you. Here’s my email address: [email protected].

  Secondly, I want to extend a special thanks to Vivek Rajan for the fabulous book covers he creates, his unending sound advice, and his taking the time to answer the gazillion questions I always have. I not only think of him as my editor, formatter, and marketing guru, I think of him as a friend and highly recommend him.

  Finally, I want to thank my husband, Tom, for his support, belief in me, and love. Without him, none of this would be possible. And Tom, who knew we could have so much fun when we decided to retire! Thanks for the ride!!!

  Table of Contents

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  CHAPTER 24

  CHAPTER 25

  CHAPTER 26

  EPILOGUE

  Recipes!

  ABOUT DIANNE

  CHAPTER 1

  “Mom, how are you doing? Is there anything I can do to help?” Julia asked.

  “Oh, sweetheart, I’m a nervous wreck. After your dad died, and while you and Cash were still very young, I never thought I’d marry anyone again. Yet here I am, and the wedding is less than twenty-four hours away. If you’d like to help me, you could call Jesse at The Crush and confirm that he’ll be bringing the wine to the house after the ceremony tomorrow.”

  “It’s already been done. Mike asked me to call him, and Jesse said he’d be here after the wedding to get set up. Amanda from Amanda’s Flower Shop told me yesterday when I called her that she’d be delivering the flowers this afternoon for here at the house along with our wedding bouquets. The floral arrangements for the church will be delivered about nine tomorrow morning. I can’t wait to see the spray of orchids she designed for you to carry. She told me she was going to make it with pink, lavender, and cream-colored baby orchids. I remember from when I was in high school and worked there, orchids were her favorite flowers, and I’ll bet it will be spectacular. Given that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day and probably her busiest day of the year, and add your wedding to that, I kind of feel sorry for her. What else do you need me to do?”

  “At the moment, just keep me from falling apart.”

  “Mom, you’ll do fine. At least you don’t have to worry about keeping your coffee shop open and trying to run it and get married at the same time. It was really nice of Roxie and her friends to take over the operation of Kelly’s Koffee Shop, so you could spend this week getting ready for your wedding. They’re also going to help with the food at the reception, right?”

  “Yes, they’ll prepare all of it with one exception. We decided on a lot of appetizers, hot and cold, and instead of a wedding cake…”

  “What do you mean instead of a wedding cake?” Julia asked, interrupting her.

  “Well, at our age, having a miniature likeness of a groom dressed in a tuxedo and a bride dressed in a white gown with a long fancy train on the top of a tiered wedding cake, seemed kind of silly to me. Instead, I decided to have raspberry tarts, since we’re getting married on Valentine’s Day. I made them myself using an old family recipe from your grandmother Cora. It’s really simple because the crust is made from cookie dough you buy at the store, although I can remember her making her own cookie dough and freezing it. That was before you could buy it at the store. I thought red raspberries would be a nice touch on Valentine’s Day.”

  “When you put it that way, you’re probably right. It’s just that I’ve never been to a wedding where they didn’t have a wedding cake with little roses and stuff.”

  “That may be true, but at your age, I’ll bet you haven’t attended too many second time around weddings.”

  “You’re right. I’m so happy you found Mike. He’s a wonderful man, and the two of you will make a beautiful couple. Cash really likes him too. The one thing Cash and I wish is that you’d stop trying to solve Mike’s criminal cases. After all, he’s the county sheriff, and it’s up to him to solve cases when a crime has been committed. I know you’ve told me you just help him with his cases, but between you, Lady, and Rebel, sounds like a lot more than that is going on, and we’re worried it might be dangerous for you.”

  “I suppose so, but all I do is try to help him, and I’ve never been in danger,” she said, mentally crossing her fingers behind her back. “You know, it’s pretty strange. I’ve lived my whole life in Cedar Bay and until last June, I’d never heard of a murder happening around this area, and now there have been three. Sure hope three’s a lucky number, and that’s the end of them.”

  Michelle continued, “I’ve always thought there was something magical about Cedar Bay, kind of Brigadoon-like. I don’t know of anything that pleases me more than seeing the sun or the moon reflecting on the bay with the high cliffs surrounding it and the forests all around. I love Oregon and living in a small town. To me, it’s the most beautiful place in the world, although admittedly, I haven’t traveled the world, but I’ve never had a desire to. It seems like everything I’ve ever wanted is right here. Everybody knows almost everybody, and they’re so friendly. No wonder we get so many tourists. Most of the houses are enchanting well-kept up early 20th century homes, the streets are canopied with trees, and the shops are simply charming. Plus, I think I must be the luckiest of all of them, having Kelly’s Koffee Shop situated right on the pier that juts out into the bay. I never get tired of the smell of ocean air or the smell of the nearby forests. With the lushness of the forests surrounding the town, it’s no wonder it started out as a lumber town. No, I’m definitely one of the luckiest people in the world to live right here in Cedar Bay.”

  “I feel the same way. Even though I live in San Francisco, part of me will always consider Cedar Bay home. Let’s get back to the wedding. When are Roxie and her friends bringing the food to the house?”

  “They’re coming after the coffee shop closes, probably around three or four this afternoon. I thought of something you can do for me. You can transfer everything that’s in the kitchen refrigerator out to the one in the garage. They’re going to need all the space they can get in the kitchen refrigerat
or. Since I’ve got a little time until they get here, I’m going to set up the food table, and I’ll have Mike and Cash set up the table for the wine and soft drinks when they get back.”

  “Speaking of Mike and Cash, I haven’t seen them around for awhile. Where are they? Did Mike take Cash to his office?”

  “No. Mike’s taking a few days off. Cash was planning on wearing a suit he’d left here at the house when he gives me away tomorrow, but he’s lost so much weight since he’s been in Afghanistan, Mike decided they needed to pay a visit to Henry and have the suit taken in. When Mike told Henry the problem, he said he’d make it a top priority.”

  “Are you kidding me? Henry is still working? Good grief, he must be at least eighty years old.”

  “I’m sure he is. He comes to the coffee shop every day for lunch and has for as long as I can remember. He and Doc are the two people I can always count on being there at lunchtime.”

  “How’s Doc doing? I remember you told me he was engaged to the town psychologist.”

  “Yes, and I couldn’t be happier for them. I don’t think you’ve met Liz, but you’ll get a chance to meet her tomorrow.”

  “I’m glad I never needed to go to a psychologist when I lived here, but after Roger left me, I found a good one in San Francisco. Probably saved my life, and sure helped me get over feeling that I was worthless and deserved to have someone leave me.”

  “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry,” Kelly said wrapping her arms around Julia and gently stroking her long black hair. “I didn’t know it was that bad.”

  “There was no reason to worry you, particularly when you’re a good day’s drive away.”

  “Well, I’m glad you were smart enough to know you needed to get some help. How are you doing now?” she asked pushing Julia away and looking closely at her.

  Good grief. She looks exactly like I looked at that age. Same black hair, same porcelain-like complexion, and a full figure. She even wears her hair swept up like I do. I just want her to be happy, and I’m glad Roger left her when he did. Would have been a lot harder after there were a couple of kids around.

  “Mom, I’m doing fine,” Julia said, stepping back and looking down at the ground. “Uh, there’s something I probably should tell you. I suppose now is as good a time as any.”

  As soon as Julia uttered the words, Kelly felt sick to her stomach, and she was afraid Julia could hear her heart thudding in her chest. Please, no problems just before the wedding, please. “What should you tell me?”

  “Well,” Julia said, nervously twisting her watchband. “I’ve met someone I like a lot.”

  “Darling, that’s wonderful. Tell me about him. Let’s sit down for a minute. I need to take a break anyway.”

  “His name is Brad O’Hearn. He’s a psychologist.”

  “Wait a minute, Julia. Is this the psychologist you’ve been seeing?”

  “No, Mom. It’s unethical to have that kind of a relationship with your therapist. Brad’s office is across the hall from the woman I was seeing. We accidently met in the hall a number of times, and one day he asked me if I’d like to join him for coffee. I did, and we’ve been seeing each other for several months now.”

  “Julia, that’s wonderful! I’m so happy for you.”

  “There’s a little more to the story. He was previously married and unbeknownst to him, his wife had started using cocaine. She overdosed one day and died, leaving him with two children. Now he’s a single parent raising his two daughters who are three and five.”

  “Oh, those poor little girls! How serious are you two?”

  “Serious enough I’m thinking of moving in with him.”

  “I see. How do you get along with his daughters?”

  “They like me, so that’s not a problem.” She paused and looked out the large bay window that provided a scenic view of Cedar Bay with the sun shining on its smooth blue surface.

  “I’m not a big fan of people moving in together, but I’m also not much of an example considering Mike and I have been living together for several months,” Kelly said, “but I have to say in our defense that Mike did ask you and Cash for permission to marry me. He moved in after that.”

  “Mom, my generation is a little different. It’s not that big of a deal.”

  “It might be a big deal to those two little girls if you got close to them and then moved out, and they lost another mommy.”

  “That’s not going to happen. The day before I came up here Brad asked me to marry him, and I said yes. We haven’t gotten the ring yet or set the date, but I am going to marry him.”

  “Julia, I’m really happy for you, but I sense there’s more to this. What are you not telling me?”

  “Mom,” she said, tears welling up in the corner of her large brown eyes, “Brad’s afraid he’s not the father of the girls. A friend of his ex-wife’s visited him after his wife died and told Brad that his ex-wife had a lot of affairs, and that the girls probably weren’t his.”

  “She told him that, and she called herself a friend?”

  “Brad thinks she’s as addicted to coke as his wife was.”

  “Did he know his wife was hooked on cocaine?”

  “He knew she’d used drugs in the past and had even been in rehab for a while, but she swore when she met him she was drug-free, and her drug use had been nothing more than what everyone else was doing at that time. According to Brad, there was never anything in her behavior to indicate otherwise, but evidently she’d relapsed. She was with her friend the afternoon she died. This whole issue of whether or not he’s the father of the girls is tearing him apart.”

  “I can see where it would. Let me talk to Mike about it. Maybe there’s some way to find out. I kind of remember he did something with DNA in one of his investigations. As much as I’d love to keep talking to you, I see Amanda’s van coming up the street. I imagine Roxie and her friends won’t be far behind. Julia, I’m so happy for you! Well, look at it this way; even if the girls aren’t Brad’s, he’s still the only daddy they’ve ever known. If he’d adopted two little girls, I’m sure he’d love them and wouldn’t care who their biological father was. So what’s the difference?”

  “I’d never thought about it quite like that. I think that kind of logic will appeal to Brad and make him feel a lot better. Mom, maybe you should have been a psychologist.”

  “Fraid not, sweetheart. It’s just comes from years of being the owner of Kelly’s Koffee Shop and having everyone tell me their problems. I’m kind of like a bartender. Now off to refrigerator duty!”

  I wish Julia had waited until after the wedding to tell me about Brad’s fear of not being the father of the little girls. I don’t have a good feeling about this.

  CHAPTER 2

  Valentine’s Day dawned with the sun gently shining on Cedar Bay, more like a typical summer day in Southern California and totally unusual for a February day in Oregon.

  “Mom,” Julia said as they sipped their coffee, “Want to share what you’re thinking about this morning?”

  “It’s kind of hard to believe the big day is finally here. Mike and I decided in November that we’d get married today, and between the holidays and Scott’s murder at the White Cloud Retreat Center, so much has happened it seems like it’s been no time at all.”

  “I was sorry to hear about Scott’s death. I went to a yoga class once with you and met him. Even though he was a Zen Master, he sure seemed like a down-to-earth person.”

  “He was. To change the subject, I’ve only got a couple of hours before Cash comes to the house to pick us up. I better start thinking about getting dressed. By the way, Mike, Cash, and Doc decided to spend the night out at Doc’s ranchette and have sort of a mini bachelor party since Doc’s going to be Mike’s best man at the wedding. It was really nice of him to host it. It’s kind of strange, but I was the one who suggested to Mike that it might be a fun thing for the three of them to do. If I’m going to be ready in time, think I better shift into high gear.”

 
“Mom, let’s be honest,” Julie said, grinning broadly. “You just didn’t want Mike to see you on your wedding day before you walked down the aisle, did you? That’s kind of cute.”

  “Yeah, I know it’s kind of schmaltzy, but in today’s world, it’s probably wise to take every precaution you can, so you don’t have problems later on.”

  “Well, schmaltzy or not, I think it’s utterly adorable. Now let’s turn you into a beautiful bride-to-be.”

  Promptly at 9:30 Cash walked through the front door. “Mom, Julia,” he said in a loud voice, “it’s time for the big show. I just dropped Mike and Doc off at the church and Father Brown’s already there. From the number of cars in St. Patrick’s parking lot, I think the church is going to be full.”

  “You’re kidding, right?” Kelly asked. “The wedding isn’t until 10:00.”

  “No, I am definitely not kidding. Everybody around here has been in Kelly’s Koffee Shop at one time or another, and everybody knows the county sheriff. This is probably the county’s wedding of the century. You may have a lot of people at the wedding who weren’t even invited.”

  “Bite your tongue. It never occurred to me that people would just show up if they hadn’t been invited. That’s pretty tacky.”

  “Tacky or not, from the looks of things in the parking lot I think it’s going to happen. I may have to let you both off at the back door of the church and then try and find a parking place. Ready?” he said, holding out his arms to both of them. Julia and Kelly each put their arm through his and walked out the door to the waiting car. The three of them made an attractive trio; a slender muscular man with a military haircut and a lovely young woman who looked very much like the beautiful older woman beside her.

  “Mom, this is exactly what I was afraid of,” Cash said, as he pulled the car around to the back of the church, “I’ll let you out here, and I’ll be back after I park the car. Hate to tell you this, but it already looks like it’s standing room only in St. Pat’s.”

  Kelly visibly paled, as he spoke. “Mom, it’ll work out,” Julia said. “You have Cash, me, Mike, and Doc. You’ll be fine. Remember, everyone is just happy for both of you, and that’s why they’re here.”