East Pender Boxed Set: Cozy Mystery Series Bundle of Books 1-14 Page 12

  When they left, Ellen and Kelly walked across the quiet road back to the car. They got in, and Kelly offered Ellen a lift home. They both reflected on the evening. Now that everything had been sorted out they were quiet, enjoying the peace, but there was something playing on Ellen's mind.

  “Kelly, are you okay?”

  “Yes, why?” she answered breezily.

  “You know you can talk to me about anything, right? I mean, I know we don't necessarily say it as often as we should but you are my best friend and I want to be there for you. There were a couple of things you said. There also was a look on your face when you said love makes people do strange things. It gave me the impression you wanted to talk about something. I just wanted to tell you that if you do, then I'm here. You don't have to worry about holding it inside anymore.” Kelly smiled and took a deep breath.

  “I know I don't talk about my past that much and there's a reason for that. I was...I had a long-term boyfriend when I was younger. It was one of those relationships where I just lost myself in it completely. I kinda forgot who I was and I lost connections with a lot. Then when it was over, I didn't know how to get the balance back in my life. The truth is it makes me feel really guilty when you talk about your regrets about not spending enough time with your parents because I've been going through the same thing. It's been ages since we've spoken to each other and I don't know whether it's too late to change it. I feel stupid for what I did in my youth. I was just...I thought being in love meant you had to give up everything else in your life. When that ended I didn't know how to go back and admit my mistakes to them. The longer it goes on, the harder it gets to repair the damage.”

  Her eyes glistened with tears and Ellen listened intently.

  “I didn't mean to make you feel guilty.”

  “No, I know, it's just...it got me thinking, that's all.”

  “I don't think it's ever too late. I'm not going to argue that it might not be hard but sometimes the things we have to do are difficult. I'm sure your parents are wondering the same thing. They probably miss their daughter as well, and I bet if you arranged to meet them they would be glad. Any awkwardness you'd be afraid of would be gone in an instant. I'm not going to tell you what to do because it's your life but if I were you I'd get in touch with them and arrange for a visit. If nothing else, you can at least say you tried and put your heart at rest.”

  Kelly seemed reassured by this and when they parted, Ellen felt glad that she had been able to help her friend. It reminded her that, no matter what kind of relationship she had with someone, there were always times when it needed work. She gathered up Scampy in her arms and carried him into her home, where he ran around while she prepared a late night snack. It had been a long and busy day indeed, and as she settled into bed with a book she felt pleased at all she had accomplished. She was glad Jack had been released. Although it would have been better had he not been arrested in the first place and her hunch been proven correct. She was sure that one day her hunch wasn't going to pay off and she would make a mistake. Thankfully that day wasn't today. After reading for a little while she felt her eyelids grow heavy and her breathing become deep. She nestled into the pillow while Scampy curled up at the end of the bed and the two of them fell into a deep slumber.

  The following day was normal. Ellen was glad when Jack showed up for work for she wasn't sure if he would come in. But he said he wanted to get things back to normal as quickly as possible. Now that he had been cleared people were eager to hear about the ordeal and Ellen never had seen Jack look so animated. He told them all what it was like to be in a cell, and there were even a couple of women who found his experiences rather attractive. Ellen smiled, pleased that he would come out of this ordeal a happier man. He thanked her profusely throughout the day, to the point where it became grating but she couldn't fault him for it. But there was still one person who needed to make amends. At the end of the day, when the cafe was shut, Andy came up and apologized to Jack.

  “I'm sorry for putting you through that. I hope you know it was nothing personal, I just had to go by procedure,” he said.

  “I understand completely and I don't hold you responsible at all. I'm just glad you caught them in the end.”

  “Well, that's all thanks to Ellen,” Andy said, and his gaze lingered on her.

  “Yes, maybe you should think about hiring her,” Jack said, and the girls and Andy smiled secretly to each other.

  They talked for a while when Kelly said she was going to have to leave because she was packing in the morning, which took Ellen by surprise.

  “I decided to take your advice and when I got home last night I called my parents. It was weird at first but we spoke for a while and it was just so good to hear their voices. When I suggested I could come visit them, they jumped at the chance and said anytime was good. So I figured I had wasted enough time already and I'm going tomorrow! It's only for a week or so, but it's a good start,” she said, and Ellen hugged her.

  To see her friend so happy warmed her heart. Shortly after she left Ellen told Jack she would finish cleaning up and that he should go home, leaving only her and Andy in the cafe. They laughed a little as they realized they hadn't really spoken since the incident in the police station. The lights were dimmed and candles flickered on the tables.

  “It was pretty risky going into that house alone. How did you know I was going to show up?” Andy asked.

  “Because I know you. I knew that once I told you what I was going to do you wouldn't let me do it alone.”

  “You could have just asked me.”

  “I know, but I was annoyed at you.”

  “Are you still annoyed now?” he asked, standing up and moving across to help her blow out the candles on the tables. She paused before answering.

  “A little bit, I guess. I know you just had a job to do but I thought we were better than that. I thought we were open with each other.”

  “We are. At least, I want us to be,” he said softly.

  She turned to look at him and was struck by how his eyes glowed in the soft ambient light. Unlike Chris and Tilly, his eyes were filled with kindness. She got the feeling that she could have looked into those eyes for an eternity and still never have been bored.

  “I know we said we'd talk...” she began.

  “What I said on the phone...I've been wanting to say it for a long time I just didn't know how. I worked so hard for this job and somewhere along the way it feels like my life disappeared and I forgot to be human.”

  “I know how you feel,” she said, laughing slightly.

  “I think it's something to do with this town. East Pender is good for many things, but learning how to live is not one of them. It's easy to get lost in a routine here and it's not easy to meet eligible people. Truth is, it's been a long time since I've had anything like a date.”

  “Maybe then it's time for that to change?”

  Ellen's throat ran dry and the tension increased between them. She licked her lips and her mind grew blank and hazy as she tried to think of what to say, of what she wanted to say.

  “I just...do you think it's sensible of us, given that we almost work together? I hated the argument we had, and I'd hate to lose you as a friend.”

  Andy stepped forward and took her hand in his. An electric tingle shot up her spine as she felt the warm glow of romance flood through her. Being with him made her scared and excited, but she also felt like they could keep each other safe, and give each other something they both were missing.

  “I think it's time we stop worrying about all the bad things that could happen. If there's one thing this case has taught me it's that the important thing is the choices you make in life. Bad things always are going to happen but it only matters how you react to them. If you keep good people around then you're always going to have help. We're both good people Ellen, and I find that I think about you often, even if I find you incredibly infuriating sometimes,” he said, smiling.

  As he did so he raised a
hand and brushed away the hair from her face. She felt his fingertips slide over her skin and closed her eyes, letting herself enjoy the moment before she felt him lean in and press his soft lips against hers in a tender kiss.

  Volume 3

  A Twisted Fate

  An East Pender Mystery Series Book 3

  Chapter 1

  It was a warm summer's day in the town of East Pender. The sun was shining high in the sky and the temperature was the kind where all anyone wanted to do was sit outside on a porch and drink lemonade. The town, which already had a lazy haze, seemed even quieter than usual as people went about their business in a sleepy manner. The sun seemed to drain the energy out of everyone. Its golden hue shone over the houses and sapped the strength of everyone in the town, including Ellen, who was usually one of the town's most active people. She had been trying to stick to her strict exercise routine all year as it had been one of her New Year's resolutions, which always lasted a few months. This year she was determined to see it through and finally have a resolution that lasted the whole year.

  The winter months had been tough because East Pender had a sharp chill to it, a biting cold that somehow made its way through the thick layers that Ellen wore. This also had the extra effect of making her sweat more, which had led to her losing weight. Everyone in the town came up to her with worried looks, telling her she looked as thin as a skeleton and that she should put on more weight. Ellen wondered when it had become okay to come up to someone and tell them they were too skinny, when if that person had told someone they were too fat there would have been an outcry. But she endured it nonetheless and replied with a forced, polite smile that she had everything under control. The truth was she always had been blessed with a fast metabolism and an endomorphic body so she had never been what anyone would have termed as 'fat.' However, now that she was in her mid-40s it was not difficult to put a little weight back on.

  Mostly she was running for fitness’ sake, and just to keep in better shape. She knew the older she got the more she would have to work to remain active and it was better to start earlier so she was used to it. She had seen too many people relax and end up drifting away in their later years, as though they were simply too exhausted to live anymore. She did not want that fate to befall her. Her mind was too busy and always inquisitive, and she knew it would be hell if her body could not keep up. But there was another reason as well. Ever since she had begun her life as an amateur detective she realized how important it was to keep in a good state of physical fitness. Often she found herself having to chase someone or stay alert for long periods of time and the last thing she wanted to do was run out of breath or concentration. A healthy body equaled a healthy mind and she prided herself on having both working at optimum capacity. Running also gave her an opportunity to work through her thoughts.

  East Pender was a small town, a quiet town, and it afforded her the chance for solitude when she needed it. Had she still lived in the city she most likely would have had to listen to music to try escaping the cacophony of the city's concert but here the ambient noise was peaceful and serene. Although, on this particular occasion she did not have anything to work through because things had been quiet for a while and there had been no cases for her to work on. On the one hand, this made her glad, for it meant people were behaving themselves. On the other hand, it meant she was at a loose end and there were only so many crossword puzzles she could do.

  But at least she had Scampy, and he provided much encouragement, managing to keep pace with Ellen. Somehow she always felt as though she needed to give it that little extra when he was around. It was also beneficial to him as well, because the little black dog was the recipient of many treats in the cafe, despite Ellen's efforts to dissuade people from giving them to him. Everyone was too soft in the heart, Ellen thought, but she always thought it with a smile because she was glad everyone had taken to her dog. In some ways she always was surprised Scampy still stuck with her because animals usually never liked her. Even fish seemed to swim away from her, but that little dog had been the most loyal friend ever since she had taken him in after his original master had been the victim of a heinous crime.

  He looked at her with his big brown eyes and his pink tongue lolling out. His little head tilted to the side expectantly, and Ellen looked at him with weariness.

  “You know it's far too hot to go for a run. You'll overheat,” she said, trying to reason with the dog, who only continued to stare at her.

  Ellen tried arguing with him again but she was arguing against herself. So, although she was hot and sticky, she threw on her running outfit, stretched, and ventured outside. After just her first step into the furnace she knew it was not going to be a day for running. Only going down the street made her sweat and by the time she had reached the middle of town she had used half her water and she was panting heavily, as was Scampy.

  “I told you,” she said, and took a detour into the park.

  The park was looking lush and beautiful in the summer, almost radiant. The grass and trees were deep green and all the flowers were in a bloom, presenting a rainbow for everyone to feast their eyes on. Earlier in the summer a traveling troupe had come through town and put on a few shows for the community, which had gone over with great praise. The shows often went on until late into the night because it was so hot people had trouble falling asleep anyway, and it was a sad day when they had to move on. A few creative types in the town had tried flexing their own theatrical muscles and putting on their own performances but they hadn't gone over as well, and soon petered out. But there had been other events such as huge picnics and concerts put on by the old boys with their brass trumpets. As she watched that with Andy she had to smile and laugh because it felt as though she had traveled back in time, and it was wonderful. It was the kind of thing she never would have seen in the city.

  The park also had been alive with people playing and generally enjoying the summer weather, mostly because they knew it would not last. The book club, led by Jack, often met under a shady tree to discuss the latest book they were reading. Although Ellen never had made a point of joining them she always thought it looked interesting. Perhaps the only downside of it being so hot was the demand for hot drinks went down, and Ellen had to start stocking more ice cream and serving iced tea and lemonade, which always was needed. She had fans running all day as well and people often came into her cafe for a respite from the heat, although it was only a momentary one because the heat never left. Sometimes it was stifling and seemed like an overbearing presence, while at other times it was like a comforting companion, and the mood seemed to shift during the course of the day. Right now, while she was trying in vain to keep a steady pace, it felt like the former and the pressure was just too much for her to continue.

  In the end she gave up completely and made her way to the soft green grass where she lay under a tree, stretched out her limbs, and gazed up at the clear blue sky overhead. Scampy nuzzled into her, trying to get her to move but she moaned and groaned and eventually the small yapping beast gave up and settled by her side. She knew Andy would be disappointed in her not sticking to her routine, for the police chief had a great sense of self-discipline, he needed it for his job. She knew he still had been exercising, even in this heat, although how he powered through she did not know.

  Her best friend Kelly, on the other hand, was the complete opposite. All summer she had been wearing thin, flowing dresses and wide-brimmed hats, acting as though the heatwave was the most dreadful thing ever to have happened. Ellen swore she was starting to speak with a Southern drawl and acting like an Alabama housewife. She claimed it was too hot to work or do anything. Ellen wondered just how she was managing to survive when she hadn't sold a painting the entire season. Whenever she asked about it Kelly would smile at her with faint amusement but never would answer the question. Ellen didn't know if there was a deeper mystery at play or if Kelly simply was being mischievous. Either way, the result was she had become a virtual recluse. Even when
she had ventured outside it was such an ordeal to be around her that Ellen hadn't seen much of her during the summer.

  Now that she thought about it, she realized how much she had missed being around Kelly. The two of them were so close and had spent so much time together they were more like sisters than friends, which was an incredible feat since Ellen only had known her since she had moved back to East Pender. It felt like she had known Kelly her whole life, and couldn't imagine her world without her. Working together on cases strengthened their bond and Kelly often had insightful things to add. Her creative instincts allowed her to see things from a different angle, and Ellen was grateful for her help.

  While she lay in the sun, Ellen thought back to some of the cases she had been involved in and almost couldn't believe that the events had happened to her. Most people thought living in the big city was dangerous and that the streets were filled with crime and littered with empty bullet casings after violent gang wars occurred. Actually, her life in the city had been mostly uneventful. In some ways she only considered her adult life to have begun when she had returned to East Pender. That was strange because it seemed as though she had wasted a lot of time in her life, but she was so happy and fulfilled now that it all seemed worthwhile.

  As she thought back to her time in the city she thought about the people she knew there and wondered how they were doing and if any of them had thought of her or if she had just turned into a faded memory. She had considered herself close to only a few people, and when she had returned home she promised them she would come back to visit. They, in turn, had promised to travel to East Pender, but it never had transpired. Was friendship really all that shallow, and only based on location? She tried imagining what would happen if either she or Kelly moved away. Would they make the effort to visit each other? Ellen liked to think so, but the problem with East Pender was that it was so much like a bubble that it was easy to forget about the outside world.