Murder in the Mix Boxed Set 28-30: Cozy Mystery Addison Moore (the reading strategies book .txt) 📖

I just finished telling them about the horror Carlotta and I experienced last night.

Little Lea comes up with that machete swinging in one hand and holding Kringle by the tail in the other.

“Let me at this ghost who dares to try to frighten you, Lottie,” she snips. “I’ll have his head!” She takes a swing at Kringle’s primal apex, but it’s too late, he’s already hopped over to my shoulder.

Kringle squeals. “Oh dear, Lottie. Send her away. And that testy cat as well.”

Thirteen scampers up and leaps through the air as he does his supernatural best to catch a mouse by the tail, but Kringle has long since darted in the direction of Carlotta and her candle chaos.

“Don’t worry, Lottie.” Lea steps forward, her dark hair combed over her head so efficiently, the only way I know she’s facing me is the fact her shoes are pointed in my direction. “I’ll find a way to make that man talk.” She holds up her sharpened blade and my hands fly to my stomach reflectively.

Greer gurgles a sultry laugh. “Step aside, child.” She pulls Lea back a notch. “If anyone is a pro at getting men to do their bidding, it’s me.”

“’Tis true.” Winslow doesn’t deny it.

“Fine,” I say. “Have a stab at it.”

Winslow nods to the melee increasing around Carlotta’s booth. “I’d best take care of this. Thirteen?” he howls as he stalks off, and little Lea tags along with him, laughing hysterically at the sight.

“Come over anytime, Greer,” I tell her. “It’s a relief to know you’ll be handling it. I’ve got bigger fish to fry.” I quickly tell her all about the drama with Everett, and it feels good to get it out, sort of like I’m talking to a close friend with the only exception being this one is dead. And I do consider Greer a close friend regardless of her disembodied state.

“Wow, Essex?” She blinks in disbelief.

I shoot her a look.

“Fine.” She takes a moment to glower at me. “Everett. But I bet good money had I lived another few weeks I could have called him Essex.”

“Maybe.” I sigh. “And I’m half-afraid some other woman is garnering the right to do just that—right now.”

“Oh, Lottie, we don’t know that. I bet it’s not true. He’s probably working on some grand surprise for you. Why don’t you let all of this go until after Christmas? Go to dinner with that hot husband of yours then let him back into the bedroom and wow him with all you’ve got.”

“Are you kidding? Moving my body around on that mattress has become like repositioning a battleship in a very small canal. I’m not wowing him in the bedroom anymore. That’s probably why he left to begin with.”

She shakes her head and a smattering of silver stars floats from her dark tresses.

“If that’s the case”—she slings a ghostly arm across my shoulders—“then maybe this thing between the two of you was never meant to be.” She tips her head to the side. “But I have a feeling in my creaky soul that’s not the case at all. Trust me. I’ve got good instincts. I know a cheater when I see one. I was paid to be the other woman for so long I could spot them in the next town. Everett isn’t that guy. I don’t think he ever will be. If you’ll excuse me, I think I’m going to nosh on one of your eggnog trifles. Thanks for leaving a bunch in the kitchen!” she shouts as she floats right through the east wall.

Who needs to use a door when you can move as the crow flies? Or I should say, as the ghost flies.

I glance around the room crammed with women and spot Evie and her best friend Dash buying up handmade knit scarves and mittens. I’m secretly hoping one of those sets is for me as well.

About a month ago I couldn’t sleep, so I ended up ordering a majority of my gifts online and made sure to click the giftwrap option, too. I didn’t know how bad my morning sickness would be this close to the holidays, and I couldn’t risk anything ruining Christmas.

Little did I know the real reason I would be sick to my stomach would have nothing do with this little sugar cookie baking in my belly. If this baby belongs to Everett, and if Everett leaves me for another woman, I’ll officially usher my child into a world with a broken home. I guess the same holds true if it belongs to Noah.

The baby gives a swift kick to my gut, and I can’t blame it.

I’d like to kick me, too.

Tears come to my eyes, and I quickly blink them away as Suze and Elodie Frost emerge from the crowd over by the table with the handmade stockings.

Suze spots me and her face breaks out into a bona fide scowl—not that I’m surprised. She mumbles something to Elodie before darting over to the dessert table and stuffing her face with my chocolate chip cookies. Those happen to be Noah’s favorite, too. I guess the love of all things chocolatey and gooey runs in the family.

Elodie pauses as if she doesn’t know which direction to move in, so I make my own move.

“Elodie.” I take a breath from the quick walk over, and just as I open my mouth to say something else, Kringle appears sitting on her shoulder with his tail wrapped around her neck like a scarf. “How’s everything going?”

She huffs a laugh as she glances down to her arms laden down with a couple of overstuffed tote bags. Her short dark hair is parted to the side, and she’s wearing a cranberry red dress with silver snowflakes embossed into the fabric. She’s also donned that triangular pendant that hangs from a silver necklace. Same one from that magic maven’s club of theirs.

Hey? I wonder if Elodie is a beguiler?

“Everything is going a little too