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

little jingle. “I thought the stocking would be a cute way to make a postal delivery to you, seeing it’s the big day.”

“Very cute indeed,” I say, pulling out a stack of envelopes, mostly bills, and a few Christmas cards intermixed. But one thin oversized rectangle catches my attention with the words official jury summons emblazoned across the front. “Oh, please God, anything but this,” I moan as I pull it in close. “I think I just got jury duty.”

Carlotta quickly runs her finger over the name printed on the front of the envelope.

“Oh, thank God it’s you and not me.” She gives a hard sigh of relief. “Harry, where are you? It’s time to celebrate!” She takes off, and I frown over at Noah and Everett.

“I refuse to do this.”

Noah chuckles. “Sorry, Lot. It’s your civic duty. But don’t feel bad. Even though I’m a member of the Ashford County Sheriff’s Department, I’m not exempt from it either.”

Everett’s lips flicker. “I’m not exempt either. Only active members of the armed forces are exempt without excuse.”

I make a face. “Is it too late to sign up for the Army?”

Noah chuckles. “Look on the bright side. Not every potential juror makes the cut. They may not select you.”

“Here’s hoping.”

Everett’s chest rumbles with a quiet laugh as well. “And on the even brighter side, we might get to spend some time together down at the courthouse.”

“There’s that,” I say without the proper enthusiasm. I’d much rather spend time with Everett down at the courthouse on my own terms.

The night wraps up and we make our way out into the snowy night.

The sound of bells chiming in the distance quiets us down to a hush, and Evie points to the sky as I hold her hand.

“Look at that!” she cries with delight, and we look up to see the silhouette of a sleigh driven by eight tiny reindeer as they glide across the brilliant full moon. And if I’m not mistaken, I see a shimmer of red and green stars sitting in that sleigh right next to the man of the hour, and I do believe that’s Kringle himself.

“Merry Christmas to all!” he shouts in his sweet ghostly bellow. “And to all a good night!”

“I heard it, Mom!” Evie trills as she hops up and down. “Santa is real! We have to get to bed.”

She races off for the van, and Noah pulls me in tightly. “I’ll see you in the morning, Lot.” He lands his hand over my belly. “Goodnight, Sugar Cookie.” And the baby gives him a kick.

Noah takes off, and Everett steals a moment to pull me in close.

“Merry Christmas, Lemon.” His lids hood a notch. “You ready for your big gift?”

My teeth graze my lips as I cave to a smile. “Ready and willing. And I might just have something sweet for you, too.”

Everett and I head home and usher in the happiest holiday of the year, the right way.

It’s a merry Christmas indeed.

Three weeks from now

Monday, 12:42 a.m.…

“Stop your bickering,” I shout as I give a panicked look around at the shadowed evergreens. “Just keep digging.” I can’t catch my breath. I can’t hold onto my sanity another moment longer.

Everett wipes the sweat from his brow, his shirtless body gleaming under a midnight moon. “If anyone finds out what we’ve done, we’re going to lose everything.”

Noah lets the body fall from his shoulder, right into the pit. “Give me the damn shovel and I’ll finish the job myself.”

“I’ll finish the job.” Everett takes a moment to glower at Noah before flicking his gaze my way. “The things I do for you, Lemon.”

And he looks as if he regrets every single one.

Recipe

From the kitchen of the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery

Lottie’s Eggnog Trifle

Merry Christmas! It’s December in my world, and the bakery is busy filling more holiday orders than I can count. One of the desserts I’m selling out of quickly this year is my eggnog trifle. I’ve got the recipe for you below, and I hope you have a fun time with it! The best thing about trifle is that it’s put together in layers. Once you have all the pieces ready to go, it assembles pretty quickly and is ready to eat!

My sisters and Keelie have asked me to include a few cheats in the recipe, or as I like to call them, holiday fast passes. These are substitutes you can use if you’re running short on time. I hope your family enjoys the trifle as much as mine does! Happy holiday baking!

Ingredients

Gingerbread Cake:

⅓ cup sugar

½ cup butter

1 egg

1 cup dark molasses

2 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 teaspoon ground ginger

½ teaspoon ground cloves

½ teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup hot water

*Holiday fast pass = you can purchase a boxed gingerbread cake mix to speed things along.

Directions for Gingerbread Cake:

Preheat oven to 350°.

In a large mixing bowl, combine sugar and butter until creamy. Add the egg and beat into the mixture, then add molasses and vanilla extract.

In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, and salt. Sift well then add to the butter mixture. Slowly add in hot water and mix well.

Add batter into a 9-inch square pan or any smaller cake pan you wish. (This will be broken up into pieces for the trifle later.)

Eggnog Custard Ingredients

Custard:

⅓ cup sugar

2 tablespoons cornstarch

1 ½ cups milk (not low fat)

2 eggs yolks, slightly beaten

1 tablespoon butter

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon ground nutmeg

*Holiday Fast Pass = 1 package of instant vanilla pudding (6 serving size or largest box). You can use two packages to make extra custard, but you will have reserves. Use a ratio of half milk to half eggnog. Or use milk only and add ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg.

Directions for Eggnog Custard:

In a saucepan, add in sugar, cornstarch, milk, egg yolks and combine. Stir continually over medium heat until mixture comes to a boil, then stir for one minute. Remove saucepan from heat and