Candy Cane Murder (Hannah Swensen #9.5)(116)

“Now it’s a party,” said Wilf, reaching for a beer.

“Where’s your dining room?” asked Rachel. “I think we better set the food up there.”

“This way,” said Lucy, feeling rather dazed as she lead the way. “I can’t believe this.”

“I hope it’s all right,” said Rachel. “You didn’t have other plans, did you?”

“No, no. We were just going to have a quiet celebration,”

confessed Lucy, shaking out a cloth and spreading it on the table. From the kitchen she heard voices and laughter, there was music in the living room and Toby and Richie were chasing each other through the rooms. “This is much better.”

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“Good,” said Rachel, setting down the turkey. “Now we’ll need plates and silverware… .”

“In the pantry. I’ll be right back.”

Entering the kitchen she encountered Sue Finch, who had arrived with her daughter and a man dressed in a Santa suit.

“This is Sid,” she said.

“Not Sid, Santa,” he replied, hoisting a bulging red bag.

“And I brought presents.”

The party was in full swing when Bill arrived. Plates were filled, glasses were emptied, music was playing, and the kids were dancing around the tree. Everybody was having a great time.

“What’s all this?” he asked.

“The neighbors dropped by to wish us a Merry Christmas,” said Lucy, giving him a peck on the cheek. “Eggnog?”

“Sure,” he said, taking a cup and shaking his head in amazement.

Lucy and Bill were still amazed several hours later, when everyone had left and they were tidying up.

“I just can’t believe it,” said Bill. “They gave us an entire Christmas. Food. Drink. Even presents for Toby.”

“I think Miss Tilley organized it,” said Lucy, clearing off the kitchen table. She was gathering up paper napkins and wrapping paper when she found the package Wilf had delivered. “I forgot all about this,” she said, taking a closer look.

“It’s from your parents.”

Bill glanced over. “It’s probably fruitcake,” he said with a marked lack of enthusiasm. “They send them every year.”

“Oh,” said Lucy, rather disappointed. “I suppose it’s nourishing, with all that fruit and nuts.”

“If you can digest it,” said Bill.

“Don’t you want to open it?” asked Lucy. “Maybe it’s not fruitcake. Maybe it’s a surprise.”

“My parents don’t do surprises,” said Bill, cutting the tape with a knife. “It’s fruitcake.”

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Leslie Meier

Lucy took the box and opened the top, hoping he was wrong. He wasn’t. Inside was a gold and brown tin with MOTHER’S TRADITIONAL HOLIDAY FRUITCAKE printed on the top. “There’s a note,” she said, handing him a cream-colored envelope.

“You open it,” said Bill, whose hands were still bandaged.

“It’s probably just a printed card. ‘Holiday Greetings from the Stones.’ ”

“So it is,” said Lucy, “but there’s something else.” She unfolded a piece of notepaper and a blue check fell out onto the table.

“Is that a check?” asked Bill, who had seen it out of the corner of his eye.

“It is,” said Lucy, sitting down.

“The usual fifty bucks?”

“Not exactly,” said Lucy, who was holding the little slip of paper in trembling hands. “More like fifteen thousand.”

Bill’s jaw dropped. “Say that again.”

“It’s for fifteen thousand dollars,” repeated Lucy. “And there’s a note.”

Bill took the check. “I can’t believe it. What possessed him?”

“Read the note,” said Lucy, handing the folded piece of paper to him.

Bill’s eyes quickly scanned his father’s neatly printed, squarish letters.

“Out loud,” prompted Lucy.

He cleared his voice. “ ‘Dear Son, Your mother and I figured this might come in handy about now. We’ve had some experience with home renovations and we know they always cost more than you expect.’” Bill snorted in agreement. “ ‘We also want to wish you well in your new endeavor which we’re sure will be successful.’ Mom must have twisted his arm,” said Bill, pausing.

“Give your father some credit,” said Lucy. “Is that all?”

“No. He goes on. ‘I have to confess, now that I’m facing CANDY CANES OF CHRISTMAS PAST

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retirement and looking back on my career, I wish I’d had your courage and pursued my dreams instead of a paycheck.

Love, Dad.’”

“Wow,” said Lucy.

“Wow,” echoed Bill. “I guess I’d better give him and Mom a call.”

Later that night, while Bill snored gently beside her, Lucy was still too excited to sleep. She knew people always said Christmas was a time of miracles, but this was the first time she had actually experienced it. For the most part, truth be told, Christmas had always been a bit of a disappointment, never quite living up to the hype. But this, this was amazing.