A Sprinkle of Tropical Trouble: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 9) by Constance Barker

 
     
     
    Chapter One
     
     
    Never in a million years would I believe that we’d all be going on Stormi’s honeymoon together. Of course I don’t know why I didn‘t believe it. Stormi is so unconventional that it only seemed right she’d have an entourage with her for her honeymoon. That night after the entire Howie ordeal, Paige, Bruce, Brandon and I accepted Stormi’s invitation to go on their honeymoon with them. Now we were going to give the lovebirds plenty of space. Far be it from us to intrude on their time together, but I understood Stormi all too well. She couldn’t stand not being in the mix of things with her friends. After a few days of wedded bliss, Paige and I knew Stormi would want to know what the rest of us were doing or had planned.
     
    But I’m getting ahead of myself. First, let me wrap up the Howie fiasco. As Greg mentioned, the judge wasn’t lenient on Howie and his made up murder, especially performing the stunt for financial gain. He was sentenced to a year in jail, so with good behavior he might be out in eight or nine months. Luella hired a good lawyer and she got off Scot-free, which was no surprise to the rest of us. We knew she hatched this plan, but Howie wouldn’t implicate her. Instead, he fell on his sword for her and all he got in return was her backside as she sashayed out of the courtroom and his life.
     
    We couldn’t feel too sorry for Howie. He was a grown man after all. Even the thought of him agreeing to such an elaborate plan to fleece his grandfather of his hard-earned money was despicable. I for one didn’t feel much sympathy and I know Paige didn’t. However, I did feel bad for Stormi’s family, especially Papaw Jeb. To think your own grandson would try to steal from him and who knows what else if Jeb had caught him. It gave me the shivers. I would like to think Howie would give up the ghost, so to speak, if the deception had continued to that stage, but with Luella’s influence, I wasn’t too sure.
     
    But now we were ready to put all that unpleasantness behind us and leave our worries in Caesars Creek. Speaking of worries…not everyone could do so. Paige hated flying. If she could drive to a destination, didn’t matter if it was 20 hours away, that was her preferred way to travel. Now Bruce on the other hand, he flew all the time for business back when he worked for a tech firm. So flying, even internationally was second nature to him. Bruce promised they would see the doctor and get her a sleepy/happy pill. And of course time ran out and Paige was without medical relaxation methods. Bruce promised her another kind of relaxant.
     
    “Honey, I’ll have the flight attendant get you a couple of those tiny bottles of alcohol,” Bruce replied. “You’ll be snoring like a hibernating bear in no time.”
     
    “How about I stick one of those tiny bottles up your nose cowboy.” Paige was not happy, but I had a feeling she’d be partaking of liquid refreshment well before we stepped onto the plane at the nearest concourse lounge.
     
    Our destination was the Platinum Paradise in Cancun, Mexico. An all-inclusive resort situated in a tropical paradise. Stormi and Paige scoured high and low online to find a place that would provide the tranquility we craved, but also entertainment and adventure if we were so inclined.
     
    “Okay, this place has hang gliding, and excursions to waterfalls and ancient ruins.” Stormi said as she and Paige looked at the screen on her laptop. Sammi and I swept and mopped the shoppe as the twosome continued their search before ultimately deciding on Cancun. We’d closed the shoppe a half an hour ago, but we heard a small knock on the door. It was Trixie. I ran over to let her in.
     
    “What are you doing out so late?” I asked as Trixie walked inside.
     
    “Oh our garden committee meeting ran long,” Trixie answered. “We’re such a crazy group….we couldn’t decide what color mums we wanted to plant in the large urns