Maple Mayhem (A Sugar Grove Mystery) by Jessie Crockett Page A

that. Your wardrobe is perfect for the occasion and you don’t even need to worry about spilling things on yourself.”
    “Camping!” I didn’t mean to yell. My yelling tends to pitch high enough to serve better as a method of echolocation than communication.
    “Mindy Collins called to thank you for getting Graham to agree to fill in for Russ today.”
    “How does this lead to camping? Or more important, you pulling out every item from your underwear drawer?”
    “I volunteered you to help out, too. The two of you ought to be about equal to one adult with parenting experience.”
    “What? Why would you do that?”
    “Can’t you see that I’ve provided you with the perfect setting in which to ensnare a husband.”
    “What are you talking about? I don’t want to ensnare anyone. I feel cheap and dirty and scheming just knowing those words went into my ear.”
    “Getting dirty is all a part of showing you’re a good sport. I think it’s best we play to your strengths.”
    “You think I’m a good sport?” I was surprised. I didn’t feel like Celadon thought I was good at much and she chided me about my attitude on a near daily basis.
    “What I think doesn’t matter. Graham will think so if you just show up and act like a kid with the rest of them. I know that is something you can handle. Just don’t choke on anything during the cookout. Although, come to think of it, Graham’s in the protect-and-serve business. He might be really into saving a damsel in distress.”
    “I can’t make myself choke at will.” I stamped my tiny foot on the pumpkin pine floorboard and wished it made more of an impression. Celadon just sighed again and waved toward the door.
    “I think you should know Graham is already downstairs waiting for you to be ready. He said he was delighted to hear you would be joining him and would be by to collect you before you changed your mind.”
    “He’s here already? I haven’t even had time to pack.”
    “He was downstairs chatting with Grampa about the merits of brook trout when I left him to search for something to spice up your evening.” Celadon began neatly folding her lingerie. “And you don’t have to pack. I had Loden and Grandma do it for you as soon as I got off the phone with Mindy. He loaded up all the camping gear and she packed your clothing. You should be all set to go as long as you remember how to put on your coat and shoes.”
    “I even know how to zip and tie all by myself.” I was certain if I didn’t get out of there soon I was going to say something that would require gift certificates for massages to repair. Maybe it was a good thing I would be away overnight.
    “You can thank me later. I expect a full report when you get back.” Celadon had a way of making even a date with a fun and attractive guy sound like it was a homework assignment. She could never be accused of being a romantic. Not that I thought of myself as much of one either. My taste ran more to a burger at the Stack Shack and a movie at the drive-in down by the lake than it did to candlelight dinners and gifts of jewelry.
    “Maybe there won’t be anything to tell.” I wasn’t planning to let her know even if there was. Celadon had a knack for ferreting out secrets and I knew I would be doing her a favor by allowing her to employ her considerable skills if I made her dig for whatever there might be to share.
    “There had better be. You’d best get a move on. There’s no telling what Grampa might decide to talk about if he gets into one of his expansive, storytelling moods.” Celadon was right. As much as I loved for my grandfather to be happy, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to amuse himself by telling Graham stories about my childhood.
    I hurried out of her room before she could give me any further instructions or make any more demands and arrived in the kitchen just in time to hear Grampa starting to share his version of how I got my head stuck in the narrow crotch of a tree when I was