Triple Dip Debacle: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 7) by Constance Barker

 
     
    While spring wasn’t in full bloom yet in Caesars Creek, the hyacinth bushes were turning bright yellow, like an awakening after a long winter’s nap. Tulips also sprouted along my sidewalk, in colors of red, yellow and orange. I loved the gentle stirring of spring with its warmer weather. Even the rain showers couldn’t dampen my mood.
     
    Brandon and I were an exclusive item by now. Although I didn’t have a ring on my finger, it was pretty knowledgeable around our small town that we were an item. We spent at least four evenings a week together, either at my house or his apartment. Of course, my little doggie Winchester was our chaperone on most occasions.
     
    The big news of course was Brandon’s sister Stormi and her impending wedding to one of our city’s finest, Officer Greg Manning. Stormi was just like her name implied, a whirlwind that knew no bounds. Greg was the opposite and just what Stormi needed. An anchor to keep her from flying off into parts unknown. The two lovebirds were so cute and I’d never seen Stormi so gaga over a man. Sometimes near closing time at The Frozen Scoop, the two would sit at one of the corner tables and I’d hear Stormi giggle at something Greg said.
     
    Tonight was the same. My friend Paige and her daughter Sam, short for Samantha, were helping me close for the night.
     
    Paige pointed to Stormi and Greg. “Don’t those lovebirds ever get enough of one another? I mean, I like a good romance, but right now I’d like to punch them.”
     
    “Mother,” Sam scolded. “That’s not nice.” Sam turned in the lovebird’s direction with a melancholy look. “I think it’s romantic.”
     
    Paige wiped the top of the ice cream case with a damp dishrag. “Listen girl, don’t get any ideas. You have college in another year so don’t get stars in your eyes. Despite your father’s begging, I made him wait until after we graduated college to get married.”
     
    “Don’t listen to her pumpkin!” Bruce, Paige’s husband snuck up behind her and grabbed her around the waist startling Paige who let out a half scream. She turned and smacked him on the shoulder.
     
    “See what happens when you’re married almost 20 years lovebirds!” Bruce bellowed to Stormi and Greg. “You get smacked instead of kissed….just a friendly warning.”
     
    Stormi waved her hand at Bruce and continued her little huddle with Greg.
     
    Bruce looked at Sammi. “Don’t let your mother fool you Sam…it was her who pleaded for us to get married before graduating.”
     
    Paige took another swipe at Bruce while he continued to laugh. They had a wonderful relationship the two of them. I could only hope that someday Brandon and I would be so lucky. Of course, I was getting ahead of myself. Brandon and I weren’t even engaged. In fact, I wasn’t sure what we were, except dating. We hadn’t talked about a future together. Mainly we went out on dates, sometimes with Stormi and Greg, or I would cook us a meal at home or he would at his place and we’d watch a DVD. I was starting to feel that we might be getting into a rut. Perhaps Brandon was satisfied with the way things were, and I had been for a while. But now I started to feel like maybe Brandon didn’t want things to go any further. I hoped I was wrong, but inside I felt that old familiar pang of uncertainty. Sometimes I felt like I had a bird on each shoulder. One whispering to be patient and the other saying no man wants to marry you. I wanted to swat the sassy bird into oblivion, but I knew he’d always crop up again. I shook my head to get those thoughts out of my brain.
     
    I was in the back of my shoppe mopping the floor, listening to the goings on out front. Right now, I needed to focus on my dear friend Stormi. This was the beginning of the happiest time of her life, the upcoming wedding. I wanted to be there for all the laughs and tears that I knew would follow in the next few months. Planning a wedding is no small ordeal,