SLAY PAIRS WITH ROSE (The Kelly's Deli Cozy Murder Mysteries Book 3) by Sophie Brent (books to read as a couple txt) 📗

a good friend of Ethan’s at university, and she would have loved him to be at the wedding, but Emma didn’t want him there. Emma had asked Harry for a divorce and the atmosphere would have been very awkward if they had both turned up at the wedding. Plus, here’s something I didn’t know. Apparently, Maya dated Harry for years before he dumped her to marry Emma. So, Harry agreed to stay away and meet Fiona and Ethan privately next month.”

Erin scrolled down the article and peered at an old wedding photo at the bottom of the paragraph. She almost didn’t recognize Emma in the photo. The pretty bride smiling into her husband’s face was much thinner than the Emma she had met and so much happier. It was almost as if she was looking at a different person.

“Wow. Emma might have married a millionaire, but all that money wasn’t enough to bring her much happiness in life. What a shame.” Erin murmured.  “It must have been strange meeting up with everyone after ten years.”

Then Erin groaned and slapped her palm to her forehead. “Emma’s marriage was breaking up at exactly the same time as Fiona was planning her perfect wedding to one of her husband’s friends. It must have seemed like the worst possible timing.”

“It doesn’t excuse what she did. Emma was ruthless, Erin, and there is no getting away from that fact. It was one of the most humiliating nights of my life. And Fiona?” Zoe flicked her hands into the air. “Fiona just let it happen. I love my cousin, but she simply sat back and did nothing when Emma started attacking Maya. It was left to Rebecca to step in and fight for her.”

“It sounds to me like Fiona is paying for that now,” Matt whispered. “But this does solve one problem. Now we know what to do with Emma’s luggage.”

Both Zoe and Erin looked at Matt in surprise, waiting for him to explain.

“Ladies, I think it’s time you paid a visit to Emma’s loving husband, Harry Wilson. Personally, I’ll be pleased to get rid of it.”

“Don’t look at me,” Zoe coughed and backed away with both hands in the air. “I have done more than enough today, and my parents expect me for dinner. I’ll grab those receipts and invoices, but the rest is up to you. Best of luck, Erin!”

Chapter Nine

Even on a Sunday afternoon, the car park at the Manor House hotel was super busy and there was no way that Erin could park close to the hotel entrance. In fact, she had to drive all the way to the back of the hotel and the overflow car park usually reserved for conferences and major events.

It was out of sight of the hotel guestrooms and hidden behind a small plantation of trees and shrubbery, making it both discreet and secluded.

The van was just small enough to squeeze in between two large off-road vehicles with barely enough room for her to open the driver’s door. They had agreed to leave the crates of wedding material in the cottage until Zoe and Fiona could work through them – Emma’s estranged husband certainly would not want any of it. But that still left two heavy and over-stuffed suitcases for Erin to hand over to Maya.

She was just about to get out of the van and drop the luggage at the hotel when her mobile phone rang. When Zoe left, she had promised her that they would keep in touch by phone. As it happened, it seemed that even ace reporters took Sunday afternoons off and this is the first call she had received in the last hour.

She almost wished she hadn’t taken the call.

“Mother,” she smiled. “How lovely to hear from you.”

“Erin Kelly,” a stern voice answered down the phone. “When were you planning to tell me that you are on national television and radio again?  Why do I have to hear about these things from your cousins in London? You couldn’t ring your own mother to tell her the bad news about another murder?”

“There hasn’t been a murder, mum. One of the bridesmaids at a wedding got trapped in the hotel freezer. You know how dangerous dry ice can be. It was a tragic accident, not a murder.”

“An accident. This is your mother you are talking to. Three deaths in three months and poor Lucien was attacked. Attacked! As far as I am concerned, the sooner you head back to civilization and leave Kingsmede behind you for good, the better.”

Erin squeezed her eyes tight shut and she inhaled sharply as a wave of disappointment swept through her.

Not today mum, not today.

“Mum! We talked about this only a few weeks ago.  I love running the deli and you saw the plans for the new bistro. It’s going to be great!”

“Sell the deli and come work for me in Florida. You saw how busy I am here. I need my lovely daughter working with me. We could be a great team again! If only you would give it a chance.”

Erin pressed her phone to her forehead for a moment before replying.

“Please don’t worry about me, mum,” Erin said and tried to sound positive and in control. “I love it here in Kingsmede and I’m having a great time.”

“Are you sure about that?” her mother replied with disapproval in her voice. “I know what it takes to be a chef proprietor. Will you do something for me? Will you think about taking on another baker? I don’t want you burnt out, like your poor father. Promise me that you’ll think about it.”

“I will, mum. I promise. Have a great day. Ciao.”

And then the phone went dead.

Erin sat in complete silence for a few seconds with her eyes closed tight shut. Even