Bound To Be Dead: Cozy Mystery Bookshop Series Book 3 by Tamra Baumann (best historical fiction books of all time txt) 📗

“Did you ask Dad what was in the little white envelope?” I grate the parmesan cheese into a pile.

Meg sits up. “Dad said he thought the box was empty. He has no idea.”

“Great.” I grab a bottle of wine and set it in front of Meg. Looks like we’re going to need it. “So now we wait until they figure out what was in there too.”

“Looks that way.” Meg grabs the opener and pops out the cork. “Have you heard from Brittany yet? Dylan filled us in.”

“No. I’m going to give it about ten more minutes, and then I’m officially going to panic.”

My sister sets a glass of wine beside the stove for me as she peeks over my shoulder. “I’ll join you in the panic. That smells good. What is it?”

“Pasta primavera.”

“Oh, good. I love Italian.” Meg takes her place in the nook again.

“Fun fact. It’s actually American. A New York restaurant first served it. The dish was such a hit, the recipe was published in the New York Times. That’s how it became popular. But it was made with cream cheese in its original state. I’m going to be making the healthier version with parmesan in deference to your arteries. You’re welcome.”

My sister lets out a long snore.

“Hey!” I throw a towel at her head. “I’m not rude when you talk about your work.”

Meg laughs. “No, you just turn green and try not to pass out.”

Absolutely true.

I’m trying to think of a witty comeback when my phone rings. Wiping my hands on the towel at my waist first, I snatch my phone from the countertop. “It’s Stella.”

“Thank goodness.” Meg hops up and leans her head next to mine so she can hear too.

“Hi, Stella.” I hit the speaker button and set the phone down. “Thanks for returning my call. Meg is on speaker with me.”

“It’s me,” Brittany says. “Sorry for the scare. I’m fine.”

Relief loosens my tight chest. But she doesn’t sound fine. She sounds stressed. “Dylan found your phone outside. Do you want me to send it to you tomorrow?”

“No.” Brittany clears her throat like she’s choked up. “Mica said he’d buy me a new one tonight. Mine’s pretty old, so that’ll be cool.”

Meg and I exchange glances. Brittany’s tone is so flat when she should be stoked about the latest phone.

Meg says, “Are you sure you’re okay, sweetheart?”

“Yeah. Really. I’m fine. It’s just…a lot.”

“I know.” Meg nods as if Brittany can see her. “That’s why if you look way down at the bottom of your backpack, you’ll find your favorite candy bar, pictures of all our ugly mugs so you won’t forget us, and a preloaded credit card only to be used to come back here. Whenever you like.”

“Really?” Brittany’s voice rises three octaves. “That’s so nice of you guys.”

“I di—” I start to say it was all Meg, but my sister shakes her head. So, instead, I say, “I didn’t realize how quiet it can be around here without you. So, use that card soon, okay?”

Brittany hesitates for a moment, then says, “Maybe around Christmas?”

“That’d be great.” I was hoping for Thanksgiving, but I’ll take what I can get.

“Okay. Well, I should probably go. Mom’s heating up something frozen for dinner. She’s still no cook. I’m really going to miss your amazing food, Sawyer.”

A lump is growing in my throat. “And I’m already missing my sous chef, Brit. Maybe you can show your mom your new culinary talents. I know she’ll be as proud of you as we are.”

A tear drips down Meg’s cheek, which isn’t helping me hold my stuff together.

Brittany says softly, “Thanks. Talk to you guys soon. Love you.” She quickly disconnects the call.

Meg sucks in a deep breath as she slowly makes her way back to the nook. “Did we do the right thing? She seemed so unhappy.”

“This was your idea, Miz Let-Her-Make-Her-Own-Mistakes. You should be giving me a pep talk about now, not the other way around.” I go to the stove and dump the drained noodles into the veggies. “But good work on the backpack stuff. That was a nice mom touch I wouldn’t have thought of.”

Meg waves a hand. “I had to do something to make her love me more than you.”

“What?” I’m about to tell my sister off when she grins at me. “Oh. You’re kidding. Jerk.”

My sister laughs. “Brittany’s never looked at anyone the way she looks at you. You’re her hero and always will be. You saved her, Sawyer. And she knows it.”

“I didn’t do anything.” I dump the cheese into the pan and shake it to mix everything up. “You and Mom cooked this up with Renee’s and Dylan’s help. I was just the dupe in this scenario.”

“Granted, we should have told you about Brittany.” Meg stands and gets two plates out of the cupboard. “But Mom worried you’d leave right away once you saw Dylan again. This way, you stayed and gave him a chance to show you he’d changed.” Meg sets the plates next to the stove. “Brittany was here for months before you arrived, you know. She only came alive once you showed up.”

“Renee told me the same thing.” I dump dinner on my plate, then my sister’s without any care to presentation for the first time in my life. “Maybe I’m just mad right now because you guys made me fall in love with that kid, and now I’m always going to worry about her.”

“Welcome to motherhood.” Meg runs a hand up and down my back. “But I still think she’ll be back.”

I close my eyes and whisper, “What if she stays away?”

Meg kisses my cheek. “Then you did a better job than you’ll ever know.”

It doesn’t feel like I’ve done a good job. It feels like I just let Brittany make a colossal mistake. And if anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.

I’ve just put the last glasses in