office and invited the customer to help me find something among my suppliers. She and I sat on one of the sofas in the sit-and-stitch square and scrolled through Web pages until we found a supplier who offered Suzhou kits. She and I were both thrilled, and I ordered four kits—one for her, and three to put in the shop. The customer gave me her name, e-mail address, and cell number, and I promised to let her know as soon as the kits came in.
Once the Suzhou customer had left, I turned my attention back to Susan, but she’d apparently slipped out of the shop. I checked the clock and saw that it was a quarter past three. Since there’s usually a lull in business at that time of day, I decided to call Mom. As a sought-after costume designer, she was often away on location. But she was enjoying some much deserved downtime at home this week.
She answered on the first ring, and instead of chirping her lyrical
Beverly Singer
, she answered with, “Hello, darling. What’s new?”
“You actually checked caller ID!” I laughed. “
That’s
new.”
She joined in my laughter. “Hey, I’m on vacation . . . or, rather, staycation. I’m being careful about whose calls I take. Now, let me guess why you’re calling.” She paused. “You found another dead body in your storeroom.”
“Mom! Of course not!”
“You mean there
hasn’t
been a murder in Tallulah Falls lately?”
I hesitated just an instant too long.
“Marcella,” she said, forcing a note of sternness into her voice. “Tell me what’s going on.”
I quickly explained about teaching embroidery to the domestic abuse victims group, speaking with Mary and Melanie, and Mr. Cantor’s demise.
“I’m so sorry, darling,” she said. “What about the woman and her daughter? Did they still leave?”
“No. Mary couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Adam when he would be grieving for the loss of his father.”
“That makes sense. She loves the man . . . just not his treatment of her,” Mom said.
“Yeah. . . . I didn’t intend to call you with such depressing news. I wanted to tell you about Ted . . . and me.”
She chuckled softly. “It’s about time you saw what was right in front of you. Well, I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you.” What she’d said prior to being happy for me slowly dawned on me. “Wait. It’s about time? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, love, I could tell when I was there the last time that the good detective was completely smitten with you and that the feeling was mutual.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked.
“It wasn’t for me to say. I knew your heart would lead you in the right direction.”
I huffed, a little put out at how well she knew me and my heart. “What if I’d called and told you I was in a relationship with Todd?”
“But you didn’t,” she said simply. “Granted, if you had, I’d have been surprised . . . and worried. There’s no chemistry between you and Todd. And, believe me, I know chemistry when I see it.”
“You could tell that Todd and I don’t have feelings for each other but that Ted and I do?” I asked.
“Of course, darling. I mean, it’s obvious that you
care
about Todd, and he’s certainly infatuated with you. But you and Ted share something more passionate . . . more lasting,” she said. “Does Todd know?”
“Um . . . yeah. He walked in on Ted and me kissing in my office.”
“Ooh. So he got a jarring revelation rather than a gentle letdown. That’s not ideal. Have you seen him since then?”
“I had Sadie come and watch the shop while I went over to the Brew Crew,” I said. “He didn’t want to talk with me about it.”
“Ah, darling, you can hardly blame him there. Bruised ego, ruffled feathers . . . all that jazz. How did Sadie take the news?”
“Not well. She blames herself for Todd’s broken heart.”
Mom scoffed. “Todd did not get his heart broken. As I said, he was infatuated, but he was not in love
Once the Suzhou customer had left, I turned my attention back to Susan, but she’d apparently slipped out of the shop. I checked the clock and saw that it was a quarter past three. Since there’s usually a lull in business at that time of day, I decided to call Mom. As a sought-after costume designer, she was often away on location. But she was enjoying some much deserved downtime at home this week.
She answered on the first ring, and instead of chirping her lyrical
Beverly Singer
, she answered with, “Hello, darling. What’s new?”
“You actually checked caller ID!” I laughed. “
That’s
new.”
She joined in my laughter. “Hey, I’m on vacation . . . or, rather, staycation. I’m being careful about whose calls I take. Now, let me guess why you’re calling.” She paused. “You found another dead body in your storeroom.”
“Mom! Of course not!”
“You mean there
hasn’t
been a murder in Tallulah Falls lately?”
I hesitated just an instant too long.
“Marcella,” she said, forcing a note of sternness into her voice. “Tell me what’s going on.”
I quickly explained about teaching embroidery to the domestic abuse victims group, speaking with Mary and Melanie, and Mr. Cantor’s demise.
“I’m so sorry, darling,” she said. “What about the woman and her daughter? Did they still leave?”
“No. Mary couldn’t bear the thought of leaving Adam when he would be grieving for the loss of his father.”
“That makes sense. She loves the man . . . just not his treatment of her,” Mom said.
“Yeah. . . . I didn’t intend to call you with such depressing news. I wanted to tell you about Ted . . . and me.”
She chuckled softly. “It’s about time you saw what was right in front of you. Well, I’m happy for you.”
“Thank you.” What she’d said prior to being happy for me slowly dawned on me. “Wait. It’s about time? What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Oh, love, I could tell when I was there the last time that the good detective was completely smitten with you and that the feeling was mutual.”
“Why didn’t you say anything?” I asked.
“It wasn’t for me to say. I knew your heart would lead you in the right direction.”
I huffed, a little put out at how well she knew me and my heart. “What if I’d called and told you I was in a relationship with Todd?”
“But you didn’t,” she said simply. “Granted, if you had, I’d have been surprised . . . and worried. There’s no chemistry between you and Todd. And, believe me, I know chemistry when I see it.”
“You could tell that Todd and I don’t have feelings for each other but that Ted and I do?” I asked.
“Of course, darling. I mean, it’s obvious that you
care
about Todd, and he’s certainly infatuated with you. But you and Ted share something more passionate . . . more lasting,” she said. “Does Todd know?”
“Um . . . yeah. He walked in on Ted and me kissing in my office.”
“Ooh. So he got a jarring revelation rather than a gentle letdown. That’s not ideal. Have you seen him since then?”
“I had Sadie come and watch the shop while I went over to the Brew Crew,” I said. “He didn’t want to talk with me about it.”
“Ah, darling, you can hardly blame him there. Bruised ego, ruffled feathers . . . all that jazz. How did Sadie take the news?”
“Not well. She blames herself for Todd’s broken heart.”
Mom scoffed. “Todd did not get his heart broken. As I said, he was infatuated, but he was not in love
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