SLAY PAIRS WITH ROSE (The Kelly's Deli Cozy Murder Mysteries Book 3) by Sophie Brent (phonics reading books .txt) 📕

and as she walked to the driver’s side, she noticed Maya looking back at the hotel. Her face was twisted into a grimace by a look of absolute horror and pain until she caught Erin looking at her and quickly lowered her head and almost ran after Zoe to the car. Desperate to get as far away from Abbotsdown Hall as she could.

Normally on the drive to Manor House, Erin took the time to escape the deli and enjoy the wonderful Hampshire countryside that stretched out all around them. But not today.

Erin was so used to working every Saturday in the deli that she had forgotten how terrible the traffic could be on the weekends. It felt as though every cyclist and tourist in the county had conspired together to travel at the same time.

All her concentration had to go on keeping the van with its precious cargo on the road. Zoe had sped off in her fast family car and Erin struggled to keep up with her in her old delivery van, on the narrow country lanes around the village of Abbotsdown.

It was almost a relief that Kate was too engrossed in tapping on her mobile phone to expect much of a conversation.

Friends and family have been sending messages all morning wishing them a wonderful wedding party. She felt sorry that Kate was the one who had to break the news to so many of Ethan’s relatives that the wedding had been cancelled.

Most of Kate’s close family had stayed overnight at the Manor House and were on their way to Fiona’s family house to give their support to Fiona and Ethan. It was clear that Kate had met up with her relatives the day before and they had a great time.

The family had already decided to go home straight away after seeing Fiona, rather than spend another night in Kingsmede. There was nothing that they could do now to help the young couple except give them time and space.

As she drove through the glorious, hot and sunny landscape, Erin felt as though the little energy she had remaining after all of the hard work on the wedding cake had suddenly popped like the air rushing from a balloon, leaving her feeling deflated and exhausted. The adrenaline rush of the morning had been replaced with a dread sense of loss and failure. The hay fever season was also well underway, and her eyes felt tired, itchy, and irritable.

Luckily, there was space in the hotel car park and Erin was able to reverse the van next to Zoe who was standing waiting for her with Maya.

It only took a moment for Erin to unlock the van doors and tug out Kate’s suitcase.

They had just started to walk towards the hotel entrance when a young man came out to greet them and Kate instantly fell into his arms. Her brother Adam looked very much like a younger version of Ethan, who Erin had seen in photographs, but if anything, Adam was more handsome. Kate immediately introduced Erin to Adam and his lovely girlfriend Rebecca who had strolled out to meet them and help them with the suitcases.

The sun was beating down and bouncing back from the tarmac and by the time they dragged the suitcases into the hotel, Erin could feel a trickle of sweat run down the centre of her back.

It only took a few minutes for Kate and Maya to check-in at the hotel. Adam had already taken care of the details and the hotel was expecting them. From what Erin overheard, Adam and Rebecca had just come back from a couple of very traumatic hours with Fiona, trying to calm her down about Emma and the wedding. Ethan had decided to stay with Fiona at her family’s home so that he could be with her over the next few days. But it was going to be a tough job.

Kate and Adam were clearly very close and immediately went up to Kate’s room with the luggage.

Erin felt sorry for Maya. Without Kate, Maya looked so alone and bereft. But Rebecca stepped in and offered to help Maya find her room. The plan was for them to get together and have tea and sandwiches on the terrace as soon as they were unpacked.

Erin stood next to Zoe and watched Maya step into the elevator with Rebecca. She gave them a small wave and tried to smile as the elevator doors closed, but the smile had not reached her eyes which were red-rimmed and baggy from sobbing.

Erin and Zoe turned and strolled back into the hot sunshine together in silence. Erin waited until she was standing next to Zoe’s car before saying anything. “Do you want to come back to the deli with me, lovely?” Erin asked with a small smile. “I think we could both do with some lunch and a large glass of wine before crashing out, don’t you?”

Zoe reached out and gave Erin a warm hug. “That sounds amazing, but my folks are waiting for me back at the house. They are totally distraught about the wedding and Emma. Right now, I think they need me.”

“Of course, you should be with them,” Erin nodded, desperately trying to keep the disappointment out of her voice. “I’m so sorry Zoe. This has been such a terrible day for everyone, it’s hard to know where to start.”

“You’ve got that right,” Zoe whispered, then looked up into Erin’s face. “What about you? Are you okay?”

“Not really,” she replied, unable to lie to someone who had known her since primary school. “The sooner I get home the better. Take care, Zoe. Love you.”

Zoe gave her one final hug then turned and got into her car. Erin watched her drive away with one final wave as she turned into the main road and out of sight.

Time to go home, she whispered to