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

Normally she loved talking to the customers, but she couldn’t face it today.  Just this once, she was going to break a habit of a lifetime and close the deli early.

Lifting her chin and straightening her back, Erin plastered a fixed smile on her face and stepped into the shop area of the deli.

“Good afternoon, ladies,” she smiled. “I am so sorry to hurry you, but we are closing in a few minutes. Can we get you any final purchases?”

The older lady checked her watch. “Closing? You don’t close until seven on Saturdays.”

“Just my way of showing respect for a recent death. I’m sure you understand.”

Erin walked over to the front door of the deli, turned the sign to ‘Closed’ then held the door open for the two ladies, who after much huffing and puffing, made their way out and down the street.

“Lock and bolt the door Prisha. We are done for the day!”

Chapter Five

Erin walked down the length of the deli, peering into the containers in the refrigerated section. Most of them were empty or had only had the dregs of her home-made sauces and Italian recipes remaining. The baskets which had held the muffins, croissants, and pastries she had made that morning were stacked to one side of the counter with only a few flakes and crumbs inside.

She should be pleased that her food had been so popular with the customers, but instead, she felt so drained it was hard to dredge up any enthusiasm.

“Well, the good news is that half of Kingsmede has been through those doors today. You’ve no idea how busy we’ve been. Carol had to raid the fridge twice this afternoon to cope with the demand for goodies. You’re going to need to do some serious baking before the Monday morning rush-hour.”

“I just couldn’t face the barrage of questions and gossip today, Prisha. Not after what I’ve been through these past few hours,” Erin replied and smiled at her best friend. “It’s all been a bit much, to be honest.”

“What’s this? Red eyes, pale face, and limp hair? You look terrible.” Prisha stood back and stared at Erin. “Is this why you closed the deli early on a Saturday afternoon? So, you wouldn’t scare the customers away?”

“You noticed. How kind.” Erin snorted and collapsed down at one of the tables in the deli. “It happens to be rather hot outside. Plus, this has been quite a day. Week. Month. Year.”

“You are most welcome.  Girl, you need feeding. You skipped lunch again, didn’t you?”

“Guilty as charged. We were too busy trying to cope to think about food.” Erin raised her head and stared across at her friend. “What a mess, Prisha. Fiona is absolutely distraught. Ethan has moved to the Hanson house to try and calm her down, but it’s not going to be easy. Emma was one of Fiona’s best friends at University so I can imagine how guilty she’s feeling.”

Prisha blinked several times and grabbed hold of the back of a chair. “I hadn’t thought of that. Wow! I see what you mean. I don’t know what I’d do if I invited my friends to celebrate my wedding and one of them had an accident and died. Guilty doesn’t come close. What a nightmare!”

“Oh, it gets worse,” Erin said in a low voice. “Have you ever tried to cancel a wedding at zero notice? Zoe is exhausted and there is so much more to do it’s ridiculous.”

“My family would never let me get away with a small wedding at a nice hotel. Do you member that Hindu wedding your mum was catering for in Orlando when we were there last month? Imagine that ten times bigger and you have some idea of a typical Patel family gathering. Those events get planned a year in advance and cancelling is not an option. You would have to go through with it and then get divorced afterward. I mean it.”

“It was the first thing I checked when Zoe got in touch. Fiona wanted a small family wedding with only a few close friends and relatives to help her celebrate their big day. She has been with Ethan for over ten years now, so they all know him very well.” Erin’s voice faded away. “She’s going to need him now more than ever.”

“Where were they going on their honeymoon?” Prisha whispered.

“Two weeks in the Seychelles. First class all the way and a five-star hotel. It was a wedding present from Fiona’s parents.”

“Did you say the Seychelles? Oh. That’s so perfect.” Prisha pursed her lips then gave a low soft sigh. “I loved my holiday there.”

“Who’s going to the Seychelles?” Matt asked as he strolled in from the kitchen, wearing a different shirt.  “I would recommend the private plane transfers by the way. You see so much more of the other islands that way.”

“Right now, no one is going anywhere except Kingsmede. It was Fiona and Ethan’s honeymoon destination. Cancelled, just like their wedding this afternoon,” Erin replied with a sigh. “It’s a double tragedy.”

“Their honeymoon,” Matt repeated with a nod. “Sorry, I hadn’t realized.”

“I’m the one who should be sorry,” Erin shook her head. “Prisha, I promised this man some late lunch in exchange for carrying wedding luggage for three girls up two flights of stairs. What do we have left?”

Erin’s best friend tapped her finger on her chin twice before answering.  “It’s way too late for lunch. Let’s make that an early dinner. I’m thinking home-made gnocchi with wild mushroom sauce, what is left of the roasted red peppers with basil and some toasted Panini on the side. Lemon cake to follow.”

“That sounds amazing,” Matt laughed. “I’ll