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

She looked up into Erin’s face and shook her head. “I tried to talk him out of it, but he was determined to come to Fiona’s wedding. Harry was supposed to be Ethan’s best man! Somehow Emma had persuaded Fiona that she was more important that Harry, so Ethan asked Adam to step up instead. They were so close at university. There was no way that Harry was going to miss his best friend’s wedding.”

“Even if it meant making a scene with Emma at the wedding?” Erin whispered. “I’m sorry Maya, I understand that Harry was upset, but that would have been a terrible idea. What about Fiona?”

Maya’s face twisted into an angry frown.

“I might have known that you wouldn’t understand. Are you done here? Because I would like you to leave now. A very good friend of mine has just lost his wife and I intend to be there if he needs me. I’ll be leaving in a few days and Harry will be going with me. In the meantime, I think you know the way out. Goodbye Erin and if you take my advice, you won’t waste any more time on Emma Watson. That woman has caused enough pain.”

Chapter Ten

Know the way out? Of course, she knew the way out.  And it was as far away from Maya, Harry and the whole sorry business of Emma Wilson’s death as her legs could take her.

Only, as she stomped down the hotel landing, Erin suddenly realized something that made her come to a complete stop on the plush carpet.

The only person who seemed to be really mourning Emma Wilson’s death was Fiona Hanson.  Emma’s husband Harry had certainly moved on, and Maya despised her in life and in death. Rebecca had outed Emma as a liar and Kate and her brother Adam had only met Emma for the first time a few days ago.

Erin thought back to the photo that Zoe had shown her of the happy group of girls enjoying life at university, bright-eyed and looking forward to making their way in the world. Emma, Fiona and Maya were on the same campus as Harry and Ethan. Five old friends who had known one another for years!

And where were they now? If Maya was telling the truth, then Emma and Harry Wilson were unhappily married, and Fiona and Ethan should have been on their way to the Seychelles around now for a fabulous honeymoon. Leaving Maya out in the cold, alone and betrayed. Oh, Maya. What did you do when Emma told you about Harry? Did you follow her down to the kitchen?

One of the hotel guests came out of their bedroom at that precise moment and gave Erin a quick nod as they skipped down the staircase towards reception, leaving her standing with a bemused look on her face.

How did she even know that Maya was telling the truth? Erin sighed out loud. This was no good. There was one thing she did know. Fiona had been standing right next to her when the freezer door was opened. That was what made the difference. No matter what happened earlier that evening, Emma had been Fiona’s friend and to see her lying there like that? It was hardly surprising that Fiona was still in shock.

The poor girl. There had to be something that she could do to try and ease that pain. Another tray of muffins was not going to do it.

No, she needed to think of something more meaningful.

Something which would help Fiona to see that there was some light at the end of this dark tunnel.

Thinking back to that bleak time after her father’s death, it was working and being surrounded by real friends which had helped pull her through.

What if she could help Fiona see that she still had some real friends who would always be there for her?

What had Maya just said? She would be leaving in a few days with Harry. Kate and Adam would probably do the same, taking Adam’s girlfriend Rebecca with them. She had to work fast if she wanted all of the girls to be involved.

An idea fluttered through Erin’s mind.

She had been planning to test out some recipe ideas for the menu for her new bistro over the next few weeks. Perhaps this would be an ideal time to do something special for Fiona and her friends and perfect some dishes at the same time?

Erin glanced at her watch. It would mean a lot of work and she would have to close the deli for the day, but she could do it.

Decision made, Erin skipped down the staircase with renewed energy. It only took a few minutes to call her two major customers and tell them that she was going to make her Monday deliveries on Tuesday instead. Neither of them had a problem with that and by the time Erin had reached the car park she was ready to take the next step and invite her lunch guests.

“Hi, Zoe. It’s me. I’ve had an idea. No, I’m not running off to Florida to escape the media. Been there, done that. Actually, it’s just the opposite. From what you told me earlier, Fiona and her family are struggling and cooped up in the house. I’d like to invite all of the girls to the deli for a special lunch tomorrow. Do you think they’d come?”

Erin opened her van door and collapsed down into the baking hot driver’s seat. “Yes? Great. That’s Fiona and her mum, Kate, Maya, and Rebecca. You would be very welcome too and I would love to show you my new menu. Can you make it?”

Erin grinned as Zoe squealed in delight, but then her gaze rested on