Deadly Start by Clark Nefri (summer beach reads .txt) 📕

Charlotte felt her lips tighten and tried to smile, managing a small one. She needed to fulfil her earlier resolve. Face the fears, deal with the problems.

“But we are almost there. Apart from today, we only have three shopping days. I had considered opening on Sunday, but we both need time to prepare for our own Christmas day, don’t we?” Rosie’s smile held a question.

“If you still would like me to come for Christmas—”

“Yes! Oh, goodie! The cats will be delighted.” Rosie clapped her hands. “The forecast is for a hot day, so let’s make it dinner?”

“The cats? Sure, I’m hoping they know how to cook?”

“Funny.”

“What shall I bring?”

“Nothing.”

“Not happening. Let me know by Sunday and I’ll go shopping.”

Customers came in, taking Rosie’s attention. Charlotte told her stomach to stop doing silly flutters. Christmas dinner with a person she liked so much was nothing to be anxious about. And now she had an even better gift idea. There must be somewhere around here that sold pet toys.

“Not as such,” Esther folded the emerald scarf into a box. “I think the garden centre carries a small range of pet supplies, otherwise you’d need to go to Gisborne. There’s a lovely shop there.”

“I can’t go too far until I get my windscreen repaired. Is the garden centre walking distance?”

“Yes, I’ll draw you a map. But there’s a mobile windscreen company in town.”

“Is it Ivan?”

“Yes. Did you try him?”

“I’d forgotten Rosie gave me his number.” Charlotte said.

“Call him today. I was talking to Ivan the other day and he mentioned the family is heading off to their beach house for Christmas.”

Esther drew a little map. “Here you go. About ten minutes each way. Veronica is apparently keeping it open until seven each night this week so you could easily make it after work. I imagine the bookshop is crazy busy.”

“It is. And I feel a bit guilty leaving Rosie alone but have no gifts at all yet.”

With a laugh, Esther handed over the box. “Rosie is a powerhouse. She can manage a store full of customers and take in a delivery at the same time. Probably unpack it as well. But I am thrilled she has you there. With Braden leaving to go to the city, we did wonder if she’d simply keep going on her own or sell up.”

“I’m learning so much from her.”

“From what I hear, you are an asset. How lucky was Rosie to find someone with such a lot of retail experience?”

Instead of correcting Esther, Charlotte smiled and took the box. “Thanks for the map. And this. I think Rosie will like it.”

On the way back to the bookshop, Charlotte phoned Ivan and was surprised when he said he would come around this afternoon.

The bookshop only had a couple of customers, both chatting to Rosie, so Charlotte dashed upstairs and left the box on the kitchen counter. She found her car keys to move the car onto the driveway, happy the rain had stopped. At least if she was busy when Ivan arrived, he wouldn’t need to wait around for her.

Her eyes lingered on the door at the back of the garage. What an interesting find the cane trunk was. If Rosie didn’t mind, she’d love to spend some time in there. How wonderful if she could reunite the owner of the contents with it. Something about the wedding dress and teddy bear with the bundle of baby clothes stirred her emotions. There was a story there.

Chapter Twenty-Four

Mid-afternoon, a van pulled into the driveway. The logo across the vehicle—Kingfisher Falls Windscreens and Glass—was in bright pink, and Rosie told Charlotte to tend to Ivan.

A big man with a peaked cap, he stepped back from checking her windscreen and offered a large hand. “Afternoon, miss.”

“Nice to meet you. I’m Charlotte. Or Charlie. Is it fixable?”

“Sure. No cracks appearing so no need to change the whole thing. Have it done for you in a jiffy. I’ll stick my head in when it’s done.”

True to his word, it was under half an hour later when he wandered in. Charlotte was finishing up with a customer, so he browsed. Rosie was ringing up a sale from him when Charlotte came over.

“Ivan’s donating some children’s books, Charlie.”

“That’s so kind.”

“Nah.” Ivan shuffled his feet. “Got grandkids and would hate to think another kid went without. Be nice if these made their way to little Lachie.”

“Lachie Forest?” Charlotte asked.

Ivan nodded. “He’s a good kid.”

“I met him last week. Rosie, can we make that happen?”

“Why don’t we put them to one side.” Rosie did so as she spoke. “Charlie will wrap them up and we’ll pop his name on them. Someone from the local charity group are dropping by on Saturday to collect what we have, so I’ll talk to them.”

After Charlotte paid Ivan, she put the car away, relieved to see a clear windscreen. He was at his van, packing up.

“Where’d you pick that stone up?” he asked.

“I was on the road back from the Christmas Tree farm. Went to get a little tree and of all things, got pulled over by Senior Constable Browne.”

Ivan gave her a look of disbelief. “Up there? Were you speeding?”

“Hardly. But he wanted to check my licence and while I waited, somebody hooned past and threw up a dust storm, including stones.”

“And Sid chased after them?”

Charlotte bit her bottom lip. She didn’t know Ivan. He might be Sid’s best friend. This was a time for caution. “He didn’t see what happened.”

“Humph. Didn’t care, you mean. You are very polite.”

“You don’t happen to know who owns a dark blue ute? Not all that modern, but not really old. Sorry, not good with cars.”

He chuckled. “Very descriptive. There’s a few around. Was that what did the damage?”

“Yeah.” Amongst other things.

“Let you know if I think of any.” With a tug on the front of his cap, Ivan closed the door and got into the van.

How interesting so many locals had little respect for Sid. It was as though