Eggnog Trifle Trouble (Murder in the Mix #28) - Addison Moore Page 0,67

online and made sure to click the giftwrap option, too. I didn’t know how bad my morning sickness would be this close to the holidays, and I couldn’t risk anything ruining Christmas.

Little did I know the real reason I would be sick to my stomach would have nothing do with this little sugar cookie baking in my belly. If this baby belongs to Everett, and if Everett leaves me for another woman, I’ll officially usher my child into a world with a broken home. I guess the same holds true if it belongs to Noah.

The baby gives a swift kick to my gut, and I can’t blame it.

I’d like to kick me, too.

Tears come to my eyes, and I quickly blink them away as Suze and Elodie Frost emerge from the crowd over by the table with the handmade stockings.

Suze spots me and her face breaks out into a bona fide scowl—not that I’m surprised. She mumbles something to Elodie before darting over to the dessert table and stuffing her face with my chocolate chip cookies. Those happen to be Noah’s favorite, too. I guess the love of all things chocolatey and gooey runs in the family.

Elodie pauses as if she doesn’t know which direction to move in, so I make my own move.

“Elodie.” I take a breath from the quick walk over, and just as I open my mouth to say something else, Kringle appears sitting on her shoulder with his tail wrapped around her neck like a scarf. “How’s everything going?”

She huffs a laugh as she glances down to her arms laden down with a couple of overstuffed tote bags. Her short dark hair is parted to the side, and she’s wearing a cranberry red dress with silver snowflakes embossed into the fabric. She’s also donned that triangular pendant that hangs from a silver necklace. Same one from that magic maven’s club of theirs.

Hey? I wonder if Elodie is a beguiler?

“Everything is going a little too well,” she says, holding up her loot for me to see. “I bought the bags as gifts, and I only loaded them down with more gifts. I’m going to have to run this upstairs.” She cranes her neck. “I’ll need Wiley to help me with the endeavor.” Her lips curl with approval at the mention of my mother’s boyfriend’s name. “He is a looker.”

I’d remind her that he was taken, but to be honest, I would be Elodie’s biggest cheerleader if she could usher Wiley away from my mother.

But my mother does profess to love him. And there’s no way I’d willingly bring the misery I feel on anybody, least of all the saint that raised me.

“Elodie, can I ask you a question about the Christmas Angels?”

“Sure, anything.” Her eyes narrow in on mine as if to get a better look at me.

“I heard someone at the event the other night mention that they were looking for a new accountant.” I lift a brow, wanting to see if she’s heard a rumor about Chris stealing. “I happened to know of one, if you’re in need.” I’ll leave it at that. I’m not really believing Chris was pilfering the funds. Hook vouched for his character, and that’s good enough for me.

Her shoulders hitch a notch, and it sends Kringle sliding off her shoulder as he curls his tail around the pendant swinging from her necklace in an effort to keep from falling.

“That wouldn’t surprise me.” She whispers as she leans in, “I heard a lot of funds have suddenly up and disappeared.” Her eyes dart to the dessert table, and I glance over to see Suze whispering to Serena Digby. I can’t help but make a face. And I certainly want to corner Serena before I leave. I’ll leave Suze to Noah.

“Really?” I startle for a moment as I turn back to the conversation at hand. “You don’t think Chris is dipping into the cookie jar, do you?”

She shrugs. “It’s hard to believe, I know. I really like the man.” She shakes her head with a look of disappointment. “But he’s got a great job working for some fancy firm. Maybe he thought we would be too stupid to notice. But it’s been uncovered, and I’m afraid an internal investigation is going to ensue right after the holidays. Candy is seeing to it herself. Gloria knew about the theft, but all she wanted to do was rant. She never took action. Candy knows how to get things done. But the accounting has always