Waffles at the Wake (Murder in the Mix #29) - Addison Moore Page 0,10
and the evergreen branches are still weighed down with powder from the storm that blew through last night.
“Essex,” Cormack shouts as she plucks her hand free. “You’re ruining my case! Take care of Linola here. It’s time to cut my teeth on a real whodunnit.” She pokes her finger in my chest. For some reason, both Cormack and Cressida, Evie’s bio mother, refuse to get my name right. “You stay out of my investigation, Limoncello. I’ve gotta prove myself in the crime-fighting world. And I’m doing it tonight.” She stalks off before either Everett or I can get a word in.
Just last month, Cormack’s wealthy father pulled a few strings and greased a few palms to garner his spoiled little angel her very own PI license. He also rented her the very same office space on Main Street where Noah once had his PI office. Cormack has been doing her best to claw her way back into Noah’s life for years now, and I have a feeling this is just another ploy to do just that. The only mystery she’s interested in solving is how to land the latest designer purse in her closet—and perhaps Noah in her bed.
“Lemon, are you okay?” Everett quickly runs his hands over my body, over the baby as if feeling for a gunshot wound.
“I’m fine.” My heart riots in my chest as if calling me a liar. “The baby is fine.” No sooner do I say the word than it gives a swift kick as if to agree with me and right over Everett’s hand to boot.
A short-lived smile curves his lips. “Nothing ever felt so good.” He closes his eyes and lands a kiss to my lips. “I love you, Lemon. I love you both. Nothing can happen to either of you.” He gives a quick glance over his shoulder. “I saw Evie run out the door just before midnight. I’d better go find her.”
“Go ahead,” I tell him. “I see my mother.” I point over to where she’s standing huddled with Carlotta and my sisters. “I’ll be fine.”
“Sounds good.” Everett shuttles me right into their circle before planting a kiss to my lips. “I’ll be right back with Evie. Don’t move a muscle.”
He takes off, shouting her name just as an entire line of patrol cars heads this way.
Sheriff Jack Turner jogs up with his shock of gray hair and sturdy build. Jack is my best friend Keelie’s father, and I’ve known him for as long as I’ve been alive.
“Lottie Lemon, tell me you had nothing to do with this one,” he growls as if maybe I did.
“I’ve never had anything to do with any of them.”
He presses out a short-lived smile. “Keep yourself safe, would you?” he says, taking off for the scene of the crime.
“Oh, Lottie.” Mom quickly removes her stole. “It’s too cold for you to be out here in that skimpy dress.”
“I don’t feel a thing,” I say as Lainey dives over me with a hug. Lainey has caramel-colored hair and hazel eyes that match my own. We look so much alike that for years I was convinced my parents had the details of my adoption wrong.
“Lottie, this is terrible.” Lainey pulls back with tears in her eyes. “I have to get back home to Josie. And I’m taking the rest of the week off from the library.” Lainey just so happens to be the head librarian at the Honey Hollow Public Library, a position she worked hard for. “I just want to bubble wrap my sweet baby girl and never leave the house again.” She takes off her heavy wool coat that touches down to her calf and slips it over me and my body drinks down the warmth clinging to it. “You need this more than I do. That baby is your priority, Lottie Lemon. I’ll stop by the bakery soon and make sure you’re okay. And we have to plan your baby shower next month—you haven’t even done your belly pictures. And look at you.” She gently places her hands on my stomach. “You just popped out overnight. You’ll be as big as a house in no time.”
Carlotta grunts, “You get any bigger, Lot, and I might just be tempted to move on in.”
Meg snorts at the thought. “She’ll find a way to do it, too, Lot. I hear Everett’s adding a wing onto that mansion he’s building just for Carlotta.”
Meg is my younger sister, younger by one year. She used to take part in