COZY MYSTERY: Trail Mix Murder: A Cozy Mystery in the Mountains (Book 2) by Liz Turner Page A
Authors: Liz Turner
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long time ago,” Steve said. “In another life.”
“Was that a joke or do you believe in reincarnation?” Karen said.
“That was a joke but I do believe in reincarnation,” Steve said. “I mean, I think I’ve been reincarnated several times in this life itself. There was me as a child, carefree and lazy. There was me as a high-school teen, rebellious and always trying to look cool. There was me in med school, obsessed with working hard to save lives, and equally obsessed with always being number one. Now there’s me as an artist, and me as a father, the realest incarnation of me.”
“That’s beautiful,” Karen smiled.
Steve shrugged. “When Ida was born, I felt reborn myself.” He said. “If you’d told me before then that it was possible to love someone the way I loved that little girl, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“Ida’s a lucky little girl,” Amanda said, smiling. “Not everyone gets a father like you, Steve.”
“I’m a lucky man.” Steve countered. “I got two women now that I love more than my own life.” He gave Amanda a one-armed hug and kissed her on the neck. She squealed and wriggled away.
“Oh come on you two lovebirds.” Karen made a face. “The rest of us will become diabetic if you act so sugary sweet.”
“Speaking of sugar, I’ve got this brilliant mango based dessert,” Steve said. “It’s layered mangoes with brown sugar and mozzarella. It doesn’t sound like much but I tell you, it’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever had in my life. You’re going to want to add it to your menu as soon as you taste it, Karen.”
“The café’s Victoria’s business now,” Karen smiled. “But I won’t mind a taste anyway.”
“Where are the girls?” Victoria asked. “I don’t hear any noise from them.”
“I loaned them my headphones so they wouldn’t play their music at full volume,” Steve said. “They’re probably watching a movie or something.”
The doorbell rang, and Victoria raced to get it before Steve or Karen could move. “Are we expecting more people?” She called.
“Oh, that must be our other guests,” Steve called back.
Victoria opened the door, and a smiling Corporal Jager stood on the doorstep, with a nervous looking Constable Keeney right beside him.
“Ah, Victoria.” Corporal Jager smiled. “We meet again. How are you?”
“What are you doing here?” Victoria asked.
“I’ve noticed you always counter a question with a question.” Corporal Jager said. “Was that part of your training as a journalist?”
“Well, you just answered my question with a question.” Victoria pointed out.
“You know, I’d invite them in before interrogating them,” Steve called out, from behind Victoria.
Blushing, Victoria moved aside, letting Randolf and George in. It felt funny to see Randolf outside of the uniform he always wore. He was dressed in chinos and a simple oxford button-down shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and powerful body. George, surprisingly, was dressed in a batman T-shirt with ripped jeans and looked ten years younger because of it. If she didn’t know better, she would have guessed he was in a band or ran a comic book store.
When they were all sitting across the table, Steve raised a glass and toasted them. “To a brilliant happy future with many more dinners like this.” He said.
“Salud!” Everyone cried, and took a sip.
Dinner was delicious. Amanda had made a simple goat’s cheese pasta with spinach and mushrooms tossed in it. She’d also roasted chicken legs marinated in balsamic vinegar, and made a simple side salad of walnuts, iceberg lettuce, and cucumber.
“Humble, but good food,” Amanda said.
“Humble? This is delicious.” George said. “Amanda, you should have started a restaurant, not an art gallery.”
“Fantastic,” Randolf said. “This chicken is so tender.”
“It is, isn’t it? Delicious. Our mother used to make something like this when we were children.” Karen
“Was that a joke or do you believe in reincarnation?” Karen said.
“That was a joke but I do believe in reincarnation,” Steve said. “I mean, I think I’ve been reincarnated several times in this life itself. There was me as a child, carefree and lazy. There was me as a high-school teen, rebellious and always trying to look cool. There was me in med school, obsessed with working hard to save lives, and equally obsessed with always being number one. Now there’s me as an artist, and me as a father, the realest incarnation of me.”
“That’s beautiful,” Karen smiled.
Steve shrugged. “When Ida was born, I felt reborn myself.” He said. “If you’d told me before then that it was possible to love someone the way I loved that little girl, I wouldn’t have believed it.”
“Ida’s a lucky little girl,” Amanda said, smiling. “Not everyone gets a father like you, Steve.”
“I’m a lucky man.” Steve countered. “I got two women now that I love more than my own life.” He gave Amanda a one-armed hug and kissed her on the neck. She squealed and wriggled away.
“Oh come on you two lovebirds.” Karen made a face. “The rest of us will become diabetic if you act so sugary sweet.”
“Speaking of sugar, I’ve got this brilliant mango based dessert,” Steve said. “It’s layered mangoes with brown sugar and mozzarella. It doesn’t sound like much but I tell you, it’s the most delicious thing I’ve ever had in my life. You’re going to want to add it to your menu as soon as you taste it, Karen.”
“The café’s Victoria’s business now,” Karen smiled. “But I won’t mind a taste anyway.”
“Where are the girls?” Victoria asked. “I don’t hear any noise from them.”
“I loaned them my headphones so they wouldn’t play their music at full volume,” Steve said. “They’re probably watching a movie or something.”
The doorbell rang, and Victoria raced to get it before Steve or Karen could move. “Are we expecting more people?” She called.
“Oh, that must be our other guests,” Steve called back.
Victoria opened the door, and a smiling Corporal Jager stood on the doorstep, with a nervous looking Constable Keeney right beside him.
“Ah, Victoria.” Corporal Jager smiled. “We meet again. How are you?”
“What are you doing here?” Victoria asked.
“I’ve noticed you always counter a question with a question.” Corporal Jager said. “Was that part of your training as a journalist?”
“Well, you just answered my question with a question.” Victoria pointed out.
“You know, I’d invite them in before interrogating them,” Steve called out, from behind Victoria.
Blushing, Victoria moved aside, letting Randolf and George in. It felt funny to see Randolf outside of the uniform he always wore. He was dressed in chinos and a simple oxford button-down shirt that emphasized his broad shoulders and powerful body. George, surprisingly, was dressed in a batman T-shirt with ripped jeans and looked ten years younger because of it. If she didn’t know better, she would have guessed he was in a band or ran a comic book store.
When they were all sitting across the table, Steve raised a glass and toasted them. “To a brilliant happy future with many more dinners like this.” He said.
“Salud!” Everyone cried, and took a sip.
Dinner was delicious. Amanda had made a simple goat’s cheese pasta with spinach and mushrooms tossed in it. She’d also roasted chicken legs marinated in balsamic vinegar, and made a simple side salad of walnuts, iceberg lettuce, and cucumber.
“Humble, but good food,” Amanda said.
“Humble? This is delicious.” George said. “Amanda, you should have started a restaurant, not an art gallery.”
“Fantastic,” Randolf said. “This chicken is so tender.”
“It is, isn’t it? Delicious. Our mother used to make something like this when we were children.” Karen
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