Read A Clue in the Stew (A Soup Lover's Mystery) for Free Online

mother, Martha, had created the design of a steaming bowl of soup outlined in blue on the front of the aprons. It matched the yellow and blue neon sign her dad had hung in the front window.
    The bell jingled as Miriam Leonard bustled in. Her face was flushed and she seemed excited. “Lucky! I just heard last night. Susanna Edgerton called me. I couldn’t believe it.”
    “What’s that?” Lucky asked. Lucky only saw Miriam occasionally now that Miriam’s daughter Janie, the same Janie who had worked at the Spoonful, had left for school.
    “Hilary Stone! I couldn’t believe my ears. Hilary Stone is coming to Snowflake! She’s such a celebrity! Are you a fan?”
    Lucky shook her head and laughed. “I’ve been hearing all about her, but only since yesterday. Marjorie first told me. I guess everybody in the world knows who she is except me. I must be in the minority not to have heard of her book.”
    “Oh, that’s terrible,” Miriam exclaimed. “I’ll loan you my copy if you like. It’s a fantastic book. Couldn’t put it down. No wonder she’s such an overnight sensation. It’s a real thriller.”
    Lucky leaned over the counter. “You know, I heard from Elizabeth that she’s planning to buy a home here, somewhere in Snowflake. And of course, I’m sure you’ll be going to the book-signing event.”
    “Absolutely. And I’ve been calling everyone I could think of too. It’s tomorrow evening. What a lot of excitement this is for us,” Miriam exclaimed.
    “I bought
Murder Comes Calling
a few months ago though. Do you think she’d sign a book that’s already been purchased?” Marjorie asked.
    “I’m sure she would,” Lucky offered. “Can’t see why not.”
    Miriam’s face was wreathed in smiles. “I’m looking forward to this. Since Janie went away to college, it’s been rather lonely for me. I just don’t have enough to fill my days. Before, I used to do a lot of cooking, but now with Doug gone”—she smiled ruefully, referring to the death of her husband—“there’s no point unless Janie’s heading home for a weekend. Maybe I should think about doing something with myself. Volunteering or getting a job doing
something
 . . . anything.”
    Lucky’s ears perked up. “Are you serious about taking a job?”
    “I guess.” Miriam smiled ruefully. “I don’t have any real skills except housekeeping and cooking, but maybe I could find something.”
    Lucky kicked herself. If only Miriam had stopped in the day before. She would have hired her on the spot. Instead, she had panicked and hired Nanette, whose voice and harsh laughter had already begun to grate on her nerves. Lucky only hoped Meg could manage to get along with Nanette.
    “Well, I might hear of something. If I do, I’ll be sure to call you.” Lucky glanced over at the cash register, where her grandfather was making change for a customer. Nanette stood beside him, a proprietary hand on his shoulder. Jack’s cheeks were flushed. Lucky was sure he was enjoying all the female attention but her grandfather was eighty-six years old. Everyone loved Jack, his spirit, his outlook on life, but what possible attraction did he hold for a woman at the very least forty years younger? Lucky realized she was staring. Nanette must have felt the focus because she looked up quickly and glared across the room at Lucky. She pursed her lips in a scowl and moved away from Jack and the cash register.
    Lucky took a deep breath. Something about this woman kept getting under her skin. Was it her familiarity with Jack? Her aggressive behavior, or just her bad taste in clothing? She wasn’t sure but Nanette was really rubbing her the wrong way. She caught Meg’s eye. Meg had also been watching the activity at the cash register and had spotted Nanette’s reaction. Meg’s expression was somewhere between a warning that she would quit if there wasn’t more help at the restaurant and at the same time confusion over Nanette’s overt gestures in