Read Aunt Bessie Invites (An Isle of Man Cozy Mystery Book 9) for Free Online Page B

“But it’s a very tough job, being home with small children all day.”
    “I suppose we’ll have to see how it goes,”
Joe replied.
    He pulled up outside Bessie’s cottage and
parked his car.   “I’ll just walk you
to the door,” he said.
    “Do you have time to come in for a quick
cuppa?” Bessie asked.
    Joe glanced at his watch and then
frowned.   “Maybe a very quick one,”
he said.   “Inspector Lambert
shouldn’t mind if I take a few minutes out.”
    Bessie opened the door to the cottage and
stepped inside.   In the small
kitchen she switched the kettle on and then pulled out a box of biscuits.
    “I’m sorry to say I haven’t baked anything
in the last few days,” she told the man as he sat down at her small kitchen
table.   “I’m rushing about getting
ready for Thanksgiving and I haven’t had time.”
    “I thought Thanksgiving was an American
holiday,” Joe said.
    “It is,” Bessie replied.   “But I grew up in America and
Thanksgiving holds very fond memories for me.”
    “Really?   Don’t you just eat a turkey?”
    “You do,” Bessie agreed.   “But if I remember correctly, it’s the busiest
travel time of the year.   I reckon
more people make the effort to be together at Thanksgiving than at Christmas.   Our Christmases were mostly spent with
our immediate family, but Thanksgiving was about getting together with every
relative we could find.”
    “That’s nice,” Joe said.   “Although I have a few relatives I
wouldn’t really want to see, even once a year.”
    Bessie laughed.   “Every family has those,” she told
him.   “We used to have dinner at my
father’s cousin’s house.   When
everyone made it, there would be thirty or more people to feed.   My mother took the pies every year.   She’d bake every day for a week leading
up the big day, and my sister and I weren’t allowed to have any.   The anticipation made those the best
pies of the entire year.”
    “Are you going to be baking pies this year?”
    Bessie shook her head.   “I used to have the dinner here, and I
used to do all of the cooking, but now I have too many friends and not enough
space.   I’m letting The Swing Bridge
restaurant handle the food and the pies this year.”
    “They do great food,” Joe said.   “I took Jen there for a meal a few weeks
ago.   Everything was delicious.”
    “How is your sister?” Bessie asked as she
poured the tea.
    “Jane’s fine,” he said.   “She’s still in London, studying
chemistry and engineering.”
    “Good for her,” Bessie said.   “She’s so smart.   I’m sure she’ll do great things.”
    “She’s much smarter than me, anyway,” Joe
laughed.
    “I remember her staying here one night, a
few years ago now, and she’d brought some school work with her.   I couldn’t understand the math problems,
but she flew through them.”
    Bessie had never married or had children,
but she enjoyed spending time with young people.   Over the years, her cottage had become a
favourite destination for teenagers who needed a break from their parents.   Bessie had been used to welcoming
overnight guests fairly regularly, but such visits had become increasingly rare
lately, as she’d found herself mixed up in several murder investigations.
    “Your cottage was always my favourite place
to run away to,” Joe told her.   “Even when I wasn’t fighting with my folks, I used to love coming
here.   It just feels so cosy and
warm here.”
    Bessie smiled and then looked around the
kitchen.   Of course, cosy could be
considered just another way of saying small, but her cottage had been home to
her for all of her adult life and she loved it very much.
    Before she could reply, Joe’s mobile
buzzed.   He pulled it out of his
pocket and then frowned at it.
    “Yes, I’m just on my way back now,” he said
to his caller.   He disconnected and
frowned at Bessie.   “Clearly the
inspector noticed my absence after all,” he said