Read Football is Murder (Bee's Bakehouse Cozy Mysteries Book 4) (Bee's Bakehouse Mysteries) for Free Online Page B

forehead—there definitely hadn’t been that many before. Melanie was thinner than she remembered too. She tried to swallow her worry, though. It was just so good to see her.
    “How long are you here for?” Jessie asked, still giddy with surprise and happiness.
    Melanie shrugged. She said nothing, but Jessie got the feeling that there was a lot she needed to get off her chest.
    “It doesn’t matter. It’s just good to have you here. Have you seen Aunt Bee?”
    Melanie grinned. “Yeah. I called and told her I was on my way. After the stunt you pulled when you got here, I didn’t want to give the woman two huge surprises in one year.”
    “Yeah, well.” Jessie’s smile faltered. “You should have seen the look on her face when I told her I’d lost my job and broken up with Roger. Her surprise at my arrival had nothing on that.”
    A shadow crossed Melanie’s face and Jessie was puzzled.
    “Don’t worry,” Jessie said, hugging her again. “It was the best thing that ever happened to me, now I look back on it. You don’t need to feel bad for me.”
    Melanie shook her head. “I don’t. I just…”
    Jessie stared at her, waiting for her to finishing. But she didn’t, she simply trailed off.
    That’s not like Melanie , Jessie thought. Her cousin was one of the most eloquent people she had ever met. And that included all of the blustery insurance executives Jessie had had the misfortune to meet in her previous career.
    It’s probably the journey, she realized. All she wants to do is rest and relax. There’ll be plenty of time to catch up later.
    “Come on,” Jessie said, linking her arm through Melanie’s. “We’ll get your things and go back to my house. I’ve got a guest bedroom.”
    As if on cue, Aunt Bee came barreling out of the kitchen. Jessie had no earthly clue how she had known what Jessie was planning, but she seemed to have anticipated it.
    “She’s staying at my house,” Bee said, standing in their way.
    Jessie shook her head. “Mel, I have no idea how she does it.” She turned to Aunt Bee. “Were you listening at the door?”
    Bee set her jaw. “No. I just know how you two operate. I don’t want you two together. Causing trouble.”
    Jessie laughed. “Seriously? Have you just traveled here from the past? We’re not teenagers anymore, Aunt Bee. The most exciting thing we’re probably going to do is go for a walk.”
    Bee eyed them suspiciously before muttering and heading back to the kitchen.
    Jessie looked at Melanie and shook her head. “I have no idea what she’s thinking. I just spent the last several months living with her. These days, my idea of an exciting night is a good book and a mug of cocoa. With whole milk. Maybe she thinks you’re going to be a bad influence on me.”
    Melanie sighed. “I wish. I’ve been working so hard lately that a night in with a book sounds like heaven to me. I can’t remember the last time I stayed out past ten. Even in a restaurant.”
    “Come on,” Jessie said. “Let’s go. We’ll go back to my place and you can take a nap if you like. If you want down time with books and herbal teas, then you’re in luck.”
    * * *
    Jessie walked back to the town, pulling her collar up against the unseasonable wind that had been blasting Springdale for the past couple of days.
    There was something off with Melanie. She just knew it. But she hadn’t wanted to interrogate her cousin when she had just arrived in Springdale. There would be plenty of time to chat when Mel was rested.
    As soon as Jessie turned the corner onto Main Street, she saw the police cruiser idling outside the café. She hurried on, not wanting to keep the chief waiting. That wasn’t the only reason—she was excited to go along on another official police interview.
    “Sorry, Chief,” she said panting.
    He shook his head, smiling widely. “Don’t be. Beatrice said your cousin has arrived.”
    Jessie nodded. “Yeah. Melanie’s here. I can’t believe it.”
    “The way