Maddie's Gift of Mystery (A Rockcrest Cove Cozy Mystery Book 5) Read Free

and quickly lost interest in Maddie’s shoes and climbed obediently into the canvas bag.
    Maddie picked it up, along with several of Eleanor’s favorite pastries, and they headed out to start the day.
    The morning went by quickly, and before long she was pulling her car into the campus parking lot for her visit with Eleanor. The atmosphere about the campus appeared to be much more relaxed than usual. It was the last week of school before the winter break, and everyone, students and teachers alike, were in the holiday spirit. Smiles decorated everyone’s faces and people seemed to walk taller knowing that they didn’t have to worry about books, studies, and exams for the next few weeks.
    Before opening her car door, Maddie turned to the canvas bag with Astoria still inside. “Now you promised me you were going to be good,” she gently scolded. “Don’t disappoint me…or embarrass me,” she added as an afterthought. The small cat gave Maddie an inquisitive look before ducking down deeper into the bag.
    Maddie looked like she was doing a circus balancing act as she managed to take the bag with Astoria in it and toss it over her shoulder, hold a box of Eleanor’s favorite pastries upright in one hand, and carry a Christmas gift she had picked up on the way for her friend. By the time she reached Eleanor’s office, she wasn’t sure if any of them had survived the trip undamaged.
    Eleanor’s office was not very impressive considering her position, but she was happy with it just the same. The room was sparsely decorated, with a simple desk and a few family pictures placed throughout the room. Other than the necessary accouterments customary for university professors, Eleanor’s office looked very much like a first year student’s dorm room minus the bed and dresser. Part of the reason was that she preferred not to spend endless hours behind a desk but would much rather spend her time out in the hallways chatting with her students, whom she was exceptionally attached to.
    Nevertheless, her face brightened considerably when her long-time friend Maddie walked through the door. Today she had made arrangements for them to have lunch in the privacy of her office.
    Maddie was pleasantly surprised when she saw the elaborate layout Eleanor had prepared. A small corner of her office had been completely dressed up to look like a fine dining restaurant by the university’s culinary department. Two students were standing by with menus in hand, ready to serve her every need.
    “Merry Christmas,” Eleanor greeted her friend, her face beaming from the genuine surprise on Maddie’s face.
    “Merry Christmas,” Maddie responded, almost speechless by the pleasant surprise. “What is all of this?” she asked, gesturing toward the elaborate layout.
    “I just thought that since the culinary department was in search of a few guinea pigs for their student finals that you wouldn’t mind being treated with a little soft touch for a change.
    “Not at all,” Maddie said, her eyes lighting up at the prospect.
    A student stepped forward and pulled out a chair for Maddie. “Ma’am,” the young man said, gesturing for her to sit.
    “Oh, thank you,” Maddie responded, stepping into her new role quite easily. She sat her things down on Eleanor’s office desk and took her seat as requested.
    Eleanor joined her on at the table, and they were quickly presented with menus and asked for their drink orders. Within moments, the two had left the room to make a mad dash to the kitchen to get the orders filled.
    “I’m sorry to spring this on you like this, Maddie,” Eleanor apologized. “I didn’t think you’d mind.”
    “Not at all,” Maddie exclaimed, admiring the beautiful décor with a touch of sentimentality. “It actually brings back some rather fond memories of my days at culinary school.”
    Eleanor smiled fondly at her friend. “I suppose it would, my dear. I hadn’t really thought of that.” She chuckled just a bit.