Murder Under the Tree Read Free

horrible,” I said.
    “I know. Do you think it was his food allergy?”
    “I don't know what to think. I didn't notice any nuts in the food. Did you?”
    “No, but I'm sure there were different sweets and sandwiches at all the tables.”
    I helped Deirdre clear the snow off the windows. “Phil and I have to pick out our Christmas tree later this afternoon. I'm sure not in the holiday mood, but we have the party tomorrow night.”
    We got into the car. “You'll feel better once you get home. Wrap up in a warm blanket with some hot chocolate. Do your relaxation exercises. I'm going to meditate.”
    I looked at Deirdre and smiled. “More like a glass or two of wine.”
    Deirdre turned the corner in the direction where the ambulance had come from. “I didn't get a chance to eat anything. How about stopping in at Marissa's for a bite before going home?” Deirdre asked.
    “No. I don't think so. I should get home...well...maybe. It might do me some good.”
    “The Ginseng Capital of the World” sign over Main Street was outlined in twinkling white lights. All of the downtown businesses had lighted trees in front of them. Deirdre pulled into a parking spot in front of the patisserie. A large wreath hung above the garland that bordered the door. I looked at Marissa's window display of her luscious pastries. It rendered anyone who walked by helpless.
    Sweet Marissa's Patisserie was my “home away from home.” I loved coming here with Deirdre and our friend Elizabeth once or twice a week to sample the shockingly rich pastries. The patisserie came with risks though...to my waistline. Being tall, about five feet nine inches, I had the kind of curvaceous figure that was yearned for in the Renaissance times.
    When Deirdre got out of the car, she automatically glanced down four storefronts to where her new holistic herbal shop, Planetary Herbals, would be opening on the Spring Equinox. She planned to give the shop a New Age feel and hoped to add a small tearoom in the future putting a different spin on hers than Marissa's. Tea leaf readings, casting horoscopes, and tarot cards. I wondered if all that stuff would be accepted in Sudbury Falls. At least the tea room sounded promising.
    Marissa smiled and greeted us when we came in. “Hello, Kay, Deirdre. You just missed Elizabeth and John by about fifteen minutes.”
    Elizabeth was the third in our close trio of friends. The temperatures had become too cold to speed-walk in the morning these past couple of weeks. That, plus her new preoccupation, John, meant we didn't see her as often as we had.
    “Sit wherever you like,” Marissa said over her shoulder. “I'll be right with you.”
    Several white linen-covered tables took up the main floor area in each of the patisserie's three dining rooms. The rooms held gorgeous Christmas trees with red ribbons and vintage glass ornaments. Leather sofas and chairs gathered in front of the stone fireplaces, their mantles surrounded in garland. From the tin paneled ceilings hung antique crystal chandeliers. Deirdre, Elizabeth, and I always chose the furthest dining room. We headed over to the sofa in front of the fireplace, comforted by its warmth.
    Marissa walked into the room. Her blonde hair in a French braid, she wore a white apron over her forest green jumper. She had to be in her late thirties. She carried a plate holding four macarons on it. “Sorry about that. You two look beat. What's up?” We always let Marissa use us to try out her latest recipes. I wasn't sure I could give Marissa an honest opinion today. My palate felt numb.
    “Thanks. We came from the Christmas tea at Hawthorne Hills,” Deirdre started. Marissa gave us a look of puzzlement.
    After we gave Marissa a blow by blow account of what had happened at Hawthorne Hills, her immediate response was, “Oh, no. I hope he didn't eat anything with peanuts. He was deadly allergic.”
    “You knew that?” I asked.
    “Sure. You don't keep something like that a secret. I