Triple Dip Debacle: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 7) Read Free

“Nah, surely that would never happen.”
     
    “I’ve seen stranger things.”
     
    Stormi looked stricken.
     
    “I’m just teasing!” I confessed. “You’ve got to lighten up or you’re going to make yourself sick. This should be a happy and magical time for you.”
     
    Stormi slumped in one of the chairs. “I know, but ever since I told momma I’ve regretted it. You know she’s a force to be reckoned with.”
     
    I sat down across from her. “I’ll help you explain that she needs to let you make the decisions. She just wants to be a part of it and she’s excited too, but we’ll try to get her to understand that while you want her to help and be a part of it, that ultimately you make all the decisions regarding the dress, cake, venue, decorations and so on.”
     
    Stormi brightened. “You’d really help me talk to her?”
     
    “Of course I will.”
     
    “That would help so much. You know she tends to turn a deaf ear to me and Brandon, thinking her way is the best, but maybe hearing it from someone else would make a difference.”
     
    I didn’t know if it would or not, but I was willing to try for my friend. Maybe even Paige would help as well. I knew it wouldn’t be easy and I did not want to hurt Miss Dottie’s feelings either. It was like walking a tightrope…hoping to get to your destination without falling into the abyss.
     
    That evening I could tell Brandon was anxious as well.
     
    “You’re almost as bad as Stormi.”
     
    Brandon was inspecting his apartment, making sure everything was in order for his mother’s arrival.
     
    “I know it’s crazy to be this nervous about your own mother.”
     
    I patted the seat next to me on the couch. “Come sit with me and unwind.” I poured us each a glass of wine. He sat down next to me and sighed as he took a sip of his Merlot.
     
    “Are you nervous about her staying here, or telling her about us?” I figured I might as well get the subject out there.
     
    Brandon took another sip of wine. “Both actually. I know she loves you, but I don’t want her to hurt your feelings. You know how brash she comes across sometimes.”
     
    That was so sweet of him. He was worried about me.
     
    “Oh don’t fret about me. I know how your mother is and I don’t take anything she says to heart. I’ll be fine. I just want you and Stormi to calm down and quit being so nervous about her visit.”
     
    Brandon nodded and then downed the wine from his glass. “I’ll try,” he said as he poured himself another glass.
     
    I felt Stormi and Brandon were blowing this out of proportion regarding their mother. Oh how wrong I would be.
     
     
     
     
    *****

The next day was D-day or Dottie day. She wasn’t to arrive until early afternoon. Stormi
    and I were busy setting up the ice cream barrels in the ice cream case. She remained nervous but our talk the night before calmed her down a bit from def-con 9 to def-con 3. I brought Winchester in to help take her mind off things. He had been a little under the weather the past few days, but with medicine and some pampering, he was back to his chipper self. He was also good at taking Stormi’s mind off her mother.
     
    I also talked to Brandon on the phone that morning. He seemed more relaxed than the night before as well. I hoped they were wrong about this visit with their mother. That it would be tranquil without all the commotion that normally surrounds Miss Dottie. I couldn’t be farther from reality.
     
    It was almost time to open, so as Stormi was in the back I walked to the front of the shoppe to turn my open/close sign to open. As I did, I looked out the window and saw Dottie getting out of a black SUV. She was wearing a purple and red flowered dress over her generous frame. She also wore a red floppy hat that dipped down on the sides.
     
    I wanted to yell to Stormi but I was dumbstruck. What was it about this woman that rendered us speechless? However, it wasn’t just her that caught my