Death Among the Doilies (24 page)

When Jon spotted Cora, he insisted that she nap and take her time getting ready for the party.

“Everything is under control,
mon chère
. We are family. We will take care of it all,” Jon said.

Cora didn't have the wherewithal to argue. She bathed in her deep claw-foot tub, allowing the hot water to unravel her tense muscles. How had they gotten so tight? How had she not noticed? Each muscle relaxed one at a time in the hot water. Muscles she hadn't even realized existed.

After her bath, she felt a pang of guilt as she slid underneath her quilt and laid her head on the pillow. She should be mingling with her guests. But how could she? Perhaps Uncle Jon was right—she'd be better after she had a rest.

Her brain needed time to sort through everything that had happened. Luna curled up beside her and purred.

Two hours later, Luna awakened her, kneading her kitty paws on her face. The cat was hungry, no doubt.

Cora sat up, refreshed, but her knee still ached. She was ready to close this first craft-retreat weekend. So many unplanned events had taken over. She and Jane had thought they were prepared for all possibilities. But they certainly hadn't prepared for everything that had gone down. Was it possible to plan too much? Was it possible to plan for every conceivable outcome?

She padded into the kitchenette and opened a can of cat food, Luna circling her legs and mewing.

“Okay, Luna, kitty,” she said as sat the bowl on the floor for the cat.

Now to get dressed. She ambled back into her bedroom, having not given what she would wear any thought at all, and saw the doily skirt had been finished and placed on her chair, splayed out with its variety of colors, weaves, and textures.

When she had seen Josh Waters lying dead among all the bloody doilies, she had figured she'd trash the other ones that she had purchased. But now she was glad she hadn't. She ran her fingers over the skirt—someone had made the doilies; their time, talent, and energy had gone into crafting them. She pulled the skirt up over her hips and looked at herself in the mirror. She adjusted the skirt so the pink doily was in front, rather than on the side. She preferred the off-center diagonal pattern.

Where had that yellow T-shirt gone to? She sorted through the clothes still on the chair and found it. She slipped it on. Yes, perfect.

Cora twirled around and watched the colors and lace lift and move around her. She laughed.

* * *

As she walked downstairs, she spotted Jude and Cashel deep in conversation. “Hey, guys,” she said. They glanced at her—then looked again.

“Wow,” Cashel said. “You look amazing.” He grabbed her and kissed her cheek with a little more gusto than was appropriate.

Jude cleared his throat and took his turn at hugging Cora. “Congrats, you've done a great job. I was listening in with some of the crafters. They've had such a lovely time.”

Cora smiled. “That's what it's all about.”

“Are those doilies?” Cashel said, reaching out and running his hands over them.

“Yes—and watch it,” she said, playfully slapping his hand away.

Cora moved into the dining room, where everything had been set up. The centerpiece was dried hydrangeas and pumpkins, with lit candles. She loved it.

Trays of pies, bread, cupcakes, and cookies had been set out, and people were milling about in the room with plates brimming with chocolate goodies.

“The skirt looks incredible,” Linda said as she came up beside her.

“Thank you! You know, it really does. I think I might start a new trend,” Cora replied.

“I like it because it's long and flowing. It works with those doilies. But a short skirt would be cool, too,” Linda said.

“I've got a ton of old doilies at home,” Diane said, joining them. “I might make something with them. Maybe a vest. If I can find the time.”

“You can always come back here if you need more time to craft,” Cora said and smiled brightly.

“I'd love to!” Diane said. “I 'm planning to come back. I think most of us are.”

“That's good to know,” Cora said, as her heart lifted even more.

“You know what else is good to know?” Jane said, as she came up alongside of them. “I received a call when you were asleep. Turns out the investigators were trying hard to match my prints, but they couldn't. And since they now have a confession, I'm off the hook.”

“Of course!” Cora said. “I never doubted you!”

“Thank you,” Jane said. “Who knows what would've happened if you hadn't been such a pain?”

“One thing I can promise,” Cora said, “I'm always going to be a pain for the people I care about, including you.” Cora was filled with a sudden longing to cry—she was so filled with gratitude and emotions. So much had happened to bring them to this point.

Cora lifted her glass to take a sip, when the doorbell rang.

“I'll get it,” she said, scooting out of the room, grateful for a moment to get ahold of her emotions.

When she opened the front door, she blinked in surprise.
Who is this?

He was tall, dark, and adorable, with wavy seal-brown hair and jade-green eyes peering at her through horn-rimmed glasses. He grinned—revealing a dimple. He handed her a bouquet of yellow tea roses.

“Hi, I'm Adrian,” he said. “Congratulations.”

“Adrian?” Cora said. Did that breathy voice belong to her? Was that her heart thumping in her chest? Who was this man? She was positively tingling.

“Hey, Adrian,” Jane said as she came up behind Cora. “So glad you could make it. Cora, this is Adrian. He works at the school. He's the new librarian.”

Cora felt her lips curl into a grin and her face heat.

“Nice to meet you,” she managed to say and reached out her hand to him.

“The pleasure is all mine,” Adrian replied, shaking her hand.

He pushed his glasses back on his nose, such a sweet and geeky gesture, and Cora's heart thumped, making her regret her decision to change Kildare House's library into a fiber-arts room. Maybe it wasn't too late to change it back.

She caught a glance of smug satisfaction from Jane. Turned out she was right—the librarian did seem to be Cora's type. But for now, she turned her attention to her guests.

* * *

Later, everyone gathered in the dining room for a toast from Jane, including Adrian, who had not ventured far from Cora most of the evening. Cora had to concentrate to focus on her guests, but caught his eye from time to time.

Jennifer, the woman with the yarn shop, grabbed her hand. “I just want to say how wonderful this weekend has been.”

“I'm so glad your daughters sent you here,” Cora told her. “It's been wonderful to get to know you.”

Was Cora imagining Jennifer's restful glow? Could one weekend of crafting and relaxing be enough to get her started on a healing path, away from the darkness of grief?

She continued to hold Jennifer's hand as Jane cleared her throat.

“To Cora,” Jane said, “A dreamer, a doer, a good friend. Thank you for providing this space for us.”

“Hear, hear!” people chanted around the room.

Cora took in the crowd—the guests lifting their glasses to her, Ruby, Cashel, Jude, her uncle and new aunt—and she felt an onslaught of warmth. She wanted to remember this moment forever.

 

This is the simple version of candle making that Ruby teaches in her cottage.

 

 

 

Making soap balls is great way to use up some of those leftover soap bits that we all seem to have lying around. You can have ajar where you collect the bits of soap instead of throwing them away. When you get ajar full, try making soap balls. You can get creative with this, if you want. Consider adding in flower petals or herbs or try layering colors.

 

 

This is one of the simplest bird feeders you can make from tea cups. If you don't have extra tea cups on hand, there's always the Goodwill and other secondhand shops. Using old tea cups to feed the birds? What could be better?

 

 

 

This is a fun craft that you can keep as simple as you want or you can decorate it to the hilt. It's totally up to you. It's also a great way to use those leftover plastic grocery bags.

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a simple version of broom making that you can get as creative as you want with—but these fun brooms are just for decoration.

 

For three broomsticks: