Deadly Greetings (Book 2 in the Cardmaking Mysteries) (11 page)

Lillian was still working on the front of
the memory book for the fictitious Timothy when a man in his
thirties walked into the shop. He had a furtive look about him, and
I wondered if I was going to have trouble with another shoplifter.
It amazed me that some people would rather steal than pay for their
goods, but if I caught them doing it, my brother was just a phone
call away.

“
May I help you?” I asked
politely, trying to give him the benefit of the doubt.

“
I’m just browsing,” he
mumbled, another sign that I was about to be hit. I had a technique
I’d learned from Sara Lynn about dealing with suspected
shoplifters. I’d follow him around the store closer than his own
shadow, offering helpful suggestions as we “browsed”
together.

“
If you could tell me what
you’re looking for, I can be of more assistance,” I
said.

He glanced over at Lillian, around the
otherwise empty shop, then back at me. “Okay, but you have to
promise not to laugh.”

That wasn’t exactly the reaction I’d
expected. “I’m not in the habit of laughing at my customers. It
tends to drive off potential business.”

“
I’m serious,” he
insisted.

“
I promise,” I said,
wondering what kind of revelation he was about to share.

“
I’m a stay-at-home dad,” he
said in a lowered voice, “and I started wondering what to do with
all the pictures of my daughter I’d been taking. One of the mothers
at the preschool started talking about scrapbooking, and it sounded
perfect.”

“
I don’t handle scrapbooking
supplies, but I can recommend Forever Memories. It’s just down the
block.”

He nodded. “I know all about that place. The
thing is, I really like doing it, but now I’ve got the bug and I
want to do more. Your sister told me I should talk to you about
card making. By the way, my name is Daniel.”

“
I’m Jennifer,” I said, then
added, “I think it’s wonderful you’re interested in cardmaking.” I
said, “I have lots of men who come here for supplies. In fact,
there’s even one in my card-making club.” I thought about inviting
him to our meeting tonight, but I doubted we’d be making many
cards, and besides, I didn’t want any distractions while I grilled
my club members.

“
So you don’t think it’s odd
I enjoy doing this kind of thing?” he asked.

“
I think your wife’s lucky
to have you,” I said sincerely. “Raising children is one of the
most honorable things you can do with your life, in my
opinion.”

A partial smile started to show on his face.
“I think so too, but sometimes it’s tough being a man doing it in
the South.”

“
I imagine it’s hard for
anybody. Let’s see, you should already have most of the supplies
and tools you need. Where should we get started?”

“
I’d like to make an
anniversary card for my wife,” he said. “Could you help me make
something nice?”

“
I’d be honored,” I said.
“Lillian, could we have that space? You can work in back, and I’ll
call you if I need you.”

“
Certainly,” Lillian said as
she gathered her supplies and moved to the workroom. She’d learned
early on that our customers came first. After all, they were the
ones who were keeping us afloat.

“
Now let’s see,” I said.
“What kind of card did you have in mind?”

“
I honestly don’t know,” he
said. “I was hoping you’d be able to help me.”

I led him to the section of anniversary
cards I’d made myself, showing him a few examples as we went.

Finally, he said, “These are all nice, but I
was kind of hoping to do one myself.”

“
I understand perfectly. I
just thought this might give you an idea of what can be done. We’re
just looking for inspiration right now.”

He nodded, then chose an off-white card with
an embossed border and a bouquet inside. “Something like this would
be perfect. Is it hard to make?”

“
You’re going to be amazed
how easy it is,” I said as I grabbed some card stock and the
embosser Lillian and I had been playing with earlier. “Let’s get
started.”

I showed him the basic technique of
embossing, and in no time at all he was working on a card of his
own. The man had a real gift for card making, and I was willing to
bet his scrapbooking sheets were beautifully done, too.

“
You’re good at this,” I
said.

“
It’s fun,” he admitted
reluctantly.

I had to make this man feel good about his
new hobby. “You know, Rosie Grier knits, and he used to play pro
football.”

“
Yeah, but can he make a
greeting card?” Daniel asked with a smile.

“
I’m sure he can if he wants
to,” I admitted. “I certainly wouldn’t try to stop him.”

Daniel’s card was beautiful, and by the time
he was finished and ready to leave, I’d sold him several new tools
and a healthy supply of card stock, including some sheets of paper
I’d made myself.

“
Now call if you have any
questions, and come back anytime.”

“
I will,” he
said.

Lillian was still in back when my sister
came in. “I just helped one of your customers,” I said. “Thanks for
the referral.”

“
I know; I saw Daniel in
here, so I decided to wait outside. He’s quite gifted, you
know.”

“
I don’t doubt it,” I
agreed. “So what brings you here during regular business
hours?”

“
Can’t one sister take
another one to lunch without a reason?” Sara Lynn asked.

“
Probably not if you’re one
of the sisters,” I said, trying and failing to hide my
smile.

Sara Lynn tried to look stern, but she
couldn’t manage it. “Let’s go eat, unless you’ve got other
plans.”

“
If you’re buying, I’m all
yours,” I said.

“
I’m inviting you, so of
course I’ll pick up the check,” Sara Lynn said sternly.

“
Can Lillian come too? She’s
working in back.”

After she glanced around the shop, Sara Lynn
asked, “Are you planning to leave your store untended again?”

I knew my sister meant well, but it was my
shop, and my decision alone whether we closed it or not. “Honestly,
I doubt we’ll miss a single customer.”

Sara Lynn shook her head. “If you don’t
mind, I’d like it to be just the two of us.”

“
I don’t mind, but who knows
how Lillian’s going to react?”

Sara Lynn said, “Don’t worry. I’ll take care
of her.” She called out, “Lillian, I need some time with my sister.
Would you mind watching the store?”

Our aunt came out smiling. “I’d be
delighted. You two have fun.”

I was feeling guilty just abandoning her
like that. “Can we bring you back something?”

“
No, I’m fine. Just be back
by two if you could.”

“
Why, do you have a hot
date?” I asked.

“
Wouldn’t you like to know,”
Lillian replied.

Once Sara Lynn and I were outside, she said,
“Is she serious? Is that woman ever going to slow down?”

“
If she does, I for one will
be disappointed in her. She gives me fresh hope every day. So,
where are we going?”

Sara Lynn appeared to think about it for a
moment, then said, “I haven’t been to Hurley’s in a while. How does
that sound?”

“
Outstanding. Now I’m glad I
skipped breakfast.”

“
Jennifer, you really should
. . . oh, never mind, you won’t listen to me anyway.”

“
That’s one of things I love
about you, Sara Lynn. You know how to choose your
battles.”

Chapter 7

After we’d placed our orders, Sara Lynn
smiled at me. “What is it?” I asked her.

“
We’ve been together ten
minutes and you haven’t once asked me what we’re doing
here.”

“
I figured you’d tell me
when you were ready,” I said as I ate one of the warm rolls with
some honey butter Jack Hurley had brought us personally. Jack owns
Hurley’s, and he’s a longtime friend of the family’s. In fact, he
dated Sara Lynn at one time, and I wondered if the special
treatment was for me or for my big sister. Sara Lynn had been
married to Bailey for what must have felt like forever, while Jack
seemed like he had more kids than Baskin-Robbins had flavors.
Still, there was a secret smile the two of them had shared when
he’d brought the rolls, and I felt like I was twelve years old
again—in other words, completely invisible.

Sara Lynn reached for another roll, then
pulled her hand back. “I’d better not if I’m going to have room for
my lunch.”

I grabbed the one she’d ignored. “I’ll find
a way to make room. These are too good to just leave.”

As I ate, Sara Lynn asked, “So how’s
business?”

“
It’s fine. How’s
yours?”

“
Forever Memories is on
stable ground, as always.” She took a deep breath, let half of it
out, then said, “I’ve been hearing rumors that you’re not doing as
well.”

I dropped the half-eaten roll on my plate.
“And who did you hear these rumors from?”

“
That’s not important,” Sara
Lynn said. “What matters is—”

I rarely interrupt my sister, but I wasn’t
about to let that go. “It might not matter to you, but it does to
me. Now tell me who’s saying I’m in trouble.”

She looked primly at me as she said,
“Jennifer, I’m not going to betray a confidence.”

“
Then you shouldn’t have
brought it up. Sara Lynn, nobody knows how I’m doing, and that
includes Lillian.”

Sara Lynn’s gaze dropped down for just a
moment, but it was enough. “Oh my word. You’re saying that our aunt
is telling the world I’m failing?” I couldn’t believe it. Lillian
was more than just my aunt, more than my only employee. In a very
real way, I considered her a partner in my business. The revelation
that she believed I was failing hammered me between the eyes.

I stood up and threw my napkin on the
table.

“
Where are you going?” Sara
Lynn asked.

“
I’m going to set Lillian
straight.”

“
She didn’t say anything,”
Sara Lynn snapped.

“
Don’t lie to me, Sis.
You’re lousy at it.”

Sara Lynn snapped, “If you’d give me a
moment to explain before you go off like a firecracker, I’d
appreciate it.”

I wouldn’t sit back down, but I didn’t head
for the door either. “So talk.”

Sara Lynn looked around us, obviously caring
about what other people at the restaurant thought. As for me, they
could all kiss the wind if they didn’t like the way I acted.
Finally, my sister said, “All right, Lillian didn’t say anything,
at least not directly. I happened to ask if she was on any kind of
salary yet, and she joked that she was taking her pay in
supplies.”

“
I can afford to pay her,” I
said levelly, and I could, if I stopped eating and cut back on a
few other nonessentials like that. “Did it ever occur to you that
getting supplies instead of cash was her idea?” While Lillian
hadn’t asked for that arrangement, it was working out fine for
me.

“
My mistake then,” Sara Lynn
said in a soft, humble voice that made me repent my latest
outburst. I picked up my napkin, put it back in my lap and said,
“Listen, I’m sorry. I’m the first one to admit that I’m a little
touchy when it comes to my shop. If I thought Aunt Lillian was
unhappy with our arrangement for a second, I’d work something out
with her. Sara Lynn, I’m not making a fortune, but between special
orders and my walk-in trade, I’m doing okay.”

Sara Lynn looked honestly repentant. “I
wasn’t trying to pry, Jennifer.” I let that go, which I thought all
in all was pretty big of me. She continued. “I just worry about you
so.”

“
Sis, if I fail
spectacularly or if I end up running a dozen stores, this is
exactly what I want to be doing with my life, okay? You know I
don’t believe in regrets. I’m giving Custom Card Creations all I’ve
got, so no matter what happens, in the end I can look back and feel
well pleased that I did my best.”

Jack put our plates down and said, “I don’t
know whether to applaud or salute. That was some speech, Jennifer.
Are you running for office?”

“
I’d throw a roll at you,
but they’re too good to waste,” I said.

Sara Lynn added, “My little sister was just
reasserting her independence.”

“
When doesn’t she?” Jack
asked. Then he stepped back out of the way in case I changed my
mind and threw something at him after all. “Is there anything
else?” he asked.

“
This all looks wonderful,”
Sara Lynn told him. I took a healthy bite of my hamburger, then
watched my sister spear an errant cucumber in her salad.

“
I can’t believe you call
that lunch.”

“
Wait until you hit your
mid-forties; then we’ll have this conversation again.”

I waved a steak fry in the air. “It’s never
going to happen. My metabolism just burns it right up.” That was a
lie and we both knew it, but my sister was too gracious to call me
on it. I’d expected to lose weight when I’d opened my shop. Heck,
that had been one of the entries in the plus column, but to my
dismay I was gaining. If I kept packing in calories at the rate I
was now, I wasn’t going to be anybody’s little anything anymore.
There was a trail around the lake, and now that I had easy access
to it, I’d lost my last excuse to not start exercising again.