The Chocolate Mouse Trap (27 page)

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Authors: Joanna Carl

Tags: #Fiction, #Mystery & Detective, #Women Sleuths, #General

BOOK: The Chocolate Mouse Trap
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But my parents were still my parents, I realized, even if I got impatient with them. If one of them was sick, I’d be on the next plane to Texas. But what would we have to talk about after I got there? We’d grown so far apart....
Before Joe left that night, I took him in the kitchen for a private talk.
“You’re right,” I said. “We do need to have a real wedding.”
Joe looked amazed. Then he gave me a bear hug. And a big kiss. Then he spoke. “Wow! I’d given up on that. What brought about this change of heart?”
“Oh, I was thinking about how Mrs. Schrader regrets not making peace with Brad’s father. I don’t want to have that kind of regret when my parents are gone. Having them at the wedding won’t be easy! They may refuse to come. But at least I can invite both of them. And Annie. And Brenda. But I think we should hold the wedding up here. Not in Texas. I’ll gather my courage and do this, but I want them on my turf. Not me on theirs.”
I agreed to call my dad the next day and to talk to my mother as soon as she came back from her current trip. Then Joe and I made a date to talk about all the details the next evening.
Then he went home. His truck had been released by the police, so I walked him out to it. I even sat in it with him for a while.
All the best stories end with a clinch.
CHOCOLATE CHAT
REFRIGERATOR MAGNET CHOCOLATE
“Hand over the chocolate and nobody gets hurt.”
 
“Save the Earth. It’s the only planet with chocolate.”
 
“If there is no God, who created chocolate?”
 
“Money talks. Chocolate sings.”
1
 
“The four essential elements: Means, Motive, Opportunity and Chocolate!”
2
 
Also by JoAnna Carl
The Chocolate Cat Caper
The Chocolate Bear Burglary
The Chocolate Frog Frame-Up
The Chocolate Puppy Puzzle
1
Contributed by Nancy Lebovitz
2
© Instant Attitudes

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