Hugh Chamberlain stood before the small group of mourners, holding a small glass of sherry. He looked both solemn and attractive in his dark suit and tie. Holding his glass aloft, Hugh bestowed a sad smile and said, “My little family wishes to thank you, Olivia and Maddie, for arranging this special memorial. To learn that our mother was so loved, as well as admired, touches us more than you can know.” He even looked, Olivia thought, as if he meant it. Yet she found herself untouched by his words. There’s such a thing as too much eloquence.
The attendees stood in a semicircle, since the store was too small and crowded for chairs. Olivia chose a place at one end, which gave her a view of the mourners. Jason fidgeted next to her. Next came Ellie, Maddie and Lucas, Mr. Willard, Bertha, Edward, Tammy, and finally Del, in a black suit and tie.
“We miss our mother very much,” Hugh said. “And we always will. Edward, perhaps you would say a few words?”
Edward hesitated, as if he might refuse. With an abrupt nod, he lurched forward and took Hugh’s place before the gathering. His dark blue eyes moved constantly. “My brother is right, our mother will be missed. However, I’m sure of one thing. She wasn’t one to sit around and feel sorry for herself. She’d tell us to get back to work. I intend to work twice as hard, in memory of her.” Head down, he rejoined Hugh.
Olivia marveled at how different the brothers were from each other. Edward had none of his brother’s easy eloquence, but his words had rung truer. Had he known Clarisse better?
Olivia stepped forward. “To honor Clarisse, we have prepared decorated cookies using some of the cookie cutters that meant the most to her. There are trays of cookies all around the store, including the cookbook nook. We hope you will think of Clarisse as you enjoy them. Perhaps the cookies will bring out memories of her that you will share with each other. There is plenty of sherry, and fresh coffee set up by the antiques cabinet.”
At a glance from Olivia, Maddie and Lucas positioned themselves near the front door. If anyone tried to leave right away, Maddie would talk at them until they gave up and escaped toward the cookies. Mr. Willard, in his role as sheepdog, stuck close to Hugh and Edward.
Olivia was ready to mingle, in a sneaky and targeted way, when she realized she didn’t have her cell phone. Del had insisted they all carry one, in case of emergency. She must have left it attached to its charger when she changed into her black pants and gray silk blouse.
Jason stood nearby, eyeing a plate of cookies with longing. She tapped him on the shoulder and whispered, “I’ll split the leftovers with you and throw in a pizza if you’ll run upstairs and get my cell phone for me. I can’t leave right now.”
Jason grinned. “I’d have done it for nothing, but hey, I’ll take the goodies.”
“Thanks. It’s on the dresser in my bedroom.” As she felt in her pants pocket for her key, Olivia saw Edward, Hugh, and Tammy walk into the cookbook nook alone. Bertha had captured Mr. Willard. She handed the key to Jason and hustled after her three suspects. She figured her window of opportunity would be closing in fifteen to twenty minutes. It was a miracle that all her suspects were present, but they wouldn’t stay long. Brief conversations, a glance at the cookies for the sake of appearances, and they’d be gone.
Tammy wiggled her fingers in a girlish wave as Olivia entered the nook. “Livie, it was so sweet of you to do all this, especially after we . . .” She shot a quick look at Hugh, who was talking with Edward. Both men were ignoring the cookie tray. Tammy lowered her voice. “I do want to apologize about how we treated you after we found out about your inheritance. I should never have said a word to that reporter Binnie. Oh, Livie, let’s not fight anymore. I’m sorry I’ve been short with you lately. It’s been so . . . Anyway, things are better now, and I have so much to tell you.”
“Apology accepted.” Feeling like a traitor, Olivia added, “You can make it up to me by touring our cookie trays with me. And make sure Hugh and Edward come, too.”
“I can do that. Come on, boys,” Tammy said, linking arms with Hugh and Edward. “Livie worked hard on these cookies. The least we can do is admire them.” Hugh acquiesced with grace and a smile for Olivia. Edward looked irritated by the interruption, but he allowed Tammy to capture his arm.
The small group glanced over the cookies in the nook. “Lovely,” Hugh murmured as he chose an angel with forest green hair. Edward made no comment, and Tammy said, “Yum.” Olivia was disappointed but not surprised by the bland reaction. For the nook tray, she had repeated the design on Clarisse’s desk, which hadn’t shouted a clear message. In the main store were five additional trays with more suggestive designs.
Olivia guided the group out of the cookbook nook to the sherry. As Hugh and Edward refilled their glasses, Olivia saw Jason heading in her direction. Her cell phone. She shook her head at Jason to say she didn’t want to be interrupted. He stopped and gave her a puzzled look. Ellie appeared at his elbow and spoke. He bent down to listen, shrugged, and snatched a cookie off a pile of extras.
The whole episode had taken only a few seconds, but when Olivia turned back to her charges, Hugh was staring at her. His sensuous lips curved, as always, in a good-natured smile, but his eyes were watchful. Alert. Curious.
In that instant, Olivia knew her lovely plan was doomed. It was too complex and time-consuming. She hadn’t given enough thought to the human element.
It was now or never.
“Everyone, can I have your attention?” Heads swiveled toward her. Del, who had been lounging against a wall, straightened and reached into his pants pocket for his cell phone. “I know you’re all busy, but before you leave, I’d appreciate your help. Would you all gather up here with me? Maddie, would you and Jason bring those three trays from the front?” She’d been vague, but Maddie would understand which ones she wanted.
With the trays arranged on three small display tables and the guests in a semicircle around them, Olivia said, “Clarisse and I shared a passion for cookie cutters. Sometimes a particular cutter has a special meaning for me, and I know Clarisse felt the same. As I mentioned earlier, Maddie and I made these cookies from cutters that were special to Clarisse. I would like for all of us who cared for her to share our thoughts about what each of these shapes might have meant to her and the nice memories they must represent.
“Let’s start with this one.” Olivia selected two cookies in the shape of the crowned gingerbread boy and held them up so everyone could see. One had black hair, and the other, fire engine red.
“Goodness, that’s Hugh,” Bertha said. “When Hugh was little, Ms. Clarisse would have me make a batch of cookies for her ‘little prince.’ You wouldn’t remember, Hugh, because she stopped when you were about four. She was afraid little Edward might think she loved you better.” Bertha’s face reddened as she realized the implications of what she’d said.
“Interesting,” Hugh said.
Olivia couldn’t see Edward’s face, but he hung his head as if the revelation disturbed him.
“What about this one?” Olivia held up a running gingerbread man with bright red hair.
After a moment of silence, Tammy said, “If she wanted to be fair, wouldn’t she choose a gingerbread man for Edward, too? Anyway, it looks like him. He’s always on the go,” she said with a teasing poke at Edward’s arm.
Olivia picked up the gingerbread woman and girl. “And these lovely figures?”
After a moment of silence, Bertha sniffled. Ellie handed her a tissue, and Bertha dabbed at her eyes. “My poor Clarisse,” she said. “She loved her boys but, oh, she wanted a girl so much. When that never happened, she started wanting a granddaughter.”
Olivia sneaked a peek at her group of suspects. Tammy was checking her watch. Hugh’s ever-present smile had disappeared. His head swiveled slowly as he studied each of the three cookie arrangements. Edward stared into space. Olivia decided to kick it up a notch. She picked up the two flower shapes. Both were iced with simple, realistic piped lines. The six-petaled flower had red stamens and dark pink, curving petals that came to a point. On the eight-petaled flower, numerous flowing white lines, spreading out from a pale yellow center, suggested a dense petal structure.