Free Tying the Knot by Elizabeth Craig

and said, “Oh, hi, Meadow! Didn’t see you over there.”
    Meadow raised her coffee cup in greeting. “Piper! Glad you came by. I’ve been wanting to catch up with you.”
    Beatrice gave Piper a rueful look as they walked into the kitchen to get Piper a coffee. Ash had recently moved from the West Coast back to North Carolina to take a position teaching marine science at a local university . . . and to spend more time with Piper. Meadow was tickled pink by their relationship. Sometimes she was
too
excited about it and started wistfully talking about quilting diaper bags.
    Meadow called to them from the living room. “Piper, have you had a chance to see Ash’s new house? I know it’s just a rental while he’s getting settled here, but I think it’s so cute. Don’t you?”
    Piper stirred cream and sugar into her coffee, and they joined Meadow. “I do think it’s cute, although Idon’t think that was the word Ash used to describe it.
Cozy
was how he put it.”
    Meadow laughed. “It sure is. Although—and I wouldn’t hurt Ash’s feelings in a million years by telling him this—I think it needs a woman’s touch. You know? It’s sort of plain with all that white paint and cold hardwood floors.” She leaned over to pet Boris, who had laid his massive head on her foot.
    Beatrice rolled her eyes at Piper.
    Piper gave her a reassuring smile. She could handle Meadow well. “Oh, I don’t know. There’s something masculine in the sheer starkness of it.” Meadow’s face fell comically, and Piper added quickly, “Although I did go yard-sale shopping with Ash to buy a few finishing touches. We found some throw rugs that looked brand-new. And a great tablecloth for his kitchen table, too. Makes the whole kitchen look so cheerful.”
    Meadow beamed at her. “I can’t wait to see it.”
    Piper turned to her mother. “So, how’s everything going with you, Mama? I meant to check in with you last night, but then I got distracted, and when I looked at the clock again, it was too late to call.”
    Meadow spluttered into a chuckle. “Oh, I doubt that. That it was too late, I mean.”
    Piper raised her eyebrows. “Late night? Must have been quite a party.”
    Beatrice sighed. “I’m afraid not, Piper. Trevor Garber died during the reception last night.”
    â€œWhat?” Piper’s eyes opened wide.
    â€œDid you know Trevor, Piper?” asked Beatrice curiously.
    â€œNot directly, no. But one of his children, Anne, wasa friend of mine when I moved to Dappled Hills. I met her father and mother a couple of times when she and I were out getting coffee or lunch. She moved away about a year after I got here, unfortunately. I know she and her brother will be devastated—she seemed to think the world of her father. I’m sorry to hear that he passed away.”
    â€œAnd your poor mother discovered him,” said Meadow. “The rest of us thought he was taking a nice little nap at the table.”
    â€œWhat an awful thing to happen on their wedding day,” said Piper.
    â€œIt is, but at least it happened at the very end of the wedding, and Harper and Daniel had already left. But yes,” said Beatrice.
    â€œAnd what’s more, it’s murder!” said Meadow, shaking her head.
    At that point, Piper demanded to hear the entire story instead of having it come out in dribs and drabs. At the end, she leaned back in the cushy armchair, thinking. She said, “Were you able to sleep at all last night, Mama? What a terrible experience for you to go through!”
    â€œActually, I slept like a rock,” admitted Beatrice. “I think I was just exhausted from the events of the day—both good and bad.”
    â€œTell Piper about your mystery man,” said Meadow with an impish grin. “The one that you’ve got the SBI searching