Free The Appleton Case (A Markham Sisters Cozy Mystery Novella Book 1) by Diana Xarissa Page B

family.”
    “I didn’t
either, so it was easier to not even date.”
    “But dating
was really good fun,” Janet told her.   “And now we’re both retired, so we can date as much as we like.   We could even get married if we wanted
to.”
    Joan shook her
head.   “I’ll have dinner with
Michael tomorrow since you’ve told him I would, but then I’m done.   One date in my lifetime is more than
enough.”
    “We’ll see
about that,” Janet answered.

 
    Chapter
Eight
    Joan was less
certain about even having that one date the next day.   Janet felt as if she spent all of the
time from lunch until seven o’clock talking her sister into going.
    “This is a bad
idea,” Joan said as the sisters waited for Michael to arrive.
    “This is one
dinner, two hours, out of your life,” Janet said for the five-hundredth
time.   “Just go and have fun and
stop making such a big deal out of it.”
    “That’s easy
for you to say,” Joan muttered, plucking at her skirt.
    “Stop
fussing.   You look lovely,” Janet
said soothingly.   She took both of
her sister’s hands and looked into her eyes.   “Really, you look wonderful, and you’ll
have fun, I promise.”
    “Make sure
your mobile is on,” Joan told her.   “I might want you to come and get me.”
    “Do you want
me to ring you every half hour to make sure things are going okay?” Janet
asked.
    “Would you?”
Joan replied.
    “No,” Janet
said firmly.  
    Before Joan
could argue further, someone knocked on the door.   Janet watched all of the colour drain from her sister’s face.   She shook her head and headed towards
the door.
    “You’re way
too stressed about a simple dinner,” she told Joan just before she opened the
door.
    Michael stood
on the other side, a bouquet of flowers in his hand.
    “Ah, good
evening, Janet,” he said with a small bow.   “These are for you.”
    He handed
Janet the flowers.   She took them,
feeling confused.
    “I remember
you said that Joan does most of the cooking,” he told her.   “I figured you deserved a little
something for my making you get your own dinner tonight.”
    “That’s very
kind of you,” Janet told him, giving him bonus points for being so
thoughtful.   She looked over at her
sister.   Joan looked more pleased
than Janet had ever seen her look before.
    “I did make
sure she’d have something to eat,” Joan told Michael.   “I made soup.   She just has to heat it up.”
    Michael
laughed.   “But she’ll miss out on
your company,” he pointed out.   “Surely that warrants a few flowers.”
    “Whatever the
reason, they’re beautiful and I very much appreciate them,” Janet said.   “Now off you two go.   Have a wonderful time.”
    Janet nearly
shoved her sister out the door.   Michael took Joan’s arm and escorted her down the steps to the
pavement.   Janet watched as they
crossed the road and Michael helped Joan into his car.   Only then did she shut the door.
    For a giddy
moment she felt like shouting.   From
what she’d seen, Michael was a lovely man and he and Joan seemed well
suited.   She just hoped her sister
would get over her nerves and actually enjoy herself.
    In the
kitchen, she arranged the flowers in a vase and then heated her soup.   She sliced some fresh bread to have with
it and washed the meal down with a cup of tea.   After washing up, she sat back in her
chair, uncertain of exactly what she wanted to do with an evening to herself.   Before she’d made up her mind, she heard
a knock on the door.
    “Constable
Parsons, this is a surprise,” she said when she’d opened the door.  
    “I just have a
few questions about the box you brought in to me,” the young man replied.   “Can I have a few minutes of your time?”
    “Certainly, do
come in,” Janet offered.
    “I’m sorry
I’ve come by so late,” he said after he’d taken a seat in the small sitting
room.   “I was rather busy yesterday,
and today was one of my days to be in