Free The Christmas Cantata (The Liturgical Mysteries) by Mark Schweizer Page B

We're thick as thieves. Lemme give her a call." Amelia grabbed a phone from under the counter and quickly dialed a number from memory. "Louise? This is Amelia. Yeah...just fine. You know that caterer you're supposed to meet with?" Amelia put her hand over the mouthpiece and looked at the woman. "Jacki?" she asked. The woman nodded.
    "Well, she's just gonna be a tad late. We've had a little accident down at the Pig. No problem? Great!"
    The woman beamed.
    "And Louise," said Amelia, "you just might as well go on and hire her. She's a real sweet person and she can cook like nobody's business. Yep...I'll tell her and she'll be there as soon as Billy gets her car out of the ditch."
    Amelia clicked the phone off and put it down beside the register.
    "No rush," said Amelia with a big smile. "She can't wait to meet you."
    "I...I don't know what to say," said Jacki.
    "Oh, here's Billy," said Elaine, looking out the window. The other ladies followed her gaze and saw Billy's mini-dozer making its way across the parking lot toward Jacki's car.
    "Did I hear that you're having a party tonight?" Jacki asked Elaine.
    "Yes, I am," said Elaine.
    "I have some cakes in the back seat that I'm going to show to Mrs. Harrison. But after that, may I drop them by your house for your party? No charge." She put a finger to her lips and looked concerned. "That is, if they're still all right."
    "Aren't you sweet," said Elaine, with a big smile. "I'll bet they're just fine. Your car was hardly moving and barely bumped into that ditch."
    Jacki nodded. "I hope so."
    "Thank you," said Elaine. "Having those cakes would save me a good deal of time and I have a choir rehearsal before the party. Here, let me give you my address."
    "Do you have some cards?" asked Amelia. "I can put them here by the register. We always have people asking for caterers. Especially during the holidays."
    "You bet!" said Jacki. She dug around in her purse and came up with a handful of business cards which she handed to Amelia. Then she turned to Elaine. "What's the tune you're humming? It's beautiful."
    "Just something we're singing for the Christmas Eve service at St. Barnabas. You should come."
    "I will," said Jacki. "I certainly will."
    Jacki, having checked on her cakes and satisfying herself as to their viability, was standing outside chattering with Elaine as Billy hooked the Bobcat to the rear axle, then pulled the car up and out of the ditch.
    I paid for my donuts and walked by Roger's cubicle on my way out. He was peering over the top of his half-wall and had viewed the entire episode.
    "What just happened?" he said.
    I smiled and shrugged and went out the front door to my truck.
    And that's how it started.
     

Chapter 9
     
    "What am I doing here?" I asked, looking around the lobby. "I don't even like this woman."
    "Just go in with me," said Pete. "It isn't going to kill you, and besides, I hate going into nursing homes by myself."
    The Sunridge Assisted Living facility is located between Blowing Rock and St. Germaine. It's not a top of the line nursing home, but it's okay. The gathering area smelled vaguely of rubbing alcohol, camphor, menthol, and other odors best not ruminated over. There were a number of residents gathered in the room: some around tables, playing cards, dominos, or working puzzles; a few gathered in front of a TV watching CNN; two or three sitting by themselves, either reading, or, in the case of Bessie Baker, scooted up in front of an old spinet piano in her wheelchair.
    She was playing slowly and deliberately. A Chopin piece I recognized as Fantaisie-Impromptu , easily identifiable by its memorable melody purloined for a popular tune, I'm Always Chasing Rainbows. Pauli Girl McCollough was standing behind the piano, listening, her elbows resting on the lid. She waved to us as we came in.
    Pete and I walked to the piano and stood politely while she finished the piece. Pete applauded. Bessie glowered at him from beneath unplucked, heavy white