Free Trimmed With Murder by Sally Goldenbaum

she’d yet to pull the chowder out of the refrigerator to heat up.
    At the sound of the garage door opening, she pressed a button on the controller and Laila Biali’s husky voice filled the room.
    A glass of wine together in front of the fire. Mood music and spicy chowder. Sunday with Ben. Her favorite time of the week.
    But Father Northcutt had failed to mention that Ben’s return would not bring with it the promise of a quiet Sunday evening.
    â€œShe never showed up,” Ben said as he walked through the back door. He glanced at the fire, then strode across the room to the kitchen island and gave Nell a hug. “Fire feels good.”
    â€œWho didn’t show up?”
    â€œAmber Harper.”
    Nell frowned. “Really? That’s strange. Rachel had given her all the information, and it’s just a short walk from the Gibsons’. Esther would surely have told her how to get to the church if she’d forgotten.”
    â€œRachel called Esther from the rectory after we rescheduled the meeting. She and Richard had talked to Amber this morning—the first time they’d really seen her. Esther said she’d gotten in very late last night.”
    Nell nodded. They hadn’t heard Charlie drive in, but assumed it was late.
    â€œThey talked about the meeting, where it was, what time. Amber said she had a couple of things to do first but she’d be there. Esther made sure she had a heavy scarf and hat and off she went, asking briefly where a good doughnut shop was.
    â€œEsther felt awkward with all her mothering, she said—she didn’t want to overwhelm Amber. But apparently Amber didn’t take offense. She listened, even tapped the time into her phone. Esther did say that she didn’t show much interest in the reason for the meeting, though. She told Esther that if Lydia left her anything, it wouldn’t be much. She was cynical, Esther said.”
    â€œBut that doesn’t explain why she wasn’t at the meeting,” Nell said. “She came all this way—and wasn’t that why? For the will? Do you think her inheritance was insignificant?”
    â€œI don’t know. I haven’t read the will, just the directives that Lydia had insisted on. Often now, wills are mailed out to people, but Lydia wanted the will read to all the beneficiaries at the same time.”
    Ben took a beer out of the refrigerator and snapped off the cap. He looked out the window toward the cottage. “Charlie’s car wasn’t in the drive when I drove in, but there’s a light on in the cottage. Any idea what’s going on?”
    Nell walked over to the sink and looked out. “That’s strange. Maybe we should check—”
    Ben nodded. “Okay. Let me do it, Nell.”
    Nell knew what he was thinking. It wouldn’t seem like hovering if he did it. The man’s way.
    Without grabbing a jacket, he pulled up the collar of his flannel shirt and opened the deck doors, walking quickly into the impending darkness.
    Nell watched him walk down the steps and across the yard to the guesthouse. Its front door faced the woods, a design she and Ben had purposely implemented to give their guests privacy and not feel their front door was being watched from the kitchen window. Easier to come and go without being detected.
    Nell turned away from the window and took the chowder and loaf of French bread out of the refrigerator. She had made too much, as usual. But it didn’t matter, she could freeze the rest. It was too early for dinner, but being busy calmed the anxious feeling inside her that something in her world wasn’t quite right.
    The ringing of the phone was a welcome distraction, not intrusive as it sometimes was. Nell rummaged around on the counter until she found her cell. Izzy’s name appeared, and Nell picked it up quickly.
    â€œWhat are you and Ben up to?” Izzy wondered. And, “Is Charlie there?” She told Nell he