Free Engaged in Murder (Perfect Proposals Mystery) by Nancy J. Parra

swanky restaurant that had floor-to-ceiling windows. Pepper, you could look out over the skyline.” She sighed. “It was like being on top of the world.”
    I cringed inwardly at her joy. I hoped that my suspicions were groundless. For Felicity’s sake . . . she deserved the best in a relationship. So did I, for that matter.
    “Felicity, we need to plan your engagement party,” Mom said as she entered the room. “You could have Pepper plan the event for you. She’s thinking of opening her own event-planning business.”
    “You are?” Felicity asked me as she put the last dish in the drainer and removed her pink rubber gloves.
    “It was Warren’s idea,” I said. “Of course, start-up money is always an issue, my being out of work and all.”
    “I don’t see why you can’t move back home,” my father said from the kitchen doorway. “It’s silly for you to keep that tiny apartment when you are unemployed. You should come home until you get back on your feet. Right, dear?”
    “Yes, of course,” my mother said. “I could even divide the music room and you could have your own office for your event planning.”
    I swallowed my horror at their invitation. It’d taken me so long to get out on my own. The last thing I wanted was to live with my parents when I was thirty. “Gee, thanks, Dad, thanks, Mom, but my apartment isn’t that expensive and it’s near the mall. So I’ll have access to more ideas and materials.”
    “What’s going on?” Warren stood behind Dad.
    “Pepper’s going to open her own event-planning business,” Felicity said and took the towel off her waist. “Isn’t that great?”
    “Fantastic,” Warren said. His blue eyes twinkled.
    “Thanks, I had good inspiration,” I said.
    “Speaking of inspiration, let’s talk about your engagement party,” Mom said. We all adjourned to the living room.
    “We are going to wait on the engagement party,” Felicity said, her gaze never leaving Warren. He put his arm around her waist and nodded.
    “Why would you do that?” Mom asked as we all sat.
    “It’s only until after the investigation,” Warren said.
    Felicity put her hand on his knee. “We felt it was in poor taste to party while they investigate that poor man’s murder.”
    “It’s simply better to wait until after the police have made an arrest,” Warren added. “Don’t you agree?”
    “Makes sense,” Dad said
    “Fine.” Mom leaned forward and clasped her hands. “How long do you think they will be investigating?”
    “I have no idea.” Felicity frowned as if she hadn’t quite thought that part through.
    It struck me that murder investigations could take years. My next thought was worse. What if after five or more years, they determined Warren had something to do with the murder? Felicity would already be married and possibly even have children.
    Something had to be done about that.
    “You don’t want to wait too long to announce your engagement, do you?” Mom had that hopeful look in her eyes.
    Felicity looked at Warren. “No, not really.”
    “If I had it my way, I would have screamed it from the rooftops on Friday.” Warren raised their joined hands and kissed her knuckles. “But seriously, the man had a family. How can we put on an appropriate party when he is lying in the morgue?”
    “I suppose that’s true.” Mom sat back and did not hide her disappointment. “I’ll have to ask my friend Doris what the proper waiting period is for something like this.”
    “Yes, do. Doris knows more than Miss Manners sometimes.” Felicity’s gaze brightened. “In the meantime, we could plan the party, couldn’t we?”
    “I don’t see why not,” Warren said. “Pepper, what do you think? Would you consider planning the event?”
    “Yes, Pepper, please?”
    “Okay,” I agreed. After all, Warren had given me the idea to start my own business. The least I could do was plan my sister’s engagement party. In fact, that might make a great package