Queen Tarts and a Christmas Nightmare Read online

  QUEEN TARTS AND A CHRISTMAS NIGHTMARE

  A Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery

  By

  Amber Crewes

  Published by Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing in 2019

  All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  CONTENTS

  About Queen Tarts and a Christmas Nightmare

  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  14

  15

  16

  17

  18

  19

  20

  21

  22

  Thank You!

  About Jingle Bells and Deadly Smells

  ALSO BY AMBER CREWES

  Newsletter Signup

  About Queen Tarts and a Christmas Nightmare

  Released: December, 2019

  Series: Book 17 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series

  Standalone: Yes

  Cliff-hanger: No

  Two murdered business associates. One family under the scrutiny of a conservative town. A bride-to-be in need of some comfort and joy.

  Meghan is ready to celebrate the holiday season in style with the man of her dreams by her side. All that changes when she receives a text message. It’s from her mum who discloses that her father is very sick. She needs to get back to Texas... fast.

  She has mixed feelings about going home as she's not been for several years. Her trip to Texas is greeted by:

  - Two murders

  - Characters from her past she'd rather forget

  - Family members disappointed in her recent choices

  As the very fabric of her family's existence is torn apart by accusations surrounding the murders of close friends, Meghan longs for the peace and tranquility of her adopted hometown of Sandy Bay. She is an emotional wreck and is confronted with betrayals, accusations, counter-accusations, disappointments, homesickness, sad revelations, jealous friends, and a murder investigation. Make that two murder investigations!

  Some people wish Christmas could be every day. Meghan just wants this Christmas nightmare to end. Will she help to find the killer and restore the essence of this most wonderful time of the year?

  THANK YOU FOR GETTING THIS BOOK IN THE SANDY BAY COZY MYSTERY SERIES. WHY DON’T YOU SIGN UP FOR UPDATES AND GET THE PREQUEL STORY SENT TO YOU FOR FREE

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  1

  I t was a chilly winter morning in Sandy Bay, a small town on the Pacific Coast. The holidays were just around the corner, and the town was abuzz with merriment as lights were being strung, parties were being held, and the snow began to regularly pour from the sky.

  Meghan Truman was elated to be home in Sandy Bay; she had just returned from an impromptu trip to visit her fiancé’s parents, and after being cooped up at their home for nearly three weeks, she was ready to be back in her normal routine. Jack, her darling fiancé, had whisked her away practically the moment after he had asked her to marry him; he begged for her to run away to Eagan, his hometown, to spend the Thanksgiving holiday with his family. Filled with the excitement of the engagement, she had obliged, but now, as she walked downstairs to Truly Sweet, the bakery she owned and managed, she was happier than ever to be back in her element.

  She opened the door, and Pamela, her sweet teenage employee, rushed at her. “Meghan! You are back! Finally!”

  Meghan hugged her. “It’s so good to see you.”

  “I would say it’s good to see you too, but the only thing I want to see is the rock!”

  Pamela pawed at Meghan’s left hand. “It’s HUGE!”

  “Jack did well,” Trudy, her other employee, complimented as she peered at Meghan’s ring finger. “That boy has taste.”

  “It is exactly what I always dreamed of,” Meghan gushed, extending her left hand in the air so they could better admire the ring. “I had no idea he was going to propose! We had been bickering, as you remember, but then, before I knew it, he was down on one knee.”

  “I can’t believe he didn’t tell me he was going to do it,” Pamela pouted, her bangs in her face. “He proposed, and then he kidnapped you to Eagan. How unfair! We wanted to celebrate with you.”

  “I know,” she shrugged. “I didn’t expect any of that to happen. Thank you both for holding down the fort here at the bakery. I’m sure you were busy with the Thanksgiving rush. I was just in such shock when he asked me to marry him, and I said yes to going home to celebrate with his parents.”

  “You mean, your future in-laws,” Trudy winked, her eyes sparkling. “They will be your family sooner than later, Meghan. You had better get used to running off to Eagan at a moment’s notice.”

  Meghan laughed. “Oh, come on,” she said as she tossed her dark wavy hair behind her shoulders. “I’m twenty-nine years old, not a child, and Jack is into his thirties. The spur-of-the-moment trip was just a chance to celebrate with his family, nothing more. Not a regular thing.”

  Trudy chuckled. “That’s what they all say,” she informed Meghan. “It’s hard for a grown man to refuse his mama when she asks to see him, just you wait.”

  “Oh, don’t spoil this, Trudy,” Pamela chastised. “Meghan, we are both happy for you, and we were happy to help while you were gone. It sounds like you had a good time.”

  She nodded. “His parents were very sweet,” she told them. “His mother gave me a bracelet from Jack’s grandmother; she said she wanted to keep it in the family.”

  “More jewelry?” Pamela screeched as her eyes bugged out of her head. “Let’s see it!”

  Meghan pulled up the sleeve of her navy blue sweater. “Oh,” Pamela sighed. “It’s... pretty?”

  Meghan giggled. “I don’t like it either,” she admitted. “It’s too chunky for me, and I’m not really a fan of gold. I prefer rose gold or silver. I have to pretend to like it though, so keep it between us. This is our secret.”

  “Just between us,” Pamela agreed as Meghan rolled her sleeve down.

  They all heard the familiar chiming of the little silver bells attached to the front door of the bakery. “A customer already?” Trudy wondered aloud. “It’s a bit early, isn’t it?”

  “Where is my gorgeous fiancé?”

  Meghan grinned as she heard Jack’s voice in the dining room. “Back in the kitchen, babe.”

  Jack entered the room, and Pamela ran to him, throwing her arms around his middle. “You proposed!” she cried with joy. “You proposed to our Meghan at last! Congratulations, Jack. I am so happy for you. Can I be the flower girl?”

  Trudy raised an eyebrow. “You are too old to be a flower girl,” she admonished. “You would have to be a bridesmaid or a junior bridesmaid, and that is still only if Meghan asks you. Hinting is rude, so stop it at once.”

  Jack laughed, his blue eyes dancing as he patted Pamela on the shoulder. “She is just excited,” he told the older woman. “And she should be. I know I am. I am marrying the most beautiful girl in the world.”

  Meghan stuck out her tongue. “Oh yeah? You’re marrying some beautiful girl? Who is she?”


  He dashed across the kitchen and picked her up, spinning her around and planting a kiss on her lips. “You! It’s you, my dear. We are getting married, and I am just so overjoyed. I had to visit the bakery and say hello. I missed you so much.”

  “We’ve only been apart an hour!”

  “It’s an hour too long.”

  “You two are adorable,” Pamela cooed as Meghan kissed Jack’s cheek.

  “Easy there,” Trudy ordered as she slipped her hands over Pamela’s eyes. “Keep the public displays of affection on the lowdown, kiddos. Pamela here is just a young one, and we don’t want to give her any wrong ideas...”

  Pamela pushed Trudy’s hands away as Jack placed Meghan back on the ground. “Love isn’t a wrong idea!” she declared, reaching for Meghan and Jack’s hands. “Love is the best thing in the world, isn’t it, guys?”

  Meghan turned to gaze into Jack’s eyes. She ran a hand through his icy blonde locks. “It is,” she agreed. “It is.”

  After bidding Jack farewell, she and the other women got to work in the bakery. They had a few large orders to fill before the end of the week, and Meghan worked through her lunch break to see the work through. Finally, when her shift was over, she left the building and headed down the block to see Jackie, her friend, and business partner. Jackie owned a salon in town, and together with Meghan, owned and managed a local event space at a barn just outside of town. Meghan hadn’t gotten to celebrate her engagement with Jackie yet, and she couldn’t wait to see her friend.

  “Are you ready to see it?” she teased as she walked into the salon and hugged Jackie.

  “Of course I am ready,” Jackie told her. “I can’t believe you got engaged, ran off out-of-town to Jack’s parents, and didn’t even send me a photo of your ring. What kind of friend are you?”

  “A good one who wanted to share the surprise in person,” Meghan said defensively as she slowly pulled her green glove off of her right hand. “Now, do you want to see it or not?”

  Jackie reached for Meghan’s left hand, tearing off her glove. “Wow! It’s gorgeous!”

  The light hit the ring perfectly as they both admired it. “The center stone is my favorite,” Meghan told her as they stared at the glittering jewel. “But the side stones are from his great-grandmother’s art deco ring from the twenties.”

  “It’s exactly what I want someday,” Jackie breathed enviously, sliding the ring off Meghan’s fingers and placing it onto her hand. “I think my hands were meant to hold fine jewelry, don’t you think?”

  Meghan felt her phone vibrate in her pocket, but she ignored it; it was probably just Jack trying to see her again. He had been calling and texting nonstop throughout the day, and while she missed him, she needed some time with her friend.

  “Sure,” Meghan agreed as she reached out her hand, indicating she wanted her ring back. “Sure thing, Jackie.”

  Jackie pouted as Meghan placed the ring back on her finger. “I just wish I could find someone to be engaged to,” she murmured. “Your ring is so pretty, and your wedding will be even prettier.”

  Meghan shook her head. “It isn’t about the ring or even the wedding day,” she told Jackie. “It’s about being with someone who brings out your best, challenges you, and makes you happy. It’s about choosing to be partners with someone, not just during the magic and glitter of an engagement or wedding day, but during the hardships of everyday life. Jack and I have had our difficulties, but I know he loves me, and I know that together, we can be our best. I am so excited to marry him.”

  Jackie cocked her head to the side. Her newly dyed magenta hair fell in her face, and she frustratedly pushed it out of the way. “I want what you two have,” she whispered, hanging her head. “No one has ever loved me the way Jack loves you. My ex-husband certainly didn’t think of marriage as you described it. If he did, we’d still be married. I just want someone to love me for me, someone to put a shiny ring on my hand, and someone to do both of those things soon. I’m close to just asking the homeless guy on the corner downtown to marry me. I’m sure he’d be a sweetie…”

  Meghan put a hand on Jackie’s shoulder. “Hey,” she said kindly. “Chin up, my friend. You are a smart, business-minded, funny person. Mr. Right is out there for you. I always thought I would meet the love of my life when I lived in Hollywood, and when I moved to Sandy Bay as a single woman, I had given up hope. The right guy always comes along when you least expect it, when you aren’t waiting on him. Just dive into your own life, Jackie. Make yourself the best you can be and do it for you. The man of your dreams will walk into your life when you least expect it, and he’ll come sooner than you think. I promise.”

  Jackie wiped a tear from her eye and nodded. “You’re right,” she agreed. “I’ve been spending so much time thinking about how alone I am, and I should concentrate on myself!”

  Meghan stifled the urge to roll her eyes. She adored Jackie, but Jackie didn’t neglect a single opportunity to concentrate on herself; she was a sweet but selfish person, but Meghan knew that did not need to be said.

  Her phone vibrated again. “Hey, do you mind if I check my phone?” she asked. “It’s been going off like crazy. It’s probably Jack. I don’t mean to be rude, but…”

  “Go ahead,” Jackie advised. “I don’t care.”

  She realized the calls and messages were not from Jack, but rather from her mother. She opened her messages and saw nearly twenty. “What’s going on?” she wondered aloud as she opened the most recent one.

  Meghan, I don’t know if you are getting your messages or not, but when you do, please call. Your dad is very sick. Please come home as soon as you can. It’s urgent.

  2

  B ack at her apartment, Meghan began frantically packing. She had called her mother immediately, and Mrs. Truman informed her that her father was very sick. “You need to come home at once, my sweetheart,” she had cried to Meghan. “I’ll book you a ticket on the late flight tonight. Just come home!”

  She had called Jack, and he rushed over as she began to pull her things together.

  “Do you have to go?” Jack asked as Meghan threw a pile of sweaters into her floral Vera Bradley duffle bag. “Babe, you said we would spend the holidays together this year, just the two of us.”

  Meghan frowned. “Honey,” she said through gritted teeth. “I don’t think you understand... my mom said he is sick, and that I need to come home. I don’t know what’s going to happen, but this doesn’t sound like great news.”

  He nodded. “I’m sorry,” he told her. “I wish I could help.”

  “Can you come?” she asked. “I have enough points on my credit card to book a flight for you. I can do it right now.”

  He shook his head. “I can’t,” he frowned as she moved on to her underwear drawer and began to dump socks into the bag. “Chief Nunan won’t let me take the time; she says if your dad…. well... I have enough bereavement time left for the year...just not personal time.”

  She folded her arms across her chest. “So if my dad dies, you can come, but otherwise, you’re tied up at work?”

  Jack came over and wrapped his arms around her. “You know I wish it were different,” he murmured into her ear. “I wish I could come. I am going to fly down this weekend if things are still bad; I can switch some shifts with another detective and make it. Is that okay?”

  “It will have to be okay,” she said coldly.

  “I love you,” he whispered as he kissed her forehead. “I am so sorry this is happening. What can I do for you?”

  She jerked her chin at Fiesta and Siesta, her two twin dogs. “Can you watch the babies? I don’t have enough time to pull their carrier out of the attic, and I think they’ll just be underfoot if they come to my parents’ house in Texas with me…”

  “Of course,” he said without a pause. “And I’ll take you to the airport. Are you ready?”

  “Ready.”

  “Let’s go.”

  They walked downstairs, and Jack help
ed load Meghan’s bag into his squad car. She climbed in, and as she fastened her seatbelt, Jack turned on the sirens. “Are you allowed to do that?”

  He winked. “I’m a detective,” he told her. “I can do what I want with my car.”

  They raced toward the airport. Jack reached for Meghan’s hand, and he squeezed it. She pulled out her phone and checked her messages. “They haven’t returned my calls in an hour,” she fretted. “Why aren’t they returning my calls?”

  “I’m sure everything is okay,” he assured her. “They must be busy, I’m sure. Or perhaps their phones died.”

  Meghan wriggled anxiously in her seat. “Distract me?” she asked, her dark eyes wide. “Can we talk about something happy?”

  He nodded. “Let’s talk about…. our engagement,” Jack suggested. “What did your parents say when you told them? Were they as happy as my parents?”