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  Frost on the Bloom

  Sally Handley

  A Holly and Ivy Mystery

  Copyright © 2017 Sally Handley

  All rights reserved.

  DEDICATION

  Mary Ellen Handley

  Nina Augello

  Steve Miller

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  As with my first book, I’d like to thank my sister, Mary Ellen Handley, who is my faithful travel and gardening companion and who was with me the day I got the inspiration for this series.

  Secondly, I’d like to thank Nina Augello, my dear friend and life coach, who steadfastly reads, comments and keeps me going through the arduous process of writing. I especially appreciate her allowing me to use some of her colorful phrases as my own in this book.

  Thirdly, special thanks to Steve Miller, who dutifully proofread my manuscript in between flights to Detroit and Spain. Great to have him on my team.

  Again, I extend profound appreciation to Carol Monahan, graphic artist extraordinaire, who manages to translate my ideas into images better than I can imagine.

  I also owe a special debt of gratitude to my Cozy Mystery critique partners whose genuinely constructive critiques and suggestions have helped me in ways that cannot be measured:

  Judy Buch (www.judybuch.com/)

  Cindy Blackburn (cueballmysteries.com)

  Wayne Cameron, author of the Melvin Motorhead Series (available on Amazon)

  Diana Manley

  Finally, thanks to Sisters in Crime (Sistersincrime.org), both the national and my Upstate South Carolina Chapter (sincupstatesc.blogspot.com) and Malice Domestic (malicedomestic.org). I appreciate the many kindred souls these organizations have linked me with, both published and unpublished writers, who constantly amaze me with their generosity of spirit and willingness to share their knowledge and experience.

  1 Skyview Manor/Christmas Eve

  The gray clouds hung heavy and low in the sky. Suddenly, as if they could no longer bear the weight, they began to shed their load flake by flake. As the crystal flecks hit the windshield, Holly Donnelly exclaimed, “This is too perfect! It’s actually starting to snow. We’re going to have a white Christmas after all.”

  Holly put on her blinker and turned past the fierce lion sculptures framing the entrance of Skyview Manor, their ferocity tempered by the Christmas wreaths festooned with red ribbons around their necks.

  “Thank heaven it waited until we got here,” her sister, Ivy, replied, smiling as she surveyed the grounds. “If my flight had been delayed just an hour more we might have had trouble driving.”

  “I told you not to worry and that everything would work out.” Holly pulled up in front of the Tudor revival mansion’s massive oak front door.

  “Yes, but you always say that, even right before disaster strikes,” Ivy teased, unbuckling her seatbelt.

  “Well, I just don’t see any point worrying before I have to.” Holly popped the trunk button, opened her door and got out of Pearl, her Cadillac CTS, affectionately named for its color. She stood for a moment looking up at the grand façade of the manor house.

  Ivy followed her gaze, pulling her coat tightly around her. “I just love this place. Spending Christmas here this year was the best idea you ever had.”

  Holly sighed, her breath visible in the cold air. “Well, with Nick in Boston and Dave… you know, I thought we both would be a little mopey if we just stayed home. We always talked about staying here. The only downside is Lucky has to spend Christmas with the neighbors, but she adores them. When we get back you’ll just have to bake her those dog biscuits she loves and all will be forgiven.”

  “I’ll make a double batch,” Ivy said, turning and embracing her sister in a bear hug.

  After a moment, Holly pulled back. “C’mon. Let’s get you inside with the luggage. This snow is really starting to come down. I’ll park the car in the lot while you check in.”

  “Oh, this is going to be great,” Ivy said, helping Holly get their bags out of the trunk. “I can’t wait to see the decorations.”

  *******************

  Holly arrived at the check-in desk just as the desk clerk was handing Ivy the keys to their room. “Look. Real keys. Not plastic cards.” Ivy giggled.

  The clerk smiled and said, “We’ll have your things brought up to your room shortly. Our Christmas Eve dinner begins in exactly one hour.”

  “Great! I’m starved,” Ivy said zipping her handbag shut.

  Holly rolled her eyes and shook her head. “When are you not hungry?”

  Ivy shrugged and laughed. “Let’s go see our room.”

  “Ms. Donnelly?”

  Holly turned to face a slim, rather tall, young woman with ashy brown hair who had come up behind her. “Becky? What are you doing here?”

  “I’m here with my grandmother. She arranged for our family and some friends of hers to spend Christmas here. How about you?”

  “I’m here with my sister.” Holly turned and put her hand on Ivy’s arm. “This is Becky Powell. She was in my English Composition class this past semester--one of only two A’s in the class. Becky, this is my sister, Ivy.”

  Ivy extended her hand. “An ‘A’ from Holly? Congratulations! I know that’s not easy to achieve.”

  Becky beamed as she shook Ivy’s hand.

  “Becky! Becky, where are you?” A shrill voice filled the entrance hall. The smile left Becky’s face as she looked across the room to where an elderly woman was seated in a wheelchair beside a blazing fireplace. She quickly released Ivy’s hand and said, “That’s Grandmother. I’ve got to go. It was very nice to meet you.”

  As she rushed off, Holly called after her, “Maybe we can find time for a chat.”

  Without stopping, Becky glanced back over her shoulder, nodding, but slightly shrugging her shoulders at the same time. The sisters watched as the grandmother’s stern face turned into a grimace when she spotted Becky coming towards her.

  “Where have you been?” The old woman banged a clenched fist on the side of her chair.

  Becky lowered her head and spoke so quietly Holly and Ivy couldn’t hear her reply. The grandmother also lowered her voice, but continued addressing Becky, her finger punctuating the air as she spoke. Becky remained standing in front of the wheel chair, looking down at the floor. The old woman concluded her tirade, raising her chin with the regal air of a grand dame. Becky moved to the back of the wheelchair, clasped the handles and wheeled her grandmother through an enormous stone archway out of sight.

  “That poor girl,” Ivy said, lacing her arm through Holly’s.

  “She was such a delight to have in class, a really good writer. I’m sorry to see her treated that way,” Holly said frowning.

  “C’mon. We need to get up to our room and dress for dinner. I’m…”

  “I know. You’re starved.”

  2 A ROOM WITH A VIEW

  “Oh, Holly!” Ivy’s eyes widened as she stood in the doorway looking into their room. A king-size, four-poster bed covered in a white comforter with gold trim faced an eight-foot tall mahogany armoire. Plush pillows sat on a gray upholstered chaise facing the six diamond-patterned casement windows that looked out on the grounds.

  “Going in or are do you plan to just stand outside and admire the room?” Holly put her hand on Ivy’s back and gently prodded her forward.

  Once in the room Ivy flew over to the windows. After a moment she sank onto the cushioned window seat and turned to Holly. “The only reason I know I haven’t died and gone to heaven is Dave’s not here.”

  “If I could have arranged that, I would have.” Holly sat down beside Ivy on the window seat.

  “I know.” Ivy unbuttoned her coat and turned, looking out at the falling snow.
r />   “You seem to be adjusting to life without Dave.”

  “Oh, I have my days, but, yes, I guess I’m adjusting,” Ivy replied frowning. The frown quickly turned to a smile. “But now I want to know how you’re adjusting to life with Nick?” she giggled, giving Holly a gentle punch on the shoulder.

  Holly stood up, taking off her coat. “I’m adjusting.”

  “C’mon. I want details. Dish!”

  The image of a bare-chested Nick Manelli standing in her bedroom doorway that morning popped into Holly’s mind. She remembered how his muscle-toned skin glistened after his shower.

  “Judging by that faraway look in your eyes, I’d guess everything is just dreamy.”

  “Stop it.” Holly stood up and walked towards the armoire, hesitated, then turned to face her sister. “Okay. You were right. He’s great. He’s attentive and caring, and I feel like I’m living a fantasy. Happy now?”

  “Yes, yes, yes. How you fought me when I said he was right for you! I just have one more question.”

  “What?”

  “How is he as a lover?”

  Holly felt a slight shiver remembering the feel of Nick’s lips on her neck the night before and his arm around her waist when he kept her from getting out of bed this morning. “He’s okay,” she replied, not looking Ivy in the eye.

  “Just okay? I’ve never seen you more mellow, so I suspect he’s more than just okay.”

  Holly dropped her coat, picked up a satin bolster pillow from the chaise and threw at it Ivy. A knock on the door prevented Ivy from returning the volley. Holly opened the door to a baby-faced young man with curly, brown hair clad in a bell hop uniform.

  “Where would you like me to put your things?” he asked with a cheerful smile.

  “Come in,” she said. “You can leave the bags over here.” Holly pointed to a spot beside the armoire.

  The bell hop wheeled the luggage trolley to the spot Holly indicated. As he unloaded their bags, he said, “You ladies are very fortunate. The snow is starting to come down really heavy. Now that the sun set, the temperatures are dropping and roads are icing up.”

  “We are lucky,” Ivy said as the bell hop finished and headed back to the door. She opened her handbag and located her wallet. “Thank you for bringing the bags up so quickly,” she said, handing him a tip.

  “My pleasure. Thank you,” he replied looking from Holly to Ivy. “Are you twins?”

  Holly and Ivy laughed and exchanged a knowing look. “Just sisters,” Holly replied.

  “We’ve been asked that question for more than fifty years now,” Ivy said.

  “No way you’re fifty years old,” he said shaking his head.

  “You already got your tip, young man.” Holly made a shooing motion towards the door.

  The bell hop laughed, stepping into the hallway. “Merry Christmas!”

  “Merry Christmas,” the sisters replied in unison.

  As the door closed, Ivy looked at her watch and opened her small overnight bag. “We better hurry. Dinner starts in just fifteen minutes.” As she entered the bathroom with her toiletry bag, she looked back over her shoulder. “You can finish telling me about Nick’s…uh…bedside manner after dinner.”

  She managed to close the door before the pillow Holly aimed at her reached its target.

  3 A CHANCE ENCOUNTER

  “Ready?” Holly asked putting her hand on the doorknob.

  “Yes,” Ivy replied as she opened her black beaded clutch. “Wait a minute. I just need to get some tissues.” She stepped back into the bathroom.

  “I’ll go out and get the elevator.” Holding the door so it wouldn’t slam, Holly backed out into the hall. Before she could turn around, someone brushed past her knocking her evening bag off her shoulder. “Excuse me,” she said as she turned and saw a blond, young man barely glance over his shoulder at her as he continued toward the elevator.

  “Nice,” Holly said under her breath as she pulled the shoulder strap of her bag back in place and headed down the hall in the same direction. She walked slowly, hoping the elevator would arrive quickly so the man could board and she would avoid another direct encounter with him. She watched as he pressed the down button, then looked at himself in a mirror hanging to the left of the elevator door. He smoothed his thick, impeccably styled hair, stretched his neck and straightened his red, silk tie. Well-groomed, well-dressed and handsome in a Leonardo DiCaprio kind of way. She’d give him that.

  Holly heard a door open and turned expecting to see Ivy. Instead, a young woman in a divine little black dress was stepping out of a room across from theirs. She was tall, at least six feet in her black patent leather stilettos, and her thick brunette hair piled atop her head.

  Holly smiled, but the young woman was focused on the man standing at the elevator. She glided past Holly as if she were invisible. Holly decided she didn’t want to share the same airspace with this pair and stopped about fifteen feet from the elevator, feigning interest in a series of still-life paintings hanging on the wall.

  The young man stepped back from the mirror, looked at the brunette and smirked. “Are you ready for this?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be,” she replied, taking her turn in the mirror, leaning in close to examine her eye make-up. “Remember. She can’t live forever.”

  Holly looked back down the hall as she heard a door open and saw Ivy exiting their room. She glanced back at the couple. Where is that elevator?

  “Sorry, I took so long,” Ivy said. “I dropped my toiletry bag, and it took me a while to pick everything up,” She continued toward the elevator before Holly could stop her. “Merry Christmas,” she said as she approached the couple. Both turned their backs to her and the man looked up at the floor indicator over the door, just as it opened. The pair quickly boarded.

  “Could you hold the door a second?” Ivy asked, looking back at Holly who was still standing midway between their room and the elevator. “C’mon, Holly.”

  Ivy turned back just in time to catch a final glimpse of the handsome couple leaning on the back wall of the elevator, neither making any attempt to press the hold button as the elevator door closed. She turned to Holly, eyes wide, her mouth slightly open. “They didn’t even try to hold the door. Do you believe that?”

  “You don’t know the half of it,” Holly replied.

  .

  .

  4 THE POWELLS, ET AL.

  Swaying to the sound of Winter Wonderland playing in the background, Holly and Ivy arrived at the dining room entrance. Ahead of them at the maître’d podium two men were waiting to be seated. Stopping just a few feet behind them, Ivy smiled at Holly, and Holly knew exactly what her sister was thinking. Mutt and Jeff. The taller of the two men was over six feet, jowly and bald. The shorter was around 5’4” with thinning, brown hair that glistened from some hair styling product. Their ample girth was their only physical similarity. The larger man weighed at least 300 pounds while the smaller of the two appeared more pudgy than obese.

  “Bert, have you heard from Fred Thomas?” The short man fidgeted as he spoke. “He promised me he’d sign the contract this week.”

  The big man sighed loudly. “No, Kevin. I didn’t.”

  “Well, you will. I know you will. He’s been one of our best clients for years. He promised me.”

  The big man tilted his head slightly glaring down at the shorter one.

  “Yeah, right.” Turning, he appeared ready to say something, but stopped when he noticed Holly and Ivy behind them.

  “Good evening, ladies,” he said, his glare transforming into a lascivious smile.

  “Good evening.” Holly forced a smile and Ivy took a step backward.

  “I’m Bert Powell the second,” he said, as if that information carried as much weight as he did.

  Before Holly or Ivy could reply, the maître’d returned to the podium. “So sorry to keep you waiting, Mr. Powell.”

  Bert Powell swiveled his large frame to face him and snapped, “Don’t le
t it happen again.” The maitre’d tilted his head just a tad, his pleasant expression unchanged. The large man turned back to Holly and Ivy and said, “Hope to see you again, ladies. Perhaps for a drink at the bar later?”

  Holly met his gaze, but did not reply. Ivy looked down at her shoes. The maître’d made brief eye contact with Holly, then extended his arm towards the dining room and said, “If you’ll follow me this way, gentlemen.” Before Bert Powell moved he winked at Holly, the wink transforming into a leer that seemed to linger in the air.

  “Yuck,” Ivy said softly in Holly’s ear as they watched the two men proceed to a long table set in the center of the massive dining room.

  “Becky’s last name is Powell. They must be relatives of hers,” Holly said shaking her head.

  “Oh, now I’m doubly sorry for her.”

  “Hard to believe such a sweet girl could be related to them,” Holly remarked as the maitre’d returned.

  “You must be the Donnellys,” he said smiling. “I’m Demetrius and I’ll be here to serve you during your stay with us.” He repeated his gracious arm gesture, again tilting his head towards the dining room. “This way please. We have a cozy table for you by the window facing the tree and the fireplace. I trust it will meet with your approval. ”

  “That sounds lovely,” Ivy gushed.

  “Follow me.”

  A festive buzz of chatter and laughter greeted the sisters as they entered the dining room. All of the tables faced the twenty-foot tall Christmas tree standing beside the enormous fireplace at the front of the room. Only a few tables were still empty. The sisters had to stop as two little girls wearing identical red velvet dresses with starched white collars ran in front of them.

  “Reminds me of us,” Ivy said squeezing Holly’s hand.

  Holly smiled and nodded. As they continued across the dining room, she glanced to her left where a long table for ten occupied the center of the room. Bert Powell and Kevin, his shorter companion, were seated opposite one another at the far end on either side of Becky’s grandmother who appeared to be holding court from the head of the table.