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  “Eva's Delicious Mystery: A Donut Hole Spin-Off”

  Mimosa Cream

  An Oceanside Cozy Mystery - Book 16

  Susan Gillard

  Copyright 2017 by Guardian Publishing Group

  All rights reserved.

  No part of this publication or the information in it may be quoted from or reproduced in any form by means such as printing, scanning, photocopying or otherwise without prior written permission of the copyright holder.

  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

  Printed in the United States of America

  Contents

  Mimosa Cream

  1. Bachelorette Breakfast

  2. The Hovel

  3. The Rehearsal Dinner

  4. Wedding Preparations

  5. The Ceremony

  6. Finding Talia

  7. The Detectives

  8. Keeping Secrets from the Bride

  9. The Wine Cellar

  10. The Dance Floor

  11. Dinner Discussion

  12. The Crisis

  13. The Real Vase

  14. The Caterer

  15. Sisters

  16. Vases

  17. The Murder Weapon

  18. The Bouquet

  About the Author

  Also by Susan Gillard

  Mimosa Cream

  Bachelorette Breakfast

  "I'm glad you were able to tear yourself away from your new life on a constant tropical vacation," Mona giggled. "And it's not just because of these wonderful donuts."

  Heather had to laugh. She knew her friend was teasing her, but her new life was no vacation. Heather and her family had moved to Key West, Florida, but between running her new Donut Delights location and solving murder cases as a private investigator, she rarely had time to visit the beach.

  “You know I wouldn’t miss your wedding for anything in the world,” Heather assured her.

  "Even if you did push up the date," Amy piped up. She was Heather's bestie and a co-Maid of Honor in the wedding. She was also a huge fan of the new flavor of donuts, and the only reason why she hadn't finished off the box of the sweet snacks was that she figured that would have been a slight to the bride.

  "I'm sorry about moving things up," Mona said. "I know that must have caused some chaos. But it's because of Hillside Hovel. MIne will be the first wedding to be set there, and it's going to be so beautiful."

  “I know it will be,” Heather said.

  “Especially because you picked out bridesmaid dresses that make us look human,” Amy said. “Some of those hideous early ones we tried on made us look like fabric monsters.”

  "Don't remind me of that," Mona said wincing. "I know it seems like ages ago and it was before you moved, but those first dresses make me think of murder. How my wedding plans keep leading to investigations for you. I was starting to think that Col and I were cursed and we weren't meant to get married. But now everything just seems so right. We're getting married at Hillside Hovel!"

  Heather could understand the enthusiasm. Hillside Hovel was actually a huge mansion with an air of mystery to it. It had been closed to the public as long as anyone of them had lived there, but the new owners had just recently opened it for tours. Mona's wedding was going to be the first big event to be set there. She assured them it was elegant and romantic, as well as an exciting opportunity.

  It was strange how some things in Hillside, Texas had remained exactly the same and yet others had changed. Heather had checked on her first donut shop when she arrived, and it was still going strong, and the staff was still happy to see her. Her old house looked exactly the same as it had before, but it was strange to think that someone else was renting it now. Hillside Hovel opening up was a big source of discussion in town and residents were gossiping about it. One change that Heather was glad to see what that Mona was looking even happier than usual. She was always beautiful but now looked positively radiant with joy.

  "Col and I are so excited to start our married life together, and I just know we're going to have the perfect wedding," said Mona. "I don't know how this could be any better."

  “Have another donut,” Amy suggested.

  “That might be it,” Mona agreed. “What are these ones called?”

  "These are called Mimosa Cream Donuts," Heather said. "As you can probably tell, it's meant to resemble the drink.”

  “It does taste light like champagne,” Mona said.

  “The cake base is champagne flavored with touches of orange zest," Heather explained. "It has a cream filling that sweetens it and by whipping it allowed me to add some bubbles to the texture. Then the frosting is orange-flavored, but I made sure it wasn't overpowering."

  “It’s perfect,” Mona said. “And I can’t wait to try all the other donuts.”

  “I also have some Pink Moscato and Cherry Champagne donuts for the festivities,” Heather said. “And I have the surprise flavor to compliment the wedding cake.”

  “I can’t wait,” said Mona. “But since I have to, I think I’ll just have another Mimosa Cream to eat.”

  “I’ll second that idea,” Amy said, handing out the donuts.

  “These really are the perfect addition to our bachelorette breakfast,” Mona said.

  “I’m sorry it is a breakfast,” Heather said. “And not that we’re going out for a night of fun and drinks, but with everything pushed up and the rehearsal dinner being tonight, I didn’t think that was the best idea.”

  "I like this much better," Mona assured her. "Having breakfast on a veranda is lovely, and I get to enjoy my favorite teas from my tea shop and your wonderful donuts. Also, when the rest of my bridesmaids arrive, we'll be able to hear each other. I can talk with the women I love the most."

  As if on cue, Mona’s two other bridesmaids joined the group. Her cousins Meredith and Monica both had dark curly hair and were out of breath.

  “I’m sorry we’re late,” Meredith said. “But we came as quickly as we could.”

  “Our plane landed a little behind schedule,” Monica said.

  “Of course, it didn’t help that somebody had six bags of luggage,” Meredith said, giving her sister a pointed look.

  “I had to bring supplies for the wedding as well as my own stuff,” Monica said.

  “But because we had seven bags between us, we needed to stop at the hotel and drop them off,” Meredith said. “We didn’t think we should have that much baggage at breakfast.”

  “I’m just glad you’re here,” Mona said. “I know the change in my wedding plans was hectic, but everyone still made it to help my dream wedding come true.”

  The cousins hugged each other and then joined the others eating the breakfast spread. Heather was happy that they both loved the donuts as much as Mona did. After everyone was full, Mona recapped what the day had in store for them.

  “We have this lovely breakfast together and tonight is the rehearsal dinner at Hillside Hovel. That’s at five,” Mona said. “And between that time. Well, I’m not sure what we’ll do.”

  “You don’t think this breakfast buffet is all we had planned for your wedding?” Amy asked.

  “There’s more?” Mona asked.

  “Of course,” Amy said. “Even if we did have to figure out a plan quick because of the changes.”

  "I th
ink you'll really like it," Heather said. "We're going to a paint-your-own-pottery place. We're all going to decorate teacups to commemorate your special day. We know how important the tea shop is to you and Col, and these will be some more cups for you to enjoy it from. When we're finished, they'll all have hand-painted love quotes or words of marital advice or silly pictures on them."

  “I’ve been getting into the art scene at Key West,” Amy said. “My silly picture is going to be the best.”

  “This is such a sweet idea,” Mona said. “It will be something fun for us to do today and it will give me another wedding gift I will always treasure.”

  “And there will be wine at the event too,” Amy said. “And there might be donuts if I don’t eat all these first.”

  All the women were excited about the day's plans. They enjoyed their breakfast, pampering Mona whenever they could.

  However, before they left to go paint teacups, Monica and Meredith found a moment to talk to Heather privately.

  “You’re Mona’s friend who keeps solving all those murders, right?” Meredith asked.

  "I guess that's one way to describe me," Heather said. It was an accurate description. She had solved dozens of cases before.

  “I’m not sure quite how to ask this,” Meredith started.

  Monica took over for her. “Are you some sort of murder mystery magnet?”

  “What?” asked Heather.

  “Based on what Mona said it seems like sometimes murders like to follow you around," Monica said.

  “And we just want to make sure that this isn’t going to happen here,” Meredith said.

  “This is so important to Mona,” Monica said. “And we want it to be perfect.”

  “I want it to be perfect too,” Heather said.

  “Then you’ll make sure that it doesn’t happen here?” Meredith asked.

  “It would be just a terrible rehearsal dinner if something like that happened,” Monica agreed. “Who would be able to eat?”

  Heather sighed. If she could control when and where murders occurred, she would choose for them never to happen.

  However, what she said to them was, "I'm not going to let anything ruin Mona's wedding for her. I promise."

  The Hovel

  Heather couldn’t deny that Monica and Meredith’s words had shaken her. At the paint party, she started to see danger everywhere and worried about ceramic shards or the kiln oven being used as murder weapons. Luckily, her fears had been unfounded.

  Everyone was remained safe, and the painting had been great fun. Mona would pick up the finished teacups after she returned from her honeymoon, and she was eagerly looking forward to displaying the half dozen cups in her home.

  Mona had painted one teacup with pink roses like she would be using in her wedding bouquet and on the table centerpieces. Amy's art skills came through as she painted a cake topper on her teacup that looked reminiscent of both Col and Mona. Heather's art wasn't as impressive, and she wondered why she found it so much easier to decorate donuts than ceramics.

  Because her attempt at painting a wedding cake ended up looking more like a snowman, Heather opted to be clever instead of visually artistic. She wrote the “recipe for a happy marriage” on the teacup and included things like “equal parts listening and communicating” and a “cup of humor.”

  Monica painted an engagement ring and wedding ring on hers, joking about how she was able to paint them because they were just circles. Meredith wrote some famous love quotes on her teacup. The sixth cup was something that they all added to the design. They wrote the date of Mona's wedding in fancy lettering on the front and all signed their names on it.

  They were in good spirits as they approached Hillside Hovel for the rehearsal dinner.

  "If this is a hovel, then I guess my house would be considered a shoebox," Amy joked.

  “The story I had always heard was that an eccentric millionaire designed this mansion for his bride, but that he named it a hovel to deter curiosity seekers from trying to visit it,” Heather said. “Have you found out any more to the tale?”

  “Only bits and pieces,” Mona said. “It’s strange because they give tours of the house now, but still don’t say too much about it. However, a rich Mr. Gregory Greyander did design this house for his wife. It seems they lived here very happily for a long time. I hope that’s a good sign for my wedding.”

  They entered through the large wooden doors and into Hillside Hovel. Heather tried not to gasp at the grandeur that was inside. The mansion was old, but it had a classic beauty to it. Even with only the beginnings of the wedding decorations set up, it was stunning.

  Mona was just beginning to explain how the ceremony would take place in one room and how they would adjure to another room for the reception when they were intercepted by another guide.

  “Mona, please, you’re the bride. You just try and relax now. I’ll update everyone on the details.”

  “Of course,” Mona said and then introduced the woman. “Ladies, this is Talia Pinster. She’s the curator here and has been a real lifesaver when it came to setting up my wedding here.”

  Amy muttered about whether she was really a lifesaver or not. She doubted that Talia had actually saved any lives unlike Heather and herself who put killers behind bars so they couldn't commit any more evil deeds. Heather shushed her friend.

  Talia wore large green glasses and had big hair that was just barely contained in a bun. Her suit was becoming but was reminiscent of an older style that somehow seemed more fitting in the ancient house.

  “Let me give you the tour,” Talia said. “After all, that’s one of my main duties around here when I’m not helping with weddings.”

  “Do you give many tours?” Heather asked.

  “We’ve just begun with them,” Talia said. “Right now, they are only taking place on Saturday afternoons, but I hope to expand the hours.”

  “On the tour, will you tell us all about the man who built the house? And why it was kept closed for so long?” Amy asked.

  “People are always interested in those details,” Talia said. “Unfortunately, I’m not at liberty to reveal too many family secrets at the moment. I’m hoping to expand the information on the tours soon too.”

  “I bet maintaining the mystery is still good for business,” Heather mused. “People might hope that they find clues to Mr. Greyander’s life as they wander the house on your tours.”

  Talia smiled and began showing them the house and where the wedding would take place.

  "I'll go into more detail when the groomsmen arrive, and we have our rehearsal dinner," Talia said. "But for now, I'll show you the house. As you can see, everything is still in excellent condition."

  She showed them more of the foyer where guests would arrive, the area for the ceremony, and the spacious dining room.

  "Of course, the best part about this dining room for a wedding," Talia said. "Is that it's attached to the ballroom."

  She flung open the doors separating the spaces, and you could see how easily they would flow into one another. The ballroom had crystal chandeliers and a hardwood floor that the bridesmaids couldn't wait to tap their toes on.

  “I wouldn’t mind having a place like this,” Monica said, as they continued their tour.

  “I don’t know,” Meredith responded. “Can you imagine having to sweep all these floors?”

  Amy chuckled.

  Talia showed them the entrance to the wine cellar below and the upstairs rooms where many antique furniture pieces were still kept. She was concluding the tour by pointing out some artwork.

  “And as you can see, there are some lovely paintings here," Talia said. "This is of Mrs. Greyander when she first moved in and was set in this room. You can see how some of the décor has changed through the years, but how much has stayed the same. And that vase holding the flowers in the painting is a real vase that can be seen in the Hillside Hovel. In fact, right over there."

  "That's why my centerpieces are based on,"
Mona said. "I found vases that match Mrs. Greyander's, and they're going to sit on every table. They'll look just lovely with pink roses inside."

  Amy looked at the vase and noticing the coloring said, “It will give you your something blue to fit the bridal poem.”

  Mona beamed from ear to ear.

  Then, something happened to spoil the happy mood. An angry voice shouted at them, "What are you doing here?"

  The Rehearsal Dinner

  Heather turned to see who would dare be so harsh towards the bride. There was a woman with blonde hair the same shade as the painting on the wall. She was accompanied by an equally blonde man who looked to be her brother.

  “Miss Greyander, I’m giving a tour,” Talia said.

  “Greyander?” Amy asked, looking at the young woman and the painting. “She looks good for her age.”

  “These are the descendants and new heirs to the Hillside Hovel, Phil and Susan Greyander,” Talia explained.

  “You don’t have to tell everyone our business, do you?” Phil Greyander asked.

  "We've been through this before," Talia said. "The reason why the public is interested in this house is that they're interested in your family."

  “We have been through this before,” Phil said. “And I’ve told you that we don’t want to be on display.”

  “People care about the story,” Talia said.

  “Really?” Susan Greyander asked. “I thought they cared about seeing how much money was blown on this mansion.”

  "No, no," Talia said. "It's about wanting to know the details that were kept hidden."