A Frightening Fangs-giving

shakes her head my way. “I hate to admit it, but this woman has really put us on the get-rich-quick express. Who knew there was such a desperate need for wonky quilts in this world? I’ve already contacted the landlord who’s leasing Suds and Illuminations out. It’s the same landlord that Macy has.” She looks to Georgie. “And just FYI, I’m going to use my sharp business acumen and land us a beaut of a lease deal. I didn’t make top realtor in all of Cider Cove, three years in a row, for nothing. This girl knows how to sell.”
My ear veers toward her in the event I misunderstood her. “You’re going into business with Georgie?”
“You mean Georgie is going into business with me.” She steps toward the ballroom. “If you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to replenish my merchandise. We can’t keep up with the inventory.” She tosses her hands in the air with glee as she takes off, and I’d swear I just saw dollar signs light up in her eyes.
I turn back toward the crowd in time to see Macy and Emmie heading this way.
My sister looks smart in a sleek red blazer and matching velvet pants. Add some horns and a pointy tail and she’d out herself as the she-devil she is.
Emmie, however, looks perfectly adorable with a red and black checkered shirt and red fuzzy scarf.
Macy makes a face at the wall of humanity lining up at Georgie’s booth.
“What’s with the quilt cult?” She all but snarls.
Emmie belts out a laugh and then loses the smile as quickly as it came. “And here I thought it was a donut cult. Explain yourself, Bizzy. A little warning would have been nice.”
“Ditto.” My sister nods. “Main Street is empty. There are fliers lining all of Cider Cove that says you’ve got free eats and cozy blankets to keep you warm by the sea. Way to steal the business of every establishment this side of Vermont. Not a person has set foot in my shop this morning. I just closed up for the day.”
“Yikes.” I grimace. “The quilt cult will be here until six. Why don’t you grab some inventory and I’ll have Jordy set you up with a table?”
“Oh hey!” Her eyes round out. “That would be a great idea if I truly cared. I’d much rather have the day off.”
Emmie grunts, “You and me both.”
I spot a familiar brunette making her way from table to table while poking and prodding at the wares set before her. Marigold has her dark hair in a French twist, and she’s wearing high-heeled boots with a plaid wool poncho that looks so expensive I feel as if I owe her money just for ogling it.
“I see someone I want to talk to. I’ll be right back.” I take a step away then backtrack. “Emmie, what are your plans for Thanksgiving this year?”
She glances to the ceiling. “After frying up enough donuts to feed all of Cider Cove for the parade, then cooking Thanksgiving dinner for the entire inn, my plans are to pass out in the kitchen and hopefully wake up at some point in December.”
“Sorry.” I wrinkle my nose. “But good to know. Let’s celebrate together at the café if I can get Jasper to agree. Hey, maybe I can invite his brothers and sister?”
Macy’s lids drop a notch. She does not look amused. “How about your sister? Ever think to ask her?”
“I asked you a few days ago. You said you were dining and ditching before you shopped until you dropped.”
“Sometimes it’s nice to be asked twice,” Macy says a touch too loud just as Marigold appears next to me with a laugh in her mouth.
“I hope I’m not interrupting,” she says as she gives a slight wave. “I just wanted to pop in and show off my new wonky quilt.” She holds up a lavender and sage quilt in her hand, and I’m suddenly hoping there’s another one just like it floating around out there. It’s that adorable.
Emmie sighs at the sight. “That’s gorgeous. I’d trade you for a donut,” she says, holding out the platter in her hand with its quickly diminishing stash of powdered wonders on it.
Marigold laughs. “No can do. This baby is mine. But if you don’t mind, I’m going to help myself to a donut anyhow.” She pops one into her mouth and moans. “They’re just so addictive.” Her shoulders freeze up by her ears. “I keep forgetting this is the last thing Ember had that day.” She squeezes her eyes shut tight. “But I won’t lie”—she snaps up another donut off the platter—“I don’t think even that can stop me from eating them.” If anything, it makes me want to double down.
I make a face at the sorrowful thought.
“How are you doing?” I shrug as if I didn’t have a magnifying glass over her mind.
She shakes her head as she swallows down another bite. “I woke up this morning and my makeup bag was dumped all over the bathroom counter. I never leave it that way. I always make sure to have everything back in place and the bag zipped tight once I’m through with it. I think I was visited by Ember again last night.”
Emmie pulls her platter back a notch. “As in her ghost?”
Marigold is quick to nod. “It’s been happening ever since she passed. She swore she would come back if anything happened to her, and now she has. And I have a feeling she’s going to make us all pay for her death until the killer is caught.”
Macy looks my way with wild eyes. “You get right on that, Bizzy Baker.”
“Wilder.” Emmie nods. “Don’t forget she’s just earned her MRS degree.”
“Very funny,” I say without cracking a smile.
Macy warms herself with her hands. “Strange things have been happening to me all week, too. I had that horrible message scrawled on my window in lipstick. The items in my shop have been knocked over and rearranged. And last night,