Gretchen leaned back into the warmth of Matt’s arms and closed her eyes. She’d beat Nina’s tarot card reading, had changed her fate. Others had been ruined, had suffered despair and sorrow, and for that she was sorry.
But those she loved had survived.
At the moment, she was completely pain free.
Life, she decided, couldn’t be better.
Chapter 56
The lights went on to the thunder of applause. The cast took one bow, then another. Bonnie had pulled off her part without a hitch. Nina, after minor complaints, had stepped into Julie’s role and had done an amazing job. Jerome, having served ten days in jail, performed magic with the lights.
Mr. B. sat at the back of the room, clapping right along with the rest of them, his unlit pipe tucked between his teeth.
What a huge success the luncheon was. Enough money had rolled in to open the museum and keep it operational for several months. They would easily fulfill the terms of the contract.
One generous benefactor had pledged even more.
The six-foot Barbie looked stunning in the full-length pink gown April created for her. “No cheerleading outfit for Barbie,” April said with pride. “This is a formal affair.”
Daisy came in after the luncheon guests were gone. She wore her purple and red outfit, and her arms were filled with packages. Gretchen gave her a big one-armed hug, still favoring her healing shoulder.
“The big day is right around the corner,” Gretchen said. “Are you ready?”
“I bought my wedding dress,” she said, putting down several enormous shopping bags. “I’ll show it to you later.”
Gretchen glanced at the bags and was surprised they were from expensive stores. What was going on?
“I have a little money of my own,” Daisy said. “I don’t usually need it.”
“A little? Don’t need it?”
“Most of it’s in trust.”
“In trust?” Gretchen sounded like a parrot, repeating everything her friend said.
“I heard about Rachel and what she tried to do to you,” Daisy said. “I feel sorry for the way it ended up. I have some issues of my own, but I’m going to work on them.”
Gretchen smiled at her homeless friend. “I think you’re wonderful just the way you are.”
“I’m sorry the present I gave you caused so many problems.”
“Present? What?” What had Daisy given her? Love. Loyalty. Friendship. All of those things.
“The museum,” Daisy said.
“What about it?”
“I own the house. Well, not really. It will always be part of the family trust, but I get to decide what to do with it. Richard doesn’t want to get involved, so we can continue restoring it for a museum.”
Gretchen was trying to comprehend. Daisy was their museum benefactor?
Daisy winked. “It’s our secret,” she said.
“I don’t know what to say. I’m speechless.”
“Say you’ll accept the position of museum curator.”
Gretchen sat down at one of the luncheon tables. Fell down, was more like it. The chair saved her from hitting the floor. This couldn’t be true. Daisy didn’t have twenty dollars to her name.
“What about the repair business?” She stammered. “Mom can’t handle it alone.”
“She already found a new helper.” Daisy adjusted her red hat. “Me. It will be my first paid job. She said you would teach me. Well? What do you say?”
“Why don’t you want to run the museum?”
“Me? No. Can you see me meeting with those wealthy people who were here for the luncheon? I don’t think so. Besides, it’s haunted.”
Gretchen’s mind was fast at work. She’d bring in traveling doll collections and give presentations. The world of dolls was an endless parade of fashion and history. The traveling doll trunk was in the museum where it belonged. She’d made sure of that. What else would she discover in the storage boxes?
On the sidewalk outside, she saw Matt coming toward her. He hadn’t been ready to face a stage full of dolls. They had plenty of time later to overcome his phobia.
Tonight was the night. She was sure of it. The mating dance was about to end.
Then he stopped. Put his cell phone to his ear. Glanced at her. Apologetic eyes.
Gretchen sighed. She’d lost him again.
Nina traipsed past on her way to her Impala. Stopped. Held up a deck of cards between long tapered nails. “Come with me,” she said. “The cards don’t lie. You suffered pain, did you not? Come. You need a new reading. Where will the future take you next?”
Everything was back to normal.
Whatever that was.
THE END
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Deb Baker has lived in all the places she portrays in her books and knows many of the characters in her books. She now lives on a high ridge in Southeastern Wisconsin, with her husband and one aging cat.
If you enjoyed this book, please consider writing a short online review. Your opinion helps other readers discover new authors!
Visit Deb's Website
BOOKS BY DEB
Gertie Johnson Murder Mysteries
Murder Passes the Buck - When her neighbor is shot and killed, Gertie investigates his death, even though it’s been ruled an accident by Gertie’s son, the sheriff.
Murder Grins and Bears It - a game warden is murdered right under Little Donny’s tree stand. Little Donny disappears into the backwoods, forcing sixty-six-year-old Gertie to use her “unique” investigative techniques to find her favorite grandson.
Murder Talks Turkey - Gertie Johnson, is standing in line at the bank when it gets robbed. The robber doesn’t make it out alive, but the money is missing.
Murder Bites the Bullet – 7/2011, Gertie and the Trouble Busters get caught in the crosshairs of a long standing family feud.
Cooking Can Be Murder – 100 tasty recipes from Gertie’s kitchen
Gretchen Birch Murder Mysteries
Dolled Up For Murder – back in print 8/2011 - For Gretchen Birch, her mother Caroline, and her aunt Nina, doll restoration is a family affair. But they have never imagined a valuable doll could lead to murder.
Goodbye Dolly - Gretchen is at her first major doll show, praying she doesn’t botch any repair job. But glue-gun glitches turn out to be the least of her worries when a sleazy reporter is found dead with Gretchen’s craft knife stuck in his back.
Dolly Departed -Gretchen answers an invitation to a party at an unfamiliar dollhouse shop - and winds up in the thick of a murder mystery of miniature proportions.
Guise and Dolls -An anonymous donor...murder in a cemetery...a haunted house with hidden secrets. Someone's dream come true will soon prove more of a nightmare. Gretchen better solve the mystery, or it'll be her and her friends who are history.
Queen Bee Mysteries (as Hannah Reed)
Mind Your Own Beeswax - Story Fischer has a successful local market, her Queen Bee Honey business, and a new boyfriend. Then she finds the dead body of local woman with a checkered past right near her hive and things get sticky.
Plan Bee
Beeline to Trouble
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Deb Baker. All rights reserved.
Cover Art Design: Patricia Ryan
Table of Contents
What The Critics Are Saying
DOLLED UP FOR MURDER
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 1
1
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
GOODBYE DOLLY
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ELEVEN
TWELVE
THIRTEEN
FOURTEEN
FIFTEEN
SIXTEEN
SEVENTEEN
EIGHTEEN
NINETEEN
TWENTY
TWENTY-ONE
TWENTY-TWO
TWENTY-THREE
TWENTY-FOUR
TWENTY-FIVE
TWENTY-SIX
TWENTY-SEVEN
TWENTY-EIGHT
TWENTY-NINE
THIRTY
THIRTY-ONE
THIRTY-TWO
THIRTY-THREE
THIRTY-FOUR
THIRTY-FIVE
THIRTY-SIX
THIRTY-SEVEN
THIRTY-EIGHT
THIRTY-NINE
FORTY-ONE
FORTY-TWO
DOLLY DEPARTED
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
GUISE AND DOLLS
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
BOOKS BY DEB
Copyright