2 Yule Be the Death of Me (26 page)

“I hope you
don’t mind another pit stop.” Sheriff
Rigsbee
asked
them.

“What’s one
more tonight?” She shrugged.

“Someone at
Cayuga Memorial is asking to see you, Miss Finch.”

“Joshua?” She
hoped.

“He’s made a
remarkable recovery. They’re at a loss to explain it. They’re going to release
him tomorrow morning.”

Vivienne
looked up as the nearly full moon peeked from behind the clouds. “Sometimes,
you just don’t need to know why. You just accept it and say thanks.”

“Now that,
ladies, is what I believe to be a true miracle.” Zeke smiled. “And you can
quote me on that.

Tuesday, December 24th

Joshua poured
Vivienne a cup of eggnog. “I can’t believe Christmas is actually here.”

“It seems like
it was only Thanksgiving the other week.” Vivienne marveled. “Of course, it was
quite a roller coaster ride to get here.”

“Alive and
well.” Joshua raised his glass to her. “Thanks to you.”

Vivienne
clinked cups with him. “Well, I may have had a small part in saving the entire
town.”

“Which is why
I love you all the more.” Joshua gave her a kiss.

Tommy sat
curled up by the fireplace, he opened one eye and meowed to let everyone know
he was present and then went back to his sixth nap of the day.

“We’re not
under the mistletoe.” Vivienne pointed to the archway on the opposite end of
the living room.

“So let’s
change locations and fix this grievous lapse in holiday protocol.” He wrapped
his arm around her waist.

“Sounds like a
plan.”

Joshua walked
by the Christmas tree and pointed to the ornament of the little drummer boy.
“Is Connor really alive or is he some kind of powerful spell?”

“He’s as real
as any of us.” Vivienne nodded.

“That doesn’t
really answer my question.” Joshua reached out and lifted the drummer boy
ornament into hand. “Is it really that easy to bring someone back from the dead
with a spell?”

“Don’t go
thinking that bringing the dead back to life is common for witches.” Nana Mary
shook her right index finger at them both. “It’s one of the most dangerous spells
out there and there are strict coven laws about using it.”

“I understand,
Nana Mary.” Vivienne agreed. “It violates the flow of natural time.”

“There are
usually terrible consequences for even attempting it.” Nana Mary explained. “A
mother’s enduring love mixed with all that crazy portal energy. It was a one in
a million shot but for some reason it worked.”

“I still say
it was a Christmas miracle.” Vivienne argued.

“Given the
circumstances surrounding his unusual resurrection, the Elder Council saw to it
that a proper paperwork history was created to allow him to slip back into
society.” Nana Mary smiled.

“I never would
have guessed that Samantha Charles would volunteer to be a foster mother.”
Vivienne added. “Although I’m sure she’s doing a fantastic job.”

“So, how is he
doing?” Joshua asked Vivienne.

“He and
Samantha are doing well. He’s adjusting to his new life in New York, but the
amnesia is still a bit of challenge.” Vivienne sipped more of her eggnog.

“It’s probably
for the best that he not remember anything about what happened.” Joshua added.
“As we found out, the past can be something dangerous.”

“Samantha is
going to be bringing him here for the summer when the house is completed.”
Vivienne spoke up. “So he can enjoy Cayuga Lake and make some new friends.”

“You don’t
think having him here will draw Natalie back from the grave, do you?” Joshua
worried.

“She’s at
peace.” Nana Mary answered for them.

“Did I mention
that I ran into Tristan the other day when I stopped by the hospital to visit
Delores?” Vivienne spoke up. “He looks much better, just some residual bruises
and a broken arm. He told me Nathaniel is healing up quite nicely and is
expected to be released tomorrow morning.”

“Thank the
Goddess.” Nana Mary smiled.

“I can’t
believe that Nora is running so late.” Joshua looked at his watch.

“It’s
definitely not like mother.” Vivienne agreed.

“She’ll be
here.” Nana Mary smiled. “Now stop worrying and just relax and enjoy the
holiday.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a little flask. “Can I
Irish that eggnog up for either of you?”

“Nana Mary,”
Vivienne laughed. “Do you know something about why Mother is late?”

“So what if I
do?” She dumped some of the flask into Vivienne’s cup. “Just relax and enjoy
the holiday.”

“Good advice.”
Joshua lowered his cup toward the flask. “I’ll drink to that.”

“Good man.”
Nana Mary winked at him.

The front door
opened as Nora hurried inside with a large basket in her arms. A festive red
and green ribbon was tied on the top handle. She bumped the door closed with
her rear and smiled. “Merry Christmas everyone.”

“Merry
Christmas.” Nana Mary replied. “You’re late.”

“You didn’t
tell them, did you?” Nora asked as she stepped forward.

“Not a word.”
Nana Mary smiled. “So, what are you waiting for?”

“What’s going
on?” Vivienne asked with a slight hint of concern.

Nora set the
basket on the floor as a tiny orange tiger kitten clawed his way to the edge
and meowed. “You always say you don’t need anything, but I found someone who
needs a mommy and daddy and I couldn’t think of two nicer people who fit that
mold.”

Vivienne
rushed forward. “Oh, he’s adorable. Where did you find him?”

“He was living
out by Whispering Pines. Poor thing was eating birdseed he was so hungry.” Nora
smiled. “My plan was to take him to the shelter, but I just couldn’t do it.”

Vivienne
picked him up as Tommy strolled over to see who the new visitor was. He meowed
loudly.

“Looks like
you’ve got a new brother, Tommy.” Joshua laughed.

“What are you
going to call him?” Nana Mary asked.

“I suppose
having four-legged grandchildren isn’t so bad.” Nora smiled. “
It’s
good practice for when the real thing happens.”

Vivienne
giggled as the orange tiger kitten crawled on top of her shoulders and meowed
at Tommy down below.

Tommy meowed
back and then walked over to Joshua where he sharpened his nails on his right
leg.

“Ouch.” Joshua
jumped back. “This wasn’t my idea, buddy.” He pulled Tommy’s claws out of his
pants and lifted him up to get a better view of the kitten. “Say hello to your
new little brother.”

“Another furry
in the family.” Nana Mary winked at Joshua.

Vivienne
scooped the kitten up in her hands, feeling his little body shake as he began
to purr loudly. He sniffed the air with his little pink nose. “You look like a
Sam to me.” She cooed as the kitten reached out with his little paw and touched
her nose in response. “Welcome home, Sammy Cat.”

(This recipe,
created by Virginia
Treavis
, was a top prize winner
at the Cayuga Cove Summer Fair for many years. It is one of the Sweet Dreams
Bakery’s top sellers.)

1 box of
yellow cake mix

1.7 oz. box of
instant pistachio pudding mix

4 large eggs

1 cup sour
cream

½ cup
vegetable oil

½ teaspoon
almond extract

4 drops of
green food coloring

½ cup granulated
sugar

1 teaspoon of
ground cinnamon

½ cup chopped
nuts

Confectioner’s
sugar (for garnish)

Preheat oven
to 350 degrees. Combine yellow cake mix, pudding mix, eggs, sour cream, oil,
extract, and food coloring in a large bowl. Beat with an electric mixer on
medium speed for two minutes. Grease and flour a Bundt cake pan.

In a small
bowl, combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and chopped nuts. Stir together
until well mixed and set aside.

Pour half the
batter into the prepared cake pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar nut mixture on
top. Pour the remaining cake batter over the nut mixture and bake for 50-55
minutes.

 Allow to
cool for 15 minutes, then remove from pan onto a cake plate. Dust with the
confectioner’s sugar.

Body Bags & Blarney:

Book 3 of the Vivienne Finch Magical Mysteries

After a long
winter season, Vivienne Finch and the residents of Cayuga Cove are just itching
to put away the snow blowers and shovels for good and welcome the return of
spring. With preparations underway for the annual Saint Patrick’s Day Parade
and Luck of the Irish Carnival, members of the Shoreline Baptist Church prepare
their own counter celebration with a weekend of faith-based activities they
hope will turn hearts and minds away from the green beer and bar hopping. The
charismatic new preacher, Seamus Kilpatrick, warns the town that such
alcohol-fueled debauchery will only lead to retribution for their wicked acts.

As the first
crocus buds push up from the frigid ground, the weather service issues a
warning for a historic Nor’easter to strike the East Coast with Cayuga Cove in
its crosshairs. Preparations are made to deal with the coming onslaught of
snow, but no one is prepared when Father William is found drowned in the
baptismal pool at Our Lady of the Lake Church. Sheriff
Rigsbee
investigates what he believes to be a case of unfortunate bad luck, while
Pastor Kilpatrick believes it is a call to arms to wage spiritual warfare
against those who revel in sin, leaving Vivienne Finch to see only cold-blooded
murder. With the storm brewing and tempers rising, Vivienne must search for the
killer before the only thing found at the end of the rainbow is her own grave!

J.D. Shaw is a
2008 graduate of the prestigious Odyssey Writing Workshop run by Jeanne
Cavelos
, former senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell.
During his six weeks in the program, he worked alongside such award winning
authors as Barry B.
Longyear
and Nancy Kress.

He resides in
Elmira, NY with Sam, an indoor orange tiger cat who seems to think that sleep
is just wasted time between feedings and spending quality outdoor time with his
pal, the neighborhood stray, Mister Tommy Cat.

This is the
second novel in his ongoing supernatural cozy series The Vivienne Finch Magical
Mysteries. He is hard at work on the next book in the series.

‘Like’ The
Vivienne Finch Magical Mysteries page on Facebook and stay informed on all the
latest news, contests, and book signing events.

Be sure to
visit his web site,
JDSHAWBOOKS.COM
,
to discover more about the author and the series.

J.D. loves to
hear from his readers. Email him at [email protected]