Mix-up in Miniature (24 page)

Alicia accompanied the
men who delivered the midsize Tudor to my home on Sunday afternoon. She hoped it was a satisfactory donation. She’d already called Doris Ann at the library and told her how wonderful it had been to do business with me.

I hoped that positive performance evaluation didn’t inspire Doris Ann to assign me another mission that involved negotiation.

Alicia took a seat in my living room, seeming relaxed for the first time since I met her. “I can’t tell you how grateful I am, Geraldine,” she said. “I’m so sorry I made it difficult for you at times.”

“I didn’t feel—”

“I knew you’d be able to determine who killed my mother. And who was cheating her, I might add. It’s hard to imagine Laura and Charles, two key figures in my mother’s household, now sitting together in a jail cell.” She waved her hand. “Well, in a manner of speaking.”

If a relationship had to be built on misunderstandings, I supposed it was better that they all worked in my favor, with Alicia constantly overestimating my role in resolving the issues of the Rockwell Estate.

“I really didn’t—”

“You’re much too modest, Geraldine.”

It seemed there’d be no end to the misunderstandings and interruptions.

“And neither Adam nor I can possibly thank you enough for facilitating our reunion with Caleb. It has meant the world to all of us.”

That, I would in all modesty take credit for.

“Say the word, and I’m ready to cut you a check for whatever you say,” Alicia added.

Any amount of money I wanted? Was I about to pass up an unprecedented opportunity? Most people hoped to hit the lottery or receive a windfall from an expected source. There must be something I could do with a check from the Rockwell Estate. I just needed a minute to think.

The Rockwells had already rewarded me handsomely. Alicia had insisted on replacing my damaged car with a new one. I’d had a grand tour of Varena’s dollhouses, by Paige Taggart, who loved them as much as Varena had, and the estate chef had sent over a full gallon of cognac ice cream.

Ken and I had paid off the mortgage on our Eichler long ago, Maddie’s college years were well funded, and I had all the sweater sets I needed.

I shook my head. “Thank you, but I don’t need anything,” I said.

Alicia pointed to the Tudor, temporarily set up on my dining room table. “The library bookmobile drive has its donation. Wouldn’t you at least like a dollhouse for yourself?”

I heard a light tapping sound from the atrium just behind us. Maddie, drumming her fingers on the Frank “Lord” Wright house with the secret room.

I gave Alicia a smile and a questioning look.

“Consider it yours,” she said to Maddie. “I know my uncle Caleb adores you and he’ll be thrilled that you like it.”

“Thanks,” Maddie said, grinning broadly.

I could have sworn she made a little curtsy, jeans and all.

—

By
Sunday evening, it had been a week since I’d spent normal time with my family and friends. We convened an impromptu potluck supper. The meal was distinctly non-gourmet, with ham, steamed green beans, buttermilk biscuits, and plain vanilla ice cream.

Skip and June were behaving like a couple again, which pleased me, never mind what had been wrong in the first place. Skip had done me the great favor also of tracking down Corazón Cruz and assuring me that she was alive (I’d begun to suspect Charles of more than embezzlement) and happy in her Mexican hometown.

All was well.

“It seems like forever, Gerry,” Beverly said. “What have you been up to?”

“You don’t want to know, Mom,” Skip said.

“She had a long to-do list,” Henry said.

“She’s been Away So Long,” Maddie said.

Maddie was right.

It was good to be back in the flatlands, where I was just Gerry.

Wallpaper

Outgrown baby and children’s clothing with small-figured print makes perfect wallpaper for a dollhouse. A half-and-half mixture of glue and water makes good wallpaper paste.

Realistic Fruit

To make the “dimpled” skin of oranges, lemons, grapefruit, or limes: After making the clay ball of the appropriate size and color, lightly roll the ball on a piece of Velcro or sandpaper.

Bake as usual, according to the instructions on the package of polymer clay.

Water Spout

Need a water spout for the “rain” that’s collecting in the gutters on your dollhouse roof? Use a drinking straw with an accordion bend at one end. Paint if necessary.

Stones for Walkway

Tear up gray cardboard egg cartons into random shapes for a walkway, patio, or siding for a stone house.

BBQ Briquettes (or Coal)

The hard way: make small black shapes out of polymer clay and bake in the usual way. The easier way: strike a few matches, either from a box of stick matches or from a matchbook. Wait until the ends cool and cut them off. The easiest way: cut up a stick of artist’s charcoal and roughen the edges of each piece by rolling on sandpaper.

Yard

Expand your property line by putting your dollhouse on a large piece of plywood or particleboard. You can have a front yard with a lawn and flowers, a backyard with a swing set, pool, a vegetable garden, and a BBQ area. No zoning problems, so go for it!

Footstool

Small leather jewelry boxes such as those that hold earrings or cufflinks can simply be used as is. Plunk them next to an easy chair and you’re set to relax.

Margaret Grace, author of five previous novels in the Miniature series, is the pen name of Camille Minichino. She is also the author of short stories, articles, and ten mysteries in two other series. She is a lifelong miniaturist, as well as board member and past president of NorCal Sisters in Crime. Minichino is on the staff at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, and she teaches science at Golden Gate University and writing at Bay Area schools. Visit her at
www.minichino.com
.

MYSTERIES BY CAMILLE MINICHINO

Miniature Mysteries, written as Margaret Grace

Murder in Miniature

Mayhem in Miniature

Malice in Miniature

Mourning in Miniature

Monster in Miniature

Mix-up in Miniature

Periodic Table Mysteries, written as Camille Minichino

The Hydrogen Murder

The Helium Murder

The Lithium Murder

The Beryllium Murder

The Boric Acid Murder

The Carbon Murder

The Nitrogen Murder

The Oxygen Murder

Mathematical Mysteries, written as Ada Madison

The Square Root of Murder

The Probability of Murder

PRAISE FOR THE MYSTERIES OF MARGARET GRACE

“Gerry proves a resilient, enterprising detective and Maddie a delightful sidekick in this tightly honed mystery, where smalltown personalities get a gentle poke.”

—
Publishers Weekly
on
Murder in Miniature

“A really interesting concept for a mystery story. Very appealing characters and a plot that will keep you on your toes. …I highly recommend this to all fans of cozy mysteries.”

—
Once Upon a Romance
on
Monster in Miniature

“…in turns a funny, thrilling, and heartbreaking murder mystery. Gerry Porter is a thoroughly likable amateur sleuth, determined to get to the truth regardless the cost. Young Maddie is laugh-out-loud entertaining.… The mystery is well-plotted and the tying together of the various loose ends is satisfying, making this a difficult to put down page-turner.”

—
Fresh Fiction
on
Monster in Miniature

“Grace does a wonderful job of leaving clues hidden along the way. …A charming cozy that will have you feeling like you’re back visiting with friends you haven’t seen in a while and anxiously awaiting the next time you get together.”

—
TheBestReviews.com
on
Monster in Miniature