A Saucy Murder: A Sonoma Wine Country Cozy Mystery (25 page)
Read A Saucy Murder: A Sonoma Wine Country Cozy Mystery Online
Authors: A. J. Carton
Emma had to try hard to keep from laughing out loud.
“Thanks!” she replied. “Super title!”
Lexie spoke next. “Honestly, I don’t know where to begin, Emma. Between you and Julie.”
She turned to Emma’s daughter. “You saved my life, Julie. Literally. Last week when Vera had me by the throat? I thought I was dead! I know you were the person who pulled her off.” Lexie shook her head. “I don’t think I ever thanked you properly for that. So,” she paused, “as far as we at the winery are concerned, you are it. You’re the only person handling our publicity from now on. And we’re recommending you to every other vintner in Sonoma County. In the world,” she corrected herself.
Then she turned back to Emma. “Julie saved my life. But, face it, Emma, you saved my reputation. Hard as it is to believe, I have enemies. Right here in Blissburg. Some people spread horrible rumors that
I
was somehow involved in Natasha’s death. Like I was jealous of her or something ridiculous like that. Well, thanks to you, Emma, those rumors are dead. Buried. And I don’t have to worry about them anymore. That’s a big personal debt I owe you. Gosh,” her eyes teared up and she leaned down to give Emma a hug and a kiss, “I don’t know why, but I feel like you’re my mother, or something. You’re just so wonderful.”
As Barry led Lexie out of the room, she was still crying.
Finally, only Julie, Piers and Jack were left.
Now it was Emma’s turn. She motioned Jack closer to the side of her bed.
“Early this morning,” she began, “one of the doctors here told me that I had a very close call last night. And that a certain old codger saved my life. That’s a serious debt, Jack. What do I do?”
Julie and Piers had stopped talking when Jack approached Emma’s bed. They heard what Emma said. When she called Jack an old codger, Emma saw Piers wince.
“Don’t worry about it,” Jack said.
At first it seemed like that was
all
he had to say. Then he shot Emma a sidelong glance and smiled. “OK. I’ll tell you what you do owe the old codger. It’s simple. All he wants is,” he hesitated. “All he wants is the chance to get to know you a
little
bit better.”
Emma smiled. She knew that coming from Jack Russo that was a very big compliment.
THE END
A. J. Carton grew up in San Francisco eating her grandmother’s Bolognese cuisine. She now resides with her husband and children in Sonoma County, California where she enjoys writing about food
and drinking the local wine.
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This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, is purely accidental. All of the events, organizations and characters used in this story are fictional and/or solely the product of the author’s imagination and invention.