Diva 04 _ Diva Cooks a Goose, The Read Online Free PDF Page A

sure.” Hannah ran a hand through her hair. “A turtle could have passed us.”
    I pulled to the side of the road and rolled down the window to gaze up into the gaunt face of Detective Kenner.
    “Sophie! I didn’t realize it was you.” He frowned at me. “Did you drink a few mimosas this morning?”
    “No!” My voice got a little bit too loud. I might not be perfect, but I never drive after drinking.
    Hannah leaned over, dipping a mascara wand into its container. “She wasn’t speeding, either.”
    “Were you putting on makeup?” he asked.
    “I think it’s pretty obvious that I’m not wearing makeup.”
    “Really?” He squinted at me. “I’m afraid you were weaving, Sophie.” He crouched a bit, bringing his face even with the window.
    Good-natured Daisy chose that exact moment to growl. Her long jowls drew up to show her teeth, not her best expression.
    Kenner drew back—fast. “Impressive guard dog you have there. What is she? Some kind of hound?”
    “Hound mix.” I wasn’t about to tell him she was really a sweetheart.
    Kenner bounced a fist off the car door. “Then you two have a Merry Christmas, and try not to weave anymore, Sophie.”
    Hannah and I wished him a Merry Christmas, and I pulled back onto the roadway before he returned to his car.
    “Is that the cop who is jealous of Wolf?”
    “Apparently. I find it hard to believe that he’s smitten with me.”
    “Me, too. But he must be. You know he pulled you over on purpose when you hadn’t done anything wrong. Not much to look at with those sunken cheeks.” Hannah reached back to stroke Daisy. “Good girl for growling! Is that him following us?”
    I glanced in the mirror, but couldn’t tell because the car followed from a distance. It turned off shortly thereafter and we relaxed.
    Although the main highways had been cleaned, as we neared George’s neighborhood, I slowed to a crawl since the snow-removal trucks hadn’t been through yet. It made for a sparkling winter wonderland effect. The huge Grinch still bobbled inside his bubble, and kids dodged around it, throwing snowballs at each other.
    I pulled into George’s driveway to leave the street clear in case the county truck came through to clean it. Jen bounced over to the car immediately, snow crystals clinging to her jacket, evidence that she hadn’t managed to avoid all the snowballs pelted her way. Her cheeks glowed from the fresh, cold air, and I was thrilled to see her happy. The Grinch who tried to ruin Christmas hadn’t succeeded. She opened the back hatch, and Daisy leaped out. They chased each other until Jen caught Daisy and they fell, rolling on the fluffy white ground.
    The door to George’s house opened. My dad, Paul, still sprightly and good-looking for a retiree, hurried to the car with George. “Thank goodness you’re here. I thought Laci, her mother, and your mom might start a war over food. You have no idea how close we came to eating omelets for Christmas.”
    I wouldn’t have minded omelets, actually, and wondered how pleased he would be to find that I’d brought bratwurst and pork chops from my freezer. The leftover goose from the night before wouldn’t be enough to feed everyone.
    Dad and Jen, her dark hair shining in the sun that made a brief appearance, carried bags and boxes into the house.
    I pulled the Christmas presents I’d planned to give my family out of the car, and asked George, “How did it go this morning?”
    “Terrific. The kids have some weird toys, and the snow helped. Tom Thorpe, who lives across the street, played Santa yesterday at the community party, and he still had the suit. He put it on early this morning and went to all the houses with little kids and shook sleigh bells. There are a few who are convinced Santa was here. Then Edward organized a neighborhood snowball fight. It’s actually turned out to be a fun holiday for the kids.”
    “Tom sounds like a good egg. Is that the guy Mom likes?” asked Hannah.
    “What is