Halloween in Paradise (Tj Jensen Paradise Lake Mysteries Book 6) Read Online Free PDF Page A

looking for the perfect costume and parents chasing them in an attempt to keep up.
    “You always say that,” Ashley reminded her.
    “We’re always in a hurry.”
    “We wouldn’t always be in a hurry if you were better organized,” Ashley pointed out.
    Tj loved Ashley more than life itself, but she could be a real handful at times. It seemed like her attitude had gotten even worse since she’d entered the fifth grade. Ashley had made a couple of new friends, which was good because she’d had a hard time adjusting after the death of her mother, but in Tj’s opinion it was most likely those new friends who were responsible for the teen ’tude she’d begun to display as of late.
    “Let’s start by looking for Gracie’s Cinderella costume and then we can look for your spooky one after that,” Tj suggested to Ashley.
    “Aspen and a couple of my other friends are in the back of the store near the masks. I’ll go hang out with them while you help Gracie,” Ashley offered.
    “Okay, but don’t leave the store and please stay out of trouble. I’ll come find you in a few minutes.”
    Ashley called out to Aspen and then hurried away. When she’d first moved to Paradise Lake Ashley had been so angry over the death of her mother that she’d lashed out at everyone she came into contact with. The end result was that she’d had a difficult time making friends. Luckily, Kristi had not only befriended her but been patient with her mood swings. Eventually, Ashley had learned what it meant to be a friend and had developed a nice network of relationships.
    “How come Ashley is nice to her friends but so mean to me?” Gracie asked.
    “She’s just getting to the age when she’s trying to act cooler than she really is, so she compensates by making everyone crazy.” Tj looked down at the adorable second grader beside her. “You aren’t going to stop being my sweet little cupcake, are you?”
    Gracie shook her head. “I’m never going to be mean like Ashley.”
    “Good.” Tj took Gracie’s hand in hers. “Let’s go find you the best princess costume the store has left at a reasonable price.”
    Gracie skipped along beside her as she made her way to the princess aisle. Tj’s life had changed dramatically since she’d been thrust into instant motherhood. During those first difficult months she hadn’t known how she’d ever be able to settle into her new role, and now she couldn’t imagine a life without the sisters she’d barely known before they’d come to live with her.
    “How about this?” Tj held up a package.
    “That’s Sleeping Beauty. I need a blue one.”
    “Blue. Gotcha.”
    Tj began to sort through the pile of princess dresses that were piled haphazardly on the table in front of her. It appeared as if they had originally been organized by size and princess, but by this time of day the plastic packages, which included a dress and a crown, were simply tossed into a big pile.
    “I thought it was you sorting through this mess,” a woman Tj had gone to high school with said from behind her.
    Tj turned around. “Vicki Davis. How nice to see you. Are you in town for homecoming?”
    She nodded. “I decided that as long as I was coming out west I’d get here a few days early to catch up with old friends. I’m here with Doreen Sullwold, who’s buying a costume for her kindergartener.”
    Tj waved to Doreen, who was looking at a ladybug costume.
    “Can you believe it’s been ten years since we graduated?” Vicki asked.
    “Actually, I can’t. I work at the high school, but most days I still feel like a student.”
    “Is this your daughter?” Vicki nodded toward Gracie, who had just handed her the dress she’d been looking for.
    “This is my sister Gracie. Half sister, actually. Our mom died a couple of years ago, so Gracie and her sister Ashley came to live with me at the resort.”
    “So you never settled down with Hunter Hanson and had a family of your own?” Vicki asked.
    “No. Not