A Winter's Tail

Chapter 1

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It was the worst November they could remember, and so early in the season. Most years the snow waited until Thanksgiving to make its first appearance with flurries. But this year, back-to-back snowstorms hit Bucks County, and everyone was tired of shoveling and the sound of snow blowers. Roadside snow piles grew higher with each storm. Days above thirty-five degrees were few, but when they came, they did little to thaw the deep snow piles, as the cold, dense air sank to ground level and maintained the frozen drifts.

Autumn did what she could to make it more bearable for Chrissy, her precious Shih Tzu, but the 16-pound ball of fur with short little legs struggled in the snow. Even her pink suede and Sherpa fleece-lined winter coat with matching snow boots that stayed on for a minute-and-a-half at most didn’t make trudging in the snow to do her business any easier. Autumn dug out a space in the yard that led from the patio to a large, open circle for Chrissy to mark.

Today, Autumn had to drive to New Hope to address some wedding details, like picking up the invitations that were already late. The wedding was in two weeks. Good thing she’d sent an email a couple of weeks ago to hold the date for December 11th, but the major obstacle to holding the wedding on that date was the weather. She had no intention of putting her guests at risk, especially since she owned the venue and could change the date whenever she chose. The Peabody Mansion Bed & Breakfast was hers and available any time, since she decided to not officially open until January.

She and Chrissy parked in the fully plowed municipal parking area in town. Autumn lifted Chrissy from her car seat and clicked the pink-with-rhinestones leash onto the metal loop of the harness that poked through the opening of her pink snow jacket. To get to the shoveled sidewalk, she held Chrissy while she navigated the narrow paths from the parking lot to the main walkway and placed her treasured cargo onto the sidewalk.

Chrissy shook beneath the thick jacket and waited for her mommy to walk, staying by her side. Autumn noticed the large chunks of snowmelt pellets on the sidewalk and hoped it was the paw-friendly type. She had baby wipes in her purse to use on Chrissy’s paws once they got to their destination.

The bell tinkled a welcome into the charming wedding shop that provided brides with invitations, party favors, cards, champagne flutes, hair accessories, and wedding décor. The brisk walk from the parking lot made Autumn appreciate the warmth surrounding her when she closed the door. She wiped her feet on the doormat and crouched down to clean Chrissy’s paws.

“Weather’s not fit for man nor beast,” said Brittany Farmer from behind the open-front, ornate cream-colored desk and matching carved chair. She wore her shiny black hair long and straight. Her elaborate makeup included smoky eyes and bright red lipstick. Long, red nails and lots of rings accentuated the tight black jumpsuit that clung to her curvy figure.

“Hi Brittany,” said Autumn. “You’re certainly right about the weather.”

“Risky, having a December wedding,” Brittany commented.

“We didn’t want to wait until spring. I’m sure everything will be fine.”

Chrissy went under the desk to sniff Brittany’s black spike-heeled shoes, shook her head when Brittany tried to pet her, and then went over to the wall and explored the wedding favors with her nose.

“Come here, sweetheart.” Autumn gently tugged her leash.

“She’s fine,” said Brittany, rising from her chair. “I’ll be right back with your invitations. I know they’re late, but I have no control over the printer’s schedule.”

She sashayed to the back room.

Autumn looked around the store to see if she was forgetting anything. She still hadn’t decided whether to wear a veil or a headband with crystals. She’d bring her cousin Beatrice to the bridal shop with her to see what looked best with the antique gown. After all, Bea was the one who’d found the dress in the attic and suggested Autumn wear it. Bea was an unknown cousin found when Autumn had inherited the Peabody fortune. As rough going as it was in the beginning, they grew close and now were a part of each other’s lives.

Brittany returned with a cardboard box and placed it on the desk. Autumn opened the box and saw a different font than she had chosen, inviting people to join her on December 27th to witness her marriage to Raymond Rudd. Not only were they late, the invitations were completely wrong.

She looked at Brittany, astounded.

“Did you check these when they came in?”

“No, the printer is superb, so there’s no need.”

“These invitations not only give the wrong information, but aren’t in the font I chose.”

Brittany glanced at them and said, “Oh. Well, I guess it’s getting late in the game to have them redone.”

Brittany owned the shop, and Autumn, shocked by her nonchalant attitude toward the botched order, held back her anger. Chrissy head-butted Autumn’s leg and took her out of the headspace that could result in an outburst. Chrissy was astute at reading Autumn’s moods and how to get her back to center. Autumn picked up her smart little girl, feeling the intensity subside.

She felt her feet on the floor and then said, “Well, I’m not paying for these.”

Brittany shrugged. “It’s the printer’s fault, so he’ll have to eat it.”

Autumn preferred to support local businesses, and even with her hopes of getting wedding referrals for the bed-and-breakfast, there was no way she would recommend Brittany or do business with her from now on.

Without a word, Autumn and Chrissy left the shop. The frigid air hit their faces and cooled down Autumn’s emotional heat. She kissed Chrissy on the head and put her down. Chrissy shook and looked up at Autumn.

“Let’s take a little walk and get rid of some of this negative energy,” she said to Chrissy, who followed Autumn’s lead. Chrissy pranced down the sidewalk like nothing major had just happened. Autumn watched her and went into an in-the-moment perspective, where Brittany didn’t exist and her wedding invitations weren’t a disaster. This little fluff ball had taught Autumn so much about being centered and joyful.

They walked past piles of dirty snow that lined the streets. Chrissy occasionally sniffed the piles and then moved on. They walked down Main Street and looked in the windows of a boutique, a jewelry shop, and a bookstore. Autumn went into the bookstore and bought the latest mystery fiction from one of her favorite authors. She had so many unexplored volumes at the Peabody mansion, but most were antique. She wanted some current books to read, even as she went through the older volumes. They walked past side streets, where charming townhouses and small single-family dwellings stood tightly packed.

With all the snow, the township prohibited parking on the street. The barrier of snow between the sidewalk and the street blocked them from crossing, except where paths opened to access the crosswalk. The snow was especially free of street grime in a pile just before the crosswalk ahead. As they came closer, Chrissy put her nose to the sidewalk and followed it to the pile. Her sniffing intensified until her face pushed into the snow. She wagged her tail and looked at Autumn before digging.

“What did you find?” Autumn asked.

Chrissy’s digging accelerated, her paws digging deeper. Autumn tried pulling her away, but she resisted. Bright red dots showed through the indentation before a gloved hand appeared. That’s when Autumn picked up Chrissy, who reluctantly relinquished her quest, and hit Ray Reed’s number on speed dial. Autumn’s fiancé, Ray, and his loyal German shepherd dog, Ace, a retired police dog, would bring the troops to manage the situation.