Death Pays a Visit : Myrtle Clover #7

Chapter Three

Myrtle woke later that morning to the smell of a Southern breakfast. She recognized bacon and sausage, garlic cheese grits, and waffles by their aroma. Myrtle glanced over to the other twin bed and didn't see Wanda there. Were Miles and Wanda already eating? Was she missing out? She quickly swung her legs out of the bed, pulled her robe on, and hurried to the kitchen.

There she stared in wonder at the sight of Wanda cooking her heart out at Miles's stove. She spotted fluffy-looking omelets in addition to the other breakfast foods she'd already been able to identify by smell. "Wanda! I didn't know you could cook."

Wanda, who'd been so deeply focused on the cooking, jumped before giving Myrtle a reproachful look. "Mama was a cook. She'd bring Dan and me leftovers. She showed me how."

Myrtle was also stunned to see Pasha, her feral cat, contentedly lying in a kitchen sunbeam next to Wanda's feet.

Wanda noticed the direction of her gaze and gave a smug smile. "Yer cat likes me."

"I'm surprised to see her here. Miles will have an absolute stroke. Who knows what kinds of fur she's leaving all over his house. I left a window cracked for her at home and figured she'd jump inside with the storm and all. Did you—well, I guess you let her in?" asked Myrtle, still feeling a little groggy from the unaccustomed sleep.

Wanda nodded, gently sliding hash browns onto a plate with a slotted spatula. "She was outside. In the storm. I opened the front door to let her in."

"So, did you hear her out there?" pressed Myrtle.

Wanda just shook her head, looking back at Myrtle. Myrtle gave up with the questioning. It was one of the unexplained things that simply happened around Wanda. "Okay, well, you're taking the rap when Miles starts fussing," she said.

"Starts fussing about what?" asked a suspicious voice behind them. They both turned to see Miles entering the kitchen. He'd apparently already showered and was dressed in khaki pants and a crisp blue button-down shirt. Then he caught sight of Pasha and took a step back.

"Now Miles! You know that you and Pasha have an understanding now," said Myrtle. "Remember? Pasha has become very fond of you. In her way."

Pasha gave Miles a disdainful look and curled closer to Wanda's foot.

"Was Pasha outside in that storm?" Now Miles looked a little horrified.

"Looked like a drowned rat when I pulled her in," grated Wanda.

"I guess she went searching for me when she found I wasn't at home. Loyal Pasha," said Myrtle.

Miles said, "And now onto surprise number two. Wanda, I had no idea that you were such a wonderful cook. This breakfast looks absolutely amazing." He walked closer to the stove and surveyed the food. "Garlic cheese grits? Hash browns? Omelets? Sausage and bacon? It's a feast. And I, for one, am hungry enough to gobble it all down."

The food was just as good as it looked and it was gone within no time. Then it was time for the cleaning up, which Myrtle and Miles insisted on doing as Wanda sat awkwardly by until Pasha leaped adoringly into her lap and Wanda's time was taken up with petting her.

"Okay," said Myrtle as she and Miles finished the last of the dishes. "The storm has cleared out. So the plan is to drive Wanda back home and then to head over to Greener Pastures. Right? Because it does sound as if it is something of an emergency, if we're there to stop a murder."