Trixie Frayne eased open the kitchen door to Crabapple Farm and peeked inside. Pressing a finger to her lips, she beckoned her companions to follow her. They needed no encouragement. Giggling in a completely audible way, five-year-olds Jessie Frayne and Josie Belden slipped inside the kitchen, only to be pushed out the way by Josie’s three-year-old brother Zach. The two toddlers on Trixie’s hips – her own daughter Eva and her niece Lexie – both struggled to get down.
“Sh!” Trixie urged, as she let the two little ones down, but took their hands instead. “Be very quiet!”
The two big girls covered their mouths with their hands, still making far too much noise. Zach ignored them, intent on his task of crawling across the floor in what he considered to be a stealthy manner.
At the doorway, Trixie paused. She could see just a glimpse of her mother’s fair hair. By all appearances, Helen had decided to feign surprise and was carefully facing away from them. She could not possibly have missed the sounds of their approach. Trixie urged the group forward, while tip-toeing in a highly exaggerated manner. The bigger girls’ half-smothered giggles increased.
When they reached the back of the sofa, Trixie called a halt. From here, she could hear her mother humming something to the rhythm of dum-dee-dum-dum-dum and knew for certain that their approach had been detected. She held up three fingers, then two, then one. When the last finger went down, the five kids and Trixie jumped out from behind the sofa yelling, “Surprise!”
“Oh, my goodness!” Helen squeaked, with some of the best play-acting Trixie had seen her mother perform. “Where did you all come from?”
“We sneakened up!” Zach yelled, bouncing up and down in excitement. “We tricked you!”
Helen, by this time, had bestowed at least one kiss on each child and had drawn the two youngest onto her lap for cuddles.
“You must be very hungry and thirsty from all that work. Who would like some milk and cookies? I have some special Christmas ones in the kitchen, especially for good children.”
With cries of approval, the children rushed back in the direction they had just come from.
“I take it you’re just dropping them off and running,” Helen said to Trixie, an amused smile on her face.
Trixie felt a blush rising. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“Of course not.” Helen ushered her into the kitchen and began setting out a row of plastic cups as the children scrambled to their usual chairs. “I miss Mart and Honey’s kids so much when they’re at home. It’s a treat to have them right next door with you for a couple of weeks.”
“You don’t have a chance to miss my kids,” Trixie mumbled. “I think they spend more time here than they do at home.”
“That’s nonsense.” Helen finished pouring the milk and started distributing the cups. “And I know you must be busy right now. Don’t worry about them at all. We’ll have a good time together, won’t we, kids?”
“Yeah!” the bigger three replied.
“We love you Grammy,” Zach added. “You’re the best!”
“And Honey said to say thank you very much,” Trixie added, as she edged towards the door. She peeked into the cookie tin as her mother opened it and her mouth watered. “May I?”
Helen held out the tin and Trixie took two.
“One for Honey,” she explained. “Thanks, Moms. Bye kids! Be good for Grammy!”
At their chorus of assent, she slipped back out through the door and leaned against it, eyes closed. A soft sigh of relief escaped her lips. A moment later, she bounded down the back stairs and across the yard to the path that led to her home at Ten Acres.
“Honey! I’m back!” she called, as she entered her own kitchen. “I brought you a cookie.”
Her best friend of over fifteen years entered the room and glanced at the offering being made to her.
“You couldn’t afford a container?” she asked with a laugh.
“There’s nothing wrong with it, Hon.” She pulled out two small plates and placed a cookie in the very centre of each. “Do you want a coffee?”
“I thought we were getting down to work once our offspring were out of the way?” Honey asked.
Trixie shook her head. “I’ve had a really harrowing journey, you know. I need sustenance. And besides, they’re really good.”
Honey moved over to the coffee machine and began making two cups. “As it happens, you were gone so long that I’ve nearly finished with the cleaning and tidying.”
“Well, it takes a long time to make five kids walk all that distance,” Trixie explained. “We had to stop along the way and look at every tree, stick, rock, bird and potential sheep on the way.”
“Sheep? There’s no sheep near here,” Honey answered.
“I know. But they didn’t believe me.”
Honey shook her head. “My kids know all about sheep. They live on a sheep farm.”
“And my kids live here, so you’d think they’d know that there’s no sheep, but apparently when we visit you there are sheep everywhere and therefore the reverse should be true as well.”
Honey shrugged at the logic and took a sip of her coffee. “So, what is the plan?”
“Clean the rest of the house. I need to do some laundry. Wrap the presents. That’s about it for today, really.” Trixie sank into the chair opposite her and paused to eat a bite of her cookie. “Jim will be here in another hour and he can look after reheating the casserole for dinner. When exactly do you expect Mart?”
Honey glanced at her watch. “The sooner the better. If his plane’s on time, he should be here before I put the kids to bed tonight, but not until long after we’ve fed them.” She sighed. “It’s been harder than I thought, being apart like this.”
Circumstances at home had meant Mart had to stay behind when the rest of his family came home for Christmas. Honey and the kids had enjoyed staying with the Fraynes, but adding three children to the household and only one adult made for a lot of extra work.
“Moms has it easy, only hosting grown-ups,” Trixie grumbled. “Not that we don’t want you, of course, but maybe next time I could send her all the grandkids and I’d take all the Bob-Whites instead.”
“I’m not hoisting all my children on your mother and staying here,” Honey chided. “And you wouldn’t do that either – at least, not until they’re older and more self-sufficient.”
Trixie shook her head. “There won’t be just five grandchildren forever. Two of my brothers haven’t gotten around to having any children yet. And neither has Dan, and he’s practically an honorary son to my parents.”
“To say nothing of your future kids,” Honey teased. “I thought you said after Eva was born that you’d try again to give Jim a son?”
“It’s on my to-do list,” Trixie answered. “Just not yet. Okay, I guess you’re right. Since neither set of newly-weds is planning on starting their family right away, it will be this way for a while.”
Honey did not answer. She drank the last of her coffee and put the dirty mug and plate in the dishwasher.
“Coffee break’s over, Trix. Let’s get those presents wrapped.”
Trixie groaned. “Do we really have to? I hate wrapping. Can’t we leave it for later?”
“Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and everyone will be here,” Honey reminded her. “We’ve got a busy day coming up and so does your mother – which means we can’t dump all our kids on her again. We’re nearly out of time.”
Trixie heaved herself out of her seat. “Okay. I’ll finish up the cleaning and start the laundry. You can start on the wrapping.”
Her best friend smiled. “Trixie, if you do my laundry, I’ll do your wrapping. How does that sound?”
“Like a deal,” Trixie answered with a smile.
When Jim arrived home, it was to find his wife busy with household chores, his sister surrounded by gifts, wrapping supplies and finished presents and not a child to be seen or heard. In fact, the only thing he could hear was Trixie singing Christmas carols as she tossed another load into the dryer.
“Have you two been administering sleeping tablets or something?” he asked Honey. “It’s awfully quiet in here.”
Honey smiled. “No. Trixie took all the kids down to the farm earlier. Our wonderful mother-in-law is taking good care of them. At least, I hope that’s what’s happening. I wouldn’t put it past those five to cause a lot of trouble.”
She stretched and rose from where she was sitting.
“I’ll go and fetch them a little later,” he offered. “But not until you have all this hidden away somewhere.”
At that moment, Trixie entered the room. She swooped on her husband with a kiss.
“Oh, it’s good to see you. You’re on dinner. It’s in the refrigerator and you just have to heat it up. Okay?”
“Good to see you, too,” he answered her retreating back.
Honey watched her friend go, then turned to her brother. “You know, I think I’m looking forward to Christmas Eve more than to the actual day.”
Jim nodded. “The Bob-White and families party is always fun.”
Over the years, a tradition had formed of holding a big party on Christmas Eve, with lobster for dinner and plenty of party games. This year’s party would be held at Crabapple Farm. On Christmas Day, they would divide up into smaller groups for quieter celebrations. Some people preferred the more intimate setting – Honey’s mother was definitely one of these – while others revelled in the large and at times raucous gathering.
“I know things will change in the future, but for now I just want this to keep on going on,” Honey continued. “And I love that my kids and yours get along so well together. I hope they’ll have that forever, just like the Bob-Whites.”
He smiled. “Well, there’s about to be some good Bob-White times. Mart will be here in a few hours. Brian and Di arrive first thing in the morning. And Dan and Barbara will be here in time for lunch.”
She nodded. “I can’t wait.”
“Jim! Do you want us to eat tonight, or next week?” Trixie called through a nearby doorway.
He rolled his eyes. “I’m onto it.”
“And I’d better finish up,” Honey added. “Or our darlings will be back before I’m ready.”
Jim picked Mart up from the airport later that evening. The weary traveller entered through the front door, only to be surrounded by pyjama-clad children.
“Daddy!”
“Uncle Mart!”
They swarmed around his legs, the smaller ones pulling at his trousers.
“I missed you, too.” He crouched down and gathered as many as would fit into his arms. “Now, which ones of these are mine?”
He made a big display of examining Jessie and Josie and the two five-year-olds giggled, each shaking back masses of golden curls.
“Aha! I’ve seen this shirt before. This one must be mine.” He made a grab for Jessie, who evaded him. “No?”
Next he looked to the younger three. “This one’s too grubby. I think I’ll have those two.”
“No, Daddy!” Zach cried. “Keep me!”
Mart reconsidered and, after kissing his two nieces, gave each of his own kids a long squeeze.
“Bedtime, kids!” Trixie announced, to various cries of dismay. “And if you go right away, Uncle Mart or Daddy will read you a bedtime story.”
Her brother glared, as the children cheered and scurried away. “What did you do that for?”
She gestured to Honey, who was patiently waiting to greet him. “Don’t you want a minute alone with your wife?”
“I don’t have that,” he pointed out. “You’re still here.”
She laughed. “That can be remedied. But don’t forget: bedtime story in about two minutes!”
After lunch the next day, everyone at Ten Acres wandered down the hill to greet the latest arrivals. Trixie challenged the three older kids to a race, while Mart and Jim each carried their youngest, thus avoiding the previous day’s search for sheep. Honey walked with them, enjoying the effect of weak sunlight on the light covering of snow.
As they neared the yard, two shrill squeals rang out.
“What do you suppose that’s all about?” Honey wondered, torn between amusement and alarm.
Mart shrugged. “Girls. They’re always squealing.”
Honey glared at him, only to let out a squeal of her own as Mart nudged her hard so that she nearly fell into a nearby bush.
“See?” He grinned. “Girls will squeal at anything.”
They arrived in time to see Trixie, the children and Matt Wheeler enter through the kitchen door, with Matt carrying a box.
Mart smacked his lips. “Mmm, lobsters. I can nearly taste them now. This has to be the most wonderful tradition we’ve ever added.”
“I guess that explains the squealing.” Jim smiled. “He probably opened the box and showed them.”
“Or offered them a chance to hold one,” Mart added.
Trixie opened the kitchen door and they all entered. The whole family was gathered around the kitchen table, inspecting the box of lobsters. They squeezed in to take a look for themselves, exchanging greetings as they went.
“Oh, beauteous crustaceans, how I look forward to devouring you,” Mart declared, giving the nearest one a gentle pat.
His daughter Josie screwed up her nose. “They’re not beautiful creations, Daddy. They’re the ugliest things I’ve ever seen.”
“Crustaceans,” he corrected.
“They’ll be really yummy,” Trixie added, before he had a chance to explain what a crustacean is. “We’ll eat them tonight for dinner. But right now, they need to go back in their box and into the refrigerator to keep cool.”
“They do,” her father-in-law agreed, as Brian put the one he was examining away. “Fingers out, kids, unless you’d like to feed them to the lobsters.”
The two older girls squealed again and ducked under the table. Matt tucked an escaping piece of damp newspaper back inside the box and carried it over to the refrigerator. He slid it into the place Helen had prepared for it and closed the door.
“I’ll see you later this evening, everyone,” he added, heading for the door. “And don’t open that refrigerator, kids. We don’t want them escaping and crawling all over the house.”
This pronouncement produced still more squeals from the girls. Trixie and Mart shared a smile, knowing that Matt had been playing for that very reaction.
Once the door had closed behind him, the children darted away between the legs of the adults and conversation began in earnest.
“Oh, it’s so good to see you!” Honey cried, pulling Di into a hug. “And how is married life?”
Meanwhile, Dan and Mart began analysing the chances of each others’ football teams, Trixie and Brian started talking about his work, Jim chatted with Peter about the patch of woods between their houses and Helen and Barbara discussed recipes. Kids ran in and out, unheeded. After a few minutes, they began moving into the living room until the kitchen was left empty.
Into the multiple, ever-changing conversations came the sound of dogs barking.
“Anyone home?” a voice called from the kitchen.
“Bobby!” Helen cried. “You’re here!”
She hurried in that direction, meeting her youngest son’s two little dogs before she reached him. The pair of young doxipoos – dachshund-poodle crosses – capered around. One, with a curly brown coat and the long body of a dachshund, shook his floppy ears. The other, while coming from the same litter, looked an entirely different kind of dog. Her coat was mostly white and curly, with brown patches.
Twin squeals came from somewhere out of sight and Jessie and Josie arrived on the scene. The two dogs raised their heads in alarm, diving behind their master’s legs for his protection.
Bobby smiled. “Hello, almost-twins.”
“Uncle Bobby!” they answered in unison.
“What adorable dogs,” Josie added, moving closer. “What are their names? Can I pat them?”
“Can I hug them?” Jessie asked.
“Maybe later,” Bobby answered. “The brown one’s called Digby and the white one’s called Pogo.”
“Dogs? I love dogs.” Zach popped out from under the coffee table. “Daddy, can we have a dog?”
“No,” Mart answered, without missing a beat.
The brown dog, Digby, spotted a hiding place and darted behind the sofa. Pogo followed right behind him.
“Come out, doggies!” Zach called, trying to crawl in after them.
Bobby grabbed him around the waist and picked him up. “Leave them alone for a little while, buddy. They’ll probably come out when it’s quieter.”
“Like when all the kids are back at Jim and Trixie’s,” Mart added to Honey, in an undertone.
She smiled. “Probably. But let’s just hope they warm up to the kids at least a little.”
Trixie plonked down next to them with a groan. “Nap time,” she declared. “How are we ever going to get them to have a nap when there’s all this excitement going on?”
Honey looked at her watch. “If you want, I can take Zach, Eva and Lexie back to your place. If we leave in about fifteen minutes, that will give them long enough but also give them a chance to settle down a little first.”
“Would you?” Trixie answered gratefully. “I’ll let Moms and Bobby know.”
Honey looked across the room and saw the two littlies – her daughter Lexie and niece Eva – cuddled up on their grandmother’s lap. In another corner, Bobby was having what seemed to be a very serious discussion with Zach.
Fifteen minutes later, when Honey was ready to leave, the conversation was more subdued. Trixie had somehow managed to communicate to everyone that she wanted things calm for the sake of the smaller kids.
“Let’s go for a walk, Zach,” Honey offered, going over to her mother-in-law and picking up Lexie, who was the smaller of the two little girls. She took Eva’s hand. “Let’s go for a walk together.”
She bundled the three into their coats, with Helen’s able assistance, and they set off. The cold air on her face made Honey wonder whether this was such a smart idea after all, but she pressed on. Her two, she knew, would never settle with so much going on. She needed the quiet of the empty house on the hill.
“Not far now,” she encouraged, as Zach’s steps slowed.
A few steps later, he stopped altogether. Honey put Lexie on the ground to walk and picked Zach up instead.
“Nearly there,” she puffed. Zach was much heavier than Lexie. “Come on, kids.”
The house appeared between the trees and Honey heaved a silent sigh of relief that showed up as a cloud in front of her mouth. Eva ran the last few yards and reached the door first. Honey let them in and set to taking off outer garments. Lexie lay down on the floor and tried to go to sleep right there.
“Come on, baby girl,” Honey cooed, pulling her boots off and tossing them onto the tray by the door. “Let’s take you to bed.”
“Don’t wanna nap,” Zach complained, though his eyelids drooped.
“Can you help me with the girls, please?” his mother asked and the little boy nodded.
About five minutes later, Honey sat down at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a novel. She thought, with a small pang, of the fun she was missing, but then considered how much more enjoyable the evening would be if the kids were well-rested. She took a sip of her coffee and sighed in satisfaction.
“Let’s eat!” Zach yelled as he ran from the car to the kitchen door of Crabapple Farm. “Where’s my creature?”
“They won’t be cooked yet,” his mother called after him. “And you don’t get one to yourself!”
She finished unstrapping Lexie and lifted her onto her hip. Eva scrambled out and held Honey’s hand as they walked together to the house. The door had slammed behind Zach before they were halfway across the yard.
Eva frowned. “No eat creature!”
Honey smiled. “I’m sure Grammy will have something you’ll like to eat.”
Eva nodded wisely. “Cookies.”
They stepped into the warm kitchen and Honey let her daughter down.
“Oh, you’re back,” Helen greeted. “Kids, why don’t you go in the living room. I think there might be something there that you’ll like.”
Honey’s gaze followed them and her brow puckered in a small frown. “I hope they don’t eat too many cookies.”
Helen shook her head. “I’m sure they won’t; I’m not even sure there’s any left. I mostly just wanted them out of the kitchen while I prepare the lobsters. Do you want to help?”
She nodded. “If you want me to.”
Helen smiled and turned the retrieve the box from the refrigerator. Once the door was open, however, she froze.
“What’s wrong?” Honey asked. “Have they gotten out of the box?”
“The box is gone!” Helen turned and stared at Honey in dismay, leaving the fridge door open. “What are we going to do?”
Her daughter-in-law hurried across the kitchen to look. Sure enough, the box of lobsters had disappeared, leaving only an empty space. A short search proved that they were not in there, with or without their box. Honey closed the door and began to search the room. After she had looked in every nook and cranny she could think of, without success, she turned back to Helen.
“Someone must know what’s happened to them. I’m going to go and ask – starting with Jessie and Josie.”
Helen shook her head. “They wouldn’t. They were afraid of them.”
“Which is all the more reason why they might do something silly.”
She headed for the living room, but met Trixie in the doorway.
“Hey. How did you go?”
Honey shrugged. “Fine. But we have a problem. Someone’s taken the lobsters.”
“Taken them?”
“I’m about to go question our eldest daughters.”
Trixie frowned. “I’m not sure that’s the best idea.”
“Why not?”
Trixie gestured for her to follow. She led the way to the den, peeked through the doorway and offered Honey a look. There on the floor were Jessie, Josie and the two dogs, all of them asleep. Pogo lifted her head for a moment, then settled back down.
“They’ve been there maybe half an hour,” Trixie explained. “Right after the little kids left, Bobby introduced them properly – and convinced the girls to stop squealing – and they played together until all of them were exhausted. I don’t think they’ve had time to do anything with the lobsters.”
“Well, then who did?”
“That’s what we’ve got to find out.” Trixie’s eyes were shining. “A Christmas mystery! Just what I’ve always wanted.”
“Christmas isn’t until tomorrow,” Honey answered.
“Picky, picky.” Trixie backed away from the sleeping children and pets.
“And if we don’t hurry up, it’s going to be the mystery of what’s for tonight’s dinner,” Honey added. “I hate it when that’s a mystery. I’d much rather know in advance.”
“Would you?” Trixie grinned. “I view that as an adventure; it’s a journey into the unknown.”
Honey giggled. “Jim has mentioned my-dinner-is-an-adventure. You should see the look on his face when he talks about it.”
“Never mind that now. We need a plan. What do you think? Should we ask everyone together, or one at a time?”
“It’ll take too long to do just one at a time,” Honey mused, “but if we try to ask them all together, we can’t possibly watch everyone at once.”
“Uh oh, I think the cat is out of the bag.” Trixie turned and hurried back to the living room. “I think we forgot to tell Moms not to tell anyone yet.”
When they got there, the room was in uproar.
“What do you mean, they’re gone?” Mart demanded, of no one in particular. “They were going to be delicious.”
“They’ll still be delicious, if we can find them,” his father pointed out. “Now, who has seen anything that might help?”
Everyone talked at once until Trixie called a halt.
“I can’t solve this if I can’t hear what you’re saying. One at a time!”
Her little brother threw her a challenging look. “What makes you think you can solve this?”
Trixie drew herself up to her full, but not very impressive, height. “I’ve never missed solving a case yet.”
“First time for everything,” he answered lazily.
Trixie turned her back on him. “Now, has anyone been in the kitchen since we all saw them go into the refrigerator?”
“Yes. Everyone.” Her eldest brother glanced around. “Or, at least, almost everyone.”
“And who was the last person to see the box of lobsters?” Trixie asked.
Bobby grinned. “The person who took them.”
She glared at him for a moment. “Who has opened the refrigerator?”
“I have, a couple of times,” her mother admitted. “The last time was maybe half an hour ago.”
“I did around then, too,” her father added. “I don’t know if it was before or after your mother.”
Mart waved a hand. “I opened it about ten minutes ago. They were just fine then.”
“Anyone else?” Trixie glanced around, but no one spoke. “So, they were last seen by Mart ten minutes ago and sometime since then they disappeared.”
“Didn’t you say the girls were already asleep by then?” Honey asked.
Trixie nodded. “And the little kids were with you. If it was someone from outside, they would have practically run into you when you arrived. So, our suspect list is limited to the grown-ups in this room – and only those who’ve been in the kitchen alone in that time.”
“Rather less than that,” her mother pointed out. “I’d been there a few minutes before I found them missing.”
Trixie and Honey both looked around and examined their friends and family.
“Perhaps a search would be more productive,” Peter suggested, as the silence extended. “I don’t think anyone here wants to miss out on our dinner, so the lobsters should not be too far away.”
“Let’s split up and search,” Bobby suggested. “I bet someone other than the so-called detectives finds them first.”
“Considering the numbers, that’s a safe bet,” his father answered dryly. “Bobby, you can start with the attic. Brian –”
“What!” Bobby interrupted. “Why would they be up there?”
“It will keep you out of trouble if I send you up there,” his father replied. “Bobby – the attic. Barbara and Diana can search upstairs. Helen, you can try the kitchen again. Brian and Mart, if you can look outside. Dan, you take the guest room. Jim, you take the den. I’ll take this room. Honey and Trixie can look everywhere else.”
Brian nodded his approval. “Let’s go, Mart.”
As the group dispersed to their appointed areas, Bobby remained, staring at his father.
“You have somewhere to be,” Peter reminded him.
“Fine. I’ll look in the attic. But they won’t be there.”
“They won’t be in the majority of places we’re looking,” Peter answered. “Now get moving. Every minute they stay lost is a minute that dinner is delayed.”
“Where to first?” Trixie asked as her little brother finally departed.
Honey shrugged. “The laundry room, I guess. But I get the feeling we’re not going to find them.”
“No. I don’t think any of us are going to find them until the person who took them is ready,” Trixie answered. “And I think I’m starting to get an idea of who, but I still don’t know why.”
“Bobby, what are you doing down here?” they heard a few moments later, as Trixie peered into the dryer. “I gave you a job.”
“I’ve done it. They’re not there. I’m going outside to help Brian and Mart.”
“You can’t have searched the entire attic. You could barely have gone there at all,” Peter pointed out.
“Fine. I’ll go back.”
“You’ll find that easier if you go up the stairs.”
Trixie smothered a laugh. “I don’t think Bobby wants to be stuck in the attic.”
“No. And I don’t think we’re going to find the lobsters here,” Honey added. “There just isn’t anywhere for them to hide.”
As they passed through the kitchen, the outside door opened and Brian entered.
“We’ve found the box,” he told his mother, “but the lobsters aren’t inside.”
“Oh, no!” she answered. “Does that mean they’ve actually been stolen?”
“Where was it?” Trixie asked, coming up behind him.
“Under the back stairs,” he replied.
Trixie frowned. “So really close by. That’s interesting.”
Her mother did not find it so. “What I’m interested in is finding those lobsters!”
“I’m sure we will, soon,” Trixie soothed. “We just have to …”
“What?” Honey asked, after her friend failed to finish her thought.
“Moms, who is it who’s going to be late?”
Helen shook her head. “No one, that I know of. Most of the guests will be here before we know it, which is why I need to get those lobsters prepared. I’m running out of time.”
“Well, I think I might have found a clue,” Peter announced. “What do you think of this?”
Trixie took the piece of damp newspaper and compared it to that in the box that Brian still held. “Looks like a match. Where did you find it?”
“Behind the sofa,” he answered. “And it wasn’t there the last time I walked past there.”
“I’m sure they’ll be found really soon, Moms,” Trixie told her. “The person who did this is going to let us find them any time now.”
“In time to get dinner on the table on schedule?” she asked.
Trixie shook her head. “In time to get dinner on the table just a little bit late.”
Brian’s eyes narrowed. “What do you know, Trixie?”
She shrugged. “Know? Not much. Guessed? Well, let’s just say that’s a different story.”
He dropped the box onto the table. “I think I’ll go back and help Mart.”
Bobby’s brown dog Digby scampered through the kitchen at that moment. He stopped short at Trixie’s feet, lifted his long nose to sniff the newspaper she still held and barked once. The next moment, he was running back the way he had come.
“Come here!” a girlish voice called.
“Here boy!” another echoed.
“Sounds like our daughters are awake,” Honey commented.
“Oh, no! Get away from there!” one of the girls called, as the two dogs began to bark. “Naughty dogs!”
A moment later, one of other of the girls began to squeal over and over. As one, the adults still in the kitchen hurried in that direction.
“What’s wrong?” Honey asked, finding that it was her own daughter Josie making all the noise.
“Are you both okay?” Trixie asked, looking from the still-squealing Josie to a clearly horrified, but silent, Jessie.
“Peter, take the dogs away, please,” Helen asked.
He rounded up the pair, who were running back and forth around the Christmas tree, and hustled them into the laundry room, shutting the door after them.
“What had got into them?” Helen wondered aloud, though soon dismissed them from her mind. “And what’s upset you two, my darlings?”
Jessie began to cry, but Josie recovered from her fright and the words spilled out of her.
“There’s a creation in the Christmas tree and the dogs wanted to eat it!”
“There’s a what?” Helen asked, pulling both girls into her arms. Jessie put her head down on her shoulder.
“A creature!” Zach cried out, arriving on the scene at that moment. “Let me catch it!”
Honey caught him around the waist as he launched himself at the tree. “Your father has a lot to answer for,” she muttered. To her mother-in-law she explained, “Mart called them crustaceans, which the kids mangled into creations and creatures.”
Trixie took the opportunity to extricate the lobster from among the tinsel. “And here you are. See Moms? I told you they’d be found soon.”
“That’s only one. I need the whole box,” she replied.
Trixie held it up to eye level. “Now it’s only a matter of rounding them up. They’ll all be in this room somewhere. And I bet if we get those dogs, they’ll lead us right to them.”
“Here doggy!” Eva called, joining the group. “Come eat creature.”
“I think I’d rather just look for them ourselves,” Helen commented.
Ten minutes later, all of the lobsters were accounted for and a check, carried out by the dogs, revealed no escapees. Helen moved into the kitchen to resume the interrupted dinner preparations, assisted by volunteers Honey, Mart and Barbara, while the rest of the clan relaxed in the living room.
“I still don’t understand what the whole thing was about,” Brian complained, with a glance towards the kitchen. “Why would someone hide the lobsters? And who did it?”
Trixie smiled. “All will be revealed, in good time. I have the culprit under watch and his motivations will be clear right about the time we sit down to eat.”
“You’re just saying that,” Bobby accused. “You have no idea. You’re just stalling for time.”
She shook her head, but said no more.
The house filled with delicious smells. The rest of the guests – all of the Bob-Whites’ families and a few honorary family members – arrived and joined the happy crowd. Helen supervised the Bob-Whites as they carried mountains of food and arranged it on the dining table. They gathered around, ready for Peter to say grace.
As he opened his mouth to speak, the front doorbell rang.
“Now who could that be?” he wondered, frowning.
“Bobby will answer it,” Trixie replied, with a pointed glance in his direction. “Won’t you, Bobby?”
By the look of annoyance on his face, this was not the response he expected. He turned without a word, returning a minute later with a young woman.
“Everyone, this is the person who caused Bobby to make the lobsters to go missing,” Trixie announced. “What’s her name, Bobby?”
“How dare you accuse me!” he replied, as several people turned to him in surprise and outrage.
“Because you did it,” his sister answered. “Even your own dogs testified against you. Now, will you answer the question, please?”
Bobby heaved a sigh. “Okay, fine. I admit it. It was me. Everyone, this is my girlfriend, Mandy.”
Trixie grinned. “I knew it!”
“But why did you take the lobsters, Bobby?” his mother demanded. “You could have just asked for a delay so that Mandy could be here in time to eat.”
He shrugged and cast his sister a sly look. “Because I haven’t bought Trixie a present and I needed to give her something. Merry Christmas, Trix. I hope you liked your mystery!”
The End