“Rats.”
The curse came from my new boss, Cara Mia Delgatto, as she shuffled through papers on her desk. With a trembling hand, she pushed back a curl of her dark auburn hair from where it was hanging over her eyes. The frown on her face darkened her pretty eyes to a deep hazel.
“What’s wrong, Cara, dear?” I asked gently. She’s not really a morning person, even though she does get up early to start coffee for all of us, her workers.
I’m Honora McAfee, Cara’s most recent hire here at The Treasure Chest. Since I once knew Cara’s grandmother, I have maternal feelings toward my new boss. Cara’s own mother wasn’t very nurturing, and sometimes I sense that the girl needs the tender ministrations of a mother-figure.
Gracious! Listen to me. Calling Cara a “girl.”
She’s in her thirties, and a single mother herself.
But then, I’m a woman of a “certain age.” Seventy-six to be exact. And I’m a miniaturist, a maker of tiny (but wonderful!) objects. Sometimes my new employer seems like a young girl to me. Like now, when she’s fuming and growling at the papers on her desk.
“It was around here somewhere!” Cara huffed and shoved a wodge of papers back into her in-box. “I can’t believe I lost it!”
Instead of standing there and watching her fretting, I hurried over to the tea kettle, filled it with water, and turned on the burner. What Cara needed was a nice cup of Green Tea with Yerba Mate. It would help her concentrate. I often drink Yerba Mate when I’m working on my miniatures. It doesn’t have caffeine, but it does improve one’s focus. Working with tiny pieces can be quite demanding. Caffeine causes my hands to shake. A tremor turns into an earthquake when dealing in a small scale. Most of my work is done in one-twelfth, one-inch-to-a-foot. Quite simply, for every foot in RL (Real Life), my items measure an inch. For example, a ceiling height of eight feet is re-sized to eight inches.
“Here you go, Cara, dear,” I said, sliding the cup of tea next to her hand. She was impatiently drumming her fingers on her desktop. “Now what is it that you’re missing?”
She sighed. “The check from my old restaurant in St. Louis. Our old manager is buying the business and the building. He always mails me his payment at the last possible minute. It came yesterday. I wanted to deposit it this morning as soon as the bank opened.”
“You don’t trust the man?” I pulled up a chair across from her desk and sipped my tea.
“I do. Sort of. I know he’s having a rough go of it. He thought he knew more about the restaurant business than he actually does. But he’s a fast learner. It’s just that I don’t want him to get behind,” and she paused. “To be frank with you, I depend on that payment. Right now, I’m using it to live on. I don’t want to take money out of this business, The Treasure Chest. I want to keep re-investing.”
I nodded. Cara is an astute businesswoman. When she took over The Treasure Chest, it was a defunct antique store in a dilapidated building here on the Treasure Coast of Florida. Since then, she’s remodeled, redecorated, and reinvigorated the place. Now we specialize in upcycled, recycled, and repurposed décor items. Even my miniatures get their start as discards. Right now, I’m working on a dollhouse made entirely from cast-off items. This morning I hope to finish shingling the roof. I’m using recycled cardstock for the shingles. It’s going to be fabulous!
“The check arrived yesterday in a priority mail envelope. I put it down right here,” she said, as she tapped the edge of her desk. “I opened it. Glanced at the amount. Set it aside because it was after banking hours. The envelope was white with blue and red lettering.”
“Oh, my,” I said, sitting bolt upright. “Oh, dear!”
“Have you seen it?” Cara sounded hopeful.
“Yes.” I swallowed the last of my tea and got to my feet. “I think I have. I think I pulled it from the trash can next to your desk. I remember thinking at the time that you usually recycle all your paper and card. I was shocked to see that envelope in the trash!”
“I must have knocked the envelope off my desk and into the waste basket,” said Cara. “Okay, so where is the envelope now?”
“I’m not sure,” I said. “It might be…roofing material.”
“WHAT!” Cara’s eyebrows shot up in surprise.
I beckoned for her to follow me over to the dollhouse. One half of the roof was covered in tiny cardstock shingles. The other half was bare, waiting for me to cut and glue down the individual pieces.
“Did you cut up the priority envelope?” she asked.
“I don’t know. I hope not!” With that, I began rummaging through my “stockpile” of cardstock. I’ve turned an old dish drainer into a storage unit, setting cardstock into the slots where plates would go. I have the card sorted by thickness and color. My fingers paged through the pieces. Cereal boxes, packaging, corrugated card, Bristol board, mat board, and the backs of notepads were all there. But no mailing envelopes. I started to feel a little ill.
Then I remembered. “The thickness was perfect for eaves. For the gullies between the dormers!”
“Okay,” said Cara cautiously. “And that means…what? You have it? You don’t have it? It’s glued to that dollhouse somewhere?”
Quickly, I pushed my dollhouse supplies to one side and located my Fiskars personal paper trimmer. Sticking out from under the blade was a US postal service priority envelope.
Half of it.
The top half.
In the bottom half was the check.
“Wow,” said Cara, with a laugh. “That was almost a very, very expensive roof!”
The Cara Mia Delgatto Mystery Series by Joanna Campbell Slan is set on the east coast of Florida and features Cara Mia Delgatto, the owner of The Treasure Chest. This cozy mystery series includes historical Florida lore, craft ideas, recycling tips, and recipes, as well as a strong female protagonist who occasionally is called upon to act as an amateur sleuth. Kicked to the Curb is the second book in the series.
GIVEAWAY: Leave a comment by 6 p.m. eastern on December 1 for the chance to win a kindle copy of KICKED TO THE CURB. The giveaway is open to U.S. residents only.
Free gift!
Author Joanna Campbell Slan is offering a special free gift for readers who join her newsletter list. You’ll receive two recipes, two craft tutorials, and an outtake scene from Kicked to the Curb automatically when you send an email to KTTCBonus@JoannaSlan.com Once you’re on her newsletter list, you’ll be notified about free reads and other special offers.
About the author
Award-winning and National Bestselling author Joanna Campbell Slan is the creator of three mystery series. Her first mystery—Paper, Scissors, Death—was shortlisted for the Agatha. The first book in her historical romance mystery 
series is Death of a Schoolgirl, winner of the 2013 Daphne du Maurier Award for Literary Excellence. Her latest series, featuring Cara Mia Delgatto and beginning with Tear Down and Die, has quickly become an Amazon Bestseller. In her past life, Slan has been a television talk show host, an adjunct professor of public relations at Illinois State University, a sought-after motivational speaker, and a corporate speechwriter. Sharing Ideas Magazine named Joanna “one of the top 25 motivational speakers in the world.” Visit her website at www.JoannaSlan.com Go to www.tinyurl.com/JoannaSlan for details.
Woo hoo! I jane all of your books and can ‘t wait for this! Pick me! Pick me! 🙂
What terrific enthusiasm, Jan!
I love your characters in all your books! It is like going on an adventure with close friends.
I would love to try your series. We all need more strong women in our lives.
I love that saying, “Daughter, never grow a wishbone where your spine should be.” And Honora has plenty of spine. Cara does too, but sometimes she needs reminding of that.
Love women of a certain age who don’t get up early. Love mines tires too. For me it’s anything that goes into a doll house😊
Ronna, I’ve made a lot of DH stuff with cardstock. Amazing the things you can do with it.
Love! Love! I’ve!
Love, love, right back at you, Lynnie!
This sounds great!! Thanks for the chance to win.
My pleasure entirely.. I hope you’ll check out the short story featuring Cara Mia. I wrote it just for Thanksgiving. Go to http://tinyurl.com/CMDThanksGift
It’s cheaper than a latte at Starbucks!
I would love this series as I love miniatures and Honora is just a few years younger than I am.
Nancy, you should check out my Facebook page. I have photos of my dollhouses. Also on my blog I’ve put DH tutorials. http://www.joannaslan.blogspot.com
Sounds like Honora and Cara could make a pretty good team—an astute business woman, and a mature mother figure. Loved the excerpt….the book sounds like a great cozy.
Lauigl [at] carolina [dot] rr [dot] com
I think they are a good team. I try to create interesting mixes of characters for my books. It’s fun to see them interact, and fun for us to see ourselves in them. Thanks for the compliment!
The book sounds great, would love to read it
Honora lives up to her name, Cozynookbks. She’s an upright woman with a lot of wisdom. She’s a perfect mentor for Cara. I hope you’ll give the series a try. Or for a longer sample, there’s this short story that I wrote just for Thanksgiving. http://tinyurl.com/CMDThanksGift
I really have to open the first book in this series from my t-b-r list 🙂
I hope you will give Tear Down and Die a try, Gram. I love all my new characters–and the reader feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Go to http://tinyurl.com/TearDD
What a team Honora and Cara Mia make! Add in the other 3 employees and you’ve got a great story in the making. Am waiting impatiently for the next book.
And I’m working fiendishly to finish edits on Handmade, Holiday, Homicide (Kiki Lowenstein #10) so I can start working on the next Cara!
Sounds great!
So glad you like it. You know, Dru Ann is so sweet to share space on her blog. I realize that most posts aren’t a short story, but writing one is a great mental exercise for me–and fun for all of you, too, I hope.
Another great story. May soon love Cara as much as Kiki.
Connie, I think we’ll love her more as time goes on. It’s just that Kiki and her crew are old friends, right?
Absolutely love all your work and can’t wait to read more!!
*blush* Cindy, you are too kind! My readers are a blessing to me. I wake up every morning trying to think of new ways to show you how important you are to me.
This sounds wonderful! I am a miniature enthusiast
Me too, Fran. I love my dollhouses and rooms. I’ve been working on two dollhouses this year. Lots of fun. I built one from a kit all by myself. (I didn’t think I could do it, but it’s amazing what you can do when you are determined.)
Thank you for the chance to win; hope to get a chance to read it 🙂
LIsa, I hope you do too. Meanwhile, you might want to check out the Thanksgiving short story here: http://tinyurl.com/CMDThanksGift
This sounds good. Thank you for the chance to win.
Patti, so glad you liked it. I’d just received a Fed Ex envelope and cannibalized it for the DH roof so the idea came very naturally.
THANK YOU AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING JOAN
Many, many thanks–and Happy Thanksgiving to you. Stay safe, enjoy yourself, and try not to work too hard.
Fun little story nicely spun. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks, Terry. It’s a challenge to do it in such a short piece, but it’s also fun to try. Glad it worked for you.
sounds like a fantastic read.
Okay, I’m prejudiced. I think it’s my best work yet. But so do the reviewers on Amazon. It has a five-star average.
I love Honora’s sentiment to Cara Mia. I’d love to read the entire book based on the excerpt you provided here. Thanks for this chance and Happy Thanksgiving.
Robin, when you learn more about Honora, you’ll discover that she needs someone to mother as much as Cara needs her. That’s all I’ll say, but trust me, it’s a mutually beneficial relationship.
Had me on the edge of my seat. Well done.
Who hasn’t had that experience of losing a check? I sure have!
Great Story, Joanna! I love miniatures AND repurposing, recycling, thrifting, remaking, etc. No wonder Cara Mia is my favorite. AND, So glad they found the check! xxoo & hugs,
Aw, Roxane, you and I are cut from the same cloth, girlfriend. Mega smooches. Give MH a hug from me. Happy turkey day!
Roxane, the blog ate my eariler comment! You’re a girl after my own heart. (But you already knew that.) Give MH a hug for me, but save the biggest hug for you. Happy turkey day!
Roxane, this wicked blog keeps eating my response to you! You and I are cut from the same cloth, girlfriend. But you already knew that! Give MH a big hug but save some hugs tor yourself. Happy Thanksgiving!
This is the fifth time I’ve tried to reply! Let’s see if it works! Roxane, you are a girl after my own heart. Hugs to you and MH. Happy Turkey Day!
Great looking book.
Tina, thanks so much! The daughter of a reader designed the cover. Isn’t it great
Looking forward to this new read.
Thanks so much, Barbara. So far, my Kiki fans are loving Cara. I hope you’ll give her a try. I’ve written a Thanksgiving short story that’s available for less than a latte. Read it here: http://tinyurl.com/CMDThanksGift
Love this series, so refreshing.
Nancy, I wonder why you find it refreshing? I hope you’ll tell me. I’ve tried to come up with an original cast of characters in a unique setting, but every cozy writer does that!
Can’t wait to read it!
Thanks so much, Margaret. I hope you’ll give it a try!
I try to not throw any mail away until I have checked it twice 🙂
Karin, you’re one smart cookie. Even so, I’ve had times when things are tucked deep down into the fold of an envelope. So I try to put any cards or letters on top of mailings–and checks in a second envelope when they are Fed Exed. (Notice how I made that a verb?)
Happy Thanksgiving and best wishes.
Thank you so much, Janice. Same to you. And have a safe holiday, too.
Looks good.
Thank you, Janel. I do my best!
Happy Thanksgiving all!
Same to you, Shannon. Many, many more!
I’m glad the crisis was averted. I shake out my envelopes before I toss them.
Thanks heaps for having me, Dru Ann. I try to shake out envelopes, examine them carefully, the whole nine yards. But sometimes things get past me! Dru Ann, I’m thankful for you, honey bee.
That was a fun story! Thank you.
You are welcome, Nancy!
I too love miniatures and I believe I would love this book as much as I love the other books I have read by you.
Sue, I also include Honora’s miniatures’ tips so you might enjoy those as well. Check out my blog for tutorials: http://www.joannaslan.blogspot.com You’ll have to scroll through old posts, but they are there.
Hi, Joanna. I’ve been lazy and haven’t started reading the new Cara Mia book. I think it’s safe to say that I don’t want to read it because it will be read and I’ll have to wait a long time to read another one. Whew! Happy Thanksgiving and much love from Mississippi.
Miss Molly, what if I promise you to write more? Love ya!
Sounds like another fun book. 🙂
Pen, I hope so! I try my best–and recycling, upcycling, and repurposing is a cause close to my heart.
so enjoy your books thank you for continue to entertain us
Stella, it’s my great joy to think I’ve made you smile or helped you escape from your cares.
I would love to be a winner ..thanks for the chance.
Best of luck to you, Jane.
It is a joy to get to know these two women so intimately,using so few words. Two strong lives in miniature, just like the dollhouse. A peep into another person’s world. Thank you.
Sue, what a great metaphor! And yes, that’s what I hoped to give you–a glimpse, as if you looked through a peephole at them interacting.
Many thanks for the KTTC Bonus, and this short. Loved the book. So many delicious loose ends to be tied up. Can’t wait for the next book. We don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in the UK (we should!) but – Happy Thanksgiving to you all!
Freida, I remember the year we lived in the UK, and one of the neighbor boys asked, “Joanna, what are you celebrating exactly?” I said, “When the pilgrims fled your country, uh, a bountiful harvest!” Oh, my! But you celebrate all sorts of lovely things. And I’ll never forget Guy Fawkes.
I like seeing women of a certain age being creative and having some to give instead being told they are too old to do anything creative.
Actually all of us women of a certain age have oodles to give. I’m so much smarter than I was when I was younger. I think back and CRINGE!!!
Love that the books have “grownups” in them–not just 20-somethings! Enjoyed “KTTC”!!
I know that a lot of the cozies are mandated to have characters in their 20s, but I think that’s silly. The longer we live, the more interesting we are, in my humble opinion. So glad that you enjoyed KTTC! I loved writing it!
Happy Thanksgiving, Joanna. I love minis as well.
Gosh, this is like a gathering of miniaturists, isn’t it? Now I wish I’d shared more photos! Happy Thanksgiving to you, too, Judy.
I believe I’d love to read this, since I’m a woman of a certain age! (77)
Helga, you and I have reached the age of fine wines, right? Here’s to the next decade!
Sounds perfect for me.
Rhonda, I hope you’ll give this series a try. I’ll be adding a lot of short stories in between the big books.
Would love to win and read this book. Thank you for the giveaway. Happy Thanksgiving.
JJT, it’s my pleasure to give away a copy or two of my books. I love doing it–and usually I get a new devoted reader in the bargain. Happy Thanksgiving!
I actually like the Cara Mia series better than the Kiki series. That could be because I don’t scrapbook, but I certainly enjoy repurposing, and the books give me great ideas!
This passage with Honora is sweet. She’ll be the grandma figure for the bunch, I’m sure.
Sue, I’m a thrifty Scot and I love making things work for me! It’s fun to give old items new life, isn’t it?
I enjoy learning about a new-to-me series through the eyes of one of the characters.
Something else you always need to double check: all those flyers and circulars in your junk mail. Sometimes the real mail just slips in there.
That’s a good point. I’ve had “real” mail slide into the pages of the weekly circular–only to be found days later. Thanks for the reminder!
Sounds interesting
Thanks, BN. I try to find something historical and cool about Florida to share in each of the Cara Mia books. It adds new joys to living here, because I’m researching and giving myself permission to explore.
Your book sounds great. Thank you so much for the contest and Happy Thanksgiving!
Have a Happy Thanksgiving, Betty, and be safe if you plan to be on the road.
I just love your cozy mystery books. I love reading them when I need to have something simple to read. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.
Kai, so glad to hear that. I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving. I’m just now recovering from a house full of guests!
Glad to get more info on your miniatures.
Lee Alice, I also have some stuff on Pinterest. Just go there and look under my name! I’m trying to post more miniature tutorials all the time. I almost always tell my FB friends when I post something new about my miniatures.
Thanks for the micro story!! I enjoyed it with my morning coffee! 🙂 What a great Thanksgiving treat while I’m stuck at work!! Thank you Joanna! Thank you for the chance to win!! I’m so excited to see what Cara Mia and the crew do next!!
Jessica, I thought it was a bit more fun than just telling you about them. I wanted to show them in action. Thanks for working on Thanksgiving. I know that I appreciate being able to stop by a local store on turkey day! Hope it wasn’t too onerous for you.
You come up with some of the best characters. Keep them coming.
Why Sharon, that’s such a terrific compliment. Thanks! I try to watch people, make mental notes, and file them away in a mental file cabinet. Honora reminds me of a Mary Englebreit card come to life–only older, hmm?
I’m ready to read more…looking forward to it.
Good deal! You’ll be happy to know that I’m finishing edits on Handmade, Holiday, Homicide, which is a Kiki book, but a portion of it is written in Cara Mia’s voice. See, she goes up to St. Louis to attend a blessing ceremony for Kiki’s new son…and well, someone dies. (Don’t they always?)
Enjoyed this quick story. Hate losing something that I know I just put down… right… here.
Ha-ha! Okay, once my husband lost his wallet. He searched all over the house for it. Guess where he put it? In the oven! (I still have NO idea why he did that, but luckily, he found it before I used the oven again.)
I love reading your books, but I really love your schoolhouse miniatures.
Ah, Linda, once all my company has gone, I’m setting up my miniatures again. See, my son is visiting with his cat, Miss Maple, and she keeps stealing items from my dollhouses. I guess Miss Maple is a miniaturist at heart.
stuff from turkey day … hope all’s was happy and safe
a strong lead in any story is best … wish we could be all that strong
Elfette, my characters are like all of us. Sometimes they are strong. Sometimes they stumble. When they do, a friend offers a helping hand. Like Dru Ann. She’s a pal. I’ve asked her for advice several times. And I’ll be there for her, too.
thank you Joanna!
Thanks for the story – made for a great ending to Thanksgiving Day. Especially like the relationship between Honora and Cara.
Natasha Rose, Honora’s own daughter has Asperger’s. So Honora is happy to have found a substitute “child” that she can shower with affection. It’s not that Honora doesn’t love EveLynn; she does. But EveLynn isn’t wired to return affection–and Honora respects that.
I haven’t had a chance to read this new series – and would love to have a Kindle copy to get started! It would be so easy to take it with me wherever I go!
Tell you what, Deb. I’ll make this offer to you and to anyone who’s reading these comments. I’d like for you to have a free e-book for your Kindle. That’ll get you started with my stories. Just send an email to my assistant, Sally Lippert, at salfl27@att.net In the subject line, put : Please send me a free e-copy of Ink, Red, Dead. That’s all you need to do. We’ll add you to my mailing list, but you can always opt out if you want.
I have been wanting to read this book. Thanks for the chance to win it.
Jen, it’s my pleasure. I’m happy that I can give copies away. Good luck!
Enjoyed the story.
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. Since some of our family had to work on Thanksgiving, we are celebrating a second one tomorrow.
Gladys, that’s a great idea. If the day doesn’t work for your family, move the day, right? We can always pretend we’re living in pre-Gregorian times. (Or that we’re ignoring leap years. Whatever.)
New to me series!!!n
Then Cyn209, I hope you’ll check it out. Here’s the scoop: Cara Mia buys a building that’s scheduled to be torn down. It used to be an antique store. She renovates the place and decides to stock it with recycled, upcycled, and repurposed goods–which she does with the help of two new friends. Meanwhile, she puts up with her cranky grandfather, an old boyfriend, a jealous sister, and a host of other annoying problems. Takes place on the Treasure Coast of Florida.
Since I read everything of yours just about as soon as it comes out, I’ll have to pass on the contest. This was a cute mini story! I like Honora, her daughter, and her miniatures. And I really liked the Thanksgiving story. I’m still hoping to become an early reader; sent some corrections to Sally. I just love your books! Waiting for Kiki to have her baby; love her to death!
Mary, feel free to email Sally again! She had lightning strike her computer! (Can you believe it? What a mess.) Oh, and Kiki will have her baby in ….Glue, Baby, Gone (Book #12). Handmade, Holiday, Homicide is set in December when she’s eight months along. Shotgun, Wedding, Bells is set right after Christmas, that same December. Glue, Baby, Gone is set in January.
I would love a chance to win a copy of this book
I’ve read the first one and would love a chance to continue reading series by winning a copy of Kicked to the Curb! Thank you for wring such fun-reading cozies. And, thank you for the giveaway chance!
Would love to read this. 😀
I loved the first Car a Miami book and can’t wait to read “Kicked to the Curb.” Thanks for a chance to win it.
contest is closed.