The Valentine Affair

By Chris Owen

There was a lot going on in Freeman Cormier's life. His work with the RCMP was bogged in interviews, his grandmother was in the hospital, his grandfather was about to fret himself ill, and his friend Delphine was interfering with his (lack of) love life. Valentine's Day only mattered because it was important to his grandparents, and was the last thing on Freeman's mind.

Hap Walker, a local restauranteur, mixed drinks and served food that Freeman considered art, and did it with an exceedingly charming smile. Maybe Delphine's meddling would get them somewhere, but certainly not until after Valentine's Day.

Unless, of course, Cupid had other plans.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Pretty Muses Publishing
• Release date: Feb 2, 2020
• ISBN: 9781988308388

Chris Owen

Writer, artist, herder of one cat and two dogs, lover of curling and wool.

Book preview

The Valentine Affair ©2020 by Chris Owen

ISBN 978-1-988308-38-8

First Electronic Edition

Pretty Muses Publishing Corporation

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, organizations, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental and beyond the intent of either the author or the publisher.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.

506 Mysteries

1

The Valentine Affair — Introductory Short Story

2

The Frozen Affair — Novel 1

Coming in early summer 2020

About this Story

The Valentine Affair is my joyful entry into what will be a series of novels set in my hometown of Fredericton, New Brunswick, Canada. While this short story is not a mystery, it serves to introduce you to Freeman and his family, Hap Walker and his sister, and parts of the geography where the novels will take place.

I wrote this Valentine story for two reasons. The first is that I adore the question ‘how did you get together?’ and wanted to share that. The second reason is that holiday short stories are an indulgence for me as a reader.

Enjoy, and I hope you come back for The Frozen Affair in early summer 2020.

The Valentine Affair

IT WAS TEN at night and Freeman Cormier was about to step into the shower when his phone rang. He sighed, rolled his shoulders, and grabbed a towel to wrap around his waist before heading back to his kitchen to take the call. There were only two ring tones that could have kept him from a well-deserved shower—work, and his grandfather.

In the kitchen, his feet cold on the hard floor, Freeman scooped his phone off the counter and took the call. It’s awful late, Pop. Everything okay?

On the other end of the line, his grandfather made a sound that wasn’t quite a sigh and wasn’t a groan. I had to call an ambulance for her, Freeman. Can you meet me at the DECH?

Absolutely. He headed toward his room to dress. How long ago did you call?

A couple of minutes. They’ll be here soon, but can you meet me there?

Of course, Pop. You go with them, and if they tell you that you have to follow them, you call me right back and I’ll pick you up. Drawer open, clean jeans and a t-shirt put on the bed. Another drawer, clean socks. How is she doing right now?

The same as this afternoon, but her breathing isn’t great. Now Freeman could hear the cut of fear in his grandfather’s voice. I think it’s the cold. That’s the trouble.

The trouble was either influenza or pneumonia, but Freeman’s grandmother had been too stubborn to go to the doctor until things had gotten out of hand. Both of his grandparents were elderly, but this was the first winter that either of them had been ill with more than a head cold.

I’m sure it’s not helping, Freeman said, agreeing to keep the