| |
THE FOLLOWING WEEK, Lauren felt a lot better. She’d stayed home Friday night instead of accompanying Zoe and Annie to craft club at Mrs. Finch’s. She didn’t want to give their elderly friend her cold.
Mitch had called her every evening, checking to see how she was. He’d also visited a couple of times, bringing soup for her, teasing that Zoe had the juice angle covered. And whenever she spoke to him, she always traced her finger over her necklace. She hadn’t taken it off since he’d given it to her, except to shower.
She’d insisted the café stay closed Saturday morning, in order to give Zoe a break. Besides, Ed didn’t work Saturdays, even though he’d offered to on this occasion. But he’d already worked extra hours that week, baking more pastries to make up for the lack of cupcakes.
Zoe insisted Lauren rest on the weekend, taking her own advice as well.
“Maybe you’ll be all better by Tuesday.” She eyed Lauren hopefully.
“I’d better be,” Lauren joked, determined that would be the case.
And on Tuesday, she crunched her granola at breakfast, and left with Annie and Zoe to open the café. The only thing she hadn’t done was mix up batches of cupcakes.
“You can do that this afternoon,” Zoe told her as they entered the café, “like you usually do. Ed said he’d come in early today and make extra Danishes.”
“Thanks,” Lauren said gratefully. She didn’t know what she would have done without Zoe and Ed to keep the place running.
She looked around, noting that the pale yellow walls looked exactly the same – not that she’d expected anything else.
They unstacked the pine chairs, Annie ‘supervising’ by sitting in her pink cat bed.
“Now everything’s back to normal,” Zoe said with satisfaction, “apart from finding Paula’s killer.”
“You mean the police haven’t made an arrest?” Lauren stared at her cousin. She’d been busy feeling miserable last week, and had tried not to think too much about the murder – especially when she’d been home alone.
“Nope.” Zoe shook her head.
“No one came to question me.” Lauren remembered Zoe had mentioned a detective taking her statement.
“I think he was worried he’d catch your cold.” Zoe laughed. “Or, maybe he doesn’t need to ask you anything,” she mused. “You should check with Mitch when you see him.”
“I will,” Lauren replied, counting how many days it had been since he’d visited her at the cottage with some soup.
“Want a latte before we open?” Zoe asked her.
“I’d love one.” Her mouth watered at the thought. She hadn’t felt like coffee last week, and there’d been no time at breakfast to make one for herself.
Lauren could hear baking trays rattling away in the kitchen, a sign Ed had arrived and was busy making his tender, flaky pastries.
She watched Zoe pour more coffee beans into the hopper, and press the button to grind enough for an espresso.
Frowning, she peered at Zoe’s finger.
“Your finger looks a bit strange.” Her cousin’s finger pad had small cuts and scratches on it. “Are you okay? Did you hurt it?”
“This?” Zoe stared at her hand, then waved it in the air. “It’s nothing. It’s just scratches from making the bead jewelry.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” Zoe shrugged. “I had no idea that would happen – it must be from working with the wire, even though I try to be careful. I’ll have to start putting lotion on them.”
“That’s a good idea,” Lauren said.
“Brrt!” Annie added from her cat bed.
“But,” Zoe added as she steamed the milk for the latte, the hissing from the wand punctuating her conversation, “I’m starting to wonder if beading is really for me.”
“I thought you liked making bracelets and necklaces.” Lauren stared at her. “And I love the one you made me.” She felt guilty that she hadn’t worn the bangle lately – she was worried it would get in the way when she worked at the café.
“I do – did,” Zoe replied. “But having scratched fingers all the time is a bit of a drawback. And how many bangles and necklaces can I wear?”
“So what are you thinking of trying next?” Lauren asked curiously.
“Pottery.” Zoe’s brown eyes sparkled. “I think I could really sink my hands into that!”
***
LAUREN ENJOYED HER first day back at the café. All their regular customers said they were pleased she was over her cold, although they seemed disappointed there weren’t any cupcakes on offer.
Halfway through the morning, a package arrived for her.
“I didn’t think there’d be anyone at the cottage, so I came here,” the delivery man told Lauren as she signed for the package.
“Thanks.” Lauren smiled as she took the small cardboard box from him.
“What is it?” Zoe looked up from the espresso machine.
“Brrt!” Annie looked like she was smiling as she gazed at the box in Lauren’s hands.
“You’ll see,” Lauren teased her cousin.
“Ooh, I bet Annie knows, don’t you?” Zoe said to the cat.
“Brrt!” Yes, I do!
“It’s an idea I came up with last week,” Lauren said. “I’m going to try a new cupcake recipe tonight.”
“Can’t wait!” Zoe’s face lit up. “I hope you’re giving out samples.”
“For us, definitely.” Lauren smiled.
She caught up with Mrs. Finch, Hans, and Ms. Tobin, who expressed her pleasure at Lauren – and Annie – being back at the café.
“Although Zoe coped very well on her own,” Ms. Tobin told Lauren.
“That’s great.” Lauren was genuinely pleased about the praise for Zoe.
Just before lunch, Mitch strode into the café. Lauren’s heart fluttered.
“Hi.” He headed to the counter.
“Hi.”
“Brrt?” Annie trotted up to him.
“I don’t need a table today, Annie,” he told her.
“Brrt.” Annie’s lower lip jutted out for a second. Then she sighed and ambled back to her cat bed.
“It hasn’t been too busy today,” Lauren told him. “And Annie had some time off last week when she was keeping me company at home. I think that’s why she was eager to find you a table.”
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.” His brown eyes warmed as he studied her.
“So am I.”
“The reason I’m here – besides saying hello to my girlfriend – is to let you know that my colleague doesn’t think he’ll need any extra information from you. He said Zoe’s statement was very thorough.”
“You mean he’s not scared of catching my cold – although I’m over it now?”
“Let’s just say he doesn’t like getting sick,” he replied, hitching a grin.
“How’s the case going?” Lauren asked him.
“I’m not working on it, so I can’t tell you much. But they’re doing everything possible to catch the killer.”
“That’s good.”
“Are you busy Saturday night? I thought we could go out to dinner.”
“That would be great,” she told him. Then hesitated. “But not that Sacramento restaurant we went to last time, although I loved it.” Especially Mitch giving her the necklace. “Except for the part where that man—”
“I get it,” he assured her. “No worries. You pick the place and time.”
Lauren chose their favorite bistro located on the outskirts of Gold Leaf Valley, and Mitch promised to pick her up at seven-thirty.
***
THAT AFTERNOON, A WOMAN who looked familiar came into the café. Annie greeted her at the Please Wait to be Seated sign, while Lauren racked her brain. She was sure she’d seen this woman recently. Ash brown locks in a wavy bob, and a plump figure. Today the woman wore black slacks and a fuchsia sweater.
“That’s the lady who wants to quilt again,” Zoe murmured to her. “Helen.”
“Of course!” She turned to Zoe. “She was in here after Brooke fixed my hair—”
“And before you caught your cold,” Zoe finished. “She didn’t visit last week, though.”
“She must be really upset about her friend being killed,” Lauren remarked.
“Mm.”
They watched as Helen followed Annie to a small table in the middle of the room.
“Thank you,” she told Annie, sitting down. She looked pensive for a moment, then studied the menu.
“Maybe we should go over,” Lauren whispered to Zoe.
“Good idea.”
Lauren scanned the few tables that were occupied. Nobody seemed to need their attention.
“What can we get you?” Lauren asked as they reached Helen’s table.
“I would love a latte,” the woman said wistfully, “although my friend Paula would have said it’s not good for me.”
“We’re sorry for your loss,” Lauren said awkwardly.
“Thank you.” The woman gave a little smile. “I remember what you told me about being able to drink six coffees per day. So I think I’ll risk a small latte.”
“Would you like anything to eat?” Zoe asked as Lauren wrote down the order.
“Do you have any cupcakes like last time I was here?” the woman’s face brightened. “The cinnamon swirl was delicious.”
They explained how it was Lauren’s first day back at work.
“But there will definitely be cupcakes tomorrow,” Lauren assured her.
“I’ll try to come in again then.”
Zoe sold Helen on Ed’s new pastry, and the duo headed back to the counter.
A woman in her forties, with big wavy brunette hair, bustled into the café, spotted Helen and waved. She ignored the Please Wait to be Seated sign and rushed over to Helen’s table, shrugging off her red coat.
Lauren watched the ladies greet each other as Zoe made the coffee.
“Do you think she’ll come over to order?” Lauren asked.
“Nope.” Zoe shook her head. “I think she’s too busy talking to her friend.”
Lauren furrowed her brow. “Wasn’t she at the salon that day as well when I had my hair trimmed? I think she was under the big hair dryer.”
“Yep, that’s Rhonda. Now all we need is Brooke and Jeff, and everyone at the salon when Paula came in demanding Brooke fix her perm would be here.”
They stared at each other.
Lauren couldn’t help glancing at the door, as if expecting Brooke or Jeff – or both of them – to suddenly materialize. It didn’t happen.
“I’ll go.” Zoe wiggled the milk jug, creating a swan on the surface of the micro foam.
“I’ll come with you.” Lauren plated a pastry.
Annie dozed in her cat bed.
The duo approached the two women.
“Latte and honeyed walnut pastry.” Zoe carefully placed the latte in front of Helen.
“That looks wonderful.” Helen’s face lit up at the sight of the latte art. “How clever!”
“Would you like to order?” Lauren asked Rhonda.
After giving her order of a large cappuccino, Rhonda resumed talking with Helen.
“I was watching a show on TV last night about quilting, and thought about that amazing quilt you made a few years ago. It won first place at the county fair. I wish I could make something like that.” She sighed.
“You could, Rhonda,” Helen replied. “It’s just practice. I made my own designs, but there are plenty of patterns out there you can use, from books, or you can get them for free online.”
“You know, my teenage daughter told me recently she thought she’d seen a pattern just like yours for sale on the internet. I told her it couldn’t have been the same pattern because I’d heard you given up quilting.”
“No, it’s not mine.” Helen looked puzzled. “And that county fair was a few years ago. It must be similar to mine, that’s all. There are plenty of patterns with slight variations, and a lot of people don’t want to pay for a pattern, which is why I didn’t try selling mine. I didn’t think anyone would buy them.” She took a sip of her latte. “I spent a lot of time and money on that quilt, and I was so proud of it, even before I won first prize.” She sighed. “I did give up quilting for a while, but now I’ve decided to delve into it again.”
“That’s wonderful.” Her friend beamed.
Lauren and Zoe headed back to the counter. Lauren made the coffee, while Zoe kept up a stream of chatter, filling her in on all the little things that had happened last week that she hadn’t had time to tell her about.
Lauren took the cappuccino over to Rhonda, who thanked her before resuming her conversation with Helen.
“I can’t wait to sample your new cupcake creation tonight.” Zoe grinned as Lauren joined her behind the espresso machine. “Did you realize we haven’t eaten cupcakes for a whole week?”