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THAT EVENING, LAUREN and Annie stayed in the kitchen after dinner. Zoe was in the living room, watching a crime drama while making another bracelet.
“Let’s get started.” Lauren smiled at Annie.
“Brrt!” Annie hopped onto a chair and watched as Lauren got out the mixer and the ingredients required to make cupcakes.
“Here’s the lavender.” Lauren showed Annie the packets of culinary lavender seeds and lavender sprigs.
Annie watched intently as Lauren whipped up the batter. Last time she’d “helped” with a new recipe for Norwegian Apple cake, Annie had stuck her head into the bowl and gotten batter on her whiskers. This time, however, she seemed to remember what had happened, and didn’t attempt to peer into the mixing bowl.
Lauren spooned the batter into the cupcake pan and slid it into the oven.
“I can’t wait to try them,” she told Annie.
“Me, neither.” Zoe appeared in the doorway. “Want a hand doing the dishes?”
“That would be great,” Lauren admitted. Maybe making cupcakes tonight had been overdoing it a little, since it was her first day back at the café.
They finished washing the dishes, Annie watching them, before the oven timer dinged.
“Now are you going to tell me what kind they are?” Zoe studied the pan as Lauren got it out of the oven.
“Lavender.”
“You haven’t made those before.” Zoe’s brown eyes lit up.
“I hope they work,” Lauren admitted.
“Brrt!”
Once the cakes had cooled, Lauren and Zoe dug in.
“Mmm,” Zoe mumbled around a mouthful. “And you haven’t even put frosting on them.”
“I was thinking of fondant icing, with a sprig on top for decoration.”
“Genius!”
“Brrt!” Annie patted the package that contained the edible flowers.
Lauren put away the remainder of the cakes, before calling it a night.
“I think we should get up a bit earlier tomorrow,” Zoe told her, a secretive look on her face. “I’ve got something in mind.”
Lauren briefly wondered what her cousin was up to before sleep claimed her.
***
LAUREN HAD SET THE alarm thirty minutes earlier than usual, and struggled for a moment to get up when the buzzer woke her. No edging of sunlight around the corners of her drapes, either.
“Something in mind,” Lauren mumbled as she munched on whole-wheat toast at the kitchen table. The only thing she slightly disliked about the café was the early starts. She didn’t even want to know what time it was on the kitchen clock. Probably just after seven, and she’d already showered and dressed.
“I thought I could get my hair cut this morning,” Zoe announced.
Lauren and Annie stared at her.
“But the café opens at nine-thirty,” Lauren reminded her, the piece of toast halfway to her mouth.
“And Brooke opens at nine,” Zoe countered. “So, I was thinking, we can get set up first, and then run down to the salon just before nine, and be her first customers!”
“Unless she already has appointments booked,” Lauren cautioned.
“She said last week she wasn’t getting any clients,” Zoe replied. “So I’ll be her first one today.”
“Okay,” Lauren said. “Why not?” She could always race back to the café before nine-thirty if it looked like Zoe was going to be stuck at the salon for a while.
“Thanks, boss.” Zoe grinned.
After breakfast, they trooped down the private hallway to the café.
“I’ll make some cupcakes,” Lauren said, heading into the commercial kitchen.
“I’ll get everything ready out here,” Zoe told her.
Annie jumped into her pink cat bed, ready to supervise Zoe.
Lauren whipped up vanilla cupcakes, then her popular triple chocolate ganache creations. She wished she could make the lavender ones this morning, but was worried she wouldn’t have enough time since she and Zoe were going to the salon.
You could always stay here and keep making cupcakes, her sensible voice told her.
But Lauren thought it would be nice to see Brooke. And soon Ed would arrive, and he liked having the kitchen to himself.
This afternoon she’d make up the lavender batter so it would be easy to bake them first thing tomorrow.
After the cupcakes came out of the oven, she placed the pan on a wire rack.
The back door opened and Ed clumped into the kitchen.
“Hi Ed,” she called out.
“Hi, Lauren.” He nodded.
“How’s AJ?”
“She’s good.” A brief smile. “I think she liked her play date with Annie the other weekend.”
“She’s welcome anytime,” Lauren told him. “Annie enjoyed spending time with her.”
She told him how she and Zoe were running down to the salon before nine-thirty.
“No problem,” he told her. “I’ll be here.”
“Ready?” Zoe poked her head into the kitchen. “Hi, Ed.”
“Hi.” He was already pulling out flour and sugar, and placing it on the work table.
Lauren left the kitchen, not wanting to disturb Ed when he was in the zone.
“Let’s go.”
“What about Annie?” Lauren frowned and looked over at her. The silver-gray tabby sat in her bed, her ears pricked and a questioning look on her face. “Will you be okay here if Zoe and I quickly go to the hair salon and come back by opening time? Or do you want to go back to the cottage?”
“Brrt.” Annie turned around in a circle and sank down into the cat bed.
“Annie can mind the café for us.” Zoe winked at the cat.
“Brrp!”
“The door will be locked, and Ed is in the kitchen,” Lauren told Annie. “You’ll be safe in here.”
“Brrt.” I know.
They hurried down the street to the salon.
“We’re sure to be her first customers.” Zoe charged ahead.
Lauren struggled to keep up. Maybe she needed to do some more exercise, although after a full day at the café, she didn’t feel like doing much, unless it involved knitting, or watching TV with Zoe. Or going on a date with Mitch.
Lauren panted as they reached the salon.
“She’s open,” Zoe crowed, yanking open the door and zipping inside.
“High, high.” A familiar blonde toddler clapped her hands as the chair she sat in cranked higher and higher.
“Hi, Zoe, and Lauren.” Claire, an athletic woman, greeted them. She had blonde hair like her daughter, and was dressed in pale blue track pants with a matching jacket.
“Zoe! Lauren!” Molly clapped her hands again.
Lauren waved, catching her breath.
“Where Annie?” Molly pouted.
“Minding the café,” Lauren managed.
Molly giggled.
“Hi.” Brooke approached them. Apart from Claire and Molly, they were the only customers in the place.
Zoe explained how she thought she would be the first customer.
“Ordinarily, you would,” Brooke confessed. “But I opened a few minutes before nine this morning, and Molly and Claire came in straight away.”
“I thought this might be a good time to get Molly’s hair cut,” Claire explained, “when it would be quiet.”
“I understand.” Zoe nodded. “I can come back another time.”
“Why don’t you stay?” Lauren touched her cousin’s arm. “I’m sure I can manage on my own for a while. You did last week.”
“If you’re sure,” Zoe said doubtfully.
“Of course I am.” She was convinced she was completely over her cold. “I can handle it.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Zoe grinned.
They all chatted with Brooke as she wrapped a pink cape around Molly.
“I thought those types of hair dryers were old-fashioned.” Zoe pointed to the big hooded hair dryer on the opposite side of the salon. “But there was a woman sitting under it when Lauren was here getting a trim – Rhonda.”
“They’re making a comeback,” Brooke told her. “I inherited it from Sandra, the previous owner, when I bought the salon, and thought it a shame to get rid of it. I was a little surprised when one of my first customers requested it, though. But no one has since.”
“I’m sure they will,” Lauren told her.
Brooke combed Molly’s hair.
“Just a little trim,” Claire told her.
“Of course.” Brooke smiled. She turned to Lauren and Zoe. “By the way, I’ve arranged a hair appointment with Mrs. Finch at her house.”
“Awesome! Brooke cut Lauren’s hair,” Zoe told Claire.
“That’s right.” Lauren nodded. “I love it.” She patted her hair. Especially after Brooke had saved her from her cousin’s trim gone wrong.
“I’ll need a haircut in a few weeks,” Claire said, watching her daughter. Molly sat still, her eyes big and round as she stared at herself and Brooke in the large mirror.
“Then you must come here,” Zoe told her.
“I hope you do,” Brooke told Claire. “But it’s okay if you prefer going somewhere else. After what happened here last week – with Paula—” she kept her voice low “—I’m surprised I have any customers at all.”
“It must be tough to start a business in a new town,” Zoe remarked.
Lauren nodded. She’d inherited her grandmother’s café and had often come down to visit Gramms and help out, so she’d been a known quantity to the townsfolk when she took over.
“I really want this salon to be successful,” Brooke told them. “I didn’t have enough savings to buy this place, so my parents lent me the rest of the money. They said it would be better than trying to get a business loan, as I wouldn’t be paying interest. But I want to pay them back as soon as possible.”
“Of course,” Lauren murmured.
Brooke finished cutting Molly’s hair.
“That looks perfect.” Claire admired her daughter’s slightly trimmed locks, the golden curls kept intact. “Thank you.”
“Down, down,” Molly called, waving her chubby arms in the air.
Brooke whisked the cape off the toddler and cranked down the chair.
“Fank you.” Molly beamed at the stylist.
“Thank you,” Brooke told her, “for sitting so still.”
Lauren checked her practical white watch. “I’ve got to run. It’s nearly nine-thirty!”
She made her goodbyes, and jogged down the street, hoping there weren’t any customers waiting impatiently.
By the time she reached the cafe, she was out of breath – again. I must do something about my fitness, she chided herself. But all thoughts of exercise fled when she saw Mitch standing there.
***
AFTER MAKING MITCH a latte and telling him about their dash to the salon, she watched him stride out of the café, heading to work.
“How many customers do you think we’ll get today, Annie?”
“Brrt.” Lots.
Annie’s prediction came true. When Zoe rushed in after her haircut, Lauren already had three orders for coffee.
“Sorry.” Zoe joined Lauren behind the counter, her pixie cut looking a little shorter, but bouncier. “What can I do?”
“Plate the cupcakes.” Lauren nodded at the orders on the workspace.
The morning passed quickly. They sold out of cupcakes at the end of lunch, as well as Ed’s pastries.
Lauren sank down on a stool during a brief lull in the afternoon. Zoe sat on the matching stool, dangling her feet.
“It’s as if everyone knew you made cupcakes today.” Zoe grinned.
“I should have made more,” Lauren chided herself.
“Don’t be so hard on yourself.”
Although Annie had been correct about lots of customers that morning, the afternoon proved to be a little different. Only two women arrived separately in the next hour, giving Lauren plenty of time to plan tomorrow’s cupcake offerings.
The entrance door opened and Jeff walked up to the Please Wait to be Seated sign.
“Brrt.” Annie ran up to him.
“Okay,” he told her.
Annie swiveled and led the way through the empty café, pausing at a four-seater in the middle of the room.
“Brrt,” she encouraged.
“Um ...thanks.” Jeff pulled out a chair and sat down.
Zoe tapped Lauren on the arm. “Look!”
Lauren returned Zoe’s tap. “Double look!”
Rhonda stepped into the café.
“Brrt.” Annie trotted to greet the newcomer.
“Aren’t you cute.” Rhonda bent to greet her.
“Brrt.” Yes.
Annie sashayed through the café, until she reached Jeff’s table.
“Brrt.”
Lauren raised her eyebrow as she glanced at her cousin. Annie’s seating decision was a tad unusual, especially since there were plenty of tables to choose from.
“Huh,” Zoe murmured.
Lauren watched Rhonda and Jeff greet each other. Were they a trifle awkward? She wasn’t sure.
“I’ll go over,” Zoe stage-whispered.
Lauren accompanied her cousin as they approached the table.
“I want to thank you once again for delivering Baxley,” Rhonda said to Jeff. “It can’t have been easy for you not telling anyone, especially after Paula’s – death – but I really appreciate—”
“What can we get you?” Zoe asked in a chipper voice.
“We can take your orders.” Lauren whipped out her pad.
“Oh – um ...” Rhonda tapped a mauve polished fingernail on the laminated menu.
“A large latte would be great,” Jeff said.
“I’ll have the same,” Rhonda said. “Do you have any cupcakes?”
“They’re sold out,” Zoe told her. “So are the pastries.”
“That’s too bad.” Rhonda sighed.
Lauren and Zoe glanced at each other. Annie had departed for her cat bed. Lauren worried that this morning’s influx of customers might have tired her out a little.
“It was sad about Paula, wasn’t it?” Zoe made conversation. “Did you know her very well, Rhonda?”
Lauren frowned at the interrogation. What was her cousin up to?
“A little,” Rhonda admitted. “She could be – I know I shouldn’t speak ill of the dead, but she could be a difficult person at times.”
“That’s for sure,” Jeff said morosely. “She cleaned me out in the divorce. Said being a florist wasn’t a real job, and I should get it together. It’s amazing my lawyer managed to retain the shop for me.”
“Have you heard if the police have any new leads?” Zoe pressed. “We haven’t, have we, Lauren?”
“No.” Lauren shook her head.
“Me neither,” Rhonda told them. “But I think there might have been plenty of people who wished they could kill Paula at one time or another.”
“Yeah.” Jeff nodded. “The police have looked at me pretty hard, but I had an alibi.” He swiftly glanced at Rhonda.
“That’s right. He was delivering flowers to my—” Rhonda paused, grimacing. “I don’t think there’s any point lying about it now. The police know the truth.”
“Thanks.” Relief flitted across Jeff’s face.
“Lying about what?” Lauren asked.
“Jeff has an alibi and so do I. But it’s not exactly the one he mentioned last week. He told me you asked where he was when Paula was murdered.”
“Oh?” Zoe questioned.
“My husband wanted to adopt a dog from the local shelter. I thought it was a great idea, so we visited and fell in love with a beagle mix called Baxley. The shelter checked us out and did a home visit, all the usual things these days when you want to adopt a pet. My husband thought Baxley was arriving after his birthday, but the shelter called me and said we could pick him up a couple of days earlier if we wanted. So I thought it would be fun to surprise him on his birthday with Baxley.”
“What was the problem?” Zoe wrinkled her brow.
“The problem was Paula.” Rhonda’s mouth tightened. “I don’t know her as well as Helen does, but when I told her we were adopting, she said she’d been thinking of getting a dog, so why not get one from the shelter? She apparently fell in love with Baxley.”
“Oh,” Lauren murmured.
“She was furious when she found out that we were already being assessed as suitable owners for him. I don’t think she realized that adopting a dog is a bit of a process these days. She even told me that she really wanted Baxley and why didn’t I and my husband choose a different dog?”
“No way,” Zoe breathed.
“I told her we’d just heard that we were approved to be Baxley’s new owners and that it was now going to be a surprise for my husband’s birthday. So you know what she did?”
“I don’t want to know,” Jeff muttered.
“She posted all over social media that we were adopting Baxley and how happy she was for us.” Rhonda snorted. “Yeah, right. She was hoping to ruin my husband’s surprise. I’m just lucky he’s not into social media, so he didn’t see her posts.”
“So what did you lie about, Jeff?” Zoe probed.
Jeff flushed. “I was delivering Baxley to Rhonda’s house at the time of Paula’s murder, not flowers. That’s all. I told the police the truth, but ...” he hesitated, “... I had the flower alibi already prepared before I knew Paula was killed. In case one of her friends saw me in Rhonda’s neighborhood and reported back to my ex-wife.”
“But why would they do that?” Lauren asked.
“To get on her good side,” Jeff said. “Not all of them. Not Rhonda, and I always liked Helen – I don’t think she would spy on Paula’s behalf, although Paula kept borrowing things from her. But even though we were divorced, Paula seemed to like keeping tabs on me.”
“Huh.” Zoe thought it over. “Like the day we were at the salon and you delivered the flowers to Brooke. Paula wanted to know what you were doing there.”
“Exactly.” Jeff looked miserable. “The day my divorce was final was the happiest day of my life.”
“Paula also borrowed a couple of things from me.” Rhonda drummed her fingers on the table. “Like my new hair dryer. It was expensive, too. I never got it back.”
“Why did you lend it to her?” Zoe probed.
“She had a way of making you feel that if you didn’t do her a favor, you were the meanest person in the world. I’d run into Paula and Helen at the market, and told them about my new hair dryer. Paula said hers had stopped working and she didn’t have time to go shopping for a new one, so could she borrow mine because she had a special event the next day. So I lent it to her, and that was the last time I saw it. Whenever I asked her about it, she’d keep making excuses as to why she hadn’t returned it. Eventually I stopped asking, but I never forgot about it.”
They left Rhonda and Jeff and headed to the counter.
“I think we’re going to have a lot to talk about tonight.” Zoe ground the coffee beans into the portafilter.
“Definitely,” Lauren agreed.