One week later…
“Can you believe that?” Gran tapped the front of the newspaper, The Star Lake Gazette. “They couldn’t even catch the woman with all that testimony.”
“You’ve got to admit that ‘the mugger who got away’ is a catchy headline for a newspaper article,” Sue replied, taking a sip of coffee.
“It’s a slap in the face. If anything, the newspaper should be focusing on how fantastic Milly was during all of this.” Gran beamed at me. “A local hero.”
My cheeks heated. “Come on, Gran, that’s not true.”
And I didn’t want anyone talking too much about my contribution. I’d managed to play off me catching Marie with a shameful lie. Namely that I’d been out walking when I’d heard a commotion and encountered her.
Of course, Marie would dispute that but the evidence was overwhelming. She had murdered both Bob and Angela, maple syrup and all.
The bell over the door in my father’s cafe tinkled, and two women entered. They stopped just inside, looking around, awkwardly, and I could barely believe my eyes. Customers? Here? Could it be true?
“Good morning,” I said. “May I help you ladies? Would you like a table? A waffle?”
“Waffle?”
“Well, sure.” I gestured to the waffle station. “We make them fresh and you get to top them with whatever you like.”
“That sounds great,” the woman on the right said.
Her friend, hair in tight curls against her scalp, shook her head. “Just coffee for me. I’m not a sweet tooth like Gertrude.”
“You can pick any table you like,” I said, easily, trying not to come off desperate. The more natural I acted, the more likely they’d be to return. I really wanted to establish a cozy, comforting atmosphere to match my father’s strange aesthetic.
The women took seats, and I swept out from behind the counter, bringing them their menus. “You said you wanted a coffee?” I turned to the customer with the curly hair. “Any type in particular? I’ve got lattes, cappuccinos and more.”
“Just an Americano for me,” the woman replied, then glanced around the place. “I like that you didn’t change the decor. Frank would’ve been happy about that.”
“Thank you. I like it too.” I showed Gertrude how the waffle station worked, then put an order in for a waffle from a very excitable Francesca.
Our first real customers! Had the bad luck finally lifted? I could scarcely believe it.
“Big couple of weeks,” I said, once I’d rejoined Gran and Sue. “My first customers and my name cleared.”
“Cleared by you and not the police,” Gran said.
“I can’t fathom how you did it, Milly. I know you were a police officer, but to go out of your way and connect the dots like that… I’m impressed.”
I smiled at Sue. “It felt like good luck, honestly.”
“Whatever it was, you did it. You should be proud of yourself.” Gran patted my arm.
“Well, it doesn’t matter. I’ll never have to do that again.” I finished preparing the coffee for my customer and took it over. It was wonderful to serve someone, and I couldn’t help the extra pep in my step as a result.
And things only got better from there. The bell above the glass door tinkled so many times after that, I lost count. People were in the cafe. They wanted food. They wanted service. They wanted to enjoy themselves.
By closing time, I was thoroughly exhausted and equally happy. People had enjoyed the food and atmosphere. If the Starlight Cafe continued having days like this…
“Goodnight, Milly!” Fran waved as she headed out the door. “Can’t wait for tomorrow.”
“Me neither!” I replied.
I headed into the kitchen to hang up my apron, and the ring of the bell drew my attention. Alarm bells went off.
What if this was another customer who wound up getting killed in the cafe? That’s highly unlikely.
Regardless, I rushed out into the cafe and nearly ran right into a man.
“Whoa. You’ve got to stop running into me like that.” Luca, the stunningly handsome newcomer in Star Lake, smiled at me, his blue eyes twinkling. “Hi, by the way.”
“Hello.” I swallowed. “How are you?”
“I’m good. Sorry our date got cut short at the boating blowout. I would’ve called you, but I didn’t have your number, and Sue wasn’t giving it out.”
“Oh?”
“Yeah. So, how are you?”
I hesitated then broke out into a smile. “I’m good, actually. Great. It was a good day.”
“I’m glad to hear it.”
Tension drifted between us.
“I was hoping to catch you here,” he said. “Would you like to have coffee with me some time? Finish our chat from the lake the other day?”
Did I want to do that yet? Luca was well-meaning and sweet, but there was so much else for me to focus on right now. There was the cafe, mourning my father, and then my uncertainty about personal relationships, especially with men.
“Luca,” I said, “I like you. You’re sweet and nice, and… easy on the eyes.”
He ran his fingers through his hair and chuckled. “I like where you’re going with this.”
“But I’m just not ready to date yet. So thanks for asking, but I’ll have to take a raincheck. For now.”
Luca’s smile faltered for only a second. “Sure. I get that.”
“Thanks,” I said. “Maybe another time.”
“I’ll see you around.” He strolled from the cafe, easy as can be, and lifted a hand.
“See you,” I called back, then folded my arms to my chest, biting my bottom lip and holding back my joy. Today had been a good day. Gran was happy. Waffle was waiting at home. Sue had gone back to her loving family and would stop by in the morning. And the cafe? It was going to be a success. I just had to work hard enough. Believe enough. Respect my father’s legacy enough.
So much had happened in the span of a few weeks, but for the first time since I’d moved to Star Lake, I was finally starting to feel at home.
Milly, Waffle, Sue and Gran continue their adventures in Vanilla Sprinkle Murder. Click here to get it!