Breach of Crust: A Charmed Pie Shoppe Mystery (4 page)

“I can whip up some chicken noodle soup while I’m preparing chicken potpies tomorrow,” she said. “I’ll bring her a container after work.”

Adelaide looked concerned. “If you drop by, Opal is bound to solicit your help in finding Loralyn.”

“How could I be of any use?” Ella Mae was confused.

“By accepting the Elders’ offer,” Verena answered. “If you located another object of power, Loralyn would
undoubtedly turn up to seize it. That girl never could resist a piece of bling.”

Ella Mae recalled a promise she’d made to Opal Gaynor earlier that spring. She’d promised to bring her daughter back to her. To deliver Loralyn unharmed. And she’d failed to keep that promise.

“If she asks for my help, then I’ll give it to her,” Ella Mae said. “Isn’t that what friends do?”

Though her aunts nodded in silent agreement, her mother looked troubled. Her fingertips pressed against one of the clematis flowers on the tablecloth and the petals began to curl inward. Within seconds, the petals had shriveled and turned into pink dust.

Reba swept the flower detritus off the table and shoved her chair back. “Come on, gals! Aren’t we supposed to be havin’ fun? Drink whatever’s left in your glass because I’m goin’ inside for another bottle of wine. It’s the unofficial start of summer. The best time of the year! This is when men wear the fewest clothes. Shorts. Tight T-shirts. Or no shirts at all. Can I get a hallelujah?”

Aunt Verena tossed a balled-up napkin at her. “No, but I second your motion for more vino. What did Horace say? That the Muses smell of wine?” She leaned over and sniffed Sissy’s neck. “My little sister is a muse, and since she smells like garlic bread, you’d better get
two
more bottles!”

*   *   *

The next day, Ella Mae felt as though the balance of her world had been restored. She dropped off Chewy at Canine to Five, tarrying long enough to kiss Hugh in the privacy of his office, and then entered The Charmed Pie Shoppe.

Ella Mae was always the first to arrive, but this morning, Jenny was waiting for her in the kitchen, coffee cup in hand.

“What’s this?” Ella Mae asked. “Is there a midweek wedding I don’t know about?”

“Nah. I wanted to talk girl stuff with you before the rest of the staff got here.” Jenny poured a fresh cup of coffee and put it on the worktable. “I finished the opening chores, so you have a few minutes to relax.”

Ella Mae reached for the jug of cream. “How was last night?”

“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about. About Finn.” Jenny’s mouth curved into a smile. “Lord, Ella Mae. I didn’t want to like him because he had a thing for you. He swears that he doesn’t anymore. He says that he admires you and that he wants to be your friend, but that’s all.”

Hearing this, Ella Mae felt a surge of relief. “That’s good news, right?”

“I guess.” Jenny shrugged. “The truth is that I want to believe him because we had a really great time. He had me laughing for most of the night—and you know how important a sense of humor is to me. On top of that, he’s sweet, smart, and incredibly cute.” She flicked her hair over her shoulder. “Not that I let him know that, of course. I was surprised by how much I liked being with him. And I think he was too.”

“Didn’t you realize that your brother was setting you and Finn up?”

“No! Had I known, I would have slugged the jerk.” Sparks danced in Jenny’s eyes and Ella Mae made a show of leaning away from her. Both Upton siblings could exhibit fiery tempers when they were upset. “Calvin said we were going to a party at Finn’s place, so I expected to be hanging out with a bunch of people, but when we got there, it was just Finn.” Jenny smiled again and the angry glint in her eyes vanished. “Still, it was never awkward. While Calvin was snuggling on the
porch swing with Suzy, Finn and I just picked up a conversation we’d been having the last time I stopped by WoodWorks to see what Calvin was making, and the time flew by.”

Ella Mae took a sip of her coffee and released a contented sigh. “There’s a glow about you this morning—you’re even more electric than usual. I think this is wonderful. For both you and Finn.”

“You do?” Jenny exhaled noisily. “I was hoping you’d say that. But a small part of me worried that it would make things weird between us. Me having a crush on the guy that had a crush on you.”

Ella Mae laughed. “That’s life in a small town. Why do you think Reba’s always itching to get out of Dodge for a few days? She needs a fresh supply of men.”

“I heard that!” Reba shouted from the dining room. She had a key to the front door and had let herself in while Ella Mae and Jenny were speaking.

Giggling, Ella Mae and Jenny stood up, tied on their aprons, and got to work.

*   *   *

That afternoon, Ella Mae biked over to Rolling View, the Gaynors’ estate. Though the Georgian manor house, stables, and the sprawling grounds were as meticulously maintained as ever, Ella Mae sensed an emptiness about the place. No one was walking horses or trimming bushes, and Ella Mae waited a full minute before someone responded to the doorbell.

Finally, a middle-aged woman with short, dark hair and a no-nonsense expression cracked the door and peered out at Ella Mae. “May I help you?”

Because the woman was not dressed in the maid’s uniform Opal usually insisted upon, Ella Mae was instantly suspicious. “I’m Mrs. Gaynor’s neighbor. Who are you?”

“Her nurse. Terri Valdez,” the woman replied without opening the door any wider. “Mrs. Gaynor is sleeping right now.”

Ella Mae was stunned. Why did Opal require the services of a nurse? How sick was she? “She’ll want to see me when she wakes up. I can wait in the library in the meantime. Also, I made her some chicken noodle soup and cheese biscuits.”

“Come in,” Terri said, a trifle reluctantly. Taking the food from Ella Mae, she headed off in the direction of the kitchen.

Ella Mae shut herself in the library and immediately sent a group text message to Reba, her mother, and her aunts, informing them of the situation. She then busied herself looking for books on objects of power but found nothing. She suspected Opal had hidden the rare and unusual items in her collection prior to Terri’s arrival. However, she did locate a book on legendary weapons and managed to read two chapters before Terri entered the library.

“Mrs. Gaynor will see you now.”

Terri led Ella Mae to a second-floor sitting room filled with soft furniture, floral fabrics, and pastel hues. Opal sat in a wing chair by a floor-to-ceiling window with a view of the back gardens. In the afternoon light, the skin of her face looked as fragile as tissue paper. She was frighteningly thin—a fact she tried to conceal by dressing in a billowy robe—but one glance at her bony wrists and gaunt cheeks, made it clear that Opal had lost an alarming amount of weight.

“Why haven’t you told anyone that your illness was this serious?” Ella Mae asked gently.

Opal flashed a wry smile. “Still acting the queen, are we?” She indicated the chair opposite hers. “Thank you for coming. And for making me soup. That was very thoughtful. Unfortunately, as you’ve undoubtedly noticed, I don’t have much of an appetite.”

“Can I do anything to help you?”

“Unless you’ve found a cure for cancer, you can’t help. No one can,” Opal said. Ella Mae was struck dumb, but Opal nodded as though she’d spoken and continued, “It took me by surprise too. I thought I had a late-season flu. A very long-lasting flu. I was tired all the time and my body ached.” She made a circular motion across her torso. “But the source of my discomfort is tumors. Apparently, they’re everywhere.”

Ella Mae’s eyes filled with tears.

“Don’t do that,” Opal protested sternly. “Don’t make me wish we were enemies again.” She beckoned to Terri. “Would you get Ms. LeFaye a glass of water, please?”

The distraction allowed Ella Mae to master her emotions, and by the time Terri returned with the water, she was able to speak calmly. “When did you find out?”

“About a month ago. It’s a damned nuisance too. I have so much to do.” Opal flicked her wrist dismissively, as though cancer were a fly she might shoo away. But then, a shadow passed over her face and her shoulders sagged. Dropping all pretense of bravado, she clasped her hands in a plaintive gesture. “I want to see my girl. Will you find her for me? I want to make peace with Loralyn before I die.”

Ella Mae started to object, but Opal shushed her. “There’s no time for platitudes. Look at me.”

There was such naked fear in Opal’s eyes that Ella Mae could do nothing but nod.

“Good.” Opal leaned back in her chair, obviously exhausted. Terri took a step toward her, but Opal asked her to leave the room for a few minutes. Once she was gone, Opal stared intently at Ella Mae. “I knew you’d keep your promise. Do you remember what you said?”

“That I’d do everything in my power to bring Loralyn back to you.” Ella Mae’s voice was solemn. “However, as you know, I no longer have any power.”

Opal smirked. “While that is unfortunate, you
do
have influence. Your fame is widespread and you can use your celebrity statue to find Loralyn and bring her home to me.”

She held out her hand, silently imploring, and Ella Mae took it in her own.

“You once said that love is stronger than magic,” Opal whispered. “I love my daughter, and I’d trade every ounce of power I possess to see her once more. Tell me. Is there any hope?”

“There’s always hope,” Ella Mae said, gently squeezing Opal’s hand.

At that moment, Terri returned and declared that Opal should rest. Ella Mae said that she’d show herself out and quietly left the room.

As she biked home from Rolling View, tears blurring her vision, Ella Mae prayed that she could keep her promise to a dying woman.

Throughout the next day, Ella Mae was haunted by the memory of Opal Gaynor’s fragility. As soon as the pie shop closed, she met with the Elders and promised to serve as their ambassador in exchange for their help in locating Loralyn.

“We’ve already been through this with Opal,” said one of the Elders, a high school principal. “We put the word out when Loralyn first left Havenwood. Her photograph was sent to Elders across the region. They agreed to forward it to their neighboring communities. However, seeing as Loralyn is unlikely to replenish her magic until the autumn equinox, there’s little chance of spotting her unless she enters a grove.”

“And the Mabon festival is months away,” another Elder, the head of the local library, added. “So Ms. Gaynor could be anywhere.”

Verena’s mouth formed a deep frown. It was an expression of disapproval that could make even her husband,
Havenwood’s mayor, squirm like a chastised child. “Opal was instrumental in mending the rift between our two families,” she said. “It’s our duty to reunite her with her daughter. If that means waiting until September to locate Loralyn, then we must find a way to buy Opal some time. Isn’t there one among us who can heal her?”

A third Elder, who was a physician by trade, shook her head. “Not even the strongest healer can cure disease. We can lessen the severity of wounds. Decrease pain. Speed the natural course of healing. But there has yet to be one of our kind who could rid a body of cancer. Opal’s fate cannot be changed by magic.”

“But I believe it could be changed by an object of power,” Ella Mae said quietly. “Take what I say with a grain of salt because the stories and legends surrounding these objects are as varied and flawed as the tales about us. About you.” Her cheeks turned hot over the blunder. “Suzy, who owns The Cubbyhole, has been reading about these objects for years, and when she and I researched Arthur’s sword this spring, we learned that most of the objects were created to heal, purify, or unify. I’ll ask Suzy to help me find one of these objects. As most of you know, my best friend has a photographic memory. I’d also like permission to inform Hugh Dylan of my activities.”

The Elders exchanged anxious glances, Verena included.

“I promised him that there’d be no more lies between us,” Ella Mae explained. “Plus, he can help us. Hugh traveled around Europe last year searching for an object. Along the way, he made friends. Those connections could prove valuable if Suzy and I come up with a concrete lead.”

Reluctantly, the Elders nodded in assent.

“I’ll do whatever I can to find these objects, but I won’t allow my business or my relationships to suffer as a result
of the search,” Ella Mae concluded firmly. She held out her unblemished palm where the burn scar shaped like a four-leaf clover had once marked her skin and then balled her hand into a tight fist. “In the meantime, please find a healer to minister to Opal. There must be someone who can slow the spread of her disease. If she has several months—”

“She has weeks at most,” Verena said in an uncharacteristically soft voice. “But we’ll find a specialist. If her pride hadn’t kept her from asking for help before you showed up at Rolling View, her fate might have been different.”

Following a long moment of sorrow-tinged silence, one of the Elders pointed at the remains of his strawberry cheesecake tart. “Your food still tastes enchanted.”

“Thank you.” Ella Mae smiled at the compliment and began to clear the dirty dishes.

After the meeting, Ella Mae walked to The Cubbyhole Book & Gift Shop.

The store was bustling with both locals and tourists. Suzy was busy assisting a mother and her two preteen children make selections from a display called, “Adventures in Reading: Better Than Video Games!”

“What’s cool about this book is that it’s part graphic novel, part thriller,” Suzy was saying to the mother, but her gaze was fixed on the boy. “If you like the
Star Wars
or
Avatar
movies, then you’ll enjoy the entire series.”

“They’re okay,” the boy said, referring to the films. Despite his bored tone, he reached out for the book and Suzy passed it to him with a nonchalant air before turning to his sister.

“And you’re into horses?”

The girl shrugged. “Yeah, but I’ve read, like,
every
horse book in the world.”

Suzy grinned, clearly delighted by the idea of a challenge. She began reciting classic titles like
Black Beauty
,
The Black
Stallion
,
National Velvet
,
Misty of Chincoteague
, and so on. The girl had read them all. Finally, Suzy asked, “How about
The Phantom Stallion
?”

The girl furrowed her brow. “Never heard of that one.”

“Come with me!” Suzy beckoned to her. “I have the first three books in the series over here.”

A few minutes later, while the grateful mother paid Suzy’s assistant for a stack of new books, Suzy joined Ella Mae by the reading chairs in the front of the store.

“Sit down so I can fill you in on Calvin’s matchmaking scheme,” she said with a mischievous grin. “He has this crazy idea that all six of us will be paired off by the end of the summer. You and Hugh. Me and Calvin. Jenny and Finn. Three couples headed for our happily ever afters.”

Ella Mae gestured toward the children’s section. “The fairy tales don’t explain how unpredictable the
after
part is. Or how a woman’s life is made up of more elements than pretty ball gowns and handsome princes. Life is hard, messy, and complicated. It’s also beautiful and full of wonder.” She waved her hands. “Sorry, I think I’m rambling because I’m facing a major challenge.” Lowering her voice to a whisper, she said, “The Elders have asked for my help, and I have no hope of succeeding at this task without you.”

Ella Mae didn’t finish describing her task before Suzy exclaimed, “Count me in! You know I have tons of material on those objects. When do we start?”

“Tonight? I’ll order pizza and buy a bottle of wine.”

Seeing a line forming at the register, Suzy moved to go. “You know the way to my heart. I’ll bring ice cream. Peanut butter cup or mocha chocolate chip?”

“Both,” Ella Mae said. “We have lots of work to do and time is short.”

*   *   *

Two weeks later, Ella Mae’s new schedule was already wearing her down. She spent her days working at the pie shop and divided her nights and weekends between researching objects of power, surfing the Internet for traces of Loralyn, and hanging out with Hugh.

She was so busy that she had no choice but to push all thoughts of Beatrice Burbank and the Camellia Club to the back of her mind. It wasn’t until Reba told her that Jon Hardy and several of his fellow police officers were enjoying a late lunch on the patio that Ella Mae remembered the investigation.

“Would you ask him to come into the kitchen when he’s done with his meal?” Ella Mae asked.

Reba grinned. “Already did. I knew you’d want to talk to him. He’s payin’ the bill right now, so it’ll only be a minute. Also, Jenny’s gone off-site to meet with a bride, and I told the college kids to take their break. They went to grab a burger before teatime.”

Scooping up a slice of boysenberry pie for another customer, Reba left the kitchen.

She soon returned with Officer Hardy. “I’ll be out back havin’ a candy break if you need me,” she told Ella Mae as she opened the door leading to the parking lot.

Hardy raised his brows. “Is that code for a smoke break?”

“No. Reba’s addicted to red licorice twists. She has been since I was a kid.” Ella Mae used a dishrag to wipe flour off a stool and waited for Hardy to sit before speaking. “I wanted to ask you for an update on Bea’s case. I hope that’s not out of line,” she hurriedly added. “I know I’m not a family member or anything.”

“You’re a citizen of this town, so that gives you the right.
And the answer is quite simple. The case is closed. As of yesterday. Mrs. Burbank’s death was ruled an accident. The official cause was death by accidental drowning. The medical examiner found a large contusion on the back of Mrs. Burbank’s head, so she may have lost consciousness while in the water. Her blood contained no traces of alcohol or drugs. The truth is that we don’t know exactly what happened. It’s unlikely we ever will.”

Ella Mae picked up her potholders and squeezed them. “What if someone hit her hard and then pushed her in the water? Wouldn’t that account for the injury and the drowning?”

“Yes,” Hardy agreed. “But we found no evidence of foul play. No one saw Mrs. Burbank near the lake. The last time someone at the resort laid eyes on her, she was in the dining room having supper. Her waitress stated that Mrs. Burbank appeared to be in good spirits and that she left a generous tip. All the staff concurred that she was extremely courteous and seemed like a contented person. We discovered nothing unusual in her room.”

“What about the Camellia Club?” The ruling perturbed Ella Mae. How could the case be closed? She didn’t believe Bea’s death was an accident. Not after speaking with Liz. “Were any of its members at the resort when she was killed?”

Hardy released an exasperated sigh. “To our knowledge, none of them were present when Mrs. Burbank met with her tragic end. And before you ask, we did not launch a joint investigation with the Sweet Briar Police Department. I would hardly instigate such an act based on a statement made by Mrs. Burbank’s bereaved daughter. People say all sorts of things during moments of acute grief.” He paused. “I’ve spoken with Mrs. Fisher several times since her mother’s
passing. It’s clear that theirs was a complicated relationship. Not only that, but Mrs. Fisher wasn’t close to her mother at the time of her death and wasn’t familiar with her friends, activities, or movements.”

Though Ella Mae hated to admit it, she couldn’t find fault with Hardy’s reasoning. “But what if Bea’s death wasn’t accidental?” she asked softly. “I understand the ruling, but it doesn’t create closure. Not for me, at least. And I suspect Liz’s feelings will be magnified to the umpteenth degree.”

“I wish there’d been a different outcome, Ms. LeFaye.” Hardy stood. “But police investigations aren’t always resolved to everyone’s satisfaction. We can’t always provide closure. Many times, there are doubts. There are unanswered questions. I have plenty myself. They often keep me up at night.”

This unsolicited bit of personal information came as a surprise to Ella Mae, and she smiled to show that she appreciated his candor.

“I didn’t mean to imply that you hadn’t done your best by Bea,” Ella Mae said. “I know that you and your team did all you could. This outcome is just hard to accept.”

“Even so, I don’t recommend launching an independent investigation, Ms. LeFaye. From the little I did learn of the Camellia Club, their membership is built on a tradition of power and wealth that stretches back for generations. I doubt they’d tolerate meddling from an outsider, and I’d hate to think of how they’d respond to slanderous accusations. My advice? Let it go.”

Knowing there was nothing left to say, Ella Mae nodded and walked Hardy into the now empty dining room.

In the brief lull between lunch and teatime, The Charmed Pie Shoppe staff restocked the pie cases, wiped off the café tables, and swept the floors. Ella Mae had hired the same
college students she’d employed during the previous summer, but since neither Maddie nor Royce had returned from their burger run and Reba was still outside eating licorice and undoubtedly sexting her latest lover, Ella Mae took care of the tasks herself.

She was just putting the broom back in the supply closet when the phone rang. Grabbing an order pad and a pencil, Ella Mae answered the call. “The Charmed Pie Shoppe, Ella Mae LeFaye speaking. May I help you?”

“You most certainly may!” a woman declared enthusiastically. “My name is Julia Eudailey and I’m secretary of the Camellia Club. I thought I should reach out to see if you had any questions about your contract. I’ll be mailing you a hard copy shortly, and I apologize for the delay. Club business was put on hold while Bea’s estate was being settled. I don’t know how attorneys can wade through all that paperwork. And I thought real estate was bad!” She laughed, and when Ella Mae didn’t join in, she grew concerned. “Ms. LeFaye? Are you there?”

Ella Mae had been lost in the memory of the night she’d handed her contract to the desk clerk at Lake Havenwood Resort. “I’m sorry. I hadn’t realized the retreat was still on.”

“Oh, yes! Bea wouldn’t want it any other way. In fact, we’ve added a celebration of life ceremony to our list of events. We plan to commemorate Bea’s service before we elect our next president.” She paused. “I hope you’re still available for those dates. The Camellias are looking forward to working with the three chefs Bea selected.”

There was a hint of warning in Julia’s tone and Ella Mae sensed she was being reminded that she’d signed a contract. Julia went on to add, “I’m sure Bea told you that several young women are depending on our scholarship fund. And then there’s the poor girl who was burned—”

“I wouldn’t dream of canceling,” Ella Mae cut in quickly. “I’m fully committed to helping that young lady.”

“Wonderful!” Julia trilled. “In that case, I’ll see you in August. If there’s anything you need before then, give me a jingle. In addition to the contract, I’m going to mail you an itinerary and my contact information. Of course, the Camellias would be honored if you’d attend Bea’s celebration ceremony. We heard how courageous you were the night you pulled her out of the lake.”

“Of course.” Ella Mae flashed on an image of Liz in the pie shop’s garden, her face etched with grief. “Will her daughter be at the ceremony as well?”

Without the slightest hesitation, Julia answered, “Oh no. It’s only for club members. Bea’s
public
memorial service took place last Saturday. The church was packed to capacity. I hope Elizabeth realized just how many amazing things her mother accomplished during her time as president.”

Despite the knowledge that she’d be helping a burn victim, Ella Mae now regretted her decision to be involved in the Camellia Club’s annual retreat. Having spoken with Julia Eudailey, she was reticent to meet the rest of the club members. She remembered Liz saying that she’d wished her mother had invested a fraction of the energy she devoted to philanthropic ventures in forging a relationship with her grandsons, and almost repeated this comment to Julia, but Ella Mae bit back the words. What was the point? Bea was gone. Ella Mae couldn’t do anything to repair the damaged relationship between mother and daughter, and she needed to focus on her promise to Opal. To reunite another mother and daughter before it was too late.