Devil's Food Murder: A Frosted Love Cozy Mystery - Book 10 (Frosted Love Cozy Mysteries) (7 page)

Chas’s injuries were healing nicely, plans for Althea Browning’s wedding were coming together better than Missy could’ve imagined, and business at both shops was booming. It was such a simple pleasure to be manning the counter at the Dellville shop, Crème de la Cupcake, while Chris took his lunch break, and Ben, the manager, packed up a massive order for delivery.

Missy looked up when the bell at the front door jangled, signaling the arrival of customers. A gaggle of women came in, talking, laughing, and commenting about the heavenly scent inside the shop.

“Hello!” Missy called out. “Looks like you ladies are having a good day,” she said to the group of five gals who looked to be around her age. “How can I help you?”

A casually elegant woman dressed in capris and a sleeveless summer-weight sweater stepped forward. “I’m Sally Higgins,” she said extending her hand. Missy took it and introduced herself. “This crazy bunch with me…” Sally waved a hand, indicating the ladies queued up behind her. “…Are fellow members of the Burgundies and Books book club. We’ve been looking for a nice cozy place to have coffee once a week, and I believe we’ve just found it,” she announced, looking around Missy’s pink and lime-green eating area with satisfaction. “Wouldn’t you agree, ladies?” she asked, receiving a chorus of affirmation.

“Well, Sally, I’m flattered that you and the ladies would like to have your coffees here. If there’s anything special you’d like me to prepare on your meeting days, you just let me know,” Missy offered. “As far as today goes…I just happen to have five Cupcakes of the Day left, and they’re yours if you have time for a small indulgence,” she grinned, reaching for five plates and mugs. “The coffee is on me today.”

Sally Higgins looked around at the others in her group and nodded. “See, I knew we were going to love it here!” she exclaimed with a broad smile.

The gals pushed two tables together and chattered incessantly for the next couple of hours while they enjoyed Missy’s Chocolate Chip Banana cupcakes with dark chocolate mousse topping, along with steaming mugs of coffee. They lavished the pleased owner with praise on their way out, planning to return every Tuesday, rain or shine.  Missy smiled to herself, pleased that they’d enjoyed her food and hospitality.

When she headed for home at the end of the day, she was filled with a sense of deep contentment, happy that life had returned to some semblance of normalcy. Parking the car, she went in through the back porch and headed directly upstairs to change so that she could take Toffee and Bitsy to the park for a nice long session of fetch. Bitsy always tired before Toffee did, taking a rest at Missy’s feet while the retriever’s boundless energy was indulged.

Her arm tired from throwing toys for Toffee to fetch, Missy took a portable drinking bowl from her backpack and filled it with the water that she had brought, giving her beloved pets some refreshment.

An attractive blond man who had been walking his glossy black cocker spaniel came by and struck up a conversation with her while their dogs performed the obligatory sniffing ritual. The man’s name was Alex Johnson, and when Missy remarked that he looked very familiar, he told her that he’d been newly elected as a City Council member, and that he also had a weakness for her Strawberry Lemonade cupcakes. They chatted for a while about dogs, current issues happening around town, and their shared love of barbeque.

Missy glanced at her watch and realized that she needed to get going if she was going to be on time for her dinner date with Chas.

“It was so nice to chat with you,” she smiled, extending her hand.

“You too, Missy,” Alex replied, shaking her hand.

She hesitated for a moment. “I hope that you don’t find me just incredibly rude, but, are you single by any chance?” When he raised his eyebrows in surprise, she was quick to explain. “Oh, I don’t mean for me, I’m seeing a wonderful man, but I have a very attractive friend that I think you might find interesting. If you’re unattached, that is,” she finished, blushing.

“Well, I’m flattered that you think enough of me after one conversation to try to set me up,” he teased, enjoying her discomfort.

“It’s just, well, after hearing some of your views on the issues in town, I know that you two would have a lot to talk about. She’s from California,” Missy confided, as if that explained it all.

Pulling his wallet out of the zipper pocket of his workout pants, he withdrew a business card. “How about this…” he proposed. “My email address and phone number are on here,” he said, handing her the card. “You contact me with a time and place where your friend and I can meet with you and your guy so that it’s not so obvious, and I’ll be there,” he promised.

“Consider it done,” Missy grinned. “Bye Alex, nice to meet you,” she called out, heading toward home.

“You too, Missy,” he replied, amused and pleased.

**

“So you set her up?” Chas asked, twining pasta around his fork.

“Not yet,” Missy giggled. “But I’m going to, and you’re going to help.”

“Not a problem,” he replied, tearing off a chunk of breadstick. “I’ve known Alex Johnson for a while. I should’ve thought about setting him up with Echo.”

“I just think they’ll hit it off immediately,” Missy nodded.

“You don’t think she’ll object to being set up?” the detective asked, chewing another bite of pasta.

“Oh honey, she won’t know what hit her,” Missy winked.

Althea Browning shifted nervously back and forth, looking drop-dead gorgeous in her designer wedding gown.

“Calm down, darlin,” Missy advised. “Everything is in place and you are absolutely the most beautiful bride I’ve ever seen,” she reassured the antsy young woman.

“Oh, Missy, am I doing the right thing?” she fretted, eyes wide with anxiety.

Missy smiled maternally, recognizing cold feet when she saw them. “Honey, do you love this man?” she asked pointedly.

Althea nodded, with a soft smile. “More than anything.”

“Then how could this not be the right thing? You’re about to promise together forever to the love of your life, what could be more right than that?” she said, giving her a reassuring hug.

“Thanks, Missy,” she smiled, relieved. “Really, I mean for everything – I couldn’t have done it without you. Mayor Chadwick was right, you’re the best” she surprised Missy by giving her a kiss on the cheek and swiping away a tear.

“Hey now, we can’t have that,” Missy said, dabbing at Althea’s eyes with a handkerchief. “You’ll smear your makeup, my lovely bride,” she beamed. “Now let’s do this!” Althea nodded happily and Missy motioned for her father to come take his daughter’s arm and lead her down the aisle.

The wedding went perfectly – the ceremony was heartfelt and beautiful, the decorations stunning, and the happy couple adorable. Missy and Chas sat at a table close to the front for the reception, and Missy surveyed the surroundings with satisfaction. China, crystal and silver gleamed on white linens, accented by the soft pink that Althea had chosen for her color scheme. Fairy lights twinkled overhead, lining the huge gazebo at the country club where the event was being held, and an orchestra played softly during the dinner portion of the celebration. Toasting was rampant and Missy was buoyed by happiness and champagne. Later, there would be dancing and revelry, but for now, the mood was quiet and romantic.

“Looks like you’ve outdone yourself, my beautiful lady,” Chas commented, gazing into her kitten-grey eyes.

“Oh Chas, I’m so thrilled that I could make this happen for Althea. It threw me off a bit when she moved the wedding date up a few months, but we managed to pull it off. Did you see the groom when he saw her in her dress? He actually had tears in his eyes,” she marveled.

“Mmhmm…it’s amazing how the right woman can affect a man,” he replied, kissing her temple.

Missy had worn her hair up, artfully covering the formerly stitched part of her scalp that was now springing up with about an inch of curly growth, and Chas ran his fingers along the graceful line of her neck, down her collarbone, making her shiver.

“And vice-versa,” she replied, a touch breathlessly.

“Shall we dance?” he invited, hearing the beginning notes of a favorite love song. Missy nodded, spellbound by the evening and the look in Chas’s deep blue eyes.

They took the floor, entirely oblivious to everyone around them, moving slowly together to the music. Chas pulled her Missy so close that she could feel his heartbeat, which stirred a powerful reaction within her.

“I think it’s a good thing that you’re getting all of this practice in wedding planning,” he said softly in her ear.

Missy giggled softly. “Why is that?”

“Because it might come in handy someday,” he said mysteriously. Missy thought her heart would pound right out of her chest. She tilted her head back, and gazed up at the handsome detective, every emotion she was feeling shining brightly in her eyes and mirrored in his. Slowly lowering his head, Chas Beckett kissed her soundly, right there on the dance floor, in front of all of LaChance’s society set.

“Echo, this is Alex, Alex, Echo,” Missy introduced her new friend to her best friend at a cozy little Cajun restaurant.

“Echo, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” Alex said, shaking her hand.

“Likewise,” she smiled, taking a seat next to Missy. She and Missy sat on one side of the table with Chas and Alex across from them.

Missy had invited Echo to come along, telling her that “some friend of Chas’s” would be there as well, and hoping that the two would hit it off immediately. They ordered dinner, and Alex seemed puzzled at Echo’s order.

“Aren’t you hungry?” he asked, once the server had gone.

“Starving,” Echo confessed with a grin. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, you only ordered a salad and some side dishes. This place has some of the best crawfish and barbeque in the parish. I can catch the server’s attention if you’d like to get something more substantial,” he offered.

“Oh no, that’s okay. I’m vegan, there isn’t a whole lot on the menu that works for me, but I’ll be satisfied with what I ordered,” she explained.

“Vegan?” he asked, surprised. “What’s that all about?”

“Well, I don’t eat animal products of any kind,” she began.

“Yes, I’m aware of what it means, I’m just not understanding the benefits of choosing that particular lifestyle,” he interrupted.

Missy and Chas exchanged an uneasy look as Echo paused a moment before answering.

“There are plenty of benefits,” she said, frowning slightly.

“But what about your health?” he persisted, interrupting again. “Don’t you find that you feel weak. Maybe that’s why you’re so pale and thin,” he observed, seeming genuinely concerned.

Echo took a deep breath and smiled sweetly. Missy and Chas saw the kiss of death in her eyes. “In case your powers of observation aren’t keen enough, I’ll point out that I have flaming red hair. The lineage that produced that wavy mass was also kind enough to bless me with other traits like fair skin and green eyes.”

Missy noticed at the moment that the green eyes being referenced were currently shooting daggers of flame across the table.

“As for being thin – thank you for noticing, I work very hard to stay fit, not an easy task for a woman my age, and I do so by eating properly and exercising. I don’t feel weak or faint. I’m as healthy as a horse, I regularly lift heavy bags of sugar and dry goods and go for a run every morning. If I can do all of that while not having to consume something that once had a face, I have every right to make that choice. I’m not judging you for your choices, and I’d rather you didn’t judge me for mine, Alex,” she finished calmly, gesturing for the server to come over.

“I’d like my order to go, please,” she smiled at the server, who went back to the kitchen to box it up for her.

“Wow, well, I’m sorry if I seemed rude. I frankly just have never understood why anyone would limit themselves that way,” he shrugged. “I didn’t mean to offend you.”

The server handed Echo a paper bag containing her food cartons, and Echo gave her a twenty, telling her to keep the change. “You didn’t offend me,” she said pleasantly. “In order for you to offend me, I would first have to care about what you had to say.” With that, she stood, said goodbye to Missy, Chas and Alex and made her way casually out of the restaurant.

**

“I’m so sorry, Echo, I had no idea things would turn out that way,” Missy lamented the next day over German Chocolate cupcakes and Vanilla Bean Rice Dream.

Her friend smiled indulgently. “Missy, I accepted the fact that I’m a bit on the weird side a long time ago, and I’m okay with it. If others can’t understand or accept me, that’s okay. I get it,” she said nonchalantly.

“He was cute though,” Missy mused.

“Very cute,” Echo nodded, spooning up a bite of her frozen treat. “But it takes way more than a pretty face.”

“Of course it does,” her friend agreed, munching a cupcake. “You just wait, my friend, I’ll find you a man yet,” she grinned.

“Oh my.”

The two spent the rest of the afternoon talking and giggling like school girls, then Missy drove home, delighted to see Chas’s car in the driveway. She sat for a moment, listening to an incredibly nostalgic song on the radio, enjoying the warmth of the sun on her face and basking in the knowledge that life is good.