Real Women Eat Cake: A Yellow Rose Cozy Mystery (Yellow Rose Mystery Series Book 1) (2 page)

Brianna had texted her mother that she'd gone to the house for lunch. The twenty-one-year-old had continued living at home after graduating from high school, which had helped hold down expenses while she attended Carrollton Creek Community College. Her mother worried that she was missing out on gaining additional independence and receiving the full college experience like her sister Bobbi. Secretly, though, Betty enjoyed the extra company and was glad to have her around.

The pair had talked intermittently throughout their light noonday lunch of rice and vegetables. Betty generally had her big meal of the day in the evening and Brianna was inching toward a vegan diet – a move hindered by her love of barbecue.

They finished eating as the stove's timer went off. Betty opened the oven door and pulled out a muffin tin containing twelve banana cupcakes. She carefully placed two of them on separate plates, which she then put on the the kitchen table.

“So,” Betty began, pulling off a chunk of cake and keeping her voice even. “You said earlier that you decided to drop out of school. Can you tell me some more about that?”

“Not much to tell, actually. After exams next week, I'm done. I'm thinking about getting my license and becoming a stylist.”

Betty breathed a little easier. Earlier, Brianna had made it sound like she was walking away from a whole semester's worth of classes.

“Okay. Why the sudden change? When you started at Carrollton three years ago you were intent on becoming a pharmacy technician. Becoming a stylist is a pretty drastic change, don't you think? Especially after three years of studying in the health field.”

Brianna fidgeted in her chair. Betty was trying to get a fix on her daughter's body language since that usually told her more about what was going on in her girls' minds than the words they used. But today she was having a hard time getting a handle on things.

“People change their minds all the time, Mama. Even you. You were engaged to that man in Dallas for over a year before Daddy came along. Then six weeks later,
bam
, the two of you were married. And that turned out well, right?”

Betty's face reddened. The story was true. She had changed her mind once when she was younger. And it had turned out for the best.

“That was different,” she said, popping another piece of cake into her mouth and chasing it with a large gulp of iced tea.

Brianna looked puzzled. “How so, Mama?”

Betty's mind churned. “I can't put it into words right now, but it just is.” She'd wanted to say,
Because I said so, that's why
– but Brianna was too old to accept that at this point in her life.

“You said you needed at least one more employee to get things started at the store. Fred and George will do great with the customers and deliveries, but they can't assist you with the baking and cake assembly like I can.”

Which was true. Fred and George, brothers who attended the same college as Brianna and had agreed to work part-time, were bright and got along well with others. Yet they lacked cooking and kitchen experience. Brianna, on the other hand, had helped her mother with baking for a long time.

“Besides, they probably couldn't put up with your fussiness in getting the cakes just right. Bobbi and me are the only two who know how to deal with your stubbornness,” Brianna teased.

“I'm not stubborn,” Betty said, thinking. “I'm tenacious.”

“What's the difference?” Brianna asked.

“Tenacious sounds better.”

Brianna laughed. “You're so stubborn you can't even admit you're stubborn.”

Betty massaged her temples. “Okay, for now let's say you can help out for the summer. We'll figure out your work hours later.”

“And pay?” Brianna said hopefully.

“You get free room and board already, young lady. You expect more?” Betty said, exasperated. “Fine, I''ll think it over and we'll discuss that later as well.”             

Betty finished the last of her cupcake and fought off the temptation for another. She tended to overeat when she was stressed. And today her stress level was growing by the minute. A sharp electronic
chirp
broke the momentary silence.

Brianna pulled out her cell phone and stared at it. “Gotta run. My ride's here. I'll be back sometime this evening.”

Still deep in thought, Betty nodded. “Okay. Have fun studying for your exams,” she said, thinking her daughter was off to the school library with one of her friends.

Brianna paused ever so briefly, smiled at her mother, then went to her room and gathered several items before disappearing outside. Betty began putting things away when a thought hit her – Brianna didn't have any textbooks with her when she left.

Betty quickly went to the front of the house. She peered out the window in time to see Brianna driving off with Martha Holt's son who lived across town.

“I'm so stupid,” she said, smacking her palm against her forehead. “A boy. That's what this is all about. Why didn't I see that to begin with?” Betty knew she had her work cut out for her. It wouldn't be easy getting her daughter back on track, but at least now she knew what she was up against. In a battle of wills, Betty felt certain that she would come out on top.

She was, after all, tenacious.

When Betty returned to the shop she found Camden and David still hard at work. Since it was after noon, she suggested they go ahead and break for lunch. They went in the back and pulled sandwiches from the refrigerator they'd brought along with several bottles of water. Betty sat out front, still thinking about Brianna, when a man and a woman walked in.

“Can I help you?” she asked.

“Toby Sanders,” the man said, extending a hand. “From the newspaper. This is Debra Harrington. Our photographer as well as one of the copy editors.”

For the second time that day, Betty smacked herself in the forehead. “Of course. We had an appointment. My apologies. It's been a hectic morning.”

“Not a problem,” said Toby with a smile. “Happens to all of us from time to time.”

Debra shook Betty's hand. “Nice to meet you,” she said.

“Likewise,” Debra replied.

Motioning to a pair of chairs, Betty said, “Won't you sit down?”

Everyone sat. Toby took a look around as he took out a tape recorder, a small pad and a pen. “Hope you don't mind the digital recorder,” he said. “I'll be making notes as we go, but this helps with quotes when I'm writing my stories.”

“That's fine,” Betty said, nodding. A second later, she added, “Before we get started, there's something you should know. Unless something happens, and fast, there's a chance we're not going to be open next Monday as planned. I mention this since originally you said your feature article would run the same day as the opening.”

Toby shrugged and gave Betty another smile. “But you still plan to open at some point, though, right?”

Betty's eyes grew wide. “Oh heavens, yes. I don't know what it'll take, but I've come too far to give up now.”

“That being the case, let's get started,” Toby said. “I'll ask you a series of questions. Just answer them in your own words.”

Betty nodded. She liked the young man's demeanor. He was confidant and had a way of talking that put her at ease. A definite plus, considering all that had been going on in the past twenty-four hours.

“First off, are you a native of Yellow Rose?”

“Yes. Mama's from New Braunfels and Daddy was born in Kingsbury, a small farming community. They retired there a few years ago after his stroke. They originally moved to town here, hmm, think it was sixty years ago or so, shortly after they were married.” Betty left out the part about them meeting at a honky tonk, figuring that detail unimportant as well as being nobody's business.

After a few more basic background questions, Toby said, “What made you decide to go into the baking business?”

Betty rubbed at a smudge on the table's surface where she sat. “Well, years ago I read an article that said people here in the U.S. were asked what word they thought of when they heard the word 'cake.' The majority answered with 'guilt.' They asked the same question to people in other countries including France. Know what the people there said?”

Both Toby and Debra shook their heads.

“'Celebration,'" Betty said. “Isn't that something? I'd like to help people who enjoy cake associate the experience with something positive and uplifting. I'm not going to change the world, but if I can affect the lives of even a handful of people here in the community, that'd be nice.”

Toby nodded as he scribbled into his notepad.

“And if I can make a living and support myself, that'd be nice, too,” Betty added with a wink. Toby gave a short laugh as he continued writing.

“Being able to pay the bills is no small thing,” Debra said with a knowing nod. “Like you, I'm single and could use some extra support. Let me know if you ever decide to hire a taste tester,” she said, giving Betty a grin.

Toby coughed and glanced impatiently at his watch. “We understand you're still in the process of setting everything up, but do you mind if Debra goes ahead and takes some photos?” he asked Betty. “We'll take a handful of interior shots, several exterior, and one of you if that's okay.”

“Oh, all right. I'm a bit of a mess. But maybe you can use some computer magic to make me look better.”

“Nonsense,” Debra said. “You look great, Betty. How about there behind the counter?”

“Okay,” Betty replied, checking her hair and makeup as best she could off the refection from the glass counter.

Debra positioned Betty and took a handful of shots. When they were done, Betty showed her and Toby the area where Camden and David were working. Debra took some more photos while Betty finished talking with Toby. Soon the pair were outside where Debra took the exterior pics. Then she and Toby left for their next assignment after once again thanking Betty for her time and wishing her much success with the store.

As they drove off, Betty suddenly realized she hadn't offered them any baking samples. She had several she'd cooked the day before plus the test cake she'd done that morning. She decided against smacking herself in the head again, since she could already feel a headache building inside of her.

Toby Sanders froze in front of the doorway, tired from a long day at the newspaper.
Molly couldn't still be awake
, he thought. Even though he knew she couldn’t be, he held out hope that he’d find her up and waiting for him. As soon as he walked through the front door, a shadow stretched across his face. No lights shone in any of the rooms. Plates were on the kitchen table and a curl of smoke rose from one of the wax candles in the middle.

His messenger bag slid off his shoulder and onto the couch. A muffled thud sounded throughout the house. That’s when a light went off, and the floor started to creak. Molly moved into the living room, the silver threads in her silk robe glimmering underneath the moonlight. There was still a large gap between them when she finally flipped on the lights.

“What’s with you sneaking in here every time you come home late?” she asked.

“Did I wake you?” Toby said.

“Don’t worry, I was barely asleep.”

Toby held his hand to his forehead as if he were checking for a fever.

“Sometimes I have to ask myself if I'm dreaming.”

Molly smiled, and her green eyes peeked from under her heavy bangs. She stepped toward her husband without saying another word. She reached out and slid his coat down his arms, dropping it over the nearest chair.

“No offense, babe. But if you were dreaming I certainly wouldn’t look like a disheveled mess like I do now.”

Toby loved messy. Especially in a woman who looked like she knew how to let go when it counted. After brushing her bangs from out of her eyes, he corrected her.

“Number one, you look perfect right now as you are. Number two, don’t forget rule number one,” he joked.

Molly laughed, shaking her head.

Toby couldn't help thinking about how she could do so much better. What did she ever see in a deadbeat like him? Her family hated him. Her father wished he was dead. The man couldn’t stand the thought of seeing his baby girl with some reporter who didn't make the money to shower her with everything she deserved.

“Why are you keeping it such a secret?” she asked, leaning in closer.

“What secret?” he asked, surprised.

“You hardly say anything about your work nowadays. You used to fill me in on everything you did.”

Toby shrugged. “When I come home I leave all of that stuff at the door where it belongs.”

“What do you want me to do?” Molly said, throwing up her hands. “Take less of an interest in your work?”

“There’s nothing you need to do that you aren’t already doing,” he said.

Molly folded her arms, then quickly unfolded them and hit him square on the shoulder.

Toby shook his head.

“What was that for?”

Molly's turn to shrug. “It simply looked like you needed a good punch in the arm.”

Toby rubbed his shoulder, feeling a twinge of pain.

“That hurt,” he told her.

Molly smiled and hit him again. “Do something about it,” she teased.

She hopped out of her chair and switched on the lights in the other rooms. Toby chased her. His shoes scraped the face of the wooden floors as he ran. He could hear Molly laughing as she jumped over the couch.

“You won’t get away from me!” he shouted, attempting to grab her as she ran up the stairs.

She stopped short, smiling at him.

“You’re not too busy to watch a movie, are you?” she asked.

Her arm moved from behind her, a DVD in hand. It was one of those romance comedies, one Toby wouldn’t be watching if by himself. Before he reached the room, Molly had already tightly bundled up inside the covers.

She patted the bed on her left. “Saved a spot for you.”

In spite of what he thought about the two of them, he couldn't help but stare at her and then glance over at her rumpled robe tossed on the floor. Molly lay there bare, waiting.

“Mind cutting on the TV?” she asked. Her voice sultry and cool.

Toby pressed the button on the TV, moving closer toward the bed. His shadow passed over her body. Molly parted her lips and followed his gaze. His heart beat faster in his chest.

She pulled away the covers, revealing herself to her husband.

“Come here,” she whispered.

Toby slid his hand down the center of the bed, over the soft folds on the sheets. Molly reached over and pulled his wrists, resting her hands on his thigh. She closed in the space between them, as he breathed hard against her neck.

“Remember how we used to do this all day?” she asked as Toby bent forward to kiss her. She tasted like wine, and all his thoughts melted away.

She forcefully wrapped her thighs around his waist. Molly let out a moan when he pushed her down on the bed moving the covers out of his way. She clawed at his back, raking at him with her nails.

When they were done, a hush fell over the room as she collapsed onto the pillows. Gently, Molly rubbed Toby's forehead with ease.

As he looked down at her, he saw that she’d already fallen asleep. He didn’t really know what to make of what happened tonight. He'd been going over the problem again and again in his head. Leaving her would crush her. Molly truly loved him. And he couldn't remember the last time he'd been this in love with anyone. He had become an expert in keeping his emotions close to the vest, withdrawing quietly in a room and making it impossible for anyone to call his bluff.

She laid so close to him that he could feel her exhale on his neck. It was long past the time to tell her the truth. Keeping it secret this long was wrong. Enough problems already filled his plate. Breaking a woman’s heart didn’t need to be added to the list.

He removed her grip from around his torso, turning to reach the light. The lights flickered on as he gently shook her awake.

“Molly, there's something I need to tell you,” he began.