“I didn’t realize you knew her so well. I thought she’d only been working for you for a few months,” Yvette mused, suddenly intrigued.
“That’s true.” Fred nodded. “She was new to the company, but I’d known her for quite some time. Did you happen to notice how quickly she performed her job?”
“Well, no, not really, but now that you mention it, I suppose she did move a little faster than some of your other drivers,” Yvette replied, trying to figure out where this was going.
“Melody beat records. She’d won several in-company awards with that speed. She took pride in her work, and that was the sort of employee we needed at Fred’s Food Delivery. Her boyfriend used to work for me, Liam Marks. Do you remember him?”
“I do.” Yvette paused. “He was the driver right before Melody, so it would be hard to forget him. He was a good worker, too.”
“Yes. That’s true. Liam was a good worker, but Melody was better. The route is a busy one, and we needed to work around that. Getting Melody on board was a lifesaver. She completely turned things around for us. Do you believe we were able to add three more delivery stops to the route once she started?” Fred’s eyes were wide, clearly grateful for Melody’s capabilities.
“What ever happened to Liam?” Yvette asked.
“Not a clue. When I hired Melody, he worked for two days and then quit showing up.” Fred shrugged.
“Oh, no. That’s terrible. I bet he’s having a tough time with Melody’s death. Poor guy.” Yvette felt sad, but couldn’t help but notice how lackadaisical Fred seemed to be.
“I’m not entirely sure if they were still seeing one another. I gave Melody the route, and it caused quite a scene at work, so I’m willing to bet that overflowed into their relationship as well. I mean, wouldn’t you be mad if your significant other was better at your job than you were?”
“Not at all. I’d be proud of them,” Yvette stated matter-of-factly.
“Guess that’s what makes the world go ‘round then, huh? We’re all different. Ehh, nonetheless, I think it’s in everyone’s best interest that you find another delivery service. You’re all paid up, and I’d say we’d deliver one last time as a courtesy, but I believe the shop is still closed, so if it’s alright with you, I’d like to request that we end things now.”
Yvette was beginning to realize that everyone may have been right about Fred. He was acting really out of character, especially from what she knew of him personally, but maybe that wasn’t the case at all. Perhaps he really was like this, and she just hadn’t ever witnessed it. She understood that business was business, and if there was an employee that was more qualified than others, they deserved to be put in a position where they would shine, as well as make the business better. But it was a touchy situation to take away a job from someone and give it to their significant other. Melody was a better choice for Fred, but it still had to hurt Liam. Suddenly struck with a thought that made her uncomfortable, Yvette knew at this point, it was better to just agree with Fred and move on.
“Okay. I agree. I’ll contact Emma and let her know of the change, and I’ll be looking for a new company while the shop is closed. Thank you, Fred, for all the great years we worked together.”
“Works out well, doesn’t it? You’ll have time to look for a new company while you’re closed. How’s that for luck? I can give you some names of other companies if you’re interested,” Fred suggested.
“Sure. That would be great. Thanks,” Yvette said, hoping it would be a smooth transition.
Chapter 9
So, it was just an accident then?” Nate asked.
“That’s what the fire marshal said. Something about the wiring and the oven itself. I emailed all of the reports to Emma, and I’m just waiting to hear back from her,” Yvette explained as she opened one of the takeout boxes that Nate had brought along with him.
“Hopefully they can open their shop soon. I know the after effects of a fire can be pretty difficult to work with.”
“Not too soon,” Yvette said, trying to make light of the situation. “With my luck, both shops will open on the same day.”
“I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes or suggesting that you should either but if Emma were here, would she allow two shops to open for the season on the same day or would she coordinate it so she could be at both places?” Nate asked.
Yvette smiled. “If Emma were here, she would absolutely coordinate it so she could be at both places on their given opening day, but I’m not Emma. That’s what I’ve been struggling with this whole time.”
“Why?”
“Why?” Yvette asked, taken aback. “I’m not Emma. These aren’t my shops or my employees, and I have no idea how to do any of this.”
Yvette wasn’t sure why it seemed like everyone that she spoke to couldn’t understand how she was feeling. She was the manager of one shop, and that was it. Emma was impossible to get ahold of. Yvette had found out that she was most likely moving to Florida for good so what was going to happen to everything that Emma was leaving behind?
“I’m not sure I agree. Yvette, you’ve been working for the Kline family since you were a teenager and a young teenager at that. You know the ins and outs of just about every last part of this business. You’ve watched Emma open three shops, you’ve been there for all three shop’s openings before. You have covered for Emma more times than I can count and seemed to love every moment of that.”
Yvette was starting to understand. “I know how to do the payroll, and delivery orders, and employee scheduling, too.”
“Don’t forget that time you worked with Millie at the farm when most of her staff all came down with the same sickness.” Nate grinned.
“That was so much fun!” Yvette exclaimed, recalling the experience.
“Are you catching on yet?” he asked, grinning even wider. “You do know these things. You are capable of these things. You know how to open a shop for the season, and everything it entails.”
Yvette knew that Nate was right. She did know how to make it all happen and make it happen properly. She needed to stop questioning herself. She was just so focused on being offered the job of a lifetime with the Ice Cream Alliance that she was having a hard time concentrating on anything else. Not to mention the murder that occurred at her own shop, that was enough to drive a person crazy on its own.
“Okay, fine. What if I agree with you? I can call the managers and work out a day for each of them so I can be there for both openings. I have no idea when my shop will open again or if it’s going to be a crime scene for the rest of my life,” Yvette exaggerated.
“Boom. Problem solved. I’m so proud of you.” Nate reached across her and pulled some fries from one of the takeout boxes.
“Not so fast.” Yvette playfully swatted his hand. “I can do those things, but why should I have to?”
“You never minded before. What changed?” Nate asked.
Yvette paused a moment to consider Nate’s point. He was right again. She never once complained about traveling to another Sundae Afternoon with Emma to open up the shop for the season. She always relished in the moment when Emma asked her to cover for another manager or really, in anything that had to do with the business at all. Why was this any different? Yvette wondered.
“I don’t know.” Yvette shook her head, rolled her shoulders back, and took a breath. “Nothing. Nothing changed. It’s my job, and I love it.”
“I know that if Emma had asked you to take care of these things for her, you would have happily done it. I get how annoyed you are that she didn’t ask, and I hope I’m not making things harder for you, but when you told me that you thought she might be planning to move to Florida for good, my first thought was that she was going to ask if you’d help her here more.”
“Help her here more?” Yvette’s eyes widened. “What’s that mean?”
“I dunno. Like, take over the shops?” Nate said slowly.
“Oh, Nate. That does make things harder.” Yvette
smiled, hoping she wasn’t being rude. He was just trying to help, and she knew that.
If Emma and Drew were going to be in Florida full-time, that didn’t necessarily mean that the shops in New England were going to close. It didn’t mean that Emma was going to try to run them long-distance, either. It was entirely possible that Emma was going to ask Yvette to help her run Sundae Afternoon in her absence, and that was quite literally, a dream come true for Yvette.
“Don’t let this be a bad thing. You have a potential job offer from an alliance that you would kill to be part of, and an opportunity to show Emma what you are capable of regarding running three shops on your own.”
“I need to ask her,” Yvette said matter-of-factly. “I can’t just assume that you’re right and that’s what she’s planning. I wish I could ask Glenn about the job too, but I don’t want to say anything, especially if Artie was wrong. I’d be so embarrassed.”
“Then ask her. Right after you set up the opening weekend for each shop and make plans to be there. Show her what you can do. If I’m wrong, and this isn’t what she wants, she’ll be proud of you either way for stepping up and getting things taken care of. As far as the VP job goes, if you aren’t going to bring it up, then stop letting yourself worry about it. Take one thing at a time.”
“I’ll be proud of myself, too,” Yvette admitted.
“Good. So, you can stop worrying about everything, including figuring out who killed that woman, right?” Nate asked.
“I never said a word about anything of the sort.”
“Did you really need to?” Nate chuckled. “I’d like to think I know you pretty well.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Yvette rolled her eyes.
“You’ve got too much on your plate to worry about everything. Since you aren’t even thinking about the murder, you should be good.”
“Yup. I’m good.” Yvette nodded. “I haven’t thought about the murder at all.”
There wasn’t anything wrong with a little, white lie. Right?
Chapter 10
With Vanessa gone, what are we going to do?” Stella asked, looking around the table at her coworkers.
“We’re going to do what we always do.” Yvette gave a single nod. “Get things done.”
Earlier that morning, Yvette had gotten the call from Heath that it was okay to reopen Sundae Afternoon. With one full-time and one part-time employee out on vacation, she knew it would be touch and go when the shop got busy, but they’d all handled it before, and they would do it again.
“I can pick up a few extra shifts at night,” Leslie offered.
“Me too,” said Joey.
“There we have it, guys.” Yvette clapped. “I’ll be working every day and have scheduled myself off this weekend for the Vermont opening and the following weekend for the opening in Connecticut. Other than that, I’ll be here to open every day until Vanessa and Sage get back. I know my parents will come help out if we need them as well.”
“Okay, so, I have to know… Are you going to accept the VP job?” Joey finally asked.
Yvette knew the question was coming. By now, everyone had heard that she’d gotten an official job offer and for the most part, she’d tried not to talk about it much. She’d explained to Glenn that there was a lot going on at Sundae Afternoon and that she felt responsible for making sure that it was all taken care of before she could possibly make a decision. Yvette felt that he’d understood her situation and that her decision to ask him to give her some time to decide was a good one. She knew he wouldn’t wait forever, but she also hoped that he’d appreciate her dedication to the job that she’d held for so long.
“Honestly,” Yvette began, “I don’t know. I love it here, and I love all of you. The thought of losing that is almost painful. It’s been my entire life for twenty years and letting that go seems impossible. On the other hand, it’s the National Ice Cream Alliance…. How on earth do I say no to that?”
“I don’t envy you,” Stella joked. “I think I speak for everyone when I say that we don’t want you to leave, but we do understand that the choice is a big one. We don’t want you to feel like you have to stay because of us.”
“But,” Joey chimed in. “We don’t want you to leave.”
“Thank you. All of you have been amazing, and I promise that you’ll all be the first to know what I decide.”
It was true. Yvette loved Sundae Afternoon and her employees. She wasn’t entirely sure she wanted to leave them no matter how good the opportunity. She still had a little time to make her choice, and she’d done what Nate suggested and contacted the managers of the other locations. The next order of business was getting her own shop back up and running. She could only hope that customers would come in after what had happened.
“When are you thinking of opening back up?” Leslie asked.
“I think we should give ourselves a couple of days to make sure that we are all set up and ready to go. We don’t know what will happen. We could be swamped, or we could not have a customer all day,” Yvette admitted.
“Maybe we will be busy because there are people that want to come here to see where the body was found…” Joey said slowly, looking around at his coworkers.
“Joey!” they all exclaimed in unison.
“What? It’s true. I’ve heard that people are attracted to stuff like that. Ya know, like when you drive by a car accident or something, you know you should look away, but you just can’t bring yourself to do it.”
“I’ve heard that too, but it doesn’t make it any less horrifying to know that people are only going to show up so they can see where someone they don’t even know was murdered.” Yvette frowned.
“Anyway,” Leslie changed the subject. “I’d rather talk about what I can do to help open this place back up again, not all the morbid things that caused us to close down in the first place.”
“You’re right. We can plan to open up in two days. I think that will give us enough time to get a delivery in with some new flavors.”
“I’m glad to hear you found a new company so quickly,” Stella said.
“Me, too. Now we just have to hope they are as good to us as Fred was. Also, we’re really going to have to get creative with our specials this week so we can attract customers for a good reason. Any ideas?” Yvette reached into her purse and pulled out a notebook and pen to record some of her employee’s suggestions.
“What about a BOGO?” Joey asked.
“Nah. That’s too easy.” Stella grinned.
Yvette recognized the look on her face. When Stella had an idea that she felt was a good one, you could almost see the twinkle in her eye. When Yvette had hired Stella, she knew that the older woman would be a good addition to the team, but she never expected her creativity to shine through the way it did. If Yvette were being honest, she’d say that no one she knew in the entire industry was as good at creating new sundaes and milkshakes as Stella was.
“What do you have in mind?” Yvette raised a brow.
“How about a mystery sundae? Customers can come in and tell us what they don’t like or things they won’t eat, and we can make them whatever we come up with,” Stella suggested.
“That’s a great idea!” Yvette exclaimed. “Everyone loves your creations. Let’s call it the Stella Sundae Surprise. Folks that know you will for sure come in for it, and the ones that don’t can meet you and learn about the little hidden gem we have here that we all know as Stella.”
“You make me blush.” Stella laughed. “I’m all for it. I’ll do whatever I can to help!”
Chapter 11
The new delivery driver from Food Galore and More had just pulled their truck alongside the kitchen door in the parking lot at Sundae Afternoon. The shop would officially be open for business in just a few hours, and the last thing they had to take care of was the delivery.
“Is that the guy that used to deliver for us?” Stella asked, squinting.
“No, we changed companies, remember?” Yvette replied, immediate
ly thinking she was referring to Fred.
“Look again,” she said, pointing. “That’s the young man that delivered here before the other girl started, the one that was killed.”
“Liam? Wow. You’re right. He must have left Fred’s and gotten a job at another delivery company.”
“Strange.”
“It’s not that strange, really. You stop working at one job and get another using the same skill set. That makes sense. Hopefully, he isn’t as uncomfortable with being here as Fred was.” Yvette cringed.
While she’d been told that Liam and Melody had broken up after some tension when Melody got Liam’s route, there was no way to know if it was true or not and truthfully, it really hadn’t mattered. If Liam was uneasy, she’d do what she could to help, but as it stood, the restaurant was open, it was Liam’s job, and Yvette was determined not to make this a murder shop. She wanted to get past what happened and not let it take control of how she saw the shop, and she hoped that everyone else could do the same.
“Well, let’s get going then. We’re opening soon.” Stella marched toward the truck.
“Hi, Yvette. It’s been a while,” Liam said, hopping down from the truck.
“Liam. How are you? How long have you been working for the company?” Yvette asked.
“Just about as long as I’ve been gone from Fred’s. I like it though. It’s much easier, and we aren’t as busy, so we get other jobs to do around the warehouse when we have no deliveries,” Liam explained. “Now, has anything changed here? Everything still goes in the same place?”
“Sure does.” Stella nodded and headed back in the shop.
Yvette was on her heels until she felt a light tap on her shoulder.
“I was wondering if we could talk for a sec?” Liam asked.
Two Scoops of Murder Page 4
