Crouching down, I gestured them both in closer. “Shirley, the Shirley—who can’t stand my guts—asked me if I had any tips on buttercream. Apparently, someone grabbed her a slice of vanilla almond and she loved it. We actually had a perfectly civil conversation about frosting, Italian verse Swiss meringue and she wasn’t nasty a single time. What do you think of that?”
Both women looked a little disappointed at my sub par gossiping skills but nodded supportively. “It’s good she’s coming around. It isn’t right to have business owners fighting. Part of what makes Haverfield so great is we aren’t all soulless big box stores. So no need to be catty small shops,” Vivian asserted, safely out of her dramatic red outfits and back into her spring closet. Stella waved a hand at me to shush and I was pleased to see no cigarette in her fingers. It had taken another week or so after Logan closed the case for her to get back out of the habit of smoking and she still tended to absently dig in her pocketbook for a lighter on occasion.
We were nearly at the final announcement when I saw Logan jog up and step into the shop. “Did I miss it?” He looked to everyone seated in rapt attention to the television. I took his arm and pulled him out of the line of view, sitting him down by the counter. Offering a cup of coffee, I shook my head. “Not yet. Any minute now though.”
Scooter had been absolutely mute on the outcome of the show, insisting that we watch it together to see how it went. For a week after he got back, everyone tried different ways to get him to spill but for once, he was incredibly resolute.
“No spoilers.”
I couldn’t help but look to him as the hosts came up, showing the final products and critiquing each. The young man was bouncing on his heels, fighting down a wide happy grin.
“And now for our First Place Bake and the winner of this Game of Scones Challenge...”
The air was sucked out of the room and Red waved a hand at the host as though to encourage him to get on with it.
“.... Jeffery ‘Scooter’ Johnson!”
The Mad Batter erupted into cheers and claps and Scooter got red enough to match his doppelganger on the television. After a moment of thanking everyone, he tried to quiet them down, pointing back to the television.
“Congratulations Scooter! What do you plan to do with your $1000 prize?”
The on-screen Scooter wiped his eyes with the back of his hand and beamed at the camera. “I’m giving it to the Mad Batter, my boss and teacher Coco Foster, so we can get some new kitchen equipment. She’s been an inspiration and has helped me grow so much. She never holds me back and she’s why I’m here today. Love you Coco!”
My own eyes started to sting and I put my hand on my heart, turning to find him. But he had already made his way around the crowd to me and was holding out a check with an almost nervous smile. “I meant it, you know.”
Tears fell down my cheeks and I bypassed the check to wrap him in a big hug. “You’re a sweetheart, Scooter. And I’ll take that check but only if you take a raise. And help me pick out the equipment. Deal?”
I heard him sniff into my shoulder and he nodded. “Deal.”
A few more people came up and gave Scooter their congratulations. Henry pointed out that we might end up with new business. People come a long way for award-winning food. Scooter seemed equally delighted and anxious about the thought.
Eventually, Rose and I were the last ones in the shop and she watched me close up. “Do you think you can stand any more good news?” She asked with a smirk.
I stared at her a moment, “Uh, yes?”
“I’m done with my cheese making. I’ll take Fatty Fritz back. You’re off the hook for cat-sitting.”
“Oh, thank goodness.”
She laughed at my relief and I hurried to reassure her. “I love him, Rose, but it takes me twenty minutes to get all the cat hair off me before I come in to work. It’s a nightmare.” She was still laughing and I started too. We stepped outside as I tried to explain, locking the door as I did so. “It gets everywhere, Rose. It floats, I swear. Just hovers until I think I’ve got it all, then zap right onto the apron. Witchcraft. Or, you know, static. Whatever.”
So that night, I had the bed entirely to myself. And my happiness was complete.
Don’t miss the next book in the Mad Batter Cozy Mystery Series:
Chocolate Cadavers
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Catalog of Books
The Happy Blendings Cozy Witch Mystery Series
The Potion Commotion
A Pumpkin Potion Explosion
A Drop in the Potion
A Notion of a Potion
A Deceptive Potion
A Formidable Potion
CALAMITY CORNERS COZY Witch Mystery Series
Calm Before the Witch Storm
The Witch is in the Details
Better the Witch You Know
A Witch Axe to Grind
A Cauldron of Witch Tricks
TRIPLET WITCH SISTERS Mystery Series
Two’s Company, Three’s a Coven
Resting Witch Face
Bewitched and Bewildered
Triple Toil and Trouble
THE WITCH SISTERS OF Stillwater
Hoodoo and Just Desserts
A Shade of Murder
That Ol’ Black Magic
A Whole Lotta Witchin Goin On
The Beast Cometh
Secrets and Sorcery
The Grumpy Chicken Irish Pub Series
A Frosty Mug of Murder
Treachery on Tap
A Highball and a Low Blow
Cursed With a Twist
A Whiskey Sour Wipeout
Hops and Homicide
OLD SCHOOL DINER COZY Mysteries
Murder at Stake
Murder Well Done
A Side Order of Deception
Murder, Basted and Barbecued
Murder Ala Mode
The Candy Cane Killer
The Blue Plate Slayer
THE CURIOSITY SHOP Cozy Mysteries
The Curious Case of the Cursed Spectacles
The Curious Case of the Cursed Dice
The Curious Case of the Cursed Dagger
The Curious Case of the Cursed Looking Glass
The Curious Case of the Cursed Crucible
WITCHY WOMEN OF COVEN Grove Series
THE WITCHING ON THE Wall
A Witching Well of Magic
Witching the Night Away
Witching There’s Another Way
Witching Your Life Away
Witching You Wouldn’t Go
Witching for a Miracle
TEASEN & PLEASEN HAIR Salon Series
A Hair Raising Blowout
Wash, Rinse, Die
Holiday Hooligans
Color Me Dead
False Nails & Tall Tales
Pound Cake Predator Page 11
