For Butter Or For Worse (Patty Cakes Bake Shop Cozy Mystery Series Book 2)

by Holly Plum

  Joy opened her mouth to reply until she realized that Delilah had been directing all of her concerns toward Cheesecake. She felt more comfortable confiding in a cat than Joy. It was almost as though Delilah had completely forgotten that Joy was in the room. Joy worried that if she said anything, Delilah might stop talking. Cheesecake had resigned to his fate and was crouching as low on the bench as he could manage.

  “Anyway,” Delilah continued, “We have everything ready to proceed with the wedding at any moment – all the decorations and chairs are ours for as long as we need them. So we could do it tomorrow, and that would give us plenty of time before Sean's funeral. That's not disrespectful, is it? Obviously, we'll need to organize catering again, which won't take long. And the cake, of course.”

  Delilah finally looked at Joy.

  “Yes,” Joy replied. “What about the cake?”

  “Everyone loved it. All the dogs loved it, and Petunia and Jacques were particularly impressed.”

  "That's great news considering it was my first dog-friendly display," Joy replied.

  “I'll be sure to order another one just like it for our second wedding attempt.” Delilah paused. "Let's hope things go smoothly."

  “Thanks so much,” Joy responded. “Just make sure you give me some advanced notice."

  “I would ask you for cakes for the bachelorette and bachelor parties, but we've already had them," Delilah continued. "Mom and the bridesmaids took me to Candy Nails, and Hunter and the guys went out on the boat. I'm not sure what they did, but it probably involved way too much liquor.”

  “A boat?” Joy tilted her head, remembering Edith's comments about a group of noisy men at the docks the night before the wedding.

  “Yeah, a big party boat. I mean, I assume it was. I was in bed early that night, but Hunter got home really late which usually means it was a good night, right?” Delilah was talking to Cheesecake again. He hissed as she fastened a plaid bow to the fur on the top of his head.

  “I guess so,” Joy chimed in. “So I guess that was Hunter's last night with his best man? I'm assuming the best man was at the party."

  “Yeah, I guess it was.” Delilah sighed. She held up a mirror to Cheesecake to show him the look she had created for him.

  Cheesecake immediately began purring, and Joy smiled. She had no idea he would approve of the fancy bow on his head. But Cheesecake's look of satisfaction was short-lived when Delilah spritzed him with that awful fragrance. Spring blossom.

  CHAPTER FIVE

  As Joy loaded the newly groomed Cheesecake into her car, she received a panicked text message from Sara Beth asking Joy to get to the bake shop as soon as possible.

  “Looks like you're coming to work with me,” Joy said to Cheesecake. He purred and licked his paw in agreement. Joy hoped that he would behave at the bake shop. Cheesecake was the sort of cat who played by his own rules.

  Joy and Cheesecake walked into Patty Cakes Bake Shop to find all of the windows open and Sara Beth glued to a fan she had set up next to the register. Old Joe and another regular customer named Patsy were at their usual tables. Joe waved a newspaper over the top of his sticky Danish, trying to keep a persistent fly from landing on it.

  “You can't leave all the windows open in a bakery,” Joy scolded Sara Beth, rushing around and closing the windows. "Too many bugs. This is Florida, Sara Beth."

  Cheesecake sat beside Sara Beth and let the strong air from the fan blow the fur back from his face. He looked as if he was in a kitty commercial.

  “Sorry,” Sara Beth responded as she took a sip of sweet tea. She'd added lots of extra ice to her cup. “It's just been too dang hot in here. I think our air conditioning is completely dead.”

  “It's a real scorcher today, Joy,” Old Joe piped in.

  “Let's give Sam Sparks a call and hope that he'll take a batch of cupcakes as payment.” Joy wiped her forehead.

  “I already did,” Sara Beth answered.

  Cheesecake paced the bake shop sizing up the usual customers. He eyes a piece of croissant on Patsy's plate, but Patsy hardly noticed.

  “Here I am.” Sam Sparks pushed open the front doors. "Broken again, huh?"

  “Good to see you, Sam.” Joy put her hands on her hips. “Although I wish we didn't have to see you so often.”

  “I get it. You want me here, but you don't want me back. It's like a visit with the in-laws, am I right?" Sam grinned. "I'm used to that sort of welcoming."

  “I just hope you can fix the air conditioning again," Joy replied. "I don't want to have to buy a brand new unit."

  “Well, let's have a look." Sam got to work right away.

  “I don't know how long I can stand the heat, honey.” Patsy fanned herself with a magazine. Joy was nervous that she would begin losing customers to Maple at The Sugar Room, regardless of the fact that she cooked with expired raisins.

  “Ice cream cake, anyone?” Sara Beth reached into the freezer and took out a small chocolate ice cream cake that Joy had made with leftover cookie crumbles. It had been an experimental menu item that Joy had yet to try and market to her customers. Now seemed like the perfect opportunity.

  “I would love a piece, but it might melt the second I bite into it.” Patsy shook her head. "Not to mention, isn't it a bit early for ice cream cake?"

  “It's never too early.” Sara Beth humored her and cut a slice of ice cream cake anyway. "If it melts then we have straws. You can think of it as a chocolate cake milkshake." She placed the slice of cake in a bowl and handed it to Patsy along with a fork, spoon, and straw.

  “How can I say no to that?" Patsy accepted the cake and took a bite. She nodded, satisfied with her choice.

  “Watch it with the freebies," Joy whispered. "I just might be dipping into all of my savings to buy a new air conditioner very soon. We need all the profits we can get right now."

  “Patsy buys more than enough product,” Sara Beth argued. "She's in here every morning."

  "Yes, I know. Just don't make it a habit." Joy dabbed at the sweat on her forehead with a napkin. She didn't like being greedy when it came to money, but she wasn't sure how she was going to cover all of her expenses for the month if Sam couldn't fix the air conditioning. No air conditioning meant very few customers.

  “Oh, my,” Sara Beth sighed. “This heat is making me as snappy as a Gator.”

  “Me too," Joy agreed. "You're right. Our regulars are our highest priority.”

  Meanwhile, Patsy raved about how good the ice cream cake tasted. The edges were melting, but the insides were still firm and creamy. The inside of the cake was layered with chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream. The cookie crumbles on top gave it a nice crunch.

  Sam emerged from inspecting the air conditioning. He frowned when he saw Cheesecake trotting up and down the front of the shop.

  “Joy, you've got to keep your cat away from the air conditioner,” Sam said. Joy glanced at Cheesecake who was studying the various pastries in the display case.

  “I usually leave him at home," Joy responded. "He didn't mingle well with the customers." Cheesecake looked up at Joy and Joy shrugged. "What? It's true."

  “I like him,” Old Joe called Cheesecake over. The white trotted over to him, and old Joe offered the cat a spoon of cream.

  “Don't spoil him, Joe." Joy shook her head.

  “Too late for that, I'd say,” Old Joe commented, pointing to the plaid bow on Cheesecake's head. Joy had to admit that Cheesecake looked like a very pretty and very spoiled pet.

  Cheesecake purred loudly as he licked up the cream. He liked Old Joe.

  “So is it just cat fur in there that's messing up the wiring?” Sara Beth guessed. She eagerly waited for good news.

  “No, nothing like that," Sam answered. "You're wiring is all messed up, and there are spots that look like they've been chewed at. Or cut, I suppose. I can show you if you like?"

  “And that's bad?” Sara Beth frowned.

  “Darn,” Joy whispered. It sounded more and more likely
that a new air conditioning unit was needed.

  “You tell me, Sara Beth. Bad wiring equals a broken air conditioner. Sorry for the bad news, folks.” Sam scratched his head. "But I will say that it is a bit odd that the wiring looked just fine last time I looked at it. I can't imagine why it broke again so quickly."

  “Oh, really? That's very interesting.” Sara Beth looked at Joy.

  “It's not my fault,” Sam defended himself. "I did nothing to cause this, I swear. I know some folks around here think I sabotage for the sake of getting more business, but those rumors are all false."

  “We're not accusing you, Sam?” Joy had a couple of ideas as to how the air conditioner might have broken. "Tell me, in your professional opinion, what do think happened?"

  “Well, nothing is burned or melted," Sam answered. "I guess I have a few theories. First, you have a very, very old air conditioning unit that needed replacing years ago. Second, that little cat of yours got into the wiring. And third … well, I guess it's always possible that the unit was tampered with on purpose. Though I don't know who in their right mind would take the time to do that.”

  Joy and Sara Beth glanced at each other. Joy's intuition was bucking at her chest like a wild bronco. She wanted to go and give Maple McWayne a piece of her mind. Only Maple would have taken the time to do such a thing.

  “Don't even think about it,” Sara Beth held up a finger, reading Joy's mind.

  “I have no idea what you're talking about.” Joy crossed her arms.

  “Oh yes you do,” Sara Beth argued. "You're thinking about leaving me here in this jungle of a bakery while you march on over to The Sugar Room to give Maple a piece of your mind."

  "I'll certainly give her a piece of something," Joy confessed.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Sam Sparks miraculously got the air conditioner working again and the rest of the day buzzed along smoothly. Cheesecake kept to himself for the most part and spent the afternoon snoozing in a ray of sunlight on the table near the bay window. The sunset painted the shop in a pink and orange glow. Sara Beth was finishing helping a big group of tourists when Delilah came into the shop with her Great Dane, Petunia.

  Cheesecake opened one eye and peered at the huge dog. He didn't move. He watched as Petunia sat at Delilah's feet, slobbering and looking around the shop at every nook and cranny.

  “Oh hi, Delilah. Hi, Petunia.” Sara Beth reached out to pet the Great Dane and got a hand full of slobber in return.

  “Hello," Delilah said. "Listen, I have an emergency. Can you help?” Delilah glanced around the bakery suspiciously.

  “You'll be wanting to speak with Joy." Sara Beth called into the kitchen and Joy hurried into the shop with a bowl in one hand and a whisk in the other. She had been beating egg whites and sugar into stiff meringue the old-fashioned way. It helped Joy clear her head.

  “Oh, hi Delilah.” Joy wasn't surprised to see Delilah again. "What can I do for you?"

  “Joy, I'm so glad you're here. You'll never believe this, but I finally convinced Hunter to change his mind about postponing the wedding." Delilah smiled widely.

  "Oh, that's great." Joy smiled, but her shoulders went tense. This meant that Delilah was here to request another cake. At the last minute.

  "Yes," Delilah happily announced. "We are getting married. Tomorrow."

  “Tomorrow?” Joy clarified.

  “Oh, boy,” Sara Beth mumbled. She began searching for her cup of sweet tea. Sara Beth knew that this meant an all-nighter at the bake shop.

  “I know it's short notice, but you did say you would help us with the cake, right?” Delilah nodded hopefully.

  “Yes, it is short notice," Joy admitted. She took a deep breath knowing that she was in for an insane amount of work, but she was in no position to turn down business.

  “I want the same cake delivered to the same location. Same flavors and specifications." Delilah cleared her throat, worried that Joy didn't accept right away. "I'll pay you double. Please, Joy? You're the only bakery in town that will make me a dog-friendly cake that tastes good to humans too."

  “How about paying us triple?" Sara Beth teased.

  "Sara Beth," Joy scolded her. Even though Sara Beth was joking Joy knew that there was truth behind it. Joy and Sara Beth was already exhausted from the heat that morning. The last thing they both wanted was to pull an all-nighter to make another dog-friendly cake that would be gobbled up in seconds by the local canines.

  “Okay, we'll do it,” Joy agreed. Sara Beth tried not to look too disappointed.

  Delilah squealed in delight. It was so high pitched that Petunia began to howl. Cheesecake bolted upright and hissed. His fur fluffed him up to twice its size.

  “One more thing,” Delilah added.

  “Here it comes.” Sara Beth coughed and took another sip of sweet tea.

  “I also need a cake for tonight. Mom decided we need to have another bachelorette party. Just a small gathering in the doggy birthday room at the grooming shop. Any old cake will do. That shouldn't be that hard to whip up, right?”

  “Oh … uh …” Joy hesitated.

  Sara Beth motioned to the display case, “We have plenty od premade cakes you can choose from.”

  Delilah peered into the case and squinted at each of the cakes. There were miniature cheesecakes, a dark chocolate cake, and plenty of cupcakes.

  “Which of these are dog-friendly?” Delilah asked Sara Beth.

  “None of them,” Sara Beth said. "Especially not the chocolate one." She knew what was coming.

  “That's a problem then,” Delilah sighed. “Joy, could you make me a little dog-friendly cake for tonight? Something simple and easy? I'll pay double to get it in time.”

  "Okay," Joy agreed. "A cake for tonight and a cake for tomorrow. Both dog-friendly." Joy hoped that the extra payment would make up for her lack of sleep.

  Delilah squealed in delight again, which set off Petunia, who set off Cheesecake, who scrambled into the kitchen to get away from the noise.

  After Delilah paid and left the shop, Joy and Sara Beth got right to work. They needed to deliver the first cake to Delilah's bachelorette party that evening, which would be challenging enough itself. The added challenge of creating a wedding cake the very next day was daunting, to say the least. Sara Beth stocked up on sweet tea, and Joy made a big pot of coffee.

  “This is the worst,” Sara Beth muttered as she pulled down a big jar of flour.

  Cheesecake sat in a chair and purred. He loved watching people bake, even though sometimes it stressed him out too. He had a slight addiction to the reality television show Make It Or Bake It and liked to judge Joy's baking as though he were a judge on the show.

  “We need the business, and we need the money,” Joy explained.

  “Yes, I know,” Sara Beth said.

  “We need to make up for all of the freebies you give away.”

  “Haha," Sara Beth mumbled.

  “Don't worry," Joy reassured her. "Time will go by and fast and before you know it we'll be finished."

  “Alright, but I hope you're not planning on making a replica of the original wedding cake. That thing was huge."

  "I think we can scale it down a notch." Joy smirked as she tied an apron around her waist.

  Sara Beth nodded and fetched a huge stack of mixing bowls. She noticed Cheesecake staring at her as she began measuring ingredients.

  "Have you ever noticed how intently your cat watches us bake?" she commented.

  "It's Cheesecake's thing," Joy answered.

  "Well, it's kind of creepy."

  The cake for the bachelorette party was going to be similar to the peanut butter and banana wedding cake, but with a twist. The dog-friendly ingredients were limited, but Joy created a new taste by substituting the peanut butter for almond butter. She figured that it would change the taste just enough to satisfy Delilah and her doggy guest list.

  Sara Beth and Joy turned up the music in the kitchen to almost deafening volumes and danced
to keep their energy up. They whipped up three small sample batches and then selected the best tasting batter. They hoped that the best batter would result in the best cake. They didn't have time to do a baked trial of all variations of flavors for a cake that was supposed to be delivered within hours.

  Joy carried on with the baking and while Sara Beth worked on the icing, frosting cakes that had been cooled for both the bachelorette and wedding cakes. Joy decorated the bachelorette party cake with the frosting that Sara Beth had created. It had a natural pink coloring due to the beetroot juice. Joy followed the pink inspiration and piped the frosting to make the cake look like a beautiful rose. Cheesecake eagerly watched and held out his paw.

  “No, no, Cheesecake. This cake isn't for you.”

  Cheesecake laid down, making the shape of a long sweet bun with his body. As Joy finished the frosting, the white cat reached out two more times, thinking that maybe, this time, Joy would let him taste a little of the frosting. She never did.

  The cakes for the first two tiers of the five-tiered wedding cake had been baked and were cooling on the racks. It was almost time for the bachelorette party, so Sara Beth boxed up the almond butter rose cake and carried it to the car.

  The sky was dark, and Joy strained to see anything in the alley behind the bake shop. She had a funny feeling that someone was watching her. As she opened the car door, Joy heard the clanging of garbage cans.

  “Who's there?” Joy spun around.

  But there was nothing but darkness.

  Back in the kitchen, Sara Beth struggled to keep Cheesecake away from the cooling cakes.

  “Cheesecake, you naughty little cat,” Sara Beth scolded him.

  “We will just have to take him with us, so he doesn't destroy the entire bake shop.” Joy huffed as she picked him up and placed him on the floor for what seemed like the hundredth time.

  “I know it smells delicious, Cheesecake, but you can't have any. This cake is for Delilah and the dogs." Sara Beth pointed her finger at him as if he understood. Joy knew that he did. Cheesecake seemed to understand much more than she realized. He was a clever cat. Clever but very stubborn. "Well, maybe just one bite?"