Bakeries and Bodies

by Danielle Collins

  Those who were out in the cold weather were bundled up, their breath fogging in front of them in white clouds. She saw many people wave at one another and some even stop to talk. It was clear this was a tightknit community, as well as one that loved to celebrate Christmas. Margot could just make out the white lights that rimmed most of the buildings on the main street and couldn’t wait to see what they would look like at night.

  When she saw the sign for Simon Huxley’s son’s business, she pulled into a parking space right in front and prepared herself. She looked one more time at her phone and saw that Adam had also sent along a little bit of information about Simon’s son. His name was Ken Huxley, he was thirty-eight and single, he lived in a small apartment in between the bakery and his outdoor adventure business, and he apparently had a penchant for taking risks.

  Adam had sent along a photo as well and she looked at the handsome young man. He looked vibrant in the photo, surrounded by trees with a waterfall in the distance. He was obviously someone who cared deeply about being outside.

  Looking up, she took a deep breath and hoped that she could find a way to make a connection with Ken Huxley in order to gain some information from him without signing herself up for a sky diving adventure or something equally frightening.

  A small bell rang above the door when she stepped inside and a tall form unfolded from a desk facing the back wall. When the person turned around, she saw that it was Ken.

  “Hello,” he said, his smile flashing perfect, white teeth at her. “How can I help you?”

  “Hello, I’m in town for the holidays with my boyfriend and we’re interested in…finding something to do. Uh, outside.” She flashed him a smile and hoped she didn’t sound uncommitted.

  “Then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve got pretty much anything you’ll want to do around here. Skiing or snowboarding, snowmobiling, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, even ice fishing. What are you guys in to?”

  Staying in and baking? she thought. Instead, she picked the one that sounded the least adventurous. “Snowshoeing?”

  He smiled. “You sound unsure. Have you guys been before?”

  “I haven’t. I’m not sure about A—him.” She desperately hoped Ken hadn’t noticed her almost saying Adam’s name. She didn’t want to give anything away just yet.

  “It can be a lot of fun if you like being out in nature.” He looked up to the celling as if thinking of options just as an idea hit Margot.

  “You know, to be honest…” She leaned in conspiratorially, though no one was in the office. “I'm actually a baker and in town for the bake-off—” Among other things. “—and I think something less…active might be better. Do you have any ideas?”

  “A-a baker? Like, you’re moving here?” Was it just her or did he sound concerned?

  “Oh no, I own a shop on the east coast. I just thought it would be fun to come for the bake-off.”

  “My dad’s a baker actually,” Ken said. Margot tried to assess his smile. Was it genuine or forced? It was hard to tell, because Ken was a consummate sales man.

  “How exciting. Does he have a shop in town?”

  “Yep. I work there on occasion.”

  “How wonderful. I’ll have to stop by and check it out.”

  “Yeah, you, uh, you should.” He looked down at the papers in front of him. “You know, you and your boyfriend might like a sleigh ride instead. It’s a little bit slower pace. What do you say?”

  Margot was frantically searching for a way to extend the conversation, but she wasn’t sure she’d be able to. Instead, she nodded and smiled. “You know, I think you might be right. Can I book a sleigh ride?”

  “Absolutely. I work with a local man in town. We can set up the details now and then we’ll just need payment before it’s fully confirmed.”

  “Oh!” Margot feigned surprise as she looked in her wallet. “It looks like I left my card at home. How silly of me. Can I stop back in to pay?”

  “Sure, not a problem. We’ll get all your info down here and wait for the payment, then you’ll be set.”

  “Thanks so much. You’ve been very helpful.”

  She filled out the necessary forms and watched as Ken signed them, noting he was left-handed, and then said good-bye before stepping back into the cold. She hadn’t learned much, but she’d at least created a reason for to come back. Hopefully by that time, she would be able to find out more information about Ken and his relationship with his father.

  When Margot pulled in the driveway at Adam’s parents’ house, she saw him outside swinging an ax at a piece of wood balanced on top of a large stump. His cut landed exactly in the middle of the wood, snapping it into two perfect halves.

  “Bravo,” she said, walking up behind him as he set up another piece of wood.

  “You’re back.” He turned to her with a big smile.

  “Yes. And with much to tell you.”

  He eyed the small pile of wood he’d already chopped. “Let me get a few more pieces and then bring them inside. Then we can talk. Want to convince my mom to make us some of her world famous hot chocolate?”

  “World famous?”

  “You better believe it.”

  “Then I will do my best to complete the mission, sir.”

  He laughed at her antics. “Mission Hot Chocolate. Go.”

  She hurried up the steps and inside just as another crack of the ax splitting wood rent the air. This was what Christmas was supposed to feel like. Cozy. Homey. The scent of apple pie spice and fir greeted her and she breathed deeply. Definitely homey.

  “Oh, you’re back,” Louise said, stepping out of the kitchen with an apron on. “I was just making a pie for one of the four holiday parties Harvey and I have been invited to.” She let out a sigh and shook her head. “Aren’t the holiday’s supposed to be relaxing?’

  Margot wanted to say she’d thought the same thing, but didn’t want to offend Louise, sure her meaning would be misconstrued. “I’ve been sent on a mission by Adam. He told me you make the world’s best cup of hot chocolate, but it sounds like you’re busy already.”

  “There is always time for hot chocolate. Come and join me in the kitchen and I’ll share my secrets with you, you’re practically family.”

  Louise turned before she could see the effect her words had on Margot, but Margot felt her cheeks heat. That was just it, though. She wasn’t family. Not yet.

  The thought soured in her stomach and she tried to push it away. Now was not the time to think about the details of her relationship with Adam. Especially not in the kitchen with his mother.

  As they made the hot chocolate, Louise asked about how Margot’s day had gone. Without going into too much detail, Margot was able to side-step giving too much information away. She wanted to be honest and upfront with Louise, but she wasn’t sure that was for the best at this stage in her investigation. She was going to share her findings with Adam, but she was afraid his mother might jump to conclusions before all of the facts were in.

  When they all had mugs of hot chocolate, marshmallows included, Adam led her to the family room where he’d just gotten a blazing fire started. The feeling of homey continued to sink deeply into Margot and she almost forgot the case and poor Fran in holding and Louise’s worry. Everything faded until Adam looked at her, eager for information.

  “You’re terrible,” she said with a laugh.

  “What?” he said, looking offended. “What did I do?”

  “You didn’t do anything, but you’ve got that look.”

  “What look?”

  “The ‘detective on the prowl’ look.”

  “Oh, you mean this one?” He laughed and wagged his eyebrows at her, making her giggle.

  “See? There it is.”

  He laughed, but sobered quickly. “All right, I can’t tell a lie. I’m dying to know what you found out, Miss Investigator.”

  “You didn’t mind that I went without you, did you?” For some reason, it was very important that she kne
w he was all right with her looking into things. She knew it had to be difficult for him to sit this out, at least at this stage of it all.

  “It’s not my favorite thing—sitting by while someone else gets to have all the fun.” He sighed and took a sip from his red and green plaid mug. “But I think you were right to have me stay here. I’m a bit of a beacon in town. If people don’t know who I am, they know my parents. I think they would have clammed up.”

  She nodded.

  “So, tell me what you discovered.”

  She relayed her conversation with Joyce and then told him about her chat with Ken. “He seemed nice enough, but I couldn’t really steer the conversation where I wanted it to go without being obvious.”

  “Good thing you’ll have to go back to make the deposit. Though…a sleigh ride? Really? I was just kidding when I mentioned it the last time.”

  She smacked him lightly on the arm. “Hey, it’s the perfect Christmas activity.”

  “If you’re Santa Claus maybe.”

  She made a face. “If nothing else, it’ll be money well spent in order to gain some information from Ken. He didn’t volunteer much of anything.”

  A pocket of pitch ignited and sent out a loud crack, and they both turned their gaze to the fire. Margot thought about all that she still didn’t know. There wasn’t much information about Fran and Simon, aside from the fact that they had quite the rivalry. She still didn’t know anything about Simon’s supposed will or what Ken thought about that either. And then there was Wade.

  “Oh,” she said, her attention jumping back to Adam. “I almost forgot.”

  “What?”

  “I saw Wade at the bakery.”

  “Wade…as in Cassie’s Wade?”

  “Yes.” She thought back to what it looked like he’d been doing, though it had been difficult to see. “I think he was in the kitchen baking. Or prepping. I’m not sure.”

  “You think he works there?” Adam tilted his head.

  “I have no idea, but I did think it was odd. I wanted to ask him about it and almost went to knock on the door, but then Joyce intercepted me.”

  Adam smiled. “Good old Joyce. She’s a sweet one. She offer you tea?”

  “Absolutely.”

  Adam smiled and Margot got the sense that there were some things about this life that he missed. Tea with Joyce seemed to be one of them.

  “Well, we could ask Cassie,” Adam began, but they both heard a door open then close and footsteps came down the hall.

  “Hey,” Cassie said, tugging off a dark green coat, a burgundy knit hat still covering her dark brown hair. “You guys know where Brad and Giselle are?”

  “Yeah, they are up at snowman’s hill with the kids. Should be back soon.”

  “Oh, great.” Cassie turned to go but, after shooting Margot a look, Adam called her back. “We have a question about Wade.”

  Immediately, Cassie’s demeanor changed. “Seriously, not you too. Just leave Wade alone, okay? He’s changed. He’s not like he was…before.”

  Cassie’s words immediately struck a chord of curiosity in Margot, but she jumped in to smooth things over first. “No, Cassie, it’s not that. I saw him at Baked & Glazed this morning. Does he work there?”

  “Yeah…” Her tone softened almost imperceptibly. “He helps Simon in the mornings. But don’t tell Mom, she’ll totally freak. You know she’s on Fran’s ‘side’.” Cassie made air quotes around ‘side’ and rolled her eyes.

  “Cass, what do you know about him?”

  Cassie’s forehead creased and she crossed her arms over her chest. “Seriously, Adam, you are just like them. You don’t even know Wade and you’re totally judging him.”

  “I’m not—”

  “Just give him the benefit of the doubt.”

  “I’d like to talk to him,” Margot interjected, trying to dispel the tensions yet again.

  “I…I don’t know where he is. But he’ll be back.” Cassie took a step toward the door. “I just— Give him a chance, okay, Ads?”

  She turned on her heel and left before Adam could say anything else, but Margot could tell his sister’s attitude, and boyfriend, bothered him.

  She placed a hand on his arm. “We’ll find him and talk with him. Who knows, maybe she’s right about him.”

  Adam gave her a half-smile. “I doubt it, but I’ll reserve my judgment.”

  They both turned their attention back to the fire and grew silent, enjoying the nearness of one another, though Margot’s thoughts continued to jump around to all of the information she’d found out so far. It wasn’t enough to point in any direction, but she would get there, eventually.

  Chapter 8

  Margot spent a relaxing morning with Adam and his family, taking a walk through the light snow that had fallen overnight. It wasn’t much, but it had covered the sloping fields of the golf course in white, creating the perfect scene.

  When they came in from the cold, Margot told Adam she was planning another trip to see Fran, but she was going to go alone this time. While he understood what she needed to do, she still felt bad leaving him. But, being the true gentleman and amazing man she’d come to know, he wished her the best of luck and said he looked forward to seeing her when she got back.

  The drive into town was even more beautiful with everything covered in the light dusting. The forecast called for more, but so far, Margot was happy with the little they’d gotten. If they were lucky, they might just get a white Christmas. It would be her first in many years and she looked forward to celebrating it with the Eastwoods.

  The station came into view and she pulled into a space at the curb, the tires crunching on snow. She walked confidentially up the steps despite the uneasiness growing in the pit of her stomach. It was one thing to visit sweet Fran and another entirely to circumvent grouchy Detective Russ Nelson.

  Two officers stepped out of the office just as she was coming up and one held the door for her with a smile. She walked into the warmth of the office, wishing the detective was like the kind officers. She then refocused her attention on the attendant at the front desk, hoping she wouldn’t have to get the detective’s approval to see Fran.

  After explaining that she just wanted to visit with her friend for a few minutes, the woman nodded and called a young officer over. He was the same one whom Adam had helped with their statements. He smiled at her, remembering her name, and asked her to follow him.

  They walked the same path they’d gone before, but he took her to a different room this time, instructing her not to touch Fran in any way and to keep to her side of the desk. Margot desperately wanted to ask the man if anything had come of the injection site behind Simon’s ear, but she knew that he likely wouldn’t know, and if he did, he wouldn't be able to share that information with her.

  Once in the room, she sat and waited as they readied Fran for her visit. It was a long five minutes, but soon the frail woman came into the room, looking dwarfed by the outfit the station had provided her.

  “Hello, Fran,” Margot said once the officer had left.

  “I’m glad you came back to visit me, Margot,” Fran said, letting out a deep sigh. “I barely know you and yet I feel comfortable with you. Forgive me, but it may be that you’re a stranger.” She looked ashamed to admit it, but Margot understood.

  “There’s nothing to forgive. I completely understand. I think I too would be more comfortable with a stranger in your situation.”

  “Thank you.” She looked down at her hands.

  “Fran, I have to ask you a few questions, if that’s all right with you.”

  Fran looked up, surprised. “What kind of questions?”

  Margot was relatively sure that no one was listening in on their conversation, but she still was hesitant to say anything outright.

  “Do you know what Louise’s son does for a living?”

  Fran frowned thoughtfully, but nodded. “He’s a det—”

  “Exactly,” Margot said with a smile. Fran immediately
picked up on the fact that she was speaking around the subject. “And because of that, I’m helping him out in order to help out Louise.”

  Fran took a moment to piece together what Margot was saying, but Margot could see the minute she understood. “I see. Well, what can I tell you?”

  Margot licked her lips, unsure if talking about Simon would upset Fran the same way it had before. She hesitated so long that Fran nodded in her direction, as if telling her, ‘go on.’

  “I need to know about you and Simon.”

  Fran’s eyes widened. “How did you know?’

  “Know…what?” Margot blinked, unsure of what had just happened. One question and Fran was already looking worried. Was it possible she actually had killed him?

  “I mean…” Fran leaned forward. “How did you know about us?”

  The way she said ‘us’ made Margot’s mind spin in understanding. “Do you mean you two were…”

  “Involved.” Fran sniffed and leaned back. Were those tears in her eyes?

  “Oh, Fran,” Margot said, finally understanding. “I’m sorry. I didn’t exactly know, but…have you told the police?”

  “Heavens no.” Fran smoothed a hand over her hair. “We made sure no one knew.”

  “But…why?” Margot was having trouble understanding.

  “It’s complicated in a little town like Sisters. Everyone knows everyone and, while I do love this town, you can’t spit without hitting someone you know or are related to.”

  It was an interesting metaphor, but Margot knew what Fran was saying.

  “We—well, mostly me—didn’t want the news spreading like wildfire. I mean, can you imagine the crow we’d have to eat after years of feuding? It would have undone the society gossip for a long time. Besides…” Fran sniffed again. “I wasn’t sure if it tarnished the memory of my husband.”

  Margot remembered Adam telling her that Fran’s husband had died many years ago, yet she could relate to the woman. She’d often struggled with her latent feelings of love toward her late husband Julian and her new relationship with Adam. Most days now, things were good, but she still had moments when she felt guilt, even if those feelings weren’t founded.