Easter Buried Eggs (Black Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery Series Book 10)

by Lyndsey Cole

  Martha put one hand around her mouth and whispered, “You must be referring to Dawn?”

  Forrest nodded. “She’s a tough one and she may have only hired me for this gig because a bunch of the seniors requested me. That’s fine. I’ll get my check before I leave and be done with her.”

  Annie opened the van’s side door and directed what everyone could carry inside. When she unloaded the cake, Mia pulled up next to the van. “Posie McBride outdid herself for this event. She’s probably hoping for some repeat business for The Enchanted Florist from these folks and their families.”

  “A bit underhanded of a motive to give Leona such a good price, but she has to look ahead for future business,” Annie said. “Follow me.”

  Mia carried one basket filled with spring flowers—tulips, lilies, pussy willows, and lime green hydrangeas—set it on the buffet, and returned for the other one.

  When she returned, she whispered to Annie, “Still full of self-doubt? It looks to me like everything is coming together nicely.”

  “I’ve already gained a big appreciation for all that Leona juggles, but to answer your question, my confidence bounces around more than a yo-yo. So far, I feel like I’m in control, but in five minutes? Everything could be chaos.”

  Mia laughed. “This is the perfect event for you to get a taste of running the show. I know Leona has been wanting to take some time off and, really, when is it ever the right time? You have to jump in and figure it out.” She gave her daughter a quick hug of encouragement. “You’ll do just fine.”

  With those words ringing in her ears, Annie let her concentration down for two seconds. An ear-splitting crash from behind the kitchen door echoed into the dining room. She dashed into the kitchen to find one pan of scalloped potatoes oozing over the shiny white tiles and two bunny feet. Her heart plummeted into her stomach.

  Forrest had eyes as big as the white fluffy tail on the back of his costume when he looked at Annie. “Oops. I was getting my head back on and I must have knocked into that tray.” He lowered his voice. “How about I scoop it back into the pan?”

  As appealing as that suggestion was, Annie had the sense to know it was a terrible idea. “Just get out.” She pointed to the door. “I’ll clean up and figure something out.” What the solution would be, she had no idea. Maybe this crowd wouldn’t like the scalloped potatoes, anyway, and the one remaining tray would be enough.

  Mia rushed through the door. Her mouth flopped open like a fish gasping for air when she saw the mess. “What?” She composed herself and tried to smooth over the food problem. “Not the end of the world. We do the serving, so I’ll be sure to use a small spoon and make the one pan of scalloped potatoes stretch to everyone who wants some.”

  Annie checked the time. She had an hour and a half to finish the cake, get the food on the buffet tables, and at the same time, serve the hors d’oeuvres. She took a deep, calming breath while Mia and Martha stared at her, waiting for instructions. “Martha, you can offer drinks to everyone when they arrive and while they’re milling around talking or waiting for a turn in the photo booth. Mom, you can serve the hors d’oeuvres. I need about ten minutes to finish putting the face on the cake. At four-fifteen, we’ll carry all the food out to the warming trays so we can start serving at four-thirty.”

  Mia and Martha nodded.

  Martha reached into her big tote that she had stored out of the way. “I made these aprons for us to wear, you know, so we don’t just blend in with the residents. I guess Mia and I might be the only ones that need to worry about that.” She handed out bright green aprons with bunnies hopping among red and yellow tulips. “What do you think?”

  “Personally, I prefer the aprons you made for the café covered with black cats in every pose imaginable, but these are perfect for this event,” Annie said as she tied one around her waist. “Have the Easter baskets been placed next to everyone’s place?”

  “I didn’t see any,” Mia said. “Are you sure you brought them?”

  “I’ll check the van and bring them out.” She ran her fingers through her strawberry blond curls. “Everything will be fine,” she added, more for herself than the other two women who were already headed to the dining room.

  The Easter baskets were in the van, piled on the passenger seat and on the floor in front of the seat. No wonder no one remembered them. It only took a few minutes for Annie to distribute them around the tables. It also gave her a chance to see the guests. At least they all seemed to be in a festive mood. For now.

  Uh-oh, she saw trouble heading her way. Annie steeled her shoulders and put on a friendly smile. “Hello Ms. Cross.” What a fitting name, Annie said to herself.

  “Dawn, please.” She lightly touched Annie’s arm. “Everything looks quite nice. I wasn’t sure you’d be able to pull it off after I talked to you on the phone earlier. I’ll be mingling with the seniors if you need me for anything.”

  Maybe she wasn’t so bad, Annie thought as she returned to the kitchen.

  Annie popped a black jelly bean in her mouth and studied her cake after she finished applying the jelly bean face. She had to admit that she was proud of how the bunny came out. With coconut sticking all willy-nilly in the cream cheese frosting and the black jelly bean eyes, nose, and pink mouth, it looked too good to eat. She even had the bunny resting on a nest of dyed-green coconut. All in all, it was as good as Leona would have produced. Or maybe even better, she told herself proudly.

  Annie carefully carried the ham to the buffet table, followed by the pan of scalloped potatoes and the green beans. Mustard, rolls, and butter were placed at the end for the diners to take as needed. After she put the cake in the most visible spot, she checked the time and had a good fifteen minutes to mingle before serving the food.

  Annie turned around and bumped into Martha.

  “I want you to meet my best friend forever, Sylvia. We’ve known each other ever since her family moved in next door to mine.”

  “You led me into all kinds of trouble, Martha. And since you’re younger, I was the one who always got the blame.”

  “Hehehe,” Martha giggled. “What are we going to do tonight to liven up these old people? Switch the name tags? Photo bomb the Easter pictures? How about some rock and roll songs instead of these old love ballads?”

  Annie held Martha’s arm. “Don’t mess it up for me. Leona trusted me to manage this dinner and I need everything to go as smooth as silky bunny fur.”

  Sylvia elbowed her friend. “Here comes Marvin. He could be your partner in crime. He’s always sneaking around this place snooping on everyone. As far as I know, he hasn’t made too many friends, especially not with Dawn or the secretary, Gloria.”

  “Marvin.” Sylvia waved to get his attention. “Come meet my friends.”

  Marvin glanced around the room before he walked any closer. He maneuvered along the edge of the people, keeping his back to the wall.

  “A bit paranoid?” Annie asked.

  Sylvia leaned close to Annie. “Dawn has written him up for sneaking around at night after we’re all supposed to be asleep, or at least in our apartments.”

  “What’s he looking for?”

  Sylvia shrugged. “He told me he just likes to keep an eye on everything.”

  Marvin silently edged his way next to Sylvia. “I don’t like the kid in the bunny costume. Why is he here again? Last time he stole my money.”

  “That was never proven, Marvin. Didn’t your son think maybe you misplaced it?” Sylvia gently reminded Marvin.

  “Forrest told me that he was surprised that Dawn hired him. I got the feeling there is bad blood between those two,” Annie said, wondering what, if anything, happened between Forrest and Dawn.

  Marvin leaned close to Annie. “Who are you?”

  “Oh,” Martha said. “Marvin, this is my friend, Annie. She’s in charge of the dinner tonight. Try to be nice to her, okay?”

  “Did you put poison in anything?” He kept his steely gray eyes on Annie’s fac
e.

  She leaned her head as far away from Marvin as possible. “Of course not.”

  “No, I suppose you have no reason to poison any of us, but that Easter bunny, I’m not so sure about him. Was he near the food?”

  Sylvia rolled her eyes. “Oh Marvin. Forrest just hasn’t figured out what he wants to do with his life yet. He’s harmless.”

  “You like everyone, Sylvia. I’ve seen things around this place and you’re going to find yourself in trouble if you aren’t more careful.” Marvin walked away from the women, found his name tag, and switched it with one from another table.

  “He’s really not so bad once you get used to him,” Sylvia said. “He kind of grows on you over time.

  “Lock your door at night,” Martha told her friend. “With people like that wandering around, you can’t be too careful.

  3

  At one minute before four-thirty, Dawn rang a little bell. “The food is hot. Get in line or go hungry.”

  Annie had the two vegetarian meals—half of a zucchini stuffed with rice and peppers, with tomato and cheese melted on top—tucked off to one side, not sure who they were for, but she assumed someone would ask for them.

  Marvin was first in line. “I don’t want the leftovers. Or any food that someone has touched.”

  Annie served him a piece of ham topped with a fresh pineapple slice, Mia dished out some scalloped potatoes, and Martha added a scoop of green beans to his plate. He used the tongs to grab a roll before he sat down, meticulously spread his napkin on his lap, and took a sip from his water goblet.

  A man with some obsessive-compulsive tendencies, Annie observed before her attention returned to the line of hungry people.

  With guests holding plates out as fast as Annie could serve, the ham began to disappear but she knew there was no way she would run out. Unfortunately, she was not as confident about the scalloped potatoes, but her mother gave her a thumbs-up when she glanced over. Nothing she could do about it at this point if they didn’t have enough.

  Silverware clinked against the china and a noisy murmur of multiple conversations rose above the quiet background music, giving an impression that all was under control.

  “Did you bring a vegetarian choice?”

  Annie looked up to see a short woman staring through her bifocals. “I was thinking Dawn made a mistake since no one asked yet. Here you go.” Annie slid the stuffed zucchini onto the offered plate.

  “I wasn’t sure she would remember. She’s not too happy with me at the moment. Nice spread, by the way.”

  “You live here?” Annie asked.

  The woman laughed. “Sometimes it feels like I do with the hours I put in, but no, I’m the lowly secretary.”

  Annie lowered her voice and checked to be sure Dawn was not within hearing distance. “You probably run the place.”

  “I like you. My name’s Gloria, by the way. I saw you were talking to Sylvia earlier—she’s a sweetheart. And Marvin—” Gloria’s eyes rolled up so high, Annie wasn’t sure they’d come back. “A creeper.”

  “A creeper?”

  “Yeah, he turns up when you least expect him. He walks around with some kind of special shoes that don’t make a sound. It gives me the creeps.” She shuddered. “But what can I do? He lives here, pays his bills, or at least his son pays his bills, so I have to put up with his weirdness.” She looked at her plate. “So, what is this you made?”

  “Stuffed zucchini. I hope you like it.”

  “Yum. I’m drooling already. This, some scalloped potatoes, green beans, and a slice of that cake will make me feel like I’m in heaven.”

  “Wait a minute before you sit down,” Annie said. “Dawn asked me to make two vegetarian entrees, do you know who the other one is for?”

  “Oh, that must be for Sean. He doesn’t eat in the dining room. If you wrap it up, I’ll leave it in on my desk for him to pick up.”

  “Sure. No problem. I have a reusable container I can put it in with everything else and all he’ll have to do is pop it in the microwave after he takes out the cake.” Annie loaded up the container, stretched the yellow silicone cover on, and handed Gloria the meal. She watched as Gloria juggled her plate and the extra entree while she wobbled precariously on her high heels toward a table off to one side. She made it without mishap.

  Annie looked over the dining tables at everyone talking, eating, or just sitting quietly. Marvin was at a table with Sylvia and two other women. While Annie watched, Marvin stabbed his fork into his roll, cut it in half, and wiped his plate, never touching his food with his fingers. A creeper and a germaphobe?

  Forrest stuck a plate in front of Annie. His bunny head and paws were missing. “Anything left for a hungry Easter bunny?”

  “Sure, let me grab my bag of carrots.” She reached under the table.

  “Ah, seriously?”

  Annie laughed. “Just kidding.” She slid two big slices of ham onto his plate. “No scalloped potatoes for you, though.”

  “Really?”

  Mia held out a small scoop. “Just enough for one last serving.”

  Forrest smiled. “I’m glad someone has some compassion around here.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?” Annie asked.

  Forrest gave an almost imperceptible head nod toward the table where Dawn seemed to be keeping her eyes over the diners. “I won’t name anyone, but someone can’t wait for me to get out of here. Little does she know, I’m not leaving without a paycheck.” He leaned close to Annie. “Have you been paid already?”

  “Half when she reserved the date and half after we clean up. Should I be worried?”

  “Let me put it this way, don’t let her give you any excuse that she can’t pay tonight. I know she has a safe full of cash that she hates to part with.”

  “Thanks for the tip. Don’t forget to come back for dessert.”

  Forrest glanced at the cake with a piece missing for Sean. “Looks too nice to eat. Besides, I’m not sure I’d feel right about chomping into one of my relatives.” He tried to suppress his lips from twitching up into a grin but failed miserably. “I’ll be in the photo booth eating. Stop by if you fancy a photo with your favorite Easter bunny.” He winked at Annie and walked around the tables and disappeared in his booth.

  Martha and Mia brought the warming trays into the kitchen before they stacked plates and cleared tables to make room for dessert. Annie brought out the ice cream to soften for easier scooping.

  Unsurprisingly, Marvin was the first in line. “I want the tip of the ear with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the left, chocolate on the right, and those sprinkles on everything.”

  After Annie filled his request, he poked at the cake with his fork. “What’s all the bumpy stuff?”

  “Coconut.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Yes. I think I should know what I used when I made the cake, Marvin.” Annie tried to keep her growing annoyance out of her tone.

  He stuck a piece on his tongue. “Tastes sweet. I guess I’ll eat it.” He returned to his seat, taking a bit of vanilla ice cream, cake, then chocolate ice cream on his fork with each bite.

  To each his own, Annie decided. She wouldn’t have to deal with the likes of Marvin after tonight.

  The cake shrank on its platter and the ice cream disappeared by the time the last diner held out a plate.

  “No leftovers of that cake?” Dawn appeared after everyone else had been served. “There’s usually leftovers.”

  “One ear is left and all the coconut nest, plus lots of jelly beans,” Annie said.

  “Wrap it up for me so I can take it home. I want to get out of here as soon as possible.”

  Annie stopped with the bunny ear half-way between the platter and a smaller plate. “I need you to write a check for the balance due before you leave.”

  “Not until everything is cleaned. That was the agreement. Stop at my office when you’re done. I’m heading there now.” Dawn took the plate and left the room.

&nbs
p; “What do I do now?” Annie asked her mother. “What if she doesn’t wait around to pay me?” Annie sizzled inside. This being-in-charge certainly presented more problems than jelly beans in an Easter basket.

  “Let’s get busy so Dawn leaving before you are paid doesn’t become an issue.” Mia carried the empty ice cream containers to the kitchen.

  Marvin and Sylvia were long gone and the last of the slowest stragglers were on their way out of the dining room followed by Forrest. On his way to Dawn’s office, Annie guessed. At least he had a good chance of getting paid, Annie said to herself. She stacked the dessert plates and carried them into the kitchen. Mia had the clean dinner dishes unloaded from the dishwasher and ready for the last load of dirty dishes.

  “Sylvia said your dinner was one of the best they’ve had here,” Martha said as she dried one of Annie’s big warming trays. “Everyone loved the cake.”

  “Good to hear, especially after half the scalloped potatoes ended up on the floor. I hope everyone got enough.”

  “No complaints. Well, except for Marvin, but Sylvia said to ignore him. He rarely says anything good about anything.”

  “What did he complain about?” Annie asked.

  “Just a couple of things—the ham was too salty, the potatoes were overcooked, and the cake was too sweet. But he loved the ice cream. Or maybe he complained that it was too cold.” Martha laughed. “I think that covers all his comments.”

  “Ha. The one thing I didn’t make is all that might have gotten a compliment. He’s a strange one. You said Sylvia and Marvin are friends?”

  Martha stacked the clean trays. “Yes, they are friends because Sylvia manages to find something positive about everyone. One of her faults, as far as I’m concerned. She tends to overlook some glaring bad qualities in people.”

  “What does she overlook with Marvin?”

  “He seems to have a conspiracy theory about everything, starting with Forrest stealing from his room during the last event here. He can’t let anything go, but Sylvia doesn’t mind,” Martha explained.

  Annie leaned against the gleaming stainless counter. “With the short time I was here, I got the distinct impression that Gloria isn’t a fan of Marvin. She actually used the word ‘creeper’ when she mentioned him.”