Evy followed her finger to the oversized half moon booth in the corner. “Sure.”
“Great. I’d also like some raspberry, almond, and chocolate mint cupcakes. A dozen of each.”
“No problem,” Evy replied without writing anything down, cranking up the professional courtesy an extra notch or two.
“Oh, and a mimosa slash coffee bar,” Megan added, examining a glass case full of tasty little crunch cake treats. “What are these?”
“Those?” Brooke said, glancing at a rack of chocolate crunch cupcakes with blueberry frosting. “Those are almost out is what those are. Plus, they’re made with beer and we wouldn’t want to take a chance of upsetting your little tummy.” Brooke flashed Megan a smile that took phony to a whole new level.
“Oh, so you got your liquor license back then?”
Brooke’s phony grin melted down her face.
“We did,” Evy said, before Brooke could blow her top. “It was all a stupid mix-up.”
Megan’s eyes darted to Evy and thinned. “Oh, that’s good.” She turned to April with a big smile. “Because we’re going to have some drinkers with us, that’s for sure.” They both laughed. “But none for me,” Megan said, making a sad face and rubbing her belly.
Evy felt Brooke’s mouth open and kicked her behind the counter.
“You expecting a baby or a genie to come out of there?” Brooke asked anyway.
Megan’s sad face turned to stone. “My only wish is for a healthy baby,” she said gravely.
“Oh, that’s so sweet.” Brooke replied, holding Megan’s frigid glare. “Does the baby get a wish?”
Megan clenched her teeth and gripped her purse tighter, making a tendon pop out in her neck.
“Alrighty then,” April said, breaking the silence. “It was so nice to meet you, Evy, and we look forward to seeing you next Sunday.” She nodded at Brooke who was too busy giving Megan the evil eye to notice.
Evy smiled as wide as she possibly could, straining the muscles in her neck. “Feel free to bring an iPod and we’ll plug it into the dock.”
Megan’s face finally loosened. “Perfect. Thank you, Evy.” She looked back to Brooke with a grin. “See you next week.”
“I’ll be counting the days,” Brooke grumbled.
Megan held Brooke’s pointed glare for a few more seconds and, with a quick turn of her hips, made a beeline for the front door with her head held high.
April wiggled her fingers at them and fell in line, her high heels clicking in rhythm with Megan’s across the black and white tiles. The bell rang above the front door, vanquishing them back to whatever dark lands they had come from.
Evy exhaled a pent-up breath and shivered like someone had just walked over her grave.
“That bitch is not having her baby shower here,” Brooke said, still staring at the glass door. “And I don’t care if it’s the last baby on the planet.”
“Brooke,” Evy groaned, sympathizing with her one hundred percent. “We need the money.”
“And that is final, Evy!”
“We could spit in her food.”
Brooke’s eyebrows dipped. “If I actually thought you’d go through with it, I would.”
Evy bit back a giggle. “I will.”
“You won’t.”
“We could poison her.”
“You know what?” Brooke said, exhaling a heated breath. “I don’t know why you’re taking this so lightly. That bitch just came in here and rubbed baby poop right in your face.”
“What do you want me to do, Brooke? Punch her in her stupid little nose?”
Brooke stared hard at her, flabbergasted by such a ridiculous question. “Yes!”
“She’s already lost.”
Brooke started to say something and then stopped short, studying Evy through cautious eyes. “I hope you’re right.”
“I am.”
“Either way, she is not having her fucking baby shower in here. I’m the boss and that is that.”
“Fine. But you’re calling to cancel.”
Brooke’s eyes thinned to demonic slits. “Oh, it’ll be my pleasure.”
Evy massaged her temples, feeling bad Brooke had to go through that. Brooke was right, she was the boss of her dream dessert lounge and didn’t deserve this crap because of Evy. “I’m sorry you had to deal with that.” She hid behind her hand and cringed. “This is so embarrassing.”
“I told you she’d never go through with it,” Brooke said, sweeping a hand out toward the booth. “She will never divorce Dean because, deep down in places she doesn’t like to talk about, she knows she will never do better.”
Evy pulled her face from her hand and met Brooke’s perturbed gaze, a sinking feeling settling over her like a cold black wind. Brooke’s words rattled in her brain. Megan had lost, for now, but she would never give up. Not without a fight. Eventually, Evy would have to push back, but just thinking about it made her tired. Her cell phone vibrated in her pocket, scaring her half to death. She pulled it from her jeans and stared at the text from Dean, her adrenaline spiking.
“Hey, at least you got her name right,” Brooke said, holding up the organizer. “Bitch whore.” Her maniacal grin almost made Evy laugh but she was too busy reading Dean’s text message.
Still thinking about you in your bed this morn. Miss you already.
“Dean?”
Evy nodded without taking her eyes from the screen, her thumbs moving in a blur.
Guess who just stopped by to reserve Sugars for her baby shower next Sunday?
She hit send and released another longwinded breath. “That girl has some serious daddy issues.”
“She’s got balls comin in here like that is what she’s got,” Brooke exclaimed, making herself a peppermint mocha. “I mean, who does that?”
“Crazy people,” Evy bluntly answered, unable to stop looking at the front door, afraid Megan wasn’t done with her yet. “Dean said he was afraid she would kill him in his sleep.”
“I’m surprised she didn’t! Girl’s taking things to a whole new level.” Brooke turned to face Evy. “It’s time to start pushing back.”
Evy’s cell vibrated in her hand.
What!
Evy replayed Megan’s words in her head. “Don’t let her get to you, Brooke.”
A dubious laugh shot from Brooke’s mouth. “Little late for that, Evy. I mean really.”
Evy responded with a lethargic shake of the head.
“I bet she doesn’t even like kids.” Brooke took a cautious sip of her drink. “She’ll probably give that alleged baby to her mom after the shine wears off, like it’s a hamster or something.”
Evy laughed and the cell vibrated again, drawing her eyes.
I’m sorry. I don’t know what game she is playing but it will stop. And soon.
Evy snorted, utterly unconvinced, and put her thumbs back to work.
Just leave her alone. Brooke won’t honor her reservation anyway.
Evy slipped in a smiley face and hit send, glad Dean was out of that house, but also weary of what the future might hold. Megan’s flat belly skipped through her mind. Was she really pregnant? And if so, was it really Dean’s? They weren’t out of the woods yet. She exhaled a spent breath, wondering if they would ever be.
Brooke started to say something when Evy’s phone vibrated again. “I’ll leave you two alone,” she said, going into the kitchen. “I’ve got dough to pound on.”
Evy lowered her gaze.
Can we meet tonight after I get off work?
Evy looked up and stared out the front window, watching the world go by through thoughtful eyes. A younger man in a suit and tie strolled past, computer bag slung over his shoulder, smile strapped to his face. Her spirits plummeted as doubt crept in. This was never going to work, not with Megan in the picture. The price was too high. She shook it off, knowing Megan’s plan was working perfectly. Megan knew damn well where Dean went last night and now she’s twisting the knife planted in Evy’s side. Her thumbs went back to wo
rk.
Sure.
She hesitated before pressing send, wondering how far it would go. An image of her and Dean dressed to the nines and about to hit the town when Megan calls with some sob story about their son – or daughter – that derails the entire evening. She would never stop. Never give up. And would always be bat-shit crazy. Evy grunted, certain this curse would accompany her to the grave. Her blood began to boil. The cell vibrated, jolting her from the ominous figment of her imagination.
I’ll stop by after work. Don’t let her get to you.
Evy started texting something back - something about this mess only getting messier - but texted Can’t wait instead, her need to see Dean battling with its haunted consequences and winning for now. She picked up a pad of paper and took a pen from her apron, determined to put Megan aside and focus on getting their business back on track. She made a list: email blast, Facebook promotion, new daily specials, sandwich boards... The front bell rang out, driving any hint of productivity right out the door. Evy’s heart kicked into overdrive, knowing Megan was back for more because, after all, Megan would always be back for more. Evy looked up and relief washed over her at the sight of a pretty girl in her mid twenties wearing skinny jeans and a black leather coat.
The girl casually strolled up to the counter, taking the place in as her black high-heeled boots softly clicked against the floor.
“Good morning,” Evy said warmly, a manufactured smile sweeping her colorless cheeks back.
The girl’s eyes scoured the empty tables and chairs. “Are you open?”
Evy nodded, holding onto her smile for dear life. “I love your boots.”
She turned back to Evy and smiled. “Thank you,” she said, checking out one of the glass cases. “And I love the looks of your delicious treats.” Her brow dipped. She bent closer to the case, her long dark hair falling over her shoulders. “Are those Twinkies?”
“We call em Twinks.”
“Did you make those here?”
Evy nodded proudly. “After Hostess went under, we thought we’d fill a hole in the market.”
“Oh my God, I have to try one of those.” Her eyes rose to the huge chalkboard menu hanging behind Evy, following the swirling letters and colorful drawings of cupcakes and specialty drinks Ben had drawn by hand. “And how about a turtle latte.”
“For here or to go?”
She shrugged. “Doesn’t matter.”
Evy slipped the biggest Twink into a white bag and set it on the counter before turning to the row of coffee machines.
“I really like what you’ve done with this place. It’s beautiful.”
“Thank you,” Evy replied, whipping up the drink. “We love this location.”
“Oh, I know. It’s a great area.”
Evy brought the latte over and set it down, her heavy smile back for the attack. “Well, hopefully we’ll see you more often.”
The girl pulled the Twink out and took a reserved bite, chewing slowly at first like thumbtacks might be hidden inside. Her face bunched into a ball of judgmental thought before a smile began to grow. “Wow! This is even better than the original.”
“Oh, good. Can I get you anything else?”
The girl pulled a wallet from an inside coat pocket held it open. “Yeah, I’m Pam Rodriguez with the Wisconsin Division of Health Services and I’ll need full access to behind the counter, your kitchen and storage areas, and the restrooms as well.”
Evy’s face folded in horror.
“I know,” Pam said, still chewing. “Who’s ever heard of a Hispanic girl named Pam, right?” She lifted her shoulders. “What can I say? My parents had a sick sense of humor.”
Evy stared at the small gold badge on one side of the wallet, terror shredding her insides. She looked up from the picture of the brown skinned woman with dark eyes on the other side of the wallet to the same person now staring back at her on the other side of the counter. “Are you serious?”
“As a heart attack.” She pulled a Visa card from the wallet and slid it across the counter.
Hesitantly, Evy took the card and swiped it. “Okay,” she said slowly, handing it back. “So…”
“Don’t worry, judging by the looks of things I can already tell this won’t take long,” Pam told her, sliding the card back into her wallet. “The last place I was at was a total shithole. Took forever,” she moaned, slipping the wallet into her coat. “They were using dead rats for urinal cakes in the restrooms.”
Evy wrinkled her nose.
“Yeah,” Pam laughed sharply, taking a cautious sip of the latte. “There are about three places I will eat at in this town.” She looked around. “I’d like to see this place be number four; it’s so dang cute! My parents owned a bakery, before the recession got em anyway, and I’ve had a soft spot in my heart for them ever since.”
“Who ordered this?”
Pam’s eyes jerked back to Evy. “Oh, it’s totally random, computer generated.”
Evy narrowed her gaze and Pam leaned closer and spoke out the side of her mouth.
“Unless some whiny old bat filed a complaint.”
“Did someone file a complaint?”
Pam took an even bigger bite of the Twink, holding a hand under her chin to catch the falling crumbs. “I honestly have no idea. Each order comes from the top. Even my boss never knows for sure.”
Evy bit her lip, knowing damn well where the order came from.
“Half the time, I suspect another place of business is behind a complaint, trying to knock their competition down a peg or two.”
Evy’s brow dipped. “That’s horrible.”
“Some people don’t play fair because they know they’ll lose.”
“Tell me about it.”
“Hey Ev,” Ben said, coming through the swinging door. “Have you seen my Costco card lying around? We’re going to go grab some straws and toilet paper.”
Pam stopped chewing, her dark eyes widening. “Whoa, you didn’t tell me you were baking hotties in the kitchen. That is totally against the rules.” She grinned at Ben, eyeballing him up and down. “Y’all sure know how to grow em in Wisconsin.”
His head tipped a little to one side. “I’m from Iowa.”
“Lucky you,” Pam said, lifting the partition in the counter and stepping through.
Ben backed up, his features crumpling like maybe this was a robbery.
“She’s from the health department,” Evy said, watching Pam check behind the coffee machines for bugs or black mold or whatever the hell health inspectors check for.
Brooke burst through the swinging door, nearly smacking Pam in the face with it. “Can I help you?”
“I’ll let you know,” Pam said, blowing on her drink before taking a lazy sip.
Chapter Ten
By the time Pam finished her inspection, a northwestern breeze had blown in off Lake Michigan chilling another Milwaukee late summer afternoon to the bone. Sugars sat quiet and lonely, a low murmur coming from two small tables against the front window.
“This is such bullshit,” Brooke whispered, leaning against the cash register. “Is she ever going to leave?”
Evy glanced into the kitchen where Pam sat with Ben at the table in the middle of the room. From here it looked like a starter gun had just gone off on a cupcake eating contest.
“This has to be Clay,” Dean panted, still out of breath from leaving a meeting early and rushing right over.
“Ya think?” Brooke blurted, pushing off the register and pacing back and forth behind the counter.
“She’s almost done.”
Brooke arched an eyebrow at Evy. “Eye-fucking my husband? Apparently, not yet.”
Dean tore his gaze from the kitchen. “I can’t believe this is even happening.”
“Looks like you leaving Megan alone in that house last night didn’t go over so well,” Evy said.
Dean opened his mouth to argue the point and decided against it at the last second.
“And where are we
supposed to get the money to fix all of that stuff?” Brooke huffed, glaring at Pam.
“It’s not that much stuff,” Evy countered.
“Hey, at least she passed you, it could’ve been worse.”
Brooke shook her head and didn’t respond, her cheeks flushing the more she stewed on it.
“Don’t start panicking yet,” Dean added.
Brooke stared into the kitchen, curling her hands into fists. “Too late,” she said, pushing through the swinging door.
“Brooke!” Evy whispered loudly, following her into the kitchen with Dean bringing up the rear.
“This one,” Ben said with his mouth full, pointing to a green dragon with a pink belly coiling around his forearm, “is the first tattoo I ever got.”
Pam chewed in time with Ben. “It’s beautiful,” she said dreamily. “What’s it mean?”
Ben took a quick swig of chocolate milk. “In Japanese culture, the dragon symbolizes supernatural powers, with great strength and a hidden wisdom as a valued protector.” He took a thoughtful breath and pinched his eyes together. “It is said, the only way to journey past a dragon is to answer its riddles.”
Pam stopped chewing and looked up to meet Ben’s heavy eyes. “Seriously?”
“No,” he laughed. “Actually, I was shit-faced when I got it. Had a buddy do it for me and regret it like hell to this very day. I don’t even like dragons.”
A laugh tumbled from her lips as she traced a finger down the creature’s scaly back. “Well, it’s beautiful. They all are. I want to get a rosary right here,” she said, lifting the front of her shirt and rubbing a finger just above her waistline.”
Ben leaned forward for a better look.
“You finding everything okay?”
He nearly fell off his stool as Brooke stormed into the room.
Brooke turned her sites on Pam next. “And how about you, princess? Can I get you anything else?”
Pam shook her head and took a shot of chocolate milk. “Thank you, but I should really be going.”
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