Pastries and Puzzles

by Constance Barker

  I turned my attention to Masie’s creation then, and a smile crept up on my lips as I scooched forward in my seat, eager to dig into what was plated before me.

  She’d made a hummingbird cake, and I could smell it before it even got onto my fork. The aroma of banana and pineapple filled my senses as I brought the fork to my lips, and just as I took a bite the faintest hint of cinnamon hit my nose, and I let out a tiny groan when the cake hit my tongue. While Masie’s cake wasn’t plated nearly as impressively as Scooter’s was, that cake was literally the best hummingbird cake I’d ever tasted in my life. The pecans were perfectly glazed with just a hint of sweetness over top of them, and it mixed perfectly with the spices and richness of the cake.

  I didn’t really know which one I wanted to pick, and I was surprisingly torn. So I sat there and took another bite of each, contemplating which would help the bakery win the most. Masie’s cake tasted like heaven itself, but Scooter’s presentation was top notch. I wasn’t sure which to pick.

  Just as I was about to take another bite of each, Masie popped into the back and asked me if I could come out front to help with a customer who had some questions about the bakery’s recipes. I assured her—with a mouthful of cake, no less—that I would be right out, and I quickly swallowed my bite and set down my fork. I’d have to decide on the contest later.

  Excitement welled up in my chest at the thought of an interested customer, but the second I made my way towards the front my heart sank and a lump formed in my throat when I saw who it was.

  As I walked out into the front of the bakery, my gaze fell to none other than Mayor Marion Lake, who was chatting away with a friend as I walked out front. She didn’t notice me right away so I took the opportunity to listen in as I casually strolled over, making sure to keep a calm and cool façade as I did so that she didn’t know I was listening.

  “Yes, it really is a pity that such talent is dead, but he really should have taken my deal.”

  Her companion nodded in agreement and there was something about the whole conversation that just felt wrong, and like I was hearing something that I definitely shouldn’t have been hearing. I couldn’t help but feel suspicious of it all, but before I got a chance to consider it, the mayor noticed me.

  When I approached, the mayor she gave me a polite nod and curiously asked me about some of the newer cakes we had made as well as some of the muffins, and she seemed to be expressing genuine interest. I answered her questions as calmly and as I could, but I definitely breathed a sigh of relief when she took her leave, shutting the door behind her.

  My mind was swirling with a thousand different questions and scenarios as to what exactly that could have all meant. At the same time, Stella and Vivian arrived, their smiles and voices lighting up the bakery and immediately making the mood feel less doom and gloom.

  “Well hello ladies,” I said with a grin, chuckling when Vivian flashed me a wink. “What can I do for you?”

  “Oh you know, not much dearie. We’re just here to make a massive cake order from our favorite baker.”

  They both flashed me toothy grins that warmed my heart, their open and vocal support of me and my business both touching and incredibly helpful. I appreciated it more than they could ever know.

  They sat down and we all joined around the counter, chatting and discussing what was going on and what we all thought, but before long the door opened and I looked up to see Logan walking in. I offered him a smile but one look at him told me that he wasn’t exactly in a cheerful mood, and I cringed internally.

  I started to pour his usual for when he wasn’t his usual cheery self—black coffee—and handed it to him, hoping that the irritation that was written on his face wasn’t directed at me. There wasn’t even gingerbread in the fridge to get rid of that look, and I shivered.

  Chapter 12

  Logan sat down at the counter where I was and he looked up at me with a heavy sigh, something clearly weighing on his mind. The others sort of shied away from us and I leaned in, brow furrowed as I tilted my head to ask him what was wrong.

  “Logan?” I asked, my voice soft and calm. “What’s up? You look like something’s bothering you.”

  “You could say that.”

  He grumbled it out and then dragged his hand down over his face, exasperation and frustration written all over it. With every second that passed I felt less and less like I wanted to hear what he had to say, but my curiosity got the better of me.

  “Well?” I asked, unable to help myself. “Want to talk to me about it. Maybe I can help.”

  “Oh you can help for sure, Coco, because it’s about you.”

  I sighed and frowned, leaning in closer in an attempt to calm myself and quell the worry that was welling up inside of me. My chest felt tight and my heart started to beat faster, and after a few seconds I finally worked up the courage to ask him what he meant.

  “What are you talking about, Logan?”

  “Look,” he said calmly, leaning forward on the counter. “I know that you’re still looking into the case, Coco, and quite frankly I’m a bit annoyed.”

  Instead of arguing I decided to stay quiet because he seemed like he still had more to say, and I wanted to know what that was before I responded.

  “Look I know this must be terrifying for you, both personally and professionally, I can’t imagine what you must be feeling.”

  He paused and I cocked my brow, silently urging him on to finish before I couldn’t take it anymore.

  “But?”

  “But...” He continued, sighing. “You’re still a suspect. You poking around and asking questions that you wouldn’t normally ask not only looks bad on us, but bad on you. Look, I need you to stay out of this investigation, and distance yourself.”

  I couldn’t believe what I was hearing and I took a deep breath to calm my nerves, feeling the hurt and worry all swirling together in the pit of my stomach and threatening to make things worse.

  “It’s not that I don’t think you’d be helpful, because that’s not even remotely the case.” He assured me, a warm reassurance ebbing off of him. “I need you to stay away from this investigation for your sake, and for the sake of your bakery’s reputation. The last thing I want is for something bad to happen to you or your business simply because of some bureaucratic red tape or something.”

  That was definitely not what I was really expecting to hear, though I couldn’t say that I didn’t appreciate it. I was touched that he considered me and was concerned for my safety as opposed to being annoyed with me interfering.

  So I sighed and nodded, understanding that at least for now, he needed me to agree and simply play along with how things were supposed to go. I could do that, at least for a little while, so instead of pestering I just nodded and smiled, and turned my attention back to the fresh cup of coffee I had poured for him when I saw him walk in.

  “How are things going with the investigation, anyway?”

  I slid the cup of coffee over the counter to him and passed it over, a smirk on my face as I leaned in. He’d been a regular long enough for me to know that when he was tired and stressed, he took his coffee black instead of adding anything in.

  “I could tell you were tired so the coffee is strong and black this time.”

  His cheeks blushed just a touch and he smiled at me as he reached over and took the hot drink, his hand lingering on mine for a second before he pulled it back with his coffee. I smiled at him and rested my elbows on the counter, waiting for him to answer my question about the investigation.

  “Well,” he started nervously, and rubbed his hand along the back of his neck. “I’m afraid we don’t actually have any suspects yet.”

  “Other than Coco, you mean,” Masie interjected.

  Logan and I glared at her, to which she simply rolled her eyes with a huff and went about her business. I turned my attention back to Logan with raised brows, hoping he might have some other news that wasn’t quite so disappointing.

  “Yes, ot
her than Coco. And the toxicology report came back.”

  I felt a faint glimmer of hope when he said that, but one single glance at his face told me that the results were definitely not something that I wanted to hear. Still, I waited, and it wasn’t three seconds later that he spoke again with a heavy sigh, and his eyes gazed into mine.

  “It confirmed that the cupcakes were the source of the poison.”

  I gasped and stood up straight, and my hand flew to my mouth as I shook my head with a frown on my face, disbelief making my stomach flutter and roll into knots. I hadn’t poisoned the cupcakes and I certainly didn’t have anyone working at my bakery who would have done that, and I shook my head again.

  “That can’t be right, Logan, I didn’t poison anyone.”

  “I know you didn’t, but I’ll be honest.” He confessed, and shrugged his shoulders. “It doesn’t look good for you right now, things are stacked against you.”

  I felt like I was going to be sick.

  I took a deep breath and tried to steady myself before the whirlwind of chaotic thoughts filled my mind. I willed logic and reason to tear their way through the storm of doubt. I hadn’t done it and I knew that I was innocent. I just had to prove it.

  “Have you considered Hestia or the mayor?”

  The words came out before I could stop them and I could tell by the shocked look on Logan’s face that he hadn’t considered either of them, and he raised his brows with a scoff.

  “No, I hadn’t, care to tell me why I should? I mean it Coco. If you know something you need to tell me so I can help.”

  I leaned forward and kept my voice hushed, looking around to make sure that we weren’t being watched or listened to by anyone else. Once I had convinced myself that the coast was clear, I explained.

  First I told him about Hestia and the fact that she was so open and vocal about her dislike of Gilbert around town, and then I told him about the conversation I overheard in the bakery today with the Mayor.

  Logan seemed intrigued and surprised by both, and after I finished my spiel, he leaned back in his chair with a sigh and shook his head, clearly considering a whole slew of things he hadn’t before.

  “Okay, this is good, this is a lead.”

  He finished his coffee quickly and stood, and then my heart skipped a beat when he reached over and reassuringly gave my hand a gentle squeeze as he spoke.

  “I’m going to look into this for you, I promise. Look, things are going to get better, okay? You just need to hang in there. I believe in you and I’m going to do everything I can to find out who did this.”

  He gave me a nod and a smile before he left and I found myself actually believing his words, as absurd as that may have seemed. But for the first time since all of the drama happened, I found myself feeling like maybe there was some hope at the end of all this, and having Logan go to bat for me was certainly not going to hurt.

  Chapter 13

  “Coco, have you decided about the competition yet?” Scooter asked as he followed me around the shop.

  “Not yet, Scooter. Sorry,” I said, apologizing. I began wiping down the counters.

  Masie took the rag from my hand. “We really need an answer soon, Coco.”

  I took it back from her. “I know. I’m thinking about it.”

  I moved away from them and went to clean the display cases instead. They both followed. It was as they were attached to me by an invisible tether.

  “Well, we know you’re thinking about it,” Scooter said. “We just need an answer. Even if you could tell us which way you’re leaning, we can move everything forward.”

  “If I tell you which way I’m leaning, you’ll take that as my final answer and get mad if it changes,” I said.

  “Oh, don’t worry, Coco,” Masie said. “I’ll make sure Scooter doesn’t take it hard when you tell him you like my ideas better.”

  “I really haven’t decided guys,” I said.

  “Well, why don’t we take care of this so you can decide,” Scooter offered.

  “It’s not that easy,” I insisted. “I have a lot of things to do today.”

  “Well, there’s three of us,” Masie pointed out. “So let’s go through and tackle everything.”

  “Okay,” I agreed. “You two start cleaning. I have to run to the store.”

  Before they could both protest, I tossed the rag to them and made my way out the door.

  When I went into Maggie’s Market, I didn’t have a plan for what I needed to buy. I just needed some peace and quiet from Scooter and Masie’s questions about the competition. I wanted to focus on it, but my heart wouldn’t let me.

  I went straight to the baking aisle and tried to come up with a new recipe. Maggie’s Market wasn’t a big chain, so it wasn’t always the cheapest, but I knew that when I traveled those aisles, I felt more at peace and at home in Haverfield and always found an exciting new item that the current Maggie - a great great granddaughter - would have picked out herself. Probably with me in mind.

  I tried to stay focused, but my mind wandered back to Logan. I worried about what’s going to happen between the two of us. Thinking of him, I picked up some extra molasses. Stores didn’t always carry the right kind, but Maggie’s Market always sourced a good, local blackstrap that made all the difference.

  I’d whip up a rum toffee sauce for Logan some time. Baking for him was easier than thinking directly about him.

  I knew that he knew I didn’t do it. Or at least he wanted me to have not done it.

  He’d been kind with his questions so far. However, I knew it was only a matter of time before the real questions started coming in. I worried we wouldn’t be able to be so friendly anymore after that.

  We had just started really getting comfortable with one another. I felt a pang of regret. I didn’t want whatever was beginning to form with Logan to be stopped dead in its tracks.

  I gathered a few things and went to the counter to pay. I may not have had any genius ideas for new recipes, but there were a few things worth purchasing and I never left Maggie’s empty-handed.

  As I walked out of the door with my bags, I saw Clive.

  When he saw me, he immediately walked over.

  “Coco.” He said. “How are you? Let me help you with those bags.”

  “I’m alright, Clive. How are you?”

  “Oh, I’m doing just fine, thanks. Are you going back to your shop? I’ll carry these for you.”

  “Oh gosh. Thank you,” I said. I felt my face heat up and for some reason, thought of Logan.

  Clive took my bags and started walking with me.

  “Have you found any clues, yet, Coco? I know you cracked those last two cases wide open.”

  “Oh, I’m staying out of this,” I said. “I’m too close, I guess. I wouldn’t want to interfere with anything.”

  “You’re not looking into it?” He sounded surprised. “I would've thought you would be all over this. Maybe it would be solved by now if you were.”

  “Logan is doing a great job with everything,” I said. “I’m sure they don’t need my help.”

  “You don’t sound too happy about that,” he pointed out.

  “Oh, sorry,” I said. “I was glad I could help before, but things are different now.”

  He walked me the rest of the way to the bakery and handed my bags back to me. He pulled out one of his cards and handed it to me as well.

  “It was nice seeing you, Coco. If you change your mind about getting involved, I’d love to help in any way I can.”

  “Yeah, of course. It was nice seeing you too.”

  He smiled and waved before walking away.

  I walked into the bakery with my groceries and his card in hand. Masie was quick to come over to see what was going on.

  “You’re being escorted back to the bakery now?” She asked, peeking out of the window to get a better look at Clive as he walked away.

  “It’s nothing,” I said. “We ran into each other at the store, and he offered to wal
k me back.”

  “While carrying your bags for you?”

  “He was being polite.”

  She tutted at me. “Gosh, Coco. I didn’t know you already had another man.”

  I crinkled up my nose.

  “What? I don’t have another man. I don’t even have one man.”

  “Does Logan know about the other man? Maybe we should call him,” she teased me.

  “I need to put these away,” I said, pushing past her and taking the groceries to the back.

  “Don’t think I’m judging, Coco. He’s handsome. He looks like an old movie star. I’m just jealous you have two boyfriends now,” she called after me.

  “It’s nothing,” I promised her. “He was just being polite.”

  “Oh, come on. He’s chivalrous enough to carry your bags back to the shop for you, and he’s handsome to boot. You’d be crazy to not be swooning right now.” She put her hand on her forehead and sighed dramatically.

  “Yes, he’s handsome,” I admitted. “But I’m focused on other things right now.” I grabbed the molasses in particular and my thoughts turned to Logan again.

  “I thought you weren’t looking into the case.” She spotted the molasses. It could be for a lot of things, but she knew better. “And I see the first man still has your fancy.”

  “I don’t know,” I admitted. I sat down the gingerbread. “Clive gave me his card in case I changed my mind.”

  “Well, I suppose there are benefits and drawbacks to both options,” she mused. “But I think one way gets you to what you want.”

  “Won’t it be suspicious to get involved with this case though?”

  She shrugged. “I think your mind has already been made up, Coco.”

  “Maybe,” I said. “At least I have his card now.”

  “Well, Coco, if you were looking for a sign, I don’t think there’s a better one than this.” She pointed to the molasses. “But maybe don’t give up on the gingerbread, either.”