I took a seat in an armchair, "Come sit with me. You don't have to face this memory alone, you know."
"Could have fooled me," he transmitted as he hopped down from the windowsill and crawled into my lap.
"You're just as hostile."
"A quick wit does not equal hostility."
"Fine, valid point. Then we will have to agree to take each other with an understanding that snark is who we are. Can't be too much of a difference from Tona, I did learn from the best."
"She was the best."
"In more ways than one."
"Her personal life is off the table."
"Don't be a wet tea leaf, just tell me what happened that night?"
"After she closed up the cafe I went out for my evening prowl while she cleaned."
"You leave the cafe? What in the world for?"
"I have tribe duties to attend to, and for small prey."
"Eww. Don't bring those back."
"I will have you know, I eat my prey whole. There is nothing to bring back."
"Gross."
"Take a look at your own food before judging another."
"Touche, so normal night outing, then what?"
"I was across town checking on the wards surrounding the old limestone mines when I felt a jolt of emotion—"
"Wards?" He met my interruption with an intense stare, "Continue." I gestured, zipping my lips up.
"Like I was saying, the emotions hit me with such intensity that I stumbled forward. I tried to transmit to her, but only received silence.
"I knew I was feeling a heated argument and tried to get back to the cafe but my wings could only go so fast."
I raised my hand, and without transmitting my question he answered it.
"We can glamour ourselves into cats or bats, depending on the need. So when we go out at night to stretch our wings, people looking up would just see bats. Each tribe learns glamours native to the habitat they are living in."
I smiled at the thought of Azure looking like an adorable Mexican free-tailed bat.
"ANYWAY—Once I arrived back at the cafe our connection had gone cold and I knew what had happened. I entered the cafe through the cat door and saw that Tori had picked up the beans we'd bagged for her before I left.
"I was out for an hour at most, Tori had been in the cafe while I was out, and there isn't anyone else that made Tona's emotions run that heated. So it has to be Tori."
The comfortable silence of thinking lingered between us. Could Tori really do it? What if it was an accident? Is it possible that a heated argument led to a physical altercation? Or could she have killed out of cold blood? There were too many possibilities.
"That is why you have to confront her. You don't need to accuse her like with the poisoning. Just let her know that you know she was in the cafe that night. Ask her if she saw anything suspicious. We can't let Tona's killer walk free."
"You're right, if there really was a murder here, I want to know the truth. I'll do it."
"In the future can we skip the convincing and go right to the doing?"
"Eh, we'll see how this pans out."
"You're not funny."
Maybe having my own little companion could be fun. I smiled to myself for the first time that week, with a plan in sight I was already feeling less stress.
CHAPTER TEN
Thursday, February 20th
Do you want me to help open?" Aubrey asked as I opened the front door for her to come in.
"That would be great," I said leading her back to the counter, "but you didn't have to come in early."
"Nonsense. I enjoy working here. It's been fun."
"Fun? Good to see I've lulled you into a comfortable lie." I gave her a light smile as I went to grab the last batch of pastries out of the oven—cinnamon rolls.
"Well, that's terrifying. Thirty something years of friendship, and I'm still not always sure when you're being serious."
"Probably for the best."
"You think you're such a comedian."
"Funniest person you know."
"Okay, probably true."
Working with her would be perfection. We had less than ten minutes before the first regulars would start to show up.
"If you want, start with a French press," I said as I finished the presentation of pastries. "Jeremiah only drinks black coffee. Aunt Tona spent years convincing him to switch from drip. I haven't had the patience to try pushing an espresso on him."
Aubrey chortled as she scooped the fresh beans into the grinder. "Looks like we're getting low."
"Yeah, I'll have to roast a fresh batch soon."
"You mean I'll have to roast a fresh batch," Azure transmitted.
"You nervous about it?" Aubrey asked.
"Nah, Tona was an excellent teacher." I said as Azure transmitted full belly laughter. My mental image of him going a morning without a pastry shut him up.
Sure enough, at eight o'clock sharp, Jeremiah opened the front door. I left the door unlocked when Aubrey came in knowing that in all the years Jeremiah had been coming, not once had he opened the door before the designated time.
He owned the Sunrise Market—the only grocery store in town—and understood the finer details of customer hours. The market opened at 7:00 AM, but his son and a few other employees handled the customers. I could not remember the last morning he had missed here at the cafe.
I was around the counter bringing him a fresh cup, before he got comfortable at his usual table.
"Good morning," I said as I placed the saucer and cup in front of him. We only served French press in sixteen-ounce wide brim cups, smaller cups were only worth tea.
"Morning, Hailey. How's the new trainee working out?"
"Oh, Aubrey?" I looked back to where she was buffing clean fresh mugs. "She's amazing. You know we've been best friends since kindergarten. Don't play."
"Well. . ." he dragged out the word, "you know what they say about mixing business and friendship." He took a sip of coffee and sighed with enjoyment.
"It makes for the best work environment imaginable?"
Jeremiah laughed so hard his coffee trembled in his hand. I pulled out the rag I kept tucked in my back pocket and cleaned his table before offering it for his own use. He turned it down and laughed again at himself.
"Looks like I'm not fully awake."
"Mumm is the word."
I left him to drink his coffee in peace. Behind the counter, I dropped the used rag into the designated bucket and tucked in a clean one.
"Jeremiah thinks mixing business and friendship might be a terrible idea," I told Aubrey with a skeptical look on my face. "Might have to fire you sooner than anticipated."
Her face made it clear she was curious about what was so funny.
"Oh whatever," She said, giggling at the idea. "I hope you told him that nothing could affect our friendship."
"Of course," I gave her a quick hug.
The door bells jingled, and I turned around to find Brett walking in. I gave Aubrey a blank stare eye roll as I walked back to the register.
"Morning Hailey, Aubrey," he walked up to the counter. "What's good today?"
"The special is Oleander Spice, Tona's favorite drink," I said. "I never make a drink a special, unless I believe in it."
"Very well," Brett said. "One special, in honor of Tona."
He handed me his credit card, and his cufflinks caught my eye. The last time he was in he seemed to be going for the unbuttoned sleeves, jock in a cologne ad vibe. He either had a client to meet today, or realized I was not going to be swayed by swagger. I returned it while Aubrey made the drink.
"Any plans for the weekend?" I asked.
"Oh, you know," he said, "working. As usual."
"Is that what you were doing last weekend too?"
He gave me an inquisitive look. Clearly my best Holmes left much to be desired. But he answered all the same.
"Out at the Bucks Ranch. They're looking to sell and retire."
Au
brey handed him his drink.
"Thank you," he smiled with what I'm sure he thought was his best charming smile, but always seemed sleazy to me. "As I was saying. They're looking to sell, and I was showing it to a motivated couple from Austin. They want to get away from the bustle of the city and thought a ranch would be a fun challenge. Fell in love with the view instantly."
"So, it was a quick sell?"
"Well, no," he looked into his cup. "They haven't bought yet. It's a large purchase. But we did spend all day riding around the property on four wheelers. Nearly ruined a pair of shoes."
"I'm sorry to hear that," I lied.
"Yeah, it's a real shame, but I'm sure they'll come around. If not, I'll find another couple eager to leave the city. Why anyone would want to live in Austin, I'll never know."
"Amen to that," Jeremiah added in.
It was well known that Jeremiah didn't care for the town's tourists one bit, and as far as he was concerned anyone from a city was shifty. And that was putting it delicately.
"Now, now, Jeremiah," Brett said. "We have to be welcoming. Tourism is vital to our town."
"Let them stay in their dirty city and leave us to our nature."
"So, what time did you get back?" I asked, wanting to get the conversation back on track, but also not wanting to hear another one of Jeremiah's tirades.
"I spent the night," he said. "It was late and the Buck's were accommodating."
"Dang, did you have to miss church on Sunday?"
"Oh no," he said. "That happened Friday night."
Tea leaves. That means he couldn't have been here that night. Azure was right.
"Think that a few more times, just until it sinks in." Azure transmitted.
"Don't be a tea-tart." I transmitted back.
"If it's okay, I'll take this to go?"
"Of course," I said with a smile.
Aubrey was standing beside me with a to go cup before I could turn around.
"Thank you," I told her, as I made the transfer.
"You two take care," he said as a way of goodbye.
As soon as he was out the door, Aubrey rounded on me with wide eyes, "Since you have the grill hot, can you throw on a hamburger for me?"
"One hamburger coming right up." I said without missing a beat. "Maybe he'll think twice about firing up his own grill next time he's in the cafe."
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Thursday, February 20th
Shopping List
3 gal Half & Half
2 gal Whole Milk
3 gal 2% Milk
2 gal Almond Milk
Trash Bags
Compare Sweeteners to photos from cafe
2 gal Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
"I don't think I forgot anything," I said to Aubrey as I read through the list. "I need to make a full inventory, Tona memorized way more than I want to."
"Ooh that sounds like a spreadsheet."
"We're such a bunch of nerds. I'm way too giddy about organizing this place."
"I love how you can say giddy, while having a deadpan tone."
"It's my most endearing quality."
"Sure it is," she said, holding back a laugh, "but seriously. Can I start on the spreadsheet while you're out?"
"It is! Ask anyone!" I gestured to the cafe at large, "You can use the tablet to create it, or find an app. Tona literally only used it to take payments. But we can do so much more with it."
"She was the perfect mix of vintage and new age."
"Yeah she was. If only she had written something down, every once in a while."
The warmth of Tona's memory filled me with pure happiness. Reminiscing at work, with the only person who could put a smile on my face in an instant, I was so lucky, and so very thankful. I went to the storeroom and grabbed my purse and did one last once over to make sure I would not forget anything.
"Take me with," Azure transmitted as he rubbed up against me and meowed. "Tona took me."
"No, no, fluff ball," I kneeled down to pet behind his ears. "You have to stay here."
"I'll watch him." Aubrey knelt beside us and rubbed his back, "Cutest kitty in the world, aren't you Azure."
"I won't forget this," Azure transmitted, and meowed again. Aubrey picked him up and snuggled him close to her chest while scratching his head.
"Thank you," I said to Aubrey. "Tona's passing has really put him into a depression. Hasn't wanted to be alone."
"Aww, poor baby, I'll make sure he gets plenty of love."
Azure meowed his displeasure again. Like I would really bring a cat grocery shopping with me. Gross.
"As an expert in being gross, you should know I am far from gross." Azure transmitted.
"Keep it up," I transmitted to Azure, "I'll let her take you home for a play date with her kids."
"Meow," Azure purred, and snuggled into Aubrey's chest.
Good, at least the threat was enough to make him behave.
* * *
Sunrise Market was mostly empty, not that I would expect the entire town to be there at two in the afternoon on a workday.
The market differed vastly from the stores I had to battle while I was in college. My days at the University of Texas in Austin were filled with an abundance of choices, and way too peopley. If there was one thing I loved most about our local market, it was the cozy feeling of the smaller store. I could walk through the entire thing and checkout in fifteen minutes.
Jeremiah Johnson had owned the store for years, and he took great pride in having exactly what the town wanted, and nothing more. This resulted in our chip isle having six options, and only two brands, but I could not recall anyone upset over it. They were the flavors I loved and left far more shelf room for a variety in snack options.
Aunt Tona enjoyed getting out of the cafe and chatting with the people she ran into at the store. Compared to me, she was a social butterfly. I had my close circle, but outside of that I kept to myself, and well out of dramas way.
Not Aunt Tona.
She always came back with the right amount to last a week, and at least one interesting new fact about the people in town. Often, she would learn about a wedding or divorce, a business going under, or opening. She always knew the latest events coming to town a few months in advance so we could plan how to capitalize on it.
Over the years we developed a statewide reputation, and we had many customers come yearly just for the coffee. Each time they remarked on how they could not find coffee that good back in their cities. We always ended up roasting more during peak tourist seasons as they would stock up to fill their pantries.
Lost in my own worries, I turned the corner and ran my shopping cart into Sam. Had I been paying attention, I might have purposely kept walking to push him out of my way.
"Get your head out of the clouds, Hailey. This is a grocery store, not a park. Just like your Great Aunt, never paying attention to anyone but yourself."
He looked ragged, as if run through the mill once or twice without my cart adding to it. Normally, Sam was pristine, with tweed slacks in greys and light brown and pressed shirts to coordinate. But currently, he seemed to have worn yesterday's attire, that was missing a cufflink, wrinkly and untucked. His grey hair was unkempt, and he could have done with a good twenty-four hours of sleep in my opinion. It was surprising to see him shopping in such a state, but I would bask in it nonetheless.
"Are you incapable of watching where your own cart is going?" I was in no mood for his rude tone. "I didn't realize I was in the presence of royalty. My apologies, King Sam. I won't make that mistake again."
"Young lady, It's called common courtesy." His light posh accent made every word sound like a scolding, too bad Tanner lacked the lure of a good accent, would have made him less repulsive, "That is no way to speak to an elder. Leave it to Tona to raise you with no values."
"Don't you dare say that name. You have no right to even think about her." I gave him a look of disgust, "I know all about you and Aunt Tona."
"From the
sound of it, you know little."
"Don't play coy with me. I saw the letter on the flowers."
The thought of them together still made me sick to my stomach. Why had Aunt Tona never told me? For that matter, why had she not shared about any of the men around town she had seen? How many of the old men that came into the cafe were actually just there to see her? Had she made me the main barista to avoid ex-lovers?
"I have no idea what you mean. What flowers?"
"The flowers you sent to the cafe," I pushed my cart to the side, so a mother with a young child whining in the cart could get by.
"I never sent Tona flowers, well. . ."
"Well what, you might as well just come clean with it already?"
"It's none of your business, young lady."
"What's going on papa?" Tanner turned out of the aisle behind Sam and stood beside him.
"Young Hailey here was just accusing me of sending flowers to Tona."
"Accusing? Did you get your sheriff friend to make sending flowers a crime in this town?" Tanner said with a smirk, asking for my fist. "Shouldn't you be morning, not stirring up trouble?"
"I'm not stirring anything, Tanner," I gave him a resting face I knew would only egg him on.
"Yeah? Doesn't sound like you at all." Tanner stepped forward, "The other day I had an out-a-towner come in angrier than a wild hog. Told me a story about asking for directions and being sent to a field. You wouldn't happen to know about that, would you?"
"You're blaming me for your customers in ability to follow simple directions? Seems like you need to blame yourself for not having your address listed properly."
Tanner and I had been enemies ever since the day Aubrey punched. I think his male ego had never forgotten that two little girls almost beat him up. Not that we had much of a chance of being friends anyway with Tona and Sam's history.
"I saw the letter you wrote her in high school," I told Sam. "Did you try to rekindle an old flame? Or maybe you found out she was dating another man and became jealous?"
"Now just wait a minute, I don't know where you're trying to go with this, but we're done here," Tanner said. "You can't go around digging into my papa's personal business. Tona's dead, it doesn't make a lick of sense to even be digging into their past. What's done is done."
A Fresh Brew Page 5
