by Jinty James
“What am I going to do? I need all this.” The woman who might be Kimberly scooped up the skeins of yarn and clutched them to her chest. “I wanted to knit a sweater in cable stitch!”
“We also take cash,” the clerk replied.
“I don’t have any. I pay for everything with a card. My husband said he’d paid the credit card bill last week. Please—” the woman pushed the card across the counter to the clerk “—try again.”
“Okay.”
Lauren thought the clerk sounded patient.
A minute later, the clerk shook her head. “It’s still declined.”
“I can’t believe this.” The woman sounded distraught.
“Maybe you could check with your husband?” the clerk suggested. “He might have forgotten to pay the credit card bill.”
“That would be just like him,” the woman fumed. She turned to go, still clutching the wool. Her eyes widened. “Lauren.”
“Kimberly.” She’d been right. Her heart went out to the older woman.
“What are you doing here?” Kimberly made an attempt to laugh.
“I need some more wool for my scarf.”
“I’m going to knit a sweater.” Her eyes flashed. “If my husband paid the credit card bill.”
“Ma’am—” the clerk began.
Kimberly swiveled. “You’ll put this aside for me, won’t you?” She tumbled the skeins onto the counter. “Until I can get everything straightened out with my card.”
The clerk’s gaze flickered to Lauren and then back to Kimberly. “Of course.”
“It’s Kimberly Rymer.”
Kimberly turned to go, then paused. “Oh, Lauren, my husband told me you and Zoe had dinner at the steakhouse the other night. How was everything?”
“It was great,” Lauren replied politely. What else could she say? That the wagyu had been disappointing?
“That’s wonderful.” Kimberly smiled, as if she hadn’t just been embarrassed about her declined card. “You two must come again soon. I’ll tell Wayne to give you a twenty percent discount.”
“Oh, that’s kind of you, but you mustn’t—”
“Nonsense.” Kimberly waved a hand in the air. “It’s all settled. I’m sure Wayne can find a table for you anytime, even during a busy evening.”
“Thanks,” Lauren replied, not sure what else to say.
Kimberly exited the shop, the bell tinkling her departure. Lauren smiled hesitantly at the clerk, explaining her wool dilemma.
“Oh, no problem,” the clerk reassured her. “I remember Zoe.” She grinned. “She was very enthusiastic about your knitting venture. And her crochet project. I remember which wool she bought both times.”
Lauren purchased two more balls, trusting that would be enough. Hopefully she would never be in the mortifying position of having her card declined, although she preferred paying with old-fashioned cash.
“That’s a lot of yarn,” Lauren commented, eyeing Kimberly’s stash. Skeins of cream fiber dotted the counter.
“You’d be surprised at how much you need for some projects,” the clerk replied, placing Lauren’s purchase in a brown paper bag. “I just hope Kimberly claims it soon – it’s a very popular item. If I run out of stock on the shelf and she hasn’t come back for it ...”
“I understand,” Lauren said, sympathizing with the clerk – and Kimberly.
As she left the store, an image flashed in front of her. Kimberly sitting down at the café, bags of purchases surrounding her chair. She’d just visited the outlet mall.
Did Kimberly have a shopping addiction? Or was Lauren making too much of it? Just because Lauren tried to be careful with her purchases most of the time didn’t mean other people had to be.
Or was it just like the clerk had suggested – Wayne, Kimberly’s husband, had forgotten to pay the credit card bill?
THE NEXT DAY, BRANDON entered the café, halting at the Please Wait to be Seated sign.
“Brrt.” Annie trotted toward him and looked up at him coyly.
“Hi, Annie.” He grinned down at her.
“Hi.” Lauren headed toward him. The café was half full and nobody was attempting to attract her attention. “Thank you for your—”
“Review,” Zoe finished, rounding the counter. “We read it online the other day.”
“I think Annie loved what you wrote about her,” Lauren said, glancing down at the Norwegian Forest Cat.
“Brrt!”
“It was all true,” Brandon replied, looking pleased.
“Did you get my email about Ed’s pastries?” Zoe asked.
“Yep. That’s why I’m here.” He looked over at the glass case hopefully. “If you have any left.”
“You’re in luck. We have one apricot Danish.”
“Awesome!” He grinned.
“Brrt.”
“I think Annie wants to show you to a table,” Lauren told him.
“Thanks, Annie.” He followed the feline to a table near the counter.
“Oops, we didn’t ask if he wanted coffee,” Zoe said.
“We can ask him in a sec.” Lauren plated the pastry, and with Zoe following on her heels, took it over to Brandon.
“Coffee?” Zoe asked.
“A mocha would be great,” he replied.
Annie perched on the other chair at the four-seater table.
“I’ll make it.” Zoe zipped back to the counter.
Something had been troubling Lauren for a while, and now Brandon’s presence brought it to the forefront of her mind. Surely it was safe to talk about it? They were in a public place, and the soft buzz of conversation provided an illusion of privacy.
“You look like you want to ask me something,” Brandon said, a fork in his hand.
“You’re right,” Lauren replied ruefully. “I keep thinking about that morning – when I found Todd’s – Todd. You said you heard me knocking on his door and that’s why you came over to see what was going on. But you didn’t hear the killer.”
“Yeah.” Brandon looked regretful. “I told the cops why that was. I was listening to music on my phone and I had my earbuds in. I like it really loud, and there are some good drum solos. That’s why I didn’t hear the murderer.” His mouth twisted. “I just wish I had. Maybe I could have stopped him – or her.”
“Oh, I’m sorry.” That explained why Brandon’s hair had looked a little mussed at the time.
“I feel like I failed Todd. If I hadn’t been listening to my music—”
“You mustn’t blame yourself,” Lauren told him.
“Brrt,” Annie agreed.
“You couldn’t have known what was going to happen that morning.”
“You’re right.” He nodded. “But I think it will take me a while to process it all.”
Zoe arrived with Brandon’s mocha. “Have I interrupted anything?” She studied their serious expressions.
“It’s all good,” Brandon assured her. “I was just telling Lauren the reason I didn’t hear Todd’s killer was because I was listening to loud music wearing earbuds.”
“Oh.” Zoe looked relieved. “That’s one mystery solved, then.”
“Yeah.” Brandon nodded. “Not the main one, though.”
There was a brief silence.
“Okay.” Zoe glanced at the three of them again. “So why are you back here in Gold Leaf Valley? I mean, we’re glad you came to try Ed’s pastries, but you didn’t drive all this way from Sacramento just to do that, did you?”
“No,” Brandon replied. “I’m here to review the local steakhouse. Todd had it on his list before he – you know – and my editor wants me to review it again. And I can’t find Todd’s notes for Gary’s Burger Diner, so I’m going back there again, too.”
“Wayne’s steakhouse got a good review last time.” Zoe tapped her cheek.
“Yeah.” Brandon nodded. “Todd seemed really impressed with it.”
“Were you working with him back then?” Lauren asked.
“No. It was jus
t before my time. But Todd told me he likes – liked – updating his reviews when he could, and it seemed like a good idea to critique other places in the area too, like your café. Get a lot done in one location in a few days.”
“It’s all about content and clicks these days, isn’t it?” Zoe asked.
“Yeah.” Brandon nodded.
“We had dinner at the steakhouse the other night,” Zoe told him.
“How did you like it?” he asked.
“Mm.” Lauren tried to be diplomatic.
“We had the wagyu,” Zoe confessed. “And I’m afraid—”
“We didn’t think it was worth one hundred and sixty dollars per serve,” Lauren felt compelled to say.
“We split it,” Zoe admitted.
Brandon frowned. “I’ve only tasted wagyu once in Sacramento and it was so tender, it just melted in my mouth. So it will be interesting to see if the steakhouse wagyu lives up to Todd’s previous review.”
“Let us know,” Zoe said. “Maybe Wayne was having a bad night when we were there.”
“Will do.” Brandon bit into the Danish. A minute later, he grinned. “Ed is mighty talented.”
“So you liked it?” Zoe asked.
“I loved it!” Brandon grinned. “I’ll update your review with a paragraph about this apricot Danish and post it as soon as I can.”
“That would be great,” Lauren said.
“Brrt!” Annie agreed.
They all laughed.
CHAPTER 11
The next morning, Friday, Zoe was on tenterhooks, waiting for Brandon to report back about his dinner at the steakhouse.
“He might be busy,” Lauren told her cousin when Zoe had mixed up her second order by ten o’clock. “Maybe he doesn’t have time to stop by before he goes back to Sacramento.”
“But I’m saving him two of Ed’s pastries,” Zoe replied.
“Does he know that?”
“No,” Zoe admitted ruefully. “The thought popped in my mind this morning when I was having breakfast.”
“It was a good thought.” Lauren smiled. “I’m curious as well.”
“I think Annie is, too.” Zoe flicked a glance over at the pink cat bed, where Annie groomed herself. So far, it had been a quiet morning.
Would Mitch come in again for complimentary coffee and cupcakes? Lauren hoped so, although she hated the fact that she felt shy and self-conscious around him.
One hour later, Brandon entered the café.
“Brrt!” Annie trotted over to him.
“Hi, Annie.” He smiled down at her.
“Well?” Zoe rushed over to him. “How was the steakhouse?”
“Would you two like a table?” Lauren teased.
“That might be a good idea,” Brandon replied.
Annie led them to a small table near the counter – business had picked up and there weren’t many seats left.
“You tell Zoe and I’ll man the counter,” Lauren said.
Zoe plopped down on a pine chair, Annie following suit. Both of them looked at Brandon expectantly.
“Can I get you anything, Brandon?” Lauren asked.
“I’ve saved two of Ed’s pastries for you,” Zoe told him. “And it wasn’t easy.” She gestured at the customers eating and drinking at the other tables.
“I’ll take them to go,” Brandon told them. “And I’d love a latte if you’re not too busy.”
“Coming right up.” Lauren hurried to the counter.
She watched Zoe say something to Brandon. She could make out the words “steakhouse”, “menu”, and “sides.” The hissing noise of the milk wand drowned out anything else.
After making the latte in record time, she rushed back to the table, placing the beverage in front of Brandon.
“I told him not to say anything about the wagyu until you were here,” Zoe assured her.
“Thanks.” Lauren smiled. She’d been curious about Brandon’s verdict as well.
“Brrt,” Annie chirped suddenly, her gaze focused on the front door.
Lauren turned. Wayne strode toward the Please Wait to be Seated sign.
“You stay here,” Lauren told the feline. “I’ll help Wayne.”
“Brrt.” Annie looked pleased at not having to miss out on hearing about Brandon’s experience last night.
“Hi, Wayne.” Lauren approached him.
“Hey, Lauren.” He glanced around the busy space. “Do you have a small table for me? Otherwise I can get my order to go.”
“I’m sure I can find something for you.” She gazed around the room, wondering where Annie would seat him. There was a table for two in the corner near the counter, but not too close to Brandon and Zoe.
“Follow me.” She led the way to the corner table.
As they passed Brandon and Zoe, she heard Zoe utter, “wagyu” and saw Brandon nod. She’d have to ask Zoe for the details later. Brandon mightn’t have time to wait until she was finished serving Wayne.
“What can I get you?” Lauren asked once Wayne sat down.
He picked up the menu from the table. “I might need a minute to decide.” His gaze flickered to Brandon and Zoe. “That guy visited the steakhouse last night. Is he a friend of your cousin’s?”
“Something like that,” Lauren replied diplomatically. Was it a secret that Brandon was a food critic? Todd’s identity hadn’t been. But ... she didn’t know if Brandon was supposed to be incognito when he reviewed restaurants now, or not. It was probably best not to say anything more.
“I’ll just go look at the cakes in the glass case,” Wayne told her.
“Of course.”
Lauren hurried back to Brandon’s table. “What have I missed?”
“I was just about to tell Zoe. I don’t know if Wayne had another bad evening, but the wagyu was terrible last night.”
“Really?” Zoe leaned forward, her eyes wide.
“Yeah.”
Out of the corner of her eye, Lauren saw Wayne walk toward the glass counter to look at the cupcakes available and the few pastries that were left.
“It tasted nothing like the wagyu I had a few months ago,” he continued. “In fact, for some reason it reminded me of Angus beef. And serving that sauce with it! If you want people to appreciate the richness of wagyu, don’t cover it up in sauce. Have some sauce on the side if you must include it.”
“Annie liked the small amount of wagyu I brought home for her,” Lauren said, glancing at the Norwegian Forest Cat.
“Brrt.” Annie licked her lips.
Brandon chuckled. “I know I’m just starting out in the critiquing business, but honestly, it tasted like good old steak to me.”
“It wasn’t wagyu?” Zoe’s expression fell.
“I’m not saying that,” Brandon replied hastily. “Only someone with more experience than me could say that for sure. I doubt Todd would have given a decent review for something that wasn’t good. He was a stickler for things like that. He told me that’s how you develop a good reputation as a critic. Don’t let anything slide.”
“Huh.” Zoe frowned. “So what happened to Wayne’s wagyu?”
“I don’t know.” Brandon shook his head. “A bad supplier maybe? It happens. Chefs should taste their food, but if Wayne hasn’t been trying the wagyu lately, and it looks similar to what he served before, that would be one explanation.”
“That could be the answer,” Lauren said. She glanced around the café, feeling guilty for keeping Wayne waiting so long. She rose, intending to hurry over to his table to take his order, when she saw him head toward the front door.
“Wayne!” She jogged after him.
He turned and tapped his watch. “Sorry, Lauren, I’ve got to go.” He looked regretful. “My wife called. She wants me to pick up something from the supermarket.”
“No problem,” Lauren assured him ruefully. She shouldn’t have let curiosity get the better of her and ignored a customer for a few minutes.
“What was that all about?” Zoe asked when Laure
n headed back to Brandon’s table.
“Wayne had to get something for his wife,” Lauren said. She turned to Brandon. “I’d better go back to the counter. I can handle the customers if Zoe wants to stay.”
“Brandon has to go in a sec, anyway.” Zoe rose. “Stop by anytime,” she told him.
“Brrt,” Annie confirmed.
“I might just do that.” He grinned. “Your cupcakes are amazing, Lauren. So is your coffee. And Ed’s pastries, of course.”
“Thank you.” Lauren beamed.
They waved goodbye to him when he left, Annie staring after him.
“I think Annie’s a fan,” Zoe teased as the cat ambled back to her bed.
“He was very complimentary about her in his review.”
“At least we know that he’s not the killer,” Zoe said.
“I’m glad,” Lauren told her.
“And I can’t believe he knew about Todd propositioning Cindy like that – threatening to give Gary’s burgers a bad review if she wasn’t “nice” to him.”
“I know.” Lauren nodded. “I don’t think he’s that sort of person.”
“He’s so ...” Zoe sighed. “If only he were five years older, he’d be perfect for me.”
“Maybe you can crochet the perfect man,” Lauren teased.
“There’s a thought.” A gleam appeared in Zoe’s brown eyes. “Can you imagine if that were possible?”
“Who would you create?”
“Someone interesting, and yummy to look at, and ...” Zoe tailed off. “I think I’d have to give it some more thought.” She glanced at the front door. “Don’t look now, but your perfect man has just walked in.”
Lauren glanced toward the entrance. Mitch stood in the entrance, wearing charcoal slacks and a blue dress shirt. Her cheeks glowed. Darn.
ON MONDAY NIGHT, LAUREN and Zoe decided to get burgers for dinner.
“I’ve made enough in tips.” Zoe shook her wallet stuffed with silver coins and a few dollar bills. It jingled. “Even after I split the proceeds with Ed.”
“That’s great.” Lauren smiled.
“Brrt!” Annie added.
“We’ll bring you back a burger,” Lauren promised the cat.
