Pancake Panic Read online

  My father sighs. “It does sound like they both care very much for you. Is that why they were throwing fists this morning?”

  “Ugh.” I shrink in my seat. “You saw that, huh?”

  He chuckles. “I sure did. Lottie, those men not only care for you—they’re willing to go to war.”

  “That they are.” I sigh as we head out and I pop the trunk, only to meet with far more pink boxes filled with yummy pastries than I could ever carry to my front door. I do a quick glance around. “Why don’t you take some boxes up for me?”

  Dad inches back. “Lottie, the world can’t see me, but it can see those boxes.”

  “Trust me, no one will see us. There’s not a soul on this street right now. The house on the other side of me has been empty for months and there’s no one else around.” I load him up with six boxes and myself with three and he follows me up my porch.

  Just as I’m about to insert the key into the lock a shrill screams goes off from down the driveway.

  I turn back and gasp as I spot Cormack with her eyes bugged out, her hands gripping the hair at her temples. She’s got Noah’s dog, Toby, on a leash and the friendly Golden Retriever isn’t in the least bothered by the commotion.

  Cormack has been over to Noah’s place every day since he found out the tragic truth, and I can’t help but frown at the thought of Cormack taking up such a prime position in Noah’s life. I guess he gave Cormack a spare key to his house just the way he gave me one. I can’t help but ache at the thought. Noah has a spare to my home, too—come to think of it, so does Everett. Maybe this is tit for tat?

  “Laila, those boxes are floating in the air!” she howls as if the sight offended her. For reasons unknown to me, neither Cormack nor Noah’s ex-wife, Britney, has ever been able to keep my name straight. A part of me thinks it’s their way of putting me in my place, as if to say I’m not important enough to have them even remember my name. For sure, Cormack wishes I never knew Noah at all.

  Well, too bad. I’m in Noah’s life for good, whether Noah himself likes it or not.

  A large silver ring flashes over her wrist with an assortment of keys dangling from it and my heart sinks. That’s the very key ring Noah holds his spares on. It’s true. And sadly, the spare to my own house is on there as well.

  Great. Now that Cormack has it, I should probably change my locks.

  I give a brief glance at the boxes that seem to have entranced her. “Are they floating?” I look to my father and shrug. “Don’t you dare drop them. Believe me when I say her sanity isn’t worth unraveling the universe over.” I open the door and he floats right in without missing a beat. “I’ll see you later, Cormack.” I offer a friendly wave before shutting the door behind me.

  My cats, Pancake and Waffles, greet me with a lazy yowl and I pick them both up and take them to the kitchen with me.

  Dad waves his hands at the kitchen as if he were amazed.

  It’s bright and white with marble counters and top-of-the-line stainless steel appliances. The kitchen itself is massive and opens to the living and dining rooms. It was the kitchen that sold me on the house to begin with. “Lottie, this place is great. I’m so proud of all you’ve achieved and accomplished. You’ve got a lot on your plate, and you’re handling it like a champ.” He takes a step in and smiles warmly at my matching Himalayans. “And aren’t the two of you beautiful.”

  “Handsome,” I correct as I smile at the wily Himalayans. They’re both a creamy vanilla shade with daring blue eyes. “They’re boys. Brothers to be exact. Nell bought me Pancake as a gift and she willed Waffles to me when she passed.” And I’m half-tempted to introduce him to Ethel as well. Oh heck, I’ll probably do just that when I get a chance. That Glock has saved my life a time or two. I think she’s earned the right to an introduction.

  “Can I?” Dad asks as I hand him Waffles.

  “You bet. Once he feels your protective arms, he won’t care that he can’t see you standing there.”

  And thankfully, Waffles doesn’t mind one bit that he’s levitating through the air.

  “So what’s paradise like?” I ask with bated breath.

  He shakes his head with an impish grin. “It’s against the rules for me to tell you. But I will say you won’t be disappointed. It will make this life look like a dream with hazy details and not enough realism for it to ever be believed. What waits ahead is true life—in your true home. You will lack nothing and gain everything. Every emotion, every color, every experience is that much more pronounced. It is truly paradise, indeed.”

  “Wow, that does sound amazing. I suppose it’s something to look forward to rather than dreading.” I decide to take the conversation in a far earthlier direction. “So Lainey is pregnant.” I bite down a smile and my father’s eyes enlarge.

  “You don’t say?”

  “She married Forest Donovan last summer and their baby is due in August. Keelie is engaged to Bear and they’re having a baby that same month. Meg was a big deal in the Las Vegas wrestling circuit, but now she’s teaching—um, dancers, their moves down in Leeds.” I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that Meg works at a strip club, even if she’s not the one that’s stripping.

  “And your mother?” His voice softens. “Nell mentioned that she hasn’t remarried.” There’s a tortured smile wavering on his lips, and I can see his undying devotion for Miranda Lemon with or without it.

  “Mom is well.” I stop shy of informing him of her gallivanting ways. In the last year alone, she’s had a handful of psychotic boyfriends, one of which I killed—not on purpose. Well, okay, sort of. “She bought the B&B you spent your honeymoon at and it’s been her baby ever since.” I tell him all about the ghosts haunting it—Greer, Winslow, Lea, and Thirteen. And share the fact they’re quite angry that he can eat his fill of anything he wants and they most certainly can’t.

  Dad howls with laughter and Waffles jumps right through him as he lands on the kitchen island.

  “It sounds as if I showed up right on time.” He gives a little wink while plucking an iced fudge brownie out of a box. “Why don’t we share a few of your delicious desserts and we can discuss other things, too?” His expression grows dark.

  “Like Eugene Alexander?” No sooner do I say his name than a chill runs up my spine. “I mean Flip.”

  He nods through a bite. “Great guy. I guess I’ll see him soon enough in paradise.”

  “As soon as we solve this crime.” The words come from me sullen. It’s true. As soon as the soul that was sent to help bring the killer to justice does just that, they’re whisked right back to the great beyond. “Daddy, you were brought here to help solve Flip’s murder, weren’t you?” My lips tremble when I ask the obvious, and how I hate the obvious in this case.

  “Yes, my love, I was.” He brushes the tip of my nose with his finger.

  “Then may we never solve this case.”

  A forlorn sigh escapes him. “My dear Lottie, that’s not how this works. We will solve the case, and we’ll do it together.”

  We’ll see about that.

  I hand him another iced fudge brownie, this time with sprinkles on top, and he’s quick to indulge in it.

  I have plans for keeping my father around long-term.

  Lucky for whoever killed Flip Alexander.

  They might have just gotten away with murder.

  Chapter 5

  The Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery is bustling this afternoon, just a day after the horrible tragedy that befell one of my father’s good friends.

  It’s all hands on deck in the kitchen as the snow continues to dust Honey Hollow, and for a moment I watch mesmerized as it falls soft as confectioners’ sugar to the ground. My father said he was going to visit my sisters and my mother this morning, but that he’d be back in time to taste the white chocolate macadamia nut cookies I was baking. I just pulled the first batch out of the oven and they’re cooling off as the scent of warm vanilla and brown sugar permeates the entire bakery.

  The
bakery has been my baby for over a year now. My grandma, Nell Sawyer, did in fact gift it to me after she passed away. I just love the butter yellow walls and the mismatched pastel furniture. But best of all, I love the fact there’s a giant walkthrough between my bakery and the Honey Pot Diner next door.

  The Honey Pot was Nell’s most prized treasure and currently it’s being managed by my bestie, Keelie. There’s a giant resin oak tree set in the middle of the Honey Pot whose branches extend up over it and trail across the ceiling of my café as well. Each branch is lovingly wrapped in twinkle lights and the effect is simply magical.

  Keelie heads this way with her blonde hair swept back into a ponytail, one hand protectively on her tummy, already keeping an eye out on that sweet little sugar bun cooking in her oven—either that or she’s sick to her stomach.

  Keelie moans and looks as if she’s about to vomit, so I speed on over and pull out a seat for her in the café.

  “Keelie, you should go home. Clearly, you’re too sick to be here.” I glance back at Lily. “Would you please get Keelie a glass of water?”

  Lily gives a thumbs-up and gets right on it.

  “Keelie, have you seen the doctor yet?”

  “Yup. I saw Dr. Barnette yesterday, right after the murder. I had an appointment in the afternoon.” She makes a face and looks adorable doing so. Even green as a blade of grass, Keelie manages to look cute in the process. “Do you think that’s a bad omen, Lottie? Do you think my baby will grow up to be murdered one day because of it? Or worse yet, a murderer?”

  “No! Those are horrible thoughts. Yes, there was a tragedy that morning, but life goes on. So what did the doctor say?”

  Dr. Barnette is the premier OB-GYN in Honey Hollow. She’s the best of the best and she happens to be Lainey’s doctor, too.

  Noah insisted I see her when he thought I was pregnant. Of course, I went along with it as to not send him reeling back into a coma. Suffice it to say, that visit, like everything else last month, was a disaster.

  “She said I’m due August twenty-eighth.”

  “That’s great! I think Lainey is due August thirteenth.”

  “That I am,” my sister’s cheery voice booms from behind and I turn to find both of my sisters waving at me while setting their things down on a table.

  “Lainey, Meg.” I offer them both a quick embrace. “What’s going on?”

  Lily strides over with that glass of water. “They probably want to know when Keelie is tying the knot, like everyone else in town.” She looks her way. “Are you tying the knot before or after you pop this kid out?”

  Keelie makes a face. “ After.” She takes a sip of water and shrugs “Before. Oh, I don’t know. I’ve always wanted to be a June bride, but I never thought I’d be a knocked-up June bride.”

  Meg huffs, “Come on, Keelie. It’s just us. You always figured you’d be a knocked-up June bride. You just never figured it would ruin the silhouette of your wedding dress.”

  “Okay, fine.” Keelie waves her off. “You got me. Exactly how big do you think I’ll be come June?”

  Lainey shakes her head. “Nobody knows. You’ll be seven months pregnant. You could have an adorable little pooch of a belly, or you could be the size of Honey Hollow. I guess it depends on a lot of things.”

  “No, it doesn’t,” Meg snarks. “It only depends on one. How much you eat.”

  “Oh, I’m eating.” Keelie nods. “I don’t care how many times a day I need to puke my guts up. I need me some food. In fact, I was thinking about hopping across the street right now and ordering a large pizza from Mangias with extra cheese, garlic, and anchovies. Anyone want to split it?”

  The three of us quickly decline the less than savory offer.

  “Fine.” Keelie takes another sip of water. “More for me.”

  I offer her a hug as she gets up to leave.

  “Let me know what date you settle on,” I say. “I want to throw you a bridal shower, a bachelorette party, and, of course, I want to throw both of you a baby shower.” I nod back at Lainey.

  “Thanks, Lottie.” Keelie slings an arm over my shoulders. “You’d better square everything away with my sister first. You know how Naomi gets.”

  Lily scoffs. “She gets selfish, and vindictive, and downright evil.”

  Lily and Naomi used to be lifelong best friends until they starting warring over Alex Fox. And since Alex couldn’t decide which girl he liked best, he’s dating them both in alternating months. This month it’s Lily’s turn to try to charm and disarm Alex for good. The dating part might actually be working out, but Lily and Naomi have had a strained relationship ever since.

  “Naomi might be all of those things.” I offer Keelie a crooked grin. “But I’d work with anyone to make all of your days shine bright. Don’t worry about a thing. Get that wedding date to me as soon as you can. And it would be my honor to bake all of your cakes for free.”

  “Oh, Lottie.” She pulls me into a firm embrace. “You’re the best. I will get that date to you.” She strides for the door with a cheery wave to us all. “Oh, and I’ll help you investigate this new case! Just say when and where.” She bullets across the street as if they were giving away pizzas for free.

  “Not on her life—or that baby’s,” Lainey says. “There’s no way you should put Keelie in the line of danger. Not while she’s expecting.”

  Meg smirks. “I guess that means Lainey is out of the investigative loop as well.”

  Lily swats me with a kitchen towel on the way back to the register. “Don’t ever count me in, Lottie. I like my criminal-free existence.”

  Meg holds out her arms. “And then there was one. So what suspect are we hunting down first?”

  “None,” I’m quick to tell her. “I’m not investigating Flip’s case.” I glance to Lainey in hopes to change the conversation. “What have we decided for Mom’s birthday? We can do it at my house.”

  Meg shakes her head. “It has to be at the B&B. We want to surprise her, and if she’s suddenly going to your house for dinner, on the night of her birthday, she’ll think we’re having a party.”

  “You mean we’re going to pretend we forgot and simply show up at her place?” I cock my head at Lainey. “Do you approve of this?”

  “Yup. We’ll have the Honey Pot cater. You can bake a cake. And I’ll make sure to let all of her friends in through the back door of the conservatory. I’ll let Chrissy and Becca in on it and they can take her to a movie that afternoon. That way we can decorate and get everything ready.

  “Perfect,” I say. “And she can tell her friends what lousy kids she’s got because they forgot her birthday.”

  We share a laugh over that one.

  The bell on the door chimes and in walks our mother herself, along with the most handsome once upon a man on the planet—my father. It’s both jarring and a natural sight to see the two of them together and that makes my heart sing right out loud.

  “Mom.” I bring my hand to my chest as I watch my father with his arm wrapped around her.

  Dad nods. “I’ve been with her all afternoon.”

  “Girls, my girls.” Mom pulls us into a group hug, and it’s not until she steps back that we see the tears in her eyes. “I’ve been so melancholy today. I don’t know if it’s the gray day, or the fact it’s January—you know there is a very real emotional letdown after the holidays. But whatever it is, it’s got me good and blue.” She sits at the table and we join her. I ask Lily to please bring coffee and she’s kind enough to get right to it.

  Dad sits in the empty seat next to our mother and suddenly, miraculously, our family is whole again just like that.

  “Nothing is going right,” Mom laments. “The B&B is so quiet, I’m beginning to think it’s not even haunted anymore. I’ve got a tour tomorrow, and I can only hope the ghosts get back to work by then.”

  Good Lord. I’d better pray Greer and the gang don’t follow through with their childish revolt. They should know by now that I have no power over
anything.

  “You know”—my mother glances over to my father as if she could see him—“it’s as if I can feel your dad with me. As if he’s been with me all afternoon. I just can’t explain it, but I do—I feel him here with me.” She looks at the chair suspiciously and my mouth falls open at how in tune she is to him. “If I didn’t know better, I’d say he were seated right here beside me.”

  Dad leans over and dots a kiss to her cheek and Mom pats the spot on her face where he planted it.

  “I’m with you, Miranda,” my father whispers the words like a sweet nothing. “You are always on my mind and in my heart.”

  And just like that, tears spring up in my own eyes.

  Lainey shudders. “It’s weird, but when I was at the library this morning, I could have sworn I felt his presence, too.”

  Dad chuckles. “That’s because I was with you, baby girl.” He reaches over and pats her hand. “And head librarian? I always knew that position was waiting for you. I’m so very proud of you.”

  Meg blows out a hard breath, making her lips vibrate. “I didn’t feel a thing.”