Fondant Fumble by Jenn McKinlay

Author:Jenn McKinlay [McKinlay, Jenn]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Penguin Publishing Group
Published: 2024-06-04T00:00:00+00:00

* * *

“How long do we wait?” Mel asked.

They were sitting on the floor in the hallway, leaning against the closed bathroom door as if they’d trapped a wild creature in there. Angie was holding the test box and reading the pages and pages of instructions that came with it.

“It says to wait for at least ten minutes,” Angie said.

“How long has it been?” Mel asked. She was certain it had to have been an hour.

“Three minutes,” Angie said.

“Ugh.” Mel flopped over on the floor, lying in a fetal position.

“Let’s think about something else,” Angie suggested.

“Not cupcakes,” Mel said. “I’m afraid I’ll be sick.”

“Okay, then, what about Dayton’s murder?”

“Not if you’re going to lecture me on my pretty-woman bias,” Mel said. “I still say Kendall is the most likely suspect.”

“Except how did she murder him with scorpions in Keogh’s bakery?” Angie asked. “It makes no sense.”

“She was going for the ultimate revenge,” Mel countered. “Murder her dud of a husband and frame her ex, using scorpions, which just so happens to be the name of the team she’ll inherit. It’s like a calling card.”

“Deadly scorpions?” Angie asked. “That seems a tad dramatic.”

“Oh, I have some information on that from our exterminator,” Mel said. “The scorpions weren’t deadly bark scorpions. They were devil scorpions and they’re not nearly as poisonous.”

“So, Dayton wasn’t killed by scorpion stings?”

“Not according to Nick,” Mel said.

“That changes everything,” Angie said. “Did Nick tell the police?”

“Detective Rivera?” Mel asked. “I don’t know. I imagine the medical examiner will figure it out, but maybe I can call the detective and share the information, you know, as a concerned citizen.”

“It’s the right thing to do,” Angie said.

They were quiet for a moment. Mel glanced at her friend. Angie’s transformation into motherhood had been an amazing journey to watch. She used to be a feisty hothead whose first response to insults and threats had been to punch back, but now she was infused with a patience for life and people that made every moment something to be mindful of and to be shared through Emari’s eyes. Sure, she had her moments when she needed to tap out of motherhood for a spell and turn it over to Tate but overall, she’d had a true metamorphosis.

Mel pushed herself up to a seated position. “What if I’m not good at it?”

“What? Solving the murder?” Angie asked. “I think your résumé speaks for itself.”

“No,” Mel said. Her voice was low when she added, “The whole mom thing. What if I mess it up? What if I’m too impatient or critical? What if I give the baby my own insecurities? What if it hates me? What if I’m a terrible mother?”

“That right there is why you’re going to be just fine,” Angie said. “Look at how much you care about doing a good job. That means you’re going to be an amazing mom.”

She looped her arm around Mel’s shoulders and gave her a half hug. Mel relaxed against her friend. Angie was right. She did care.

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