Honeybee Cozy Mysteries Box Set by Katherine Hayton

Author:Katherine Hayton [Hayton, Katherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-11-07T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

While Harriet worked herself into a state, Alice tried to stay calm and think things through. She peeked out into the café, taking stock of the customers seated there.

“It looks like two of the tables haven’t ordered,” she said, turning back to Harriet. “Would you be able to do that now, while I work out a plan for the rest of the day and tomorrow?”

The reminder that she had a job to do snapped Harriet back into her usual friendly manner. She walked out and greeted the waiting customers, soon saying something that earned a laugh.

One problem down.

Alice checked the trays of food. They were running low of several honey cakes. No doubt between the hold-up this morning and Sally’s early departure, her friend hadn’t had the usual time to bake up everything as usual.

After noting down a few items, Alice worked out how long it would take to bake them up and came to a conclusion that could work. She’d put the longer lasting pieces into the oven at home tonight and set the alarm early to get a start on the ones that must be freshly baked, tomorrow.

That took care of the goods for sale, but Alice couldn’t cover for Sally in the café, serving. She looked through the notebook they kept in the kitchen, containing a range of contact phone numbers. The temp agency they used to cover Sally when she was sick or on holiday was highlighted on the second page. Alice made a quick call and arranged cover for the rest of the week.

What else?

With so much information banging about in her skull, Alice found it hard to think in a logical progression. She sat down on a stool, watching Harriet work, and forced herself to breathe in a regular pattern until her mind settled down.

The stock of honey for sale would last out the week, Alice only ever repopulated it on the weekends. She’d need to come in each day to sort out the cash takings and balance out the EFTPOS receipts, but that was just a matter of setting a reminder on her phone.

“What are we going to do?” Harriet wailed as the last customer walked out of the café. “Without Sally here, I don’t know I can cope.”

“I’ve got another waitress coming in tomorrow to cover,” Alice said, happy she was in control. “It’s Bridget, she’s worked in here before so knows the ropes.”

Harriet nodded, her face smoothing out of its twist of worry. “I remember her. What about the baking?”

“I’ll take care of that. You go home and by tomorrow, everything will be okay. Trust me.”

On any other day, Alice would have been insulted by the look of concern that returned to Harriet’s face, but for the moment she didn’t care.

“Okay. If you’re sure?”

“I’m sure. Closing up an hour early won’t kill the business, and resting now will help you recover from the shock better.”

“What’s going to happen to Sally?”

Having Harriet’s worried eyes staring at her caused Alice more discomfort than anything else she’d been working on.

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