Orchids and Obstructions by Turner L.C

Author:Turner, L.C.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New Pen Media, LLC
Published: 2023-09-27T00:00:00+00:00

15

Chapter 16

Going to work after talking to Daniel outside Darla’s was painful in the sense that all I wanted to do was talk to Darla’s employees, and not go to work. I had finally got hold of them and they had agreed to meet me at Betty’s Baked Goods at four. As much as I wanted to blow off the workday, I couldn’t do that. I definitely didn’t want to take advantage of Wendy or Cynthia and their good natures, and I had already left work a lot since this all started. But the hours were creeping by so painfully slow, and I looked up to the clock for what must have been about the thousandth time since I arrived.

“You and Cooper have a hot date?” Wendy asked.

“No. Why?” I said as I was dusting the display shelves, which was a tedious process since I had to lift everything up and dust. Now I could have cheated and dusted around things, but I knew my mother would be mortified if I didn’t clean thoroughly to her standards.

“You seem very fidgety, and you keep checking the clock,” she said from where she was cleaning out the floral cooler.

“I’m sorry. I know I’ve been distracted. I went by Darla’s this morning, and she wasn’t there. I haven’t heard from her since she was let out on bail. I’m meeting her employees at Betty’s at four and I guess I’m just really antsy. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. In fact, go ahead and leave. It’s only another half an hour and you’ve wiped the same spot four times, so a lot of cleaning is not actually getting done.”

I hung my head, feeling bad that Wendy had noticed how distracted I was. “If you don’t mind, that would be great. I’m just so worried about Darla.”

I hadn’t told Wendy that I was worried Darla had left town. I didn’t want anything getting out about Darla possibly being gone, as that could really mess up her bail. I wasn’t sure she was supposed to leave town. Even though I trusted Wendy, I didn’t want to put that burden of keeping a secret on her.

“Thanks, Wendy. As I always say, I don’t know what I would do without you.”

She just waved me away and I headed into the back room, hung my apron on a hook, and grabbed my stuff before heading out the back. It would be nice to get to Betty’s Baked Goods a little early to get a latte and regroup. I needed to think about what I was going to say to Tanya, Heather, and Millie.

The drive to Betty’s was quick and, being late afternoon, Betty’s wasn’t busy either. I was happy to see Betty behind the counter.

“Your usual?” she said as I walked in.

“You know it,” I answered.

Betty walked over to the display case, getting out my favorite peach cream cheese muffin, setting it on a plate, and handing it to me before she walked over to the espresso machine and started my latte.

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