The Bluebell Cafe Cozy Mystery Collection: Books 1-3 by Jackson Judith

Author:Jackson, Judith [Jackson, Judith]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Sunday Lake Publishing
Published: 2022-01-02T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 7

“Thanks again, for everything,” called Melissa. “I’ll be out at my mom’s later today, so maybe I’ll run into you. Stop it, Peanut.” She pulled Peanut away from the patch of Impatiens he was blissfully munching his way through.

Harriet plastered a beaming smile on her face. “We’ll be there around five.” She waited until Melissa was out of earshot, then turned to Claire. “This will be fine. It won’t be anything like the Wally situation.” The words were barely out her mouth when the door of The Bluebell swung open, and a young mother and a little boy wearing rubber boots and a black cape tromped out. Harriet could hear the wails from across the street.

“I hate that mean lady!” The boy smacked his plastic light saber on the sidewalk. “I’m going to zap her.”

“Simon! That’s a naughty thing to say! You can’t have a cookie every time we come here.”

“Yes, he can,” said Harriet, jumping to her feet. “Simon’s mom is a regular.” Before she’d taken a step toward the café, the door opened again, and Denise hurried out with a cookie for the furious child. From the pleased look on his face, it may have been two cookies.

“The mean lady,” said Claire, as Harriet sat back down on the bench. “AKA our new waitress, the one we’re so happy to have.” She gave Harriet a nudge. “It may not be like the Wally situation, but it’ll be a different kind of terrible.”

“In Pam’s defense, she doesn’t know the cookie policy. And it’s not like we have any choice about keeping her on. Heart palpitations? Didn’t Melissa’s father die of a heart attack?”

Claire nodded. “While he was eating dinner. Annabelle got up to answer the phone, and when she came back he was face down in a plate of Hamburger Helper.”

A police car pulled up in front of the café. They watched as Adam climbed out of the driver’s seat and another officer, a large man with thinning, red hair, and a friendly face, got out on the passenger side. After some consultation, the officer went inside while Adam paced up and down on the sidewalk, talking on his phone. “What he lacks in charisma,” said Harriet, “he certainly makes up for in handsome.”

“He has charisma,” protested Claire.

“A month ago, you said he was about as much fun as a bladder infection.”

“That was last month.” Claire sipped her coffee, her eyes steady on Adam. “The thing is, I like that he’s so difficult. I can’t find that same sizzle with other men. They always turn out to be mutts. Adam’s an Akita.”

“An Akita?”

“Great looking dog, but stubborn and hard to train. Not for a beginner.”

“That is a ridiculous analogy. And you have four rescue cats. You’ve suddenly got something against mutts?”

“Five rescue cats.”

“Five?”

“I got another one last week. It was an emergency situation. I didn’t tell you because I knew you’d start in with your whole cat hoarding thing.” Claire exhaled loudly. “Five is a lot, though.”

Harriet wasn’t a cat person.

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