“What are you doing here?” she asked, pleased to see him nonetheless.
“Ginny thought you’d be ready for your lunch break about now. We’ve both had ours.”
“Are you finished for the day over at the Happy Domestic?” she asked hopefully.
Mr. Everett shook his head. “Ginny’s been studying the paperwork while I’ve taken care of the customers. She hasn’t said anything to me, but she seems to be quite worried about something.”
“Oh dear.” Probably the missing inventory and those empty boxes she’d told Tricia about.
“I’ll just get my apron, and then you can be off,” Mr. Everett said, and headed for the back of the shop. A few moments later, he was back, and finished tying it around his waist before he took Tricia’s former position behind the counter. He petted Miss Marple, who burst into spontaneous purring.
“I’ll try not to be long,” Tricia said, and headed out the door. Once outside, she looked both ways before crossing the street, and saw the Patisserie’s sign. The last time she’d spoken to Nikki, she’d seemed nervous. Now Tricia knew why. Making a spur of the moment change of plans, she headed north down the sidewalk.
Only in the past couple of months had Tricia begun to really appreciate the smell of fresh baked goods, and when she entered the Patisserie she had to restrain herself from standing in the middle of the store and just breathing deeply.
Only one person stood at the counter. Nikki made eye contact but quickly looked away and continued to wait on her customer. Tricia had time to kill, so once again studied the contents of the refrigerated cases. She wouldn’t buy any coconut cupcakes today. With Ginny gone, she had no one to share them with anyway. The idea of never working with Ginny again saddened her, making her want that cupcake all the more.
Finally, Nikki made change and bid her customer a good day.
Tricia stepped forward. “Hi.”
“Hi,” Nikki said, sounding nervous again.
“You can relax now. I know about you and Russ.”
Nikki seemed to deflate. “Thank goodness. I feel like we’ve been sneaking around for weeks.”
“I still don’t understand why you guys felt you had to keep your relationship so hush-hush.”
“I know you two had some problems. Russ had a hard time letting go. Because of that, I asked him to see a counselor before I would date him. He did.”
“Do you know for sure?” Tricia asked.
“Yes, because I went with him.”
Tricia blinked in surprise, but when she thought about it, it made sense. Nikki had had enough heartache in her life—from a lonely childhood, then a bad marriage, to a lovesick admirer who would do anything—even kill—for her love and admiration. It was no wonder she’d been cautious before getting involved with anyone else. Especially after the tales Tricia had told her concerning Russ.
“Thank you for being so candid,” Tricia said.
“I wanted to say something, but Russ insisted he be the one to mention it to you.”
“I haven’t had feelings for him for a long time,” Tricia said.
“I know. But the heart is a funny organ. It aches even when it gets what it wants.” She frowned. “That didn’t come out quite right.”
“I know what you mean. I was surprised to hear about the two of you. Maybe a little hurt—but only because I consider the two of us friends. If you’re happy, then I’m happy for you.”
“Actually, I’m quite happy. We’re quite happy,” she amended with a laugh. “You’d be surprised how much the bakery and news businesses have in common.”
“You think?” Tricia asked.
Nikki laughed. “No. But it sounds good, doesn’t it?”
Tricia smiled. Their friendship would withstand this small strain.
“What can I get you?” Nikki asked.
“A coconut cupcake. Actually, make it two. I think I deserve it.”
“I think you do, too!” Nikki said, grabbed a white bakery bag, and carefully snagged two cupcakes, nestling them between crinkled-up baker’s tissue.
Tricia paid for the cupcakes and took her change. “Will I see you at the next book club?”
Nikki looked skeptical.
Tricia nodded. “That’s how things go when you’re into a new relationship. You want to spend all your time with that person.”
Nikki managed a laugh. “I guess those kinds of things never change.”
“When you’re ready to rejoin us, we’ll be waiting.”
“Thank you. And thank you for being so understanding.”
“Gotta go. See you,” Tricia said, and waved as she walked out the door. Back on the sidewalk, she glanced at her watch. Could she eat an entire tuna salad plate in under ten minutes? She’d have to try.
She crossed the street at the corner and headed south down the sidewalk. As she passed the Happy Domestic, Tricia waved at Ginny, who was with a customer, and then she hurried on to Booked for Lunch.
“About time you got here,” Angelica said from her perch at her usual counter seat. “I’d about given up on you.”
“I brought a peace offering. One of Nikki’s coconut cupcakes.”
“Oh, great. I’ll pour the coffee,” she said, and got up from her seat, crossing to the coffee urn, and poured them both a cup. She set the coffee in front of Tricia, then grabbed the tuna plate from the undercounter fridge. “Anything interesting happen today?”
“I confronted Russ about his relationship with Nikki.”
“Spill the juicy details,” Angelica said with relish as she rested her elbows on the counter and her head in her hands.
“Not much to tell. Nikki’s got his number, and even made him go to counseling before she’d date him.”
“Good for her. And good for Russ, too. Maybe he isn’t the world’s biggest jackass after all. Anything else?”
“Russ found out a big deposit was made to Monty Capshaw’s savings account the day he died. A cash deposit.”
“You still don’t think someone paid him to kill Deborah, do you?”
“You have to admit it looks suspicious.”
“Maybe,” Angelica reluctantly agreed.
“Elaine Capshaw came to visit me earlier,” Tricia said, and took another bite of tuna. Oh, how she missed all those wonderful crunchies when Jake made it. She swallowed. “I asked her if she wanted to come work for me.”
“You don’t waste any time.”
“Cheryl Griffin also came to visit just before that. Did I tell you she thinks she’s about to be abducted by aliens?”
“If only it would happen,” Angelica said wistfully.
“She wanted the job, too. I am not hiring her.”
“You can hire anyone you like,” she said, and straightened. “So, what’s it like on your first day without Ginny?”
“Lonely. I loaned Mr. Everett to her for a couple of days. She wasn’t happy with the way things were left at the Happy Domestic.”
“How so?” Angelica asked.
“Missing inventory, for one.”
“Oh. That doesn’t sound good.”
“She wasn’t sure how to bring it up to Antonio. I told her to just tell him.”
“Wise decision.” Angelica studied Tricia’s face. “What’s wrong?”
Tricia looked away. “Nothing.”
“Oh, yes there is. Now spill.”
Tricia kept her gaze fixed on her plate. “I guess I’m not a big fan of change. You were right. I was in a nice, comfortable rut at Haven’t Got a Clue. Ginny, Mr. Everett, and I made a great team. The business had done far better than I could have hoped. . . .”
“And you’re afraid Ginny leaving is going to jinx that.”
Tricia frowned and glared at her sister. “You know I don’t like that word.”
“No, but it’s an accurate descriptor. Trish,” she said, softening her voice, “the only thing certain in life is that nothing ever stays the same.”
“I think I knew that.”