Sweet Saboteur

by C A Phipps

  He nodded, shuffling his feet. “You deserve good things, and I aim to help you get them. And, that thing that Daisy said about Violet and Nate. . .”

  Scarlett was puzzled. “That he loves her?”

  He nodded awkwardly.

  “I think it might be true.” She said still unsure what he was getting at.

  Sam stared intently at her. “Does that bother you?”

  She sighed, suddenly incredibly weary. “So much bothers me at this minute, but Nate is not anywhere on my list.”

  His whole demeanor changed. “Sorry, I’m being a fool, but I had to ask.” He coughed. “Because I want to be the only one you’re interested in.”

  Her breath caught for a moment at his frankness, but also the way he was looking at her. “I don’t know why you think there was any doubt. You believed in me when I doubted myself, so I know you’re no fool. Plus, George may have led us to the shelves, but you’ve been by my side for most of this. Nate’s just doing his job.”

  “What a relief!” He gave a small grin. “With the awful outcome, I guess this is the wrong time to talk about us. Daisy’s betrayal must hurt.”

  Hurt was putting it mildly. “Finding out that Mable had this vendetta about us and the café, is bad enough. Yet, it doesn’t compare to how Daisy deceived us, and for so long. It’ll be hard to forget and near impossible to forgive her, but we’re going to have to try, or it will eat away at us. Then Daisy wins.”

  He grimaced. “Nobody wants that.”

  Scarlett nodded absently. “It also puts Arthur in a better light.”

  “That’s a massive change of heart,” he teased.

  She grimaced. “I was so sure Arthur had a hand in at least some of this. With that looking unlikely, it occurs to me that there may be another reason. I think Arthur has post traumatic stress disorder. A lot of people have made comments about how he changed after my mother’s death. I suppose we all thought it was the misery of unrequited love topped off with losing any chance.”

  “Arthur certainly has had severe mood swings,” he admitted quietly.

  Scarlett shook her head. “If only I’d trusted myself when all these ideas came to me about the cupcake wrapper and who had access to them or our house. If I had, things might not have reached this point with Daisy.”

  “Hold on. You can’t be suggesting that you’re to blame for this outcome? Daisy is a grown woman who was a close friend of the whole family. She knew what she was doing and what the consequences would be. You have nothing to feel bad about. If it hadn’t been for your doggedness, we would never have found out the truth.”

  Sam kissed her cheek, and she got into the car with a mass of emotions swirling around inside her head.

  “Is it okay if I come back to your place?” he asked before shutting the door.

  She smiled. “I’d like that.”

  * * *

  After Olivia dropped them home, she left, saying she needed to lay down. A few minutes later, Sam arrived with Brent. The poor man had been subjected to a horrible time in Cozy Hollow, and he looked as shaken as Scarlett and her sisters.

  A little while later, with no fanfare, Arthur turned up unannounced at the open front door.

  “I’m not sure we want to speak to you,” Violet barred his entrance.

  Arthur peered over her shoulder. “I understand, but I do want to apologize to you all and explain a few things. Please, Scarlett,” he called out to her.

  Sam made his way down the hall with Brent at his side.

  “Nothing you say can make this right, Mayor,” Sam said coolly.

  Arthur stood his ground. “I have no right to ask any of you to hear me out, but I’d be grateful if you would. Then I’ll go speak to the sheriff.”

  “Let him in,” Scarlett said. This was the perfect opportunity to get more answers, and she wasn’t about to let it go.

  Violet stepped aside, glaring at the mayor.

  “I assume you want to tell us how you knew nothing about the book?”

  Arthur nodded. “When I had that fight with Olivia, it started me thinking. I knew how I felt about you girls wasn’t right. And that listening to Mable all this time had not been healthy for either of us. We’d both become obsessed, and I just couldn’t seem to stop.”

  “You wanted us to leave Cozy Hollow,” Scarlett stated.

  “I did. Seeing you all reminded me of your mom so much. Each of you in different ways.” He sighed. “It was hard.”

  Violet banged on the table. “Not as hard as it was losing our mom, then being victimized and threatened!”

  He held his head in his hands. “You’re right. I’m a selfish old man. I suspected Mable, and I should have said something earlier. Whatever happens, I will try to make this up to you. That’s why I let Nate convince me to loan you the car.”

  Scarlett wondered how that convincing had looked. “Did you know about Daisy?”

  “No.”

  “Not even when she voted against Olivia—her friend?”

  He shrugged. “I wondered, but didn’t question it as it was a secret vote, and at the time, I was glad of it. How did you find out?”

  Scarlett wasn’t about to get Dale into trouble, and she still didn’t trust Arthur. “It was a deduction. Is there anything else you want to tell us?”

  “Nate told me about you getting scared off the road by a car.”

  Violet and Ruby made shocked sounds, but Scarlett ignored them.

  “Don’t tell me the car you loaned us is that one you tried to run me down with?”

  Arthur looked stricken. “I could never do that! I lent my car to Daisy when hers was in the garage. It was a thank you, at her suggestion, for her vote. She also hinted that she might vote my way more if I did. After she gave it back, I put it into storage and told her it was getting repairs so she wouldn’t ask for it again. You can talk to Dale about the timing because he had the car at the back of his garage under a cloth.”

  “I guess that’s for Nate to do,” Sam explained. “Now that the book is in the safe at the Sheriff’s office, I think Scarlett’s sleuthing is over with.”

  Ruby yawned. “I hope so.”

  “I’ll go see the sheriff right away. Thank you for listening,” Arthur said sincerely.

  “What’s up with this change of heart?” Violet demanded before he could leave.

  Scarlett saw Arthur’s mortification and intervened. “It’s okay, Violet.”

  “What do you mean? I want to know, and so does everyone else.” Violet retorted.

  “I can’t tell you, but Sam will. You have my permission,” Arthur declared as he hurriedly left.

  “Come and sit down. It won’t be easy to accept, but it might change how you feel about things,” Sam suggested.

  They followed him back to the kitchen table.

  Sam gave an apologetic smile. “I couldn’t say anything before, but after a conversation with Scarlett and then Dale about Arthur’s accident, I could see that there was a connection. I went to see Arthur and told him that I thought he had a problem that could possibly be fixed.”

  Violet snorted. “I bet that wasn’t an easy conversation.”

  “No it wasn’t. We argued for some time, then I reminded our mayor about your mom and what she would think of how he was treating you. He eventually agreed to see a doctor I know, and he’s having treatment for PTSD. He’ll be up and down for a while, but I think we can all see a gradual change in him.”

  They looked at each other, and Ruby was the first to smile.

  “I knew he couldn’t be all bad.”

  Violet sat back with a grin. “So, taking the car when he offered could be seen as an olive branch that was accepted. Yes?”

  Scarlett sighed. “If you like. I just hope the change in Arthur is permanent.”

  “I’m sure it is,” Ruby said happily.

  Chapter Twenty-Nine

  The closed sign was still on the door of the café because today was not about making money. It was about giving bac
k. The finch women had a lot to be thankful for. The people who’d stood beside them deserved some recognition.

  Loading up Arthur’s car with everything they’d baked today, Scarlett drove home. Violet and Ruby had been working on the setup for the first party they’d had since they were children.

  Balloons adorned the straightened letterbox, and as she pulled into the driveway, she felt the prickle of tears. If only mom could see how beautiful the house looked. Paint, new and shining in the mid-day sun. Windows, no longer leaking, and drafty, sparkled.

  The familiar black Ute sat beside the driveway, and Scarlett’s heart beat harder. Sam was here already. She drove down the side of the house and parked so that the car could be unloaded easily. The girls, Sam, and Brent hurried down the back-steps and opened the rear doors, but Scarlett’s focus was on the area they’d designated for the party.

  Several tables covered with their mom’s unique tablecloths held an assortment of mismatched plates. Adding to the charm were the random chairs which had been dropped off this morning by people who’d come later. More balloons were attached to the fence and railings by the stairs. The garden had never looked better, and now a tear did sneak down her cheek.

  “What do you think? Will it pass?” Ruby asked, bouncing from one foot to another.

  Violet also stood beside them, an air of expectation around her.

  Scarlett dutifully took another look around them. “It’s absolutely perfect.” She hugged them. “You’ve done wonders.”

  “The car’s pretty full. Looks like you’ve outdone yourself.” Violet acknowledged.

  “Well, thanks to you two baking extra cakes yesterday, I could focus on other things.”

  “Where do you want us to put everything?” Sam asked.

  “There are two tables in the shade under the tree. We want it to be buffet style, then people will have more room at the tables.” Scarlett was already pulling out the first tray of cupcakes.

  Mini pies, quiche, sandwiches, cookie bars, and bread followed until the table literally groaned. Olivia arrived bearing a basket of cheese and fruit to go with the bread, and two large bottles of her homemade lemonade. Nate helped set that up on another table with a tray of glasses.

  Then the rest of the guests arrived en masse. Conversation and laughter, interspersed with exclamations of delight at the sight of the dressed up garden, floated around them.

  “This is absolutely amazing!” Olivia shouted, adding to the din.

  After greeting and thanking everyone individually, Scarlett broke away to ask Sam to call a hush.

  “Violet, Ruby, and I would like to thank everyone for coming. We can never repay you for your kindness in helping get this place to where it is now, and for believing in us, but this is a small token of the love we feel for you all.” She waved her hand at the food and drink. “Please help yourselves, and if you need anything, just ask one of us.”

  Resounding applause followed, and Brent stood.

  “Many of you don’t know me, but I’d like to thank these amazing women and this wonderful town for helping me over the last week or so. Cozy Hollow is better than any place I know of, and you’re lucky to have these women in your midst.”

  After more cheers, Olivia stood and waited until the crowd quieted down.

  “Sorry, this couldn’t wait. I realize that this is a party for everyone, but we have something just for Ruby. The town committee met yesterday, and we’ve decided that if Ruby would like it, the librarian’s position is hers.”

  Ruby gasped. “Really?”

  Olivia nodded. “You deserve it.”

  Arthur Tully stood beside their aunt, nodding. “The children you’re helping have been very vocal about who we should employ and their parents even more so.”

  Scarlett wiped the corner of her eyes. She wasn’t sure how much say Arthur had in Ruby’s job offer, but this was a perfect touch to the party, and he was more welcome than he’d ever been.

  Sam and a doctor friend organized an MRI very quickly. Now on medication, Arthur was seeing a therapist as well.

  Even Violet accepted that Arthur had been unwell and was trying to make amends. Remarkably, you could hear it in his voice, and his smile was so natural.

  “It’s a good day,” Violet noted, a hitch to her voice as they watched Ruby being congratulated by everyone.

  “The best.” Scarlett winked. “Now we can focus on you.”

  “Not yet. Let’s just enjoy the moment. I’ve got time, and I’m in no hurry to make a decision about where to from here.”

  “I’m glad to hear it, but when you do, don’t be afraid to talk to me about it,” Scarlett reminded her.

  “I won’t.”

  When Ruby saw them hugging, she joined in, and someone handed out tissues. Tears of happiness were definitely allowed.

  The girls separated to encourage the guests to eat, and Scarlett made sure everyone had been catered to before she took her seat beside Olivia.

  Sam plonked down next to her. “Finally.”

  “Hmmm?”

  “I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”

  She raised an eyebrow. “About what?”

  “About taking you on that date.”

  Scarlett choked on a piece of pastry, and Sam patted her back.

  “Is that such an awful proposition?”

  “No. Yes.”

  He grinned. “I’m confused. Which is it?”

  “No, it’s not awful, and yes, I will go on that date with you. I just wasn’t expecting to discuss it right now.”

  He grinned. “Well, that’s alright then. A toast—to things working out.”

  Scarlett pinged her glass of lemonade against his. It did feel as though things had done precisely that. “And to having the mystery solved.”

  “Thanks to you,” Olivia said, making no apology for listening to their conversation.

  “Don’t start that again. We all helped.”

  From behind, Nate put a hand on her shoulder. “The sheriff’s office will never be the same.”

  Scarlett laughed. “I think you’ll be fine. I’m just a baker, after all.”

  “I don’t think you’re ‘just’ anything,” Sam admonished.

  She blushed. If the table weren’t full of people interested in what was happening here, Scarlett would have kissed him, but now wasn’t the place, and as Violet said, there was plenty of time.

  “Save that sentiment for our date,” she whispered.

  “You can count on it,” he whispered back.

  George took that moment to jump on Sam’s lap. Sniffing twice, the large tabby curled into a ball. Clearly, the paramedic got his seal of approval. Actually, it was another reminder that they still had to discuss custody with Brent, who was laving in the morning.

  Epilogue

  The café was back to normal. Actually, it was doing way better than that. Curiosity was a funny thing, which Scarlett could attest. Still, the people of Cozy Hollow had rallied for the second time this spring around the Finch sisters, and they forgave them for any speculation about poison cupcakes.

  None of them visited Daisy, who’d confessed to everything. She’d been charged and was now in custody awaiting a court date in Destiny. According to Nate, she was mortified by her actions and yet upset that she’d been caught. This meant that Daisy was nowhere near sorry enough for Scarlett’s tastes, and her family agreed.

  “More coffee?” she asked their guests at a small gathering.

  Nate leaned back in the chair and smiled. “I don’t think I could manage another thing.”

  “I’m not surprised,” Olivia laughed. “I’ve never seen someone have three pieces of pie after one of Scarlett’s meals.”

  “Sam had three, too,” Violet objected.

  “No one’s counting,” Scarlett assured both men.

  Hiding a grin, Sam scratched George behind the ear.

  Their new pet, (Brent didn’t think his mom would approve of him taking the large feline home), had made him
self at home and decided that he was allowed total freedom of the house.

  Ruby fluttered around the house with no clear direction. It was her first day at the library tomorrow, and she was excited and yet still disbelieving.

  Next to Olivia on the couch, Violet pointed at the once more retreating back. “Look at her. You’d think she was going to work at her favorite college, not a small-town library.”

  “Shush. Let her enjoy her moment.” Olivia reprimanded her.

  Scarlett nodded, then looking at Violet, said, “It’ll be your turn soon, then we’ll see how staunch you are about it.”

  Violet gave her a skeptical glance. “We’ll see.”

  Scarlett tapped her fingertips together. “Actually, I’ve been thinking.”

  “Oh, spare us. It never ends well when that happens.”

  The men snickered, and Scarlett threw a cushion at Violet.

  “Just listen for a minute. Ruby, can you come in here?” Scarlett yelled down the hall.

  Ruby yelled back, “I’m busy. Do I have to?”

  “If I have to suffer through Scarlett’s epiphany, then so do you,” Violet called out.

  Scarlett counted aloud, and Ruby ran in and took a seat on the other side of Olivia.

  “So, we have Dad’s book,” Scarlett began. “We never saw it before the other day, and the only attachment to it is sentimental. Am I right?”

  Her sisters nodded, and she continued.

  “We don’t need a book. Although, I’m sure you’d love to keep it, Ruby, we need money. I’m proposing that we sell the book.”

  “We’d have to find out how much it’s worth first,” Violet mused.

  Ruby frowned. “We don’t really have anything of Dad’s, but I guess we never really had it. Could we keep it if it’s not valuable?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Then my vote is yes.”

  “If I’m not mistaken, selling the book in your mind, means I can look for another job?” Violet asked carefully.

  “That’s the plan.”

  “Then my vote is also yes.”

  Olivia clapped her hands. “I think this is the best news ever. All your parents wanted was for you girls to be happy.”