Apple Turnovers 'n Murder

by Emily Greene

  I gave an exaggerated nod and we all giggled. As soon as the giggles died down I looked at the ladies and gave them a soft smile.

  “Can I ask you ladies something?”

  “Of course, dear,” Betty said.

  “Well, I have missed having you ladies around and I noticed that you have been frequenting the new bakery across the street instead of mine. Did I do something to turn you off?”

  They replied in unison.

  “Oh, no, not at all! We just wanted to try the new bakery across the street and she has an unadvertised buy one get one free special every single day, so that is why we have been going there. Our pocketbooks are a little bit heavier when we eat over there because it doesn’t cost as much money. Now, don’t think that we don’t love your food, we do, we just also love a great bargain.”

  Buy one get one free? I could feel my blood boiling and I was livid. Of course people would go to Courtney’s bakery over mine if they could get twice as much food for the same price they were paying at my bakery! It was a sneaky business practice and I did not respect it at all. However, I couldn’t be upset with the ladies because they admitted that they liked a bargain, just like most people.

  “Oh, now it all makes sense. I did not understand why I was losing so many customers all at once. I am sure her pastries are tasty but I would be surprised if they were as good as mine. I know that sounds arrogant but I have known Courtney since we were in college and, let’s just say that I am surprised that she chose to open a bakery of all things.”

  “Harper, we feel just awful that you have been losing customers, and we certainly do not want to contribute to that. So what we will do is make an effort to split our time between both places. Your pastries are the best in town, there is no question about that, and we would hate for anything to happen that would cause you to have to close your doors.”

  “Thank you, ladies,” I smiled, “that means the world to me. I wanted to let you know about a fun little contest we are having in town next Saturday. It is called a bake-off and Courtney and I will each be baking something and the judges will decide who the winner is.”

  “That sounds like a lot of fun! Where is it going to be?” Doris asked.

  “Prairie Cove Middle School, next Saturday at 11:00 AM. I look forward to seeing all of you there.”

  “Harper, you are going to win this contest easily. We all know that. Hopefully Courtney can figure out something to bake that tastes half as good as everything you make. Poor thing, she probably does not know what she has gotten herself into. I don’t know that anyone can bake better than you, Harper.”

  “You’re very sweet, Betty. Thank you. So, can I expect to see you ladies there next week?”

  “Absolutely, we would not miss it,” Mavis said.

  “Good, I’m glad to hear that. Well, it has been very nice chatting with you ladies, but I have to get back to work. We are finally picking up in here a little bit after being practically barren for the last couple of weeks so I need to make sure that we have enough freshly made cookies, cupcakes, etc. in the back.”

  “Okay, dear, we will see you a little bit later,” Doris said.

  Carrie was in the back pulling out a new batch of cookies and I whipped up some frosting to put on the freshly baked cupcakes.

  “So, what were Edna and the girls talking about?”

  “I basically asked them why they abandoned my bakery.”

  “Did you really?” Carrie asked with surprise.

  “Yes, I did, because I knew that they would tell me the truth. And guess what I found out?”

  “What?” She was all ears.

  “Courtney has an unadvertised deal going on every single day where she allows people to buy one thing and get another one for free.” I had to say that last part of the sentence through clenched teeth because I was so angry about it.

  “No!” Carrie was shocked.

  “Yes! Can you believe that?” I asked, anger boiling inside of me.

  “Well, actually I can believe it. Courtney is a sneaky person so this is exactly what someone like her would do. How can she be turning any kind of profit over there? I bet she wants to make it look like her bakery is extremely successful but in reality, she is probably losing money. I wonder how long that discount has been going on?”

  “I have no idea but I find it crazy that she dislikes me so much and wants to get one up on me so much that she would actually lose money. It makes no sense. Honestly, Carrie, her being here makes no sense. I don’t buy that she wanted to live in a quaint little town, there has to be another reason that she is here. We’ve got to get to the bottom of it.”

  “I agree, something else is going on with her. Don’t worry, we will figure it out and hopefully she will go back to wherever it is that she came from,” Carrie said.

  Natalie poked her head in the back.

  “Someone is here to see you, Harper.”

  I wiped my hands on my apron and went to the front and a huge smile spread across my face when I saw who it was.

  “Hi, you,” Andrew said, his gorgeous eyes twinkling at me.

  “Hi! Well this is a nice surprise.”

  “I had a few minutes in between files and thought I would come see my favorite person.”

  I could feel myself blushing and I could also feel eight pairs of eyes on me. I glanced over at Edna and the girls and they were all smiling at us. I couldn’t help but smile back at them.

  “Oh my goodness, I think we have an audience.”

  Andrew turned to look at the ladies and gave them a little wave which seemed to put all four of them over the moon. He turned back to me and smiled.

  “Edna and her friends are such sweet ladies, I think they are just happy for us.”

  “I know they are, it’s just kind of funny how they keep staring at us. I actually am happy to have them staring at me because it means they are in my bakery. I haven’t seen them in over a week and I used to see them every day.”

  “Speaking of that, how is business?”

  I took a deep breath as I looked around at my nearly empty bakery.

  “About the same, but I do have some news.”

  “Oh?” He asked.

  “We are going to have a bake-off against Courtney’s bakery next Saturday and it is going to be broadcast on KTPC.”

  Andrew was visibly happy for me. “Harper, that is great news! I know that you are going to win, easily, your pastries are second to none.”

  “Thanks, let’s hope so.”

  “How is Courtney feeling about the bake-off?”

  “She seemed excited about it, but I really think she is most excited about being on television. She is a bit on the shallow side. But that is fine; I am just happy she agreed to do it. Hopefully the exposure my bakery will get from this will improve my business.”

  “I am sure it will. I will definitely be there cheering you on. I know how disappointed you have been about how your business changed after Courtney opened her store.”

  “It has definitely been a difficult couple of months.”

  He gently touched my elbow. “I know, but it will get better. I promise.”

  He was so sweet. I smiled at him and felt so happy to have him in my life.

  “Thank you.”

  “So, what time is dinner with your family tonight?”

  “We are meeting at Marie’s at 7:00. Nicole said she has news to share with us.”

  “Marie’s has the best spaghetti around. Do you have any idea what she wants to tell you guys?”

  “No, but I hope it’s good news because with everything I am dealing with right now I don’t know if I can handle bad news.”

  “I’m sure it will be fine. I had better get back to the precinct before they start looking for me. Have a good time with your family tonight and I will see you for lunch tomorrow, right?”

  “Yes, I can’t wait,” I smiled.

  “Same here.”

  After he left Carrie sidled up to me.

  �
�So, what did Mr. Handsome have to say?”

  “He was just asking how I was doing with everything happening with the business. He is so sweet, Carrie.”

  “I know he is and I am so happy that you two are dating each other.”

  “Can I tell you secret? So am I.” Carrie said.

  Andrew and I had been dating for the past five months and each day was better than the next. It was so nice to have someone to lean on when I needed it or someone to just talk to about my day. He was my best friend, next to my sisters and Carrie, and I loved spending time with him. My mother really liked him, as did my sisters, so it was always fun when we would all get together.

  We got back to work because even though business was slow, we did have to prepare cupcakes for a birthday party. The rest of the day passed quickly and uneventfully, and before I knew it, it was time to close up. I had an hour before I had to meet my family so I decided to rush home and change my clothes so I could look presentable and not be subjected to incessant criticism from my mother and Nicole.

  I was really looking forward to dinner because Marie’s served the most delicious Italian food I have ever tasted. As usual, I was the first daughter to arrive and as soon as my mother spotted me that hand was way up in the air waiving like a mad woman.

  “Over here, honey!”

  She must have thought I was struggling with my vision because in a room of about 15 patrons, she stuck out like a sore thumb in her bright pink pant suit. There was no way I could have missed my mother in that room. For whatever reason, she had a habit of sticking that hand up and waving it like crazy no matter where we were. I shook my head as I sat down, unable to hold back my smile.

  “Mother, I don’t know why you insist on doing that over and over again. No matter where we are, I can always find you so you don’t have to worry about waving for me or yelling out for me because, trust me, I will always be able to find you. You, mother, are one in a million.”

  She smiled at me and winked. “I just want you to always know where I am, and right back at you. You are also one in a million and I wouldn’t have you any other way. You look beautiful by the way. Dating Andrew Sloane is doing wonders for you.”

  “Thank you, mother.”

  It was her way of telling me that nothing was going to change and I was just going to have to the deal with her always making a scene when any of us arrived anywhere. It didn’t bother me because, at her core, my mother was a gem and would do anything for anyone. I glanced at my watch and quickly looked around to see if my sisters had arrived.

  Nicole walked in a minute later, her hand straight up in the air just like my mother, and my mother repeated the same wave back. It was almost comical. Nicole was out of breath when she sat down and my mother instantly looked worried.

  “Honey, are you okay? Do you need some water? Why are you breathing so heavy?”

  “I rushed over here because I did not want to be late, and I’m fine. I just need to catch my breath.”

  Two minutes after Nicole arrived, Katie sauntered in, in no hurry to make it over to us even though she was a few minutes late, but that was Katie. Always on Katie time. As soon as she sat down, my mother started in.

  “Honey, you look so tired, how is the wedding planning coming?”

  “I cannot wait until everything is all set and I don’t have to talk to another wedding planner again in my life. I am so overwhelmed with everything that we have to do for the wedding, I am almost tempted to just elope.”

  My mother looked mortified. “Oh, no! Katie, honey, you cannot do that! I want you to have a beautiful celebration where are all of your family and friends can attend. Everyone is so happy for you and that day is so special, please let us be a part of it.”

  “Don’t have a coronary Mother, we are not going to elope, it’s just that some days I feel like eloping.”

  “Isn’t the wedding planner I hired doing most of the work for you?”

  “Yes, but she has 500 questions to ask me every five minutes and it is exhausting. I don’t really care if the trim on the napkins matches the walls. I feel that she kind of goes overboard.”

  “Well, if you feel that she is not doing her job, just let me know and I will find someone else to step in and take over. I want that day to be special for you and I don’t want you to have one ounce of stress on your wedding day.”

  “Thank you, Mother, that is very sweet. Enough about me, how are you all doing? Wait. Nicole, you said you had an announcement to make or something to share with us.”

  “Oh, that’s right, honey. Did you have something to tell us?” Mother asked.

  “Yes I do, but before I say anything, I want to check in with Harper. How is the bakery doing? Have things gotten any better?”

  “Things are about the same, but I do have some good news. We are going to have a bake-off and it is going to be broadcast live on KTPC next Saturday at 11 o’clock.”

  “A bake-off ?’ They all three asked at once.

  “Yes, it is a contest to see which person has the better pastry. Courtney will prepare something, I will prepare something and the judges will decide who the winner is. It’s just for fun but the exposure is going to hopefully do wonders for my business and help turn things around. I just have not been able to really wrap my head around the fact that my business has suffered because my old college rival opened a bakery directly across the street from me. It just doesn’t make sense because she never mentioned having any interest in owning a bakery when we are in college. I know people can change and they grow, but my gut is telling me there’s another reason that she is here.”

  “Oh boy,” Katie said.

  I gave her a curious look. “Why do you say that?”

  “I can see that you are putting on your amateur sleuth hat. You’re going to dig around and find out why she’s really here, aren’t you, Harper?” Katie asked.

  “Well, I do have I little bit more time on my hands these days and I believe that it is always important to study your competition so I don’t see anything wrong with just asking around to see what people know about her. I am not going to do anything to get myself in trouble.”

  Nicole playfully rolled her eyes. “Just be careful.”

  Mother, of course, chimed in. “Yes, honey, I remember what that woman put you through in college and I fear that she is unstable. Be careful.”

  “I appreciate your concern, all of you, and I will be careful. Now, enough about me, what do you want to tell us Nicole?”

  Nicole looked at the three of us, and a smile slowly spread across her face.

  “I’m pregnant.”

  “Eeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!! Oh, honey, I am so happy for you!” My mother said as she got up and flung her arms around Nicole nearly squeezing the life out of her.

  “Congratulations!” Katie and I both said together.

  We both got up and gave her a huge hug.

  “Nicole, this is so exciting, when are you due?” I asked.

  “I am due in July.”

  “This is the best news, Nicole!” Katie said and then all of a sudden her face changed. “Oh no! We are going to have to get your dress altered for my wedding!”

  Katie was getting married in May so Nicole would be pretty big by that time.

  “Don’t worry about a thing, honey, I know a wonderful tailor in Chicago who specializes in dress alterations so I will schedule a meeting for you both. Don’t worry; it will be taken care of.”

  “Thank you Mother, I don’t know what I would do without you,” Katie said.

  “This is a very exciting time, so I don’t want any of you to worry about anything. Harper, let me know if there is anyway I can help you get to the bottom of Courtney’s real story, because I am happy to do so. I am so happy that you girls are all in such a great place personally. Harper, all we have to work on is your professional happiness and everything will be perfect.”

  My mother was practically beaming. Nicole was pregnant, Katie was getting married, and I was seriously
dating someone. In her world, this was perfection.

  “So the bake-off is next Saturday at 11:00, right?” Nicole asked.

  “Yes.”

  “Okay, just let us know what we can do to help because I am sure that day is going to be pretty hectic,” Nicole said.

  “Yes, Harper, just let us know what we can do, because you are going to win that bake-off, there is no question about it,” Katie added.