Tres Leches & Murder
Page 7
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“Thank you,” Betty said. “And I think I would be willing to move to be closer to you after all this. If you’d want me too.”
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“No,” Leticia said. “I don’t want you to.”
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Amy took a step forward, ready to fight until she heard the next words Leticia said.
* * *
"I want to move here to be with you. I feel like I've been a path for a little while that has made a bit self-absorbed. And I don't like that. And I missed opportunities to be with you and with Theodore. I don't like that either."
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“Letty, you don’t have to do this.”
* * *
“I want to. But if it makes you feel better, we can sleep on it for a few days. And you can decide if you want to go back to the same house or not.”
* * *
“Thank you, Letty.”
* * *
They hugged, and Heather and Amy started heading out.
* * *
“Wait,” Betty said. “I need to thank you too.”
* * *
“We’re sorry it turned out the way it did,” Heather said.
* * *
“But you did find out what happened to my son,” said Betty. “And you gave me back my daughter.”
* * *
“Key West could be fun,” Letty said. “I’m sure they could use another doctor.”
* * *
Then, Heather and Amy did leave the family.
* * *
“That was a sad case,” Amy said.
* * *
“At least there was some silver lining to it in the end,” Heather said.
* * *
“At least one problem is solved,” Amy said.
* * *
“One problem?”
* * *
“Yeah. We still have the other to deal with.”
* * *
Heather groaned. “Mr. Rankle.”
The Grand Regular Business Day
"My attempts to win him over with the donuts failed," Luz said. "Even when I told him I'd lived here for my entire life and that this shop was allowing me to try baking in a professional setting, he wouldn't be swayed."
“He’s a hard one to sway,” said Amy to the others crowded in at Donut Delights.
“Everyone has tried admirably,” Heather said “But I think he’s not listening to you because you all work for me. What I think we need to try it get him to respect the person above me. We need him to like you, Rudolph Rodney.”
“It will be hard for me to reciprocate with everything that he’s done,” Rudolph Rodney responded. “But if it will get rid of that egregious stand I’ll try anything.”
Rudolph Rodney marched over to the Sun and Fun heartburn display, followed by Heather and Amy.
“Don’t you get tired of going through the same song and dance?” Mr. Rankle asked.
“Then stop calling for an encore,” Amy said.
“I don’t know if you two have every officially met,” Heather said. “Mr. Rankle, this is Rudolph Rodney.”
“Your investor,” he grumbled.
“And a Key West native,” Heather said.
“If he’s a local, how come I haven’t seen him around? Nice try,” Mr. Rankle said.
"I did grow up here," Rudolph said. "But as a young man, I made my travels across the country and eventually found my fortune. I returned here to make peace with my sister but discovered I was too late and that she had passed. I continued making business decisions, but then I went in search of other family members. I found my nephew in Hillside, which is where I met these donut makers and were won over by their wares. I needed to bring them back with me."
“You really grew up around here?” Mr. Rankle asked. “Your sister. She couldn’t be Ms. Rodney that taught in the grade school?”
“Must be,” said Rudolph Rodney. “She taught second grade. But that was a long time ago.”
“My son was in her class,” Mr. Rankle said. “She was his favorite teacher.”
“You don’t say,” said Rudolph Rodney. “I missed so much time with her.”
“I think I have some class photos,” Mr. Rankle said, rising. “Let’s go look at them.”
He started towards his store, but Rudolph Rodney remained. He looked pointedly at the display.
"Sure, sure," said Mr. Rankle. "Grab a box or tube, and we'll bring it inside."
“And you won’t set it up again?” Rudolph Rodney asked.
"I can't promise to like these Texans," Mr. Rankle said. "But why would I do anything to harm Ms. Rodney's brother?"
Satisfied, Rudolph Rodney helped bring the heartburn display and supplies inside, and then went to look at pictures of his sister.
“Well, he’s not going to like us,” Amy said.
"As long as he's not trying to convince new customers that we'll make them sick, he doesn't have to like us," Heather said. "And maybe with a little prodding some Rudolph Rodney he'll eventually try a donut and come around."
Amy didn't look convinced.
"Well, I said maybe," Heather commented.
They returned to Donut Delights and were greeted by a round of applause.
“Our fearless leader saved us,” Digby said.
“Rudolph Rodney’s sister saved us,” Heather said.
“What?”
“Never mind,” said Amy. “Let’s celebrate by eating some donuts before all the customers start flocking in.”
They agreed and happily Amy’s prediction did come true. Without Mr. Rankle’s display to dissuade customers, they were piling in to try the exciting new donuts.
Even though Heather was exhausted by the end of the day, she was happy with how business had been and how everything had turned out in general.
However, she was most excited by the arrival of her favorite customers. Eva and Leila came in and sat at their new usual table.
Leila decreed that they needed to have twice the number of usual donuts in order to properly break in their new seats. No one quite understood the logic, but they were happy to supply the donuts.
“The best news of a bad situation seems to be that Betty is planning to stay in the area with her daughter,” said Eva.
“And something else was solved for us today,” Leila said. “Remember how it came out that Theodore had pawned some items?”
“Yes,” Heather said. “But it looks like his gambling debts were never that high.”
“Right,” said Eva. “It turns out that Theodore had been pawning things to have a little extra cash so he could afford a gift for the family. He ordered it to arrive when he thought Edward would be arriving.”
“What is it?”
“A boat.”
“Wow,” Heather said.
“Just a small one,” said Eva. “But one with a proper ramp so Betty could get on board. He knew she missed going on the water.”
“And she’s invited all of us to go out with her on it to remember Teddy,” said Leila.
“That’s a lovely idea,” Heather said. “I’m sorry we didn’t get to know him better.”
"But thanks to you we still will be able to get to know Betty. She won't be stolen away by her evil son," said Leila.
“Stop it,” Amy said. “Bringing up that unhappy case is giving me heartburn. And no way am I going to buy anything to help it from Mr. Rankle!”
Heather laughed, and her friends joined in. Donut Delights felt officially open.
The End.
Also by Susan Gillard
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Stay Curious,
Susan Gillard
About the Author
Susan Gillard is a lover of all thi
ngs mysterious. She grew up in Kansas City, Missouri where her love of murder mystery novels grew.
Now she travels the country in search of the best baked goods and engaging with the locals who often become the inspiration for her wacky characters
Get In touch with Susan
suangillard.com
susan@susangillard.com
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