by Jinty James
The three men laughed, but Claudine looked ready to explode. She’d already seemed to have overcome her embarrassment at falsely accusing the coffee vendor.
She turned on her heel and strode back to her stall, luckily far away from Maddie’s truck.
Maddie watched the two reporters talk to the coffee vendor for a few minutes, then they departed.
“I definitely need a health ball.” Maddie popped one into her mouth.
“Me too.” Suzanne followed her example. “Hey, this would be the perfect time to do the Coffee Vision spell, don’t you think?”
“Now?”
“Mrrow!” Trixie seemed to agree with Suzanne.
“Well, I think I do need a coffee after all that.” Maddie poured some milk into the jug. “Suzanne?”
Her friend shook her head. “I’m good for now. I had one earlier this morning.”
“That’s right.” Maddie worked the machine, the hissing and burring a comforting sound.
When her latte was ready, she stared at the surface. Clearing her mind, she whispered, “Show me.”
The foam swirled, then cleared. Dave Dantzler, the radio personality who had interviewed them earlier, stood in front of the coffee truck.
“That’s all?” Maddie whispered in disappointment.
The vision vanished, the latte returning to its normal foamy surface.
“Well?” Suzanne asked impatiently. “Did it show you winning the competition?”
“No.” Maddie shook her head. “It only showed Dave Dantzler at the truck.”
“Pooh.” Suzanne wrinkled her nose.
“Exactly.”
A flurry of customers arrived, and Maddie had no time to drink her coffee. After she made the last latte, Suzanne picked up her purse.
“I thought I’d go and get us some food. Do you want to come?”
Tempting as the thought was to explore the rival stalls, Maddie preferred to flop down on the stool next to Trixie and have a break.
“No, I’ll stay here.”
“Okay. I’ll get us something yummy.”
“Mrrow!”
“I’ll see what I can do, Trix,” Suzanne promised.
“Oh, Trixie, you know food for humans isn’t good for you – most of it anyway,” Maddie reminded the cat. “I brought your dry food with me in case you got hungry.”
“Broomf!” Trixie scrunched her face up into what could only be a pout.
“All right,” Maddie caved in as she usually did when it came to the feline. “We’ll see what Suzanne brings back and if it’s suitable for you.”
“Mrrow,” Trixie purred, her pouting suddenly forgotten. She nudged Maddie’s hand, demanding to be petted.
As Maddie stroked the Persian, her stomach started to growl. Now that some of the stress of the competition was behind her – apart from waiting to see if she’d won – she realized she hadn’t eaten much all day. She’d been too anxious to eat breakfast, and she’d only nibbled on one health ball so far this morning. She hoped Suzanne found something delicious for lunch.
“How about making me a cappuccino?” Dave Dantzler suddenly appeared at the truck window, startling Maddie.
“Oh – sure.” Maddie got to her feet.
Trixie stared at the man, no longer looking happy and contented.
“On the house, of course.” The man smirked.
“Excuse me?” Maddie frowned.
“It’s the way we do things here.” He wiggled his bushy eyebrows suggestively.
She hesitated. It was only one coffee, and wouldn’t cost her much to give it to him for free, but something about his demand stuck in her throat.
“It’s not the way I do things,” she told him.
“Really?” He affected surprise. “Well, unless you want me to totally disrespect you on air, you’ll be giving me complimentary cappuccinos all day.” His expression suddenly turned sinister. “You don’t want me telling my listeners your coffee is the worst I’ve ever tasted, do you? I can put you out of business like that!”
“My customers know my coffee is good.” Maddie straightened her spine. Of all the times Suzanne had to leave the truck!
“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed indignantly, standing on the stool and arching her back, her turquoise eyes fiercely glaring at him.
“And what about having your cat in the truck? Don’t you think that’s a health code violation?”
“No one has ever said that to me,” Maddie said truthfully. “Not even the health inspector.”
“Hmm.” He rubbed his chin. “Maybe I should put in a call to the inspector I know. I bet he’d think differently.”
Maddie looked at Trixie. She truly didn’t know if the cat had somehow magically enchanted the health inspector who had signed off on their truck, but they’d never had a problem having Trixie with them. Until now.
She’d miss having Trixie at work, and she knew the Persian would feel the same.
“Fine.” Maddie slammed the stainless-steel milk jug onto the counter.
“And make it a good one – just like you made in the competition.” He had the nerve to wink.
She made the cappuccino as quickly as possible, while still ensuring it was “a good one.”
“Here.” She slid the paper cup over to him on the counter.
“Thanks.” He took a sip, seeming not to realize that she hadn’t added her signature art to the cappuccino. There was no way she was going to give him an image of Trixie on the cappuccino – he didn’t deserve it.
“I’ll be back for another one. Keep them coming like this, and I’ll make you sound good on my radio show.”
Maddie felt like saying a snarky “Don’t bother,” but instead just nodded her head, amazed that steam wasn’t coming out of her ears. Maybe it was just as well Suzanne wasn’t here – she might have had to restrain her friend from jumping over the counter and confronting the guy.
“Brrrr.” A low growling sound came behind her. Maddie turned, surprised to see Trixie with an angry look on her face as she glared at the radio personality.
“See you later.” He mock-saluted her with his coffee cup before being swallowed up in the crowd.
“It’s okay, Trix, he’s gone,” Maddie soothed the cat. She tentatively stroked the Persian’s shoulder, and when Trixie relaxed under the gentle touch, Maddie continued petting her.
“Thank you for being here for me,” Maddie murmured. Although Trixie had only been in her life for just over a year, she didn’t know what she’d do without her.
“Mrrow,” the cat replied softly, nudging her hand.
“As soon as we find out who won the competition, we can go home,” she promised her. It was only lunch time but Maddie felt tired already, probably from the excitement of the competition.
“Food!” Suzanne waved a paper bag in the air as she climbed into the van.
The enticing savory smell wafted through the truck.
“What did you get?” Maddie asked, momentarily distracted from her encounter with Dave Dantzler.
“Sliders!” Suzanne pulled out five paper wrapped packages. “Two each for us and one for Trixie.”
“Mrrow!” Trixie sniffed the parcels in Maddie’s hand.
“Beef, lettuce and tomato. But Trixie’s is just beef.”
“Thanks.” Maddie smiled at her friend. She unwrapped Trixie’s treat, crumbling the hot patty into her bowl. “Here you go, Trix. It’s hot, though.”
Trixie sniffed the pieces of beef, licking at one morsel with her pink tongue, then gobbling it up. Obviously not too hot after all!
Maddie took a bite of the mini-burger, surprised at how hungry she was. After her encounter with the radio personality, she’d thought she’d lost her appetite.
“Good?” Suzanne mumbled, around the burger in her mouth.
“Mm hm.” Maddie nodded.
“Mrrow!” Trixie finished the last scrap in her bowl and looked at Maddie expectantly.
“We can share.” Maddie gave the cat half of her rem
aining beef patty.
“I should have bought more.” Suzanne sighed as she ate her second slider.
“I’ll go.” Maybe it would do her good to step outside the truck for a few minutes, and forget all about the horrible radio personality and the way he’d blackmailed her into giving him a free cappuccino.
“Hi!” The short, burly coffee vendor who’d had the altercation with Claudine stepped up to the counter. “I’m Bob. How’s it going?”
“Good,” Suzanne said with a grin. “I’m Suzanne and this is Maddie.”
“And this is Trixie.” Maddie introduced the cat.
“Mrrow.”
“I meant to introduce myself before the competition but I ran out of time,” he said ruefully. His gaze flickered to Trixie and he smiled. “Cute cat.”
Trixie seemed to preen at the attention.
“How do you think you went?” Maddie asked, curious.
“Well, the judge seemed to like my cappuccino, but who knows?” He shrugged. “He might be polite to all the contestants, so he doesn’t give anything away.”
“You could be right.” Perhaps he told all the competitors their cappuccino was “charming”, Maddie thought.
“Did you add art to the top of the foam?” Suzanne asked.
“Yep. I added a heart,” Bob replied.
“That sounds cute,” Suzanne replied.
“My customers seem to like it,” he said. “I have a café in Redbud Glen, near Aunt Winifred, but I’m thinking of expanding. How’s the scene here?”
Suzanne and Maddie looked at each other, their eyes widening.
“I don’t think there’s room for another coffee shop in Estherville here,” Suzanne said. “Maddie and I run our truck here, and there’s a café on the other side of the square.” She gestured to Claudine’s shop. “In fact, the owner, Claudine, entered the competition as well as Maddie.”
“Was that the woman who accused me of stealing?” Bob frowned.
“Yep,” Suzanne said cheerfully.
He shook his head. “I have no idea what happened. The judging had just finished and she marched up to me and accusing me of stealing her beans. I went over to her stall afterward, and bought a cappuccino, trying to smooth things over.” He shuddered. “She definitely isn’t using the same beans I am.”
“Yet somehow she still has customers,” Maddie pointed out. And it was true. She didn’t know why, but there were still people who frequented Claudine’s café and she remained in business.
The coffee vendor looked a little disheartened. “Maybe I should stay small a while longer.” His eyes gleamed with curiosity. “I’d love to try your coffee, Maddie.”
“Sure. Cappuccino?”
“Why not?”
As the machine burred and hissed, Suzanne held out the sample plate of health balls. “Try one,” she insisted.
He chewed and swallowed, his eyes widening in appreciation. “These are good.”
Maddie finished making the beverage, adding her signature art to the microfoam. “Here you go.”
“Thanks.” He pulled out his wallet. “What do I owe you?”
“On the house.” Maddie smiled. She didn’t mind making this fellow vendor a free coffee.
“Thanks.” He looked down appreciatively at the image on the foam, and then at Trixie. “That’s a great idea, turning your cat into a work of art.”
“Mrrow!” Trixie agreed.
He took a cautious sip, pleasure creasing his face. And then another.
“Mmm.” He shook his head ruefully. “I think you’re going to win.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. My coffee’s good, but it’s not quite as good as this. You definitely have talent.”
“Thanks.” A thrill of satisfaction ran down her spine. Sometimes she thought the only things she was confident about were her coffee making abilities, as well as being able to cast the Coffee Vision spell since she was seven years old. And her friendship with Suzanne – she knew that was totally solid.
“It’s a shame there’s only one prize,” Suzanne said. “Otherwise you might be going to Seattle, too.”
“There’s always next year – if they decide to run this festival again.” He looked around at the buzzing town square. “And by the size of this crowd, it looks like it’s already successful.”
“Business has been pretty good so far,” Maddie said. There had been several lulls in between the wave of customers, but she knew they’d done more business today than they usually did on a Saturday morning.
“Yeah.” He nodded. “It was worth closing the shop and coming here – and I couldn’t resist entering the competition. Do you know who else entered?”
“Jill, the vendor over there.” Maddie gestured to the jolly plump woman’s stall. “She’s from Aunt Winifred.”
“Oh yeah, I’ve met her. Her coffee is pretty good, too.”
“And Claudine. I haven’t met the others,” Maddie said.
“I think there are a couple of other competitors.” He savored the last of his cappuccino. “Well, good luck, Maddie. It was nice meeting you.”
“Same here,” Maddie said. “And good luck to you, too, Bob.”
“Thanks.” He smiled, then headed back to his stall, where a couple of customers waited.
“He was nice,” Suzanne said. “And so was Jill.”
“Yes,” Maddie agreed. “If I don’t win, I hope either he or Jill does.”
“Of course you’re going to win,” Suzanne declared. “I have total faith in you.”
CHAPTER 4
Finally, mid-afternoon, the time came to announce the winner.
A crowd gathered around the judge’s tent. Suzanne squeezed Maddie’s hand. Maddie didn’t know how the crowd would react to Trixie’s presence, or vice versa so, since the day was mild, they’d locked her in the truck, leaving a small window open.
“Thank you for attending the inaugural coffee festival for the Estherville and Aunt Winifred region.” The judge cleared his throat. “I know you’re all waiting to hear who has won the cappuccino making competition.” He waved an envelope in the air, and then opened it. “The winner is … Maddie Goodwell!”
“You won!” Suzanne shrieked, jumping up and down.
Maddie blushed as everyone turned to look at her, but couldn’t hide her delight.
“Hmmpf!” Claudine snorted. “There must be some mistake. Mr. Grenville,” she called out. “Are you sure that is correct?”
“Yes, Ms. Claxton,” the judge said patiently. “Maddie Goodwell made the best cappuccino today.”
Claudine glowered at him, turned on her heel, and barged through the crowd back to her stall. Although she had her coffee shop on the far side of the town square, the organizers had wanted all the vendors inside the one space.
“Ms. Goodwell, you will be going on to compete in the barista competition held in Seattle next month,” the judge informed her. He reached behind him and presented her with a small gold trophy in the form of a coffee cup. “And here is your prize.”
The crowd parted for her as she took the few steps necessary to reach the judge.
“Thank you,” she murmured, shaking his hand.
The crowd cheered and applauded. She looked out, her heart suddenly stopping as she spied Suzanne’s brother on the edge of the throng, a big smile on his face.
“I knew you’d do it!” Suzanne rushed to hug her as the gathering began to disperse, the other vendors talking about packing up and going home.
“Thanks.” Maddie returned the embrace. “We’ll have to show Trixie.” She held up the trophy to Suzanne.
“She’s going to love it,” Suzanne grinned.
“Congratulations, dear.” Maddie’s mother hugged her. “I’m so proud of you.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Maddie replied.
“Well done,” her father said gruffly.
“Make sure you practice a lot for this big competition in Seattle,” her mother told her. “You’ll be up against stiffer
competition than here.”
“Yes, Mom.” Maddie refrained from rolling her eyes. She knew her mother meant well.
“Why don’t you and Suzanne come over for dinner tomorrow night? We haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Thanks, Mrs. Goodwell,” Suzanne spoke up. “That would be great.”
“And you can even bring Trixie,” her mother added.
“Thanks, Mom.” Her mother was a good cook and she was right – it had been a while since Maddie had visited them. She’d been practicing for the competition, and last month she and Suzanne had been busy solving their first – and hopefully last – murder.
After Maddie’s parents left, Suzanne’s brother greeted them.
“Congrats, Mads,” he said, his green eyes twinkling.
“Thanks, Luke,” she said breathlessly.
“I thought you were going off with the guys somewhere this afternoon,” Suzanne remarked.
He shrugged, crimson staining his cheekbones. “I thought I’d find out if Maddie won or not.”
“And she did.” Suzanne punched him in the shoulder. “I told you she would.”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I can’t believe Claudine harassed the judge like that, though.”
“Mm,” Maddie said, tongue-tied. Why could she never think of anything to say to Luke? Because she had a major-league crush on him, that was why. She was doomed.
Suzanne looked from Maddie to her brother and back again, apparently deciding to rescue her friend.
“I think we should get going,” she announced. “Trixie’s waiting for us in the truck, and we can’t wait to show her the trophy.”
“Sure.” Luke smiled. “Give her a pat for me.”
Maddie nodded, her mouth so dry she knew she couldn’t even emit a squeaky yes.
Suzanne towed Maddie back to the truck. When they reached Brewed from the Bean, Maddie finally exhaled.
“Why can’t I say anything to him?” she asked Suzanne.
“Because you’ve got it bad for him,” Suzanne replied, her eyes sparkling.
“Yeah,” Maddie agreed gloomily.
“Don’t worry.” Suzanne patted her shoulder. “I’ll help you.”
Maddie’s eyes widened, but before she could wonder aloud if that would be a good idea, Jill, the coffee vendor, rushed toward them.