Game of Tarts

by Wendy Meadows

  I know just about everyone on this block, and they all know me. I trust and get along with each of these business owners. None of them would ever undercut me. I know that now.

  While I watch, the Navy boys, Greg and Frankie come strolling through the crowd shoulder to shoulder. They grab a cookie each from Sabrina before they make a beeline for Stacy’s coffee cart.

  Frankie waves to me. “Hi, Margaret. Don’t give away all the Pop Rocks.”

  I have to laugh. “Don’t worry, Frankie. I’ll always keep a supply of Pop Rocks on hand just for you.”

  Simone Peretti floats toward me. None of the people clustered around her seems to touch her ethereal form. A halo of unearthly vapor surrounds her and holds her apart from the living. She glides toward the table. I hesitate to say her eyes widen when she looks at the chocolates, but she definitely shows a special interest in them.

  “I would like to order some of these trays, Margaret,” she rasps. “These are the best chocolates I’ve ever tasted.”

  I gasp out loud. “Wow, Simone. I didn’t know you had a sweet tooth.”

  “I don’t—at least, I didn’t until I tasted these. It appears I’m more corruptible than I realized.”

  She selects one of the chocolates out of the tray with her skeletal fingers. She puts it into her mouth and gazes at a spot above my head while she smacks it around her mouth. Her paper-dry lips contort and twist when she chews.

  “Ah, yes,” she husks deep in her throat. “That’s the taste I remember. It’s magnificent. Yes, I think I’ll order five of these trays.”

  “Five!” I exclaim. “Are you sure? You know they have to be refrigerated.”

  “You don’t need to concern yourself with that. I have a small refrigerator in my shop behind the counter. I usually keep milk in it for my morning tea. I can keep these in there as well, and I don’t suspect they will last long enough to lose their freshness.”

  My eyebrows go up. “All right, Simone. I’ll put the order in for you.”

  Just then, David comes sauntering out of the crowd. “Hello, gang. Well, this block party certainly turned out to be a success. I didn’t think so many people would come out for it.”

  Zack speaks up from behind the table in between passing out lollipops to the local kids. “I’m surprised the police department doesn’t have a table set up.”

  “We should have thought of that,” David replies. “We could be educating the next generation of law enforcement officers.”

  “Hey, I’ve got an idea.” Zack points to the far end of town. “Why don’t you move that cruiser closer in front of the Day Care Center? Open all the doors and let the kids sit in a real-life cop car. It could be a big hit.”

  David’s eyes pop. “Great idea! Thanks, man.”

  He claps Zack on the shoulder and turns away to go do it, but he stops at the last minutes and examines me. “Why don’t you come with me? Once I get the car moved, we can stroll around and see all the displays.”

  I glance back at the candy tables. Zack is up to his elbows in handing out free samples to everyone and answering questions. “I don’t think I should. Zack needs me here.”

  “Go ahead, Mom. Enjoy yourself,” Zack tells me. “I’ve got it covered. You should mingle.”

  David takes hold of my arm. “You heard the man. Come on.”

  He guides me through the crowd toward the cruiser. On the way, I bump into Kyle Davidson with Jonah on a leash for a change. “Margaret!” he hails me. “Isn’t this great? I’ve never seen so much free food in one place.”

  I have to laugh. “Don’t bust a gut, Kyle. Good boy, Jonah.” I scratch the dog behind the ears and he wags his tail. That’s all the reaction anybody can expect out of that dog.

  Kyle shakes hands with David. “How are you, Detective? Good job nabbing Scott Freeman’s killer.”

  “It wasn’t me,” David replies. “It was Margaret.”

  “It was not!” I counter. “You’re the one who faced down an armed killer while I hid behind the chairs. I could never do that.”

  “Well, good job to both of you,” Kyle replies. “You two make a good team. I feel safer with you on the beat.”

  He meanders off into the crowd. David drifts to my side as we continue our way down the block. “I feel safer with you on the beat, too.”

  I jab him with my elbow. “Cut it out! You said yourself I’m not a cop. I’m just a busybody who can’t mind her own business.”

  “Nonsense.” He takes his keys out of his pocket and pops the cruiser door. “I really think you’ve got a knack for detective work.”

  I slide into the passenger seat. “Do you really think so? You’re not just blowing sunshine up the leg of my pants?”

  “I wouldn’t do that. You’re really good at this.” He fires up the engine and swings it around in front of the Day Care Center.

  When we get out, he opens all four doors to reveal the interior. The kids flock closer to take a look.

  “Are you sure this is okay?” I ask. “I don’t think you should leave the car unattended with children sitting inside. What if something happens? You won’t be able to see the displays if you’re stuck here all day.”

  “I don’t have to hang around. Tomlinson will keep an eye on the car for me.”

  He waves behind me and a uniformed police officer hurries over. He takes his place next to the open driver’s door. Kids are already swarming all over the car, pointing at the controls, and talking in excited voices.

  Tomlinson takes up his post and David sidles farther away. He murmurs low into my ear. “That son of yours is a genius.”

  I smile up at him as we migrate off into the crowd. The two men in my life have come to an understanding with each other. It makes me feel even more secure in my future and in myself.

  Everywhere we turn, I meet someone I know. Patty Matthews appears sucking on a lollipop like one of the children. She beams at me with her sparkly eyes. “I’m going to sit in the cop car. I’ve always wanted to do that.”

  “How are you, Patty?” I ask. “Did you get your family emergency straightened out?”

  She stops and frowns at me. “What family emergency?”

  I wave her away. “Never mind. Have a good time, Patty.”

  I watch her hurry away to the cruiser. At least the family emergency was nothing serious. I’m sure she’ll be back at work in the candy store in a day or two.

  “That’s weird,” David remarks. “She doesn’t have any family.”

  I shrug. “It doesn’t matter. She’s living on her own personal planet.”

  “You can say that again,” he mutters.

  Just then, Mary King rushes up to me and grabs my arm. “Margaret! You won’t believe what just happened! I got promoted. I’m a checker at the supermarket. Can you believe that? I had to pass a Math test and my boss ran a background check on me. I passed and I got the job and it’s a full-time position and everything. Can you believe it?”

  She jumps up and down and tears stand on her eyelashes, she’s so happy. I put my arms around her and give her a hug. “Congratulations. I’m so proud of you. I knew you could do it.”

  She takes both my hands and holds me at arm’s length. “I never could have done it without you. You believed in me when no one else did. I never would even have tried if you hadn’t encouraged me.”

  “I’m just happy to help, Mary,” I tell her. “I’m delighted to see you getting on your feet after your mother’s death. There’s nothing you can’t do if you set your mind to it.”

  She sniffs back tears. “I really believe that now. I never would have believed it before. You’ve shown me what life can really be and I’m so grateful to you, Margaret. I’m so happy to have you for a next-door neighbor.”

  She gives me one more hug and bounds off into the crowd more animated than I’ve ever seen her before. She’s really coming to life, now that she doesn’t have her oppressive mother holding her down.

  I turn around to find David studying m
e. “What?”

  “You should run for mayor of this town,” he remarks.

  I swat his arm. “Shut up!”

  “I mean it.” He falls in at my side walking down the street. “Look at you. You’re like the hostess greeting all her guests in this town. Everybody comes to you with their problems and everybody loves you. You’re the fulcrum around which this town revolves.”

  “I am not!” I chide. “I’ve been living here less than four months.”

  “Well, you’ve certainly made an impression on everyone. Everybody knows you and everybody likes you. Who better to run for mayor?”

  “I don’t know everybody,” I point out. “There are plenty of people in this town I still haven’t met.”

  “Like who?” he asks.

  I point to the Day Care Center. “I still haven’t met whoever set that place up. There are lots of people who live on your side of town that I don’t know. Considering how much I work, there are a lot of people I don’t know.”

  “Now you’re just making excuses. You would get to know them.”

  “Besides,” I go on, “Rockshield doesn’t have a mayor. It’s too small.”

  He doesn’t reply, but I can’t help noticing a little smile twitching the corner of his mouth. I turn my attention back to the block party. Zack is holding court down by the candy store. Stacy is up to her eyeballs in customers, and Sabrina is beaming like I’ve never seen her before.

  David’s right about one thing. I get along with everyone I know in this town. Everywhere I go, people are happy to see me. I have something to talk about with all of them. I’m involved in their lives and they’re involved in mine.

  For the first time in my life, I belong somewhere. This is home, and I couldn’t ask for anything more.

  Thanks for Reading

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  About Wendy

  Wendy Meadows is a USA Today bestselling author whose stories showcase witty women sleuths. To date, she has published dozens of books, which include her popular Sweetfern Harbor series, Sweet Peach Bakery series, and Alaska Cozy series, to name a few. She lives in the “Granite State” with her husband, two sons, two mini pig and a lovable Labradoodle.

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