I bit into my lower lip. "Jos. I didn't mean to be this late."
She waved her hand dismissively. "After everything you've been through, I couldn't be happier for you. And Mike, too." She put her hands on her hips and examined my face closely. "He asked you again, didn't he?"
"Yes," I sighed.
"Sal, just marry the guy. He loves you, and you love him. What's the problem?"
I tied on an apron and turned my face away. "I'm scared." It was a relief to finally say the words out loud.
"Okay, you had a bad marriage, but that wasn't your fault. The scumbag cheated on you. Mike's the best thing that ever happened to you. Well, besides me, that is."
I grinned. "Smart aleck. Now tell me what the good news is."
Josie's eyes gleamed. "This is huge."
"Well, I know you can't be pregnant again so—" Recognition dawned on me. "Oh my God. Is it what I think it is?"
She reached into her apron pocket and waved an envelope at me. "We've been selected as contestants for Cookie Crusades!"
I screamed and clamped a hand over my mouth. When I realized there was no one else in the building, I started screaming again, and we threw our arms around each other.
Cookie Crusades was a reality baking competition show that played on the Food Network. It was filmed in Orlando, Florida, about forty-five minutes from Tampa, where I'd lived for a time during my now defunct marriage. Four teams of bakers competed for a grand prize of twenty thousand dollars. The money and the prestige would both be terrific for my business.
Interestingly enough, each show featured bakers from either the same state or neighboring ones. More often than not, the people selected knew their competitors.
"Do we know anyone who's going?" I asked. "This is so incredible."
Josie shook her head. "I didn't see any names I recognized. After the letter came by priority mail this morning, I went to their website and checked. They posted the contestants' names yesterday. I wish I'd remembered to check then. Anyhow, one bakery is from Albany, another from Jersey, and the third from Vermont. No worries. We'll kick butt."
"Wow," I breathed. "So when do we have to be there?"
"Wednesday afternoon," Josie said. "Rob's mom is going to take care of the kids while he's working. The competition is Thursday, which means we can fly back on Friday."
As much as I was thrilled, I hated the idea of leaving Mike and doubted he'd be able to come with me. He had so much construction work waiting that he could barely keep up.
Josie folded her arms. "I know that look. Don't worry. Lover boy will be fine while you're gone."
"I was thinking how much we could both use a vacation. Gosh, Florida sounds good right about now."
"It'll be your first time back since the divorce," Josie said.
I shrugged. "No biggie. It's not like I'm going to run into Colin. Tampa's at least a half-hour drive from there."
Josie's face was wistful. "I wish I could afford to take the kids to Disney World."
"When they're older, and you can stay longer," I assured her. "You want them all to remember the experience. The baby's too little anyhow."
"I'm so excited! We've got to think about what recipes to use. And that definitely means we have to hire someone today. I hope this woman works out. She was the only one to apply."
I frowned. "And leave a new employee in charge while we're gone? I'm not sure I'm comfortable with that, Jos."
"Maybe we'll have to close down for a couple of days. We can figure out something. There's no way we can afford to pass up this opportunity though."
There were some fortune cookies cooling on parchment paper that Josie had made earlier. She handed me the tray. "Put these in the case for me, will you?"
I grabbed the tray and placed it on top of the display case while I reached for a piece of waxed paper to move them into the case with. I placed the cookies in the case two at a time. The last one slipped and fell out of my hand, smashing open on the floor. "Shoot."
As I reached down to pick up the shattered cookie, the fortune stared me right in the face.
Beware of coming events that cast their shadows beforehand.
"Wow, these messages just get weirder and weirder."
"What'd you say?" Josie called out.
"Nothing," I yelled back and reached down to straighten the contents of the case. Although Josie made the cookies from scratch, we bought the fortunes by the bagful from a novelty shop.
The bells over the door announced that we had another customer. The storm was getting worse, and I was surprised people were still coming out in it.
"Be with you in a sec," I said without looking up.
"That's okay, Sal. I've got all day."
I froze at the sound of the familiar, deep voice. No. It can't be. The hairs rose on the back of my neck, and my stomach muscles contracted into a giant knot. Slowly I raised my head and found myself staring into dark, brooding eyes. Eyes that were cold and angry as they met mine.
Colin.
CHAPTER TWO
It had been over a year since I'd last seen my ex-husband. When I'd first filed for divorce, he'd tried to force his way into the apartment I'd been sharing with a coworker. Probably the smartest thing on my part would have been to leave the state entirely and go home after I'd discovered his infidelity, but I'd been too ashamed to share the story with my family at first.
The past year had not been kind to Colin. His dark eyes were too large in a gaunt face, and his once healthy, ruddy complexion was sallow. Brown hair that he'd always kept short and well-trimmed was now long and held back in a ratty ponytail. He'd probably lost at least fifteen pounds. For someone who'd never been overweight, the change was significant.
I swallowed hard and tried to calm the anxiety rising within me. It was ridiculous to experience fear when I'd once loved this man. We'd dated for five years and been married for an additional five. The first year or so of marriage had been happy, and then, like Jack and Jill, everything tumbled downhill. As I stared into eyes I had once known so well, one thing was for certain—this was not the same man anymore.
"What are you doing here?"
His eyes swept over my body, and he gave me a slight smirk. "Looking good, Sal. I was hoping I'd find you here. You never answer your damn phone anymore."
A light bulb clicked on in my head. "You were the one who kept calling me from the private number last night and then again this morning."
He smiled. "Correct. Good to find you here and not still at Donovan's. I wasn't in the mood to deal with him and his macho attitude today."
The thought that my ex-husband might be stalking me sent a tremor of fear through my body. Colin had gone to high school with both Mike and me. Back then, I'd always sensed that he'd had a bit of a crush on me, but Colin never acted on it until Mike and I broke up. Those two had never run in the same circle of friends. While both had been popular, especially with girls, Mike had always been somewhat of a loner, while Colin loved to lap up the attention.
I glanced into the back room. Josie was on the phone with her back to me, probably taking an order. I was on my own for the time being.
Colin seemed to guess my thoughts. "Don't worry. I'm not going to try anything. I'm not here to win your undying love back, either." He flicked snow off of his jacket and made a nice mess on my blue-and-white checkered vinyl floor. He turned around to survey the shop with its three little white table and chair sets situated by the front window, adorned with tablecloths my Grandma Rosa had crocheted—two white and one beige. He reached up to touch the silver-framed artwork on my cream-colored walls, leaving a lovely thumbprint next to the frame.
"Nice place. I heard you're doing well."
Uh-oh. The reason for his visit was becoming clear in my mind. Colin wasn't here because of me—it was my shop he was interested in or more specifically, the money it was making.
He tossed his jacket over the back of a chair as if planning to stay a while. "I was beginning to think you were
n't coming in today. Thought you might stay at Donovan's for a nooner."
My lips curled back in distaste. "You're disgusting. I want you to leave. Now."
Colin ignored me and sauntered over to my Keurig, bypassing the new Espresso machine I had recently purchased in favor of a Breakfast Blend K-cup. "Not so fast. We have some unfinished business."
"Don't touch my stuff. And we have nothing that's unfinished. We've been divorced for almost five months. I'm done with you. Forever."
Colin removed his cup of coffee from underneath the machine, took a sip, and walked toward me. My heart thumped wildly against the wall of my chest, but I was determined not to show him any fear.
I sniffed at the air. "You've been drinking."
He shrugged. "What if I have been? I don't see where it concerns you anymore. But this." He extended his arm toward the display case and then in the direction of the tables. "This concerns me."
"What the hell are you doing here?" Josie snapped from the doorway.
Colin took a long swallow of his coffee. "Ah, Mrs. Sullivan. The Wicked Bitch of the East. It's been a long time."
Josie placed her hands on her hips and thrust her chin forward. "Not long enough. Get out. We don't serve scumbags."
Colin laughed and threw his cup in the trash. A few drops of coffee splattered and hit the floor. "Just give me my money, and I'll be on my way."
I drew my eyebrows together in confusion. "What are you talking about? I don't owe you any money."
"Sure you do." Colin ran his hand over the edge of the counter. "Part of this business belongs to me. And I'm here to collect my share."
Josie drew her cell phone out of her pocket. "I swear to God—I'll call the police if you aren't out of here in thirty seconds."
Colin cut his eyes to her. "I'm simply having a conversation with my ex-wife. The same ex-wife I encouraged to open a bakery while we were married." He leered at me. "Don't you remember, doll face? You told me it was your dream to run a business someday. And I said you should open a bakery. Especially since your best wench is so good at baking cookies and stuff like that."
I clenched my fists as my sides. "I'm not giving you one dime. We aren't married anymore, and you don't have a claim to anything. So get out."
He wagged his finger in my face. "Not so fast. I have a lawyer who thinks I stand a good chance at getting half of this business."
I locked eyes with Josie, who stood frozen with her mouth hanging wide open. "You're only trying to scare us," I said.
He reached into his trouser pocket and handed me a card that read James Latham, attorney-at-law. "Call him and ask if you don't believe me."
The bells over the door jingled, and Colin's younger brother, Kyle, walked in. While the two brothers were similar looking with their dark hair and piercing brown eyes, Kyle was quite a bit larger in size than his brother. He was also three years younger than Colin, making him the same age as my sister, Gianna. They'd been friends in high school.
He nodded to us curtly. "Hi, Sally. Josie."
"Hey," I said. "I hope you've come to escort him out."
Kyle looked faintly embarrassed. "Sorry. I told him not to come here. He's freaking wasted. He got into town last night and is staying at some fleabag motel because no one wants him in their house."
Compared to his solid brother, Colin looked like a good stiff breeze might blow him away. He glared at Kyle. "Don't tell this bitch anything. It's none of her business what I do anymore. She ruined my life."
I sucked in a sharp breath. "I ruined your life? I worked almost sixty hours a week at Starbucks while you couldn't hold a job and screwed around with other women. So please explain how I ruined your life?" Tears stung my eyes as they always did when I got emotional or angry. This situation involved a little of both.
Josie put her arm around me. "Who the hell do you think you are to talk to her like that? She was the best thing that ever happened to you."
"Wait for me in the car," Colin barked at his brother. "I'm almost finished here."
Kyle looked from him to us with a question in his eyes.
"It's okay," I said. "We'll be fine."
Kyle shrugged and turned on his heel. He pushed the door open with great force as a gust of blinding wind and snow spiraled into the shop.
I squared my shoulders against Colin. I was tired of this man trying to manipulate my life. He was sinking into a bottomless black pit, and I'd be darned if I would let him drag me down with him. I'd been down that road before while we were married and was never taking that detour again.
"You need to leave." I folded my arms across my chest. "I have nothing to say to you anymore."
"All right. I'm going to cut you a deal. You give me twenty grand, and I'll sign my rights away to your business."
"You have no rights," Josie snapped. "You're nothing but a loser."
Colin narrowed his eyes at her. "This is none of your concern. It's between me and my wife."
"Ex-wife," I shot back.
"Whatever. The fact remains that Latham says I have a case. We were married when you thought of the business, and I was the one who gave you the idea. And now that you've recently bought the building, I might have a claim to that, too."
I was thunderstruck. I'd been renting the place with an option to buy but last month had gone ahead and taken out a mortgage on the building. How in the world did my ex-husband find out?
Colin went on. "I'll be back tomorrow. Unless you want me taking you to court, I suggest you come up with twenty Gs and fast." He reached for his jacket and then turned around, sizing me up again. "I should have known you'd go running back to that jerk Donovan first chance you got. He always did have some kind of magical hold on you. Maybe, for all I know, you were cheating on me with him during our marriage. That could put a whole different spin on my case."
The bells jingled merrily in the wind as he departed. I continued to stare after him in silence, wondering what I ever saw in that man.
I had no time to even attempt to digest the situation. Josie and I had just retreated to the back room to discuss my ex's antics when the bells were set in motion again. We peered out of the doorway to see a woman of about forty standing there, stomping snow off her boots, and shedding her coat and gloves.
Josie whispered in my ear. "This must be our prospective employee. Are you still up to interviewing her?"
"Of course," I lied and grabbed a notepad and pen off the block table. I tried to shove the unpleasant meeting with my ex to the back of my head and focus on the task at hand. My hands were shaking, and Josie noticed.
"Sal—"
I shook my head. "This will be a good diversion."
We walked out of the back room together.
"Hi." I smiled at the woman. "Can we help you?"
"I'm Sarah Fredericks. I have an appointment with Sally about the job."
"That would be me." I extended my hand. Despite the gloves she'd worn, her hands were cold and frail to the touch. "Please sit down."
Sarah had shoulder-length, blonde hair with some premature gray mixed in. Somber, brown eyes were set in a pale, well-lined face that suggested her life may not have been an easy one. She sat down at the middle table by the front window.
This was awkward for me. I had never attempted to hire anyone before and didn't have a clue as to what I was doing. I was also afraid I might ask something that was not deemed permissible.
"Can I get you a cup of coffee?" I sat across from her, with Josie in the chair between us.
"No, thank you." Sarah looked uneasily out the window at the snow that was now descending from the sky at a heavier rate.
"Something wrong?" Josie asked.
Sarah shifted in her seat. "I'm a little worried my daughter's school might call and say they're being let out early because of the storm. I may have to leave if that happens." Her face colored slightly. "I'm a single mom, and I don't have anyone else to take care of her."
My heart went out to her. "Don't worry. We'
ll talk fast."
I couldn't help but wonder how she planned to take a new job if she had no one to rely on for babysitting. Josie and I were searching for someone to work alternate shifts so that we didn't have to stay until seven o'clock every night and could perhaps come in late one or two mornings a week. I wasn't sure how this situation was going to pan out and tried to decide how to casually broach the subject.
Josie seemed to have no trouble. "Sarah, how would you manage the job during school and summer vacations? We need someone we can depend on."
Sarah's eyes darted from Josie's face to mine. "Julie goes to camp during the summer for a few weeks. I was hoping maybe I could bring her with me sometimes. She's such a good child. You wouldn't even know she was here."
"Uh-huh." Josie narrowed her eyes. I knew that look well. My best friend had four boys—all under the age of ten. The words good child did not exist in her vocabulary.
I cleared my throat. "How old is she, Sarah?"
She smiled and produced a picture from her wallet. "Julie's eight. Isn't she beautiful?"
I took the picture between my hands and examined the photo of the lovely little girl with curly, blonde hair and dark-blue eyes that reminded me of Mike's. I sighed. Children were something I had always longed for. My ex-husband had made it clear from the beginning that kids were out of the question. I should have known then that it was a mistake to marry him, but I had been young and foolish and convinced I could get him to change his mind eventually. After seeing him earlier, the memories kept flooding back.
Ever the opposite of Colin, Mike couldn't wait to start a family, and we'd had several discussions about the topic as of late. Given how old-school my father was, my head told me to wait until we were married. My heart was another matter though.
Focus, Sal, focus. "She's absolutely beautiful." I handed the photo to Josie.
Smiling, Sarah leaned forward eagerly. "Do you two have any kids?"
I shook my head. "Not yet. Josie does though."
Sarah seemed to feel this was a topic that might win Josie over. "How many do you have?"
Baked to Death (Cookies & Chance Mysteries Book 2) Page 2