Fireworks and Waffles (The Diner of the Dead Series Book 18)

by Carolyn Q. Hunter

  “You can and will ride it alone,” she stood her ground.

  He let out a little laugh, shaking his head like he had heard some joke no one else was in on. “Oh, I see what it is. Very well, my sweet. I’ll give you an increase on your allowance this month. How does that sound?”

  She bobbed her head, the large sunhat waving in the air. “That sounds perfect, but I’m still not getting on that thing. It looks like a death trap.”

  “Dear, I can assure you this thing is completely safe.” He looked over at Carol with a raised eyebrow.

  Carol nodded a yes in response.

  “See?”

  “No, Hoss. The answer is no.” Turning on a dime, Tina sauntered off, waving her hips triumphantly with each step.

  “Tina,” he shouted after her.

  “Looks like her mind is made up,” Sonja commented, more to herself than anyone else.

  Unfortunately, Mr. Trivilli heard her comment and turned toward her with a raised eyebrow and a scowl of a mouth. “Ms. Reed, I intend to stop by your restaurant before the parade begins, and I better like what I see.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Whatever waffle you came up with better be leaps and bounds better than my hot dog idea. If not, you’ll be sorry.” Turning triumphantly, like he’d just won some great battle, he walked away with a sickening sneer on his face.

  “I can’t believe that’s the man in charge of our parade,” Frank whispered as he watched him go.

  CHAPTER 4

  * * *

  “Well, at least you don’t have to work with him like I do,” Frank comforted his girlfriend while she accompanied him to inspect the last of the floats. “Since the police are always in charge of safety measures at these events, we’re stuck dealing with people like him as well.” At the moment, they were looking at one made by the local dog and cat shelter. Papier Mache animals adorned the sides, looking happy and playful.

  Sonja thought of her own cat, Misty, who spent all his days lounging about the small guest house where she lived. Occasionally, the little ghost cat would follow her out and about, but not often.

  “I’m sorry that you have to work with him,” she told her boyfriend.

  “It’s not really a big deal. It’s not like I’m in the same office or anything.”

  “That’s true, I guess.” She stepped up on the float to get a better look at the displays. There were two kennels on board, and she assumed that they would be carrying animals during the parade. “It doesn’t seem like anyone really likes him.”

  “Can you blame them? The man’s a control freak.”

  She stepped up to one of the oversized cats and touched it on its head. “It’s probably partially why he got that job. He is over confident and knows how to command a situation.”

  “He enjoys having control and power. I wouldn’t be surprised if he runs for political office in the future. He’s got the attitude of a politician.” Frank knelt near the engine to double check there wasn’t any oil leaking out or other similar warning signs.

  “I’m sure not all politicians are like that.”

  “They’re not,” he agreed. “Some are fantastic, hardworking people, who really have the interest of the citizens in mind. Unfortunately, there are plenty of control freaks out there as well.”

  “Heck, it doesn’t even seem like his wife likes him,” Sonja pointed out.

  “She’s a trophy wife, pure and simple,” Frank stated, standing up and walking around to the backside of the float.

  “I could tell that right away.”

  “She, just like him, enjoys the power of being married to money.”

  “Is he rich?” Sonja asked, remembering Mr. Trivilli’s offer to raise her allowance. Just the thought of it made her sick to her stomach. It hardly sounded like a true partnership such as marriage should be. Instead, it sounded more like a parent-child relationship, where money and bribes happened to be the main factor. “What did he do before he got this job?”

  “I believe he owns shares in multiple electronics companies.”

  “Wow.”

  “Looks like we’re done with this one.” He turned and looked toward the next float, this one belonging to The Lucky Leprechaun novelty shop. The whole thing was covered in little gnomes, leprechauns, fairies, and elves, all romping in a woodland scene. The shop’s owner, Pan, and her niece Cass stood nearby. Sonja smiled and waved at them from where she stood atop the shelter’s float.

  Cass, who was a regular at Sonja’s board game nights on Fridays, smiled and waved back. Tapping her aunt, Cass got Pan to wave as well.

  Sonja smiled at them when suddenly she spotted someone else she recognized milling around with the other people in the parking lot among the floats.

  It was her friend Belinda Smith. Belinda was a local volunteer librarian and had a vast knowledge of the occult—something that Sonja had relied on multiple times when facing a new or unknown supernatural force.

  Last time she’d tried to see her friend, however, Belinda had been out of town on a camping trip. Sonja suspected it was more than a camping trip but figured it was none of her business.

  She wondered if there was a library float that was going to be in the parade that day.

  Hopping down, she ran over to say hello.

  She hadn’t seen her friend in about a week and was eager to talk about the strange gift that had been left for her at the diner.

  “Belinda,” Sonja shouted. “Belinda, over here.”

  The raven-haired librarian turned slightly and caught Sonja out of the corner of her eye. Then something strange happened. Instead of turning and saying hello, giving that warm smile she always had, her face twisted up in a sneer.

  Quick as a rabbit, Belinda had turned away, running off and disappearing into the trees beside the parking lot.

  Sonja stopped running, feeling confused. “What the heck? What was that all about?”

  * * *

  Saying goodbye to Frank, and not bringing up Belinda’s strange behavior, Sonja headed back down the road toward the diner. She didn’t want to think about her friend, but couldn’t help it. Belinda had always been a little strange, like a bit of a town outcast, but never had she shown a mean face to anyone.

  It just didn’t make any sense. Had Sonja done something to offend her? Did she take advantage of her friend too much, only showing up when she needed something?

  Instantly, Sonja began to regret her behavior with Belinda.

  Upon reaching the tables in the parking lot, Alison recognized something was up.

  “What’s wrong? Did you and Frank have a fight or something?” Ally was arranging the waffle irons on the table in front of her, preparing for the waves of people who would show up before the parade began to have some breakfast.

  “No, nothing like that.”

  “Then what is it?”

  “I saw Belinda just now, but when I said hello, she sort of sneered at me and walked off. I don’t know what I did wrong.”

  “Maybe she didn’t see you?”

  “She did, though. She looked right at me.”

  At this, Ally only shrugged. “Well, you know, she’s always been a little odd and unpredictable.”

  “Not like this,” Sonja argued.

  Sighing in her own concern, Ally agreed. “I may not know her like you, but I’m sure you’re right. Maybe try stopping by her house or the library later and see what’s up?”

  Sitting down in the white lawn chair behind the table, Sonja pulled her red hair back into a ponytail. “You’re right. It’s probably nothing. I’ll just go talk to her later.”

  “Good for you,” Ally encouraged her.

  “Do we have the coffee going? We’re going to have people showing up and wanting their morning fix any minute now.”

  “Way ahead of you.” Walking over, she lifted the pot which they had plugged into the extension cord. It was hot and ready for customers.

  “Perfect.”

  “It looks like your first
customer is on their way now,” Alex chimed in, walking over with little Cynthia in his arms. Alison’s husband, in addition to helping at the diner occasionally, had turned into a regular stay at home dad, and he was phenomenal at it. However, it was clear he was happy to get out now and again.

  Glancing out at the woman approaching the table, Sonja instantly recognized the secretary from Mr. Trivilli’s office. She had a clear look of distress on her face, her once pinned hair now slightly disheveled and hanging in her face.

  “How much for a cup of coffee?” she gasped as if she were out of breath.

  “For you, free,” Sonja offered, standing up and grabbing a foam coffee cup and filling it with the black liquid. “Cream or sugar?”

  “Just black, please,” the secretary said.

  Sonja added a lid and handed the cup over.

  “Thank you so much.” She took the cup with eager shaking hands and took a drink.

  “You’re Mr. Trivilli’s secretary, right?” Sonja asked.

  She nodded, still drinking from the cup. “Oh, that’s good. Thank you so much.”

  “Anything else we can do for you?”

  “Not unless you can get Mr. Trivilli out of my hair.” As if suddenly realizing her messed up hairdo, she brushed the strand of hair back and over her head. “He’s been a complete nightmare this morning. Mrs. Trivilli refuses to get on the float with him.”

  “I heard,” Sonja admitted.

  “I never had to deal with this when I was living in Denver,” she grumbled.

  “You used to live in Denver?”

  “I met Mr. Trivilli at a political conference and celebration last year on the Fourth. He singled me out and asked me to be his personal secretary. The pay was good and I’ve always wanted to live in a small town, so I came along.” She took another long swig from the coffee cup, closing her eyes and savoring every little drop. “Anyway, it doesn’t seem like Mrs. Trivilli will change her mind and Hoss is furious.”

  “He takes it out on you by running you ragged?” Ally asked, completely shocked and offended by the display of pigheadedness by Trivilli.

  “I’m afraid it comes with the territory of my job.” Taking another drink, she almost finished the cup

  Sonja scowled at this comment. “It shouldn’t come with the territory. It’s completely unfair.” The idea that any woman should just expect to put up with such entitled behavior was absurd.

  “It isn’t his fault, you know,” the secretary admitted.

  Both Sonja and Ally let their jaws drop open.

  “If only that wife of his would just listen to reason. I mean, it isn’t very fair of her to put him on the spot like this.”

  “If she feels unsafe getting on the float, I can hardly blame her,” Sonja commented.

  “I just know that I would do it if I were her,” the secretary said.

  “You’re serious?” Ally asked.

  “Of course. For the benefit of today’s celebration, and Mr. Trivilli’s image, I think it would be for the best. But Tina doesn’t seem to care.”

  The two diner owners looked at each other with wide shocked eyes. Mr. Trivilli needed more than a trophy wife to help his image. His overbearing and micromanaging attitude with every business along the parade route was enough to tarnish anyone’s reputation.

  “Anyway, you two have been angels. Thanks for the coffee.” Raising her cup as if she were toasting, she walked off.

  “Well, what do you think of that?” Alison groaned quietly.

  “I guess in order to work for a man like that, you do sort of have to adopt a certain attitude,” Sonja deduced.

  CHAPTER 5

  * * *

  By nine-thirty the streets were swarming with families and other town residents looking to enjoy the yearly patriotic celebration. A bandstand situated in the park a few blocks down held the local high school orchestra that was playing all sorts of classic American music. It seemed to carry for miles.

  Everyone who had stopped by at the diner’s tables were excited about the new seasonal dish—the Red, White, and Blue Waffle. Especially seeing as it was the Fourth of July, the waffle was extremely popular and Ally and Sonja had been going crazy preparing the dish.

  Much to Sonja’s relief, Mr. Trivilli had never stopped by to inspect the new waffle. He clearly had been pre-occupied with the argument with his wife. It was no skin off Sonja’s nose and she hoped that Trivilli kept his darn fingers out of her business for good.

  “Another Red, White, and Blue Waffle,” Ally called down the line.

  “On it,” Sonja shouted back. “Give them a free cup of coffee while they wait.”

  “Got it.” Ally grabbed a cup and began to pour.

  Sonja dove right into the familiar process of cooking the recipe. Scooping out a fresh helping of the classic waffle batter that had made them so popular, Sonja poured it into the iron where it sizzled musically before she closed the top. Opening the cooler again, she pulled out the chilled berries she had in there. Included in the mix she had prepared the night before were red raspberries, both red and white strawberries, and blueberries.

  She had mixed the berries in a container with fresh honey from local beekeepers and a pinch of cinnamon and nutmeg and let them marinate in their juices overnight. Now there was a thick layer of caramelized sugar on all of them, creating a unique syrup to accompany the delicious waffle.

  The waffle iron dinged, indicating it was done. Sonja opened it up and scooped the dark, crispy breakfast dish onto a plate.

  No matter how many waffles she cooked, she never got sick of that aromatic smell of freshly cooked batter.

  Scooping out a healthy amount of the berry mixture, she placed them on top of the waffle along with a little extra syrup for good measure. Next, she scooped a large dollop of whipped cream—freshly mixed that morning—and topped the berries.

  The final touch was sprinkles. They were red, white, and blue stars she had special ordered online. Adding an aesthetically pleasing amount to give her dish just the right amount of patriotic spirit, she passed the waffle over to the eagerly waiting customer.

  He accepted it excitedly, grabbing a fork and digging in before he’d even finished walking back to the lawn chair he’d set up for that morning.

  “This may be our most popular seasonal waffle yet. People are buying them up like hotcakes,” Alison said excitedly.

  “Better than hotcakes. They’re selling like waffles,” she joked.

  A sudden fanfare of trumpets echoed on the air.

  “It sounds like they’re about to start the parade,” Ally exclaimed. She ran over to where Alex and Cynthia had set up a few lawn chairs

  Sonja took a seat in the chair behind the table, content to watch the parade from back there.

  In a matter of only a few minutes, the floats were on their way past The Waffle Diner and Eatery.

  First came the high school marching band. They all wore the school’s colors of orange, black, and silver, lifting their knees high as they played and walked through.

  Sonja was quietly surprised by the quality of the band.

  Next came the library float. It had large stacks of books creating an archway that had the words “Road to Adventure” printed across the top. The library director stood there with two other librarians, waving at everyone.

  Two others were walking beside the float, handing out fliers for the yearly Summer Reading Program to kids in the crowd.

  Belinda was not among the participants.

  Next came the animal shelter float, with multiple cats and dogs on board—either being held by volunteers or inside kennels. Signs indicated that every one of these pets were up for adoption. For a moment, Sonja wondered how her ghostly pet, Misty, would react to having a living cat in the house.

  Her thoughts were interrupted when she heard the excited shouts of Mr. Trivilli coming their way, riding the float of fireworks. He was calling hellos to everyone from the top of the moving platform, waving a bright sparkler around i
n one hand.

  He was alone up there, meaning that Tina had gotten her way. This didn’t surprise Sonja.

  Occasionally, he would throw out little bags of candies to people on the sidelines, telling them that he looked forward to seeing them at the fireworks show that night. He was charismatic and likable when he was in a public situation like this.

  It was no wonder he got the event planning job with the city. It was just a shame that he was overbearing and micromanaging in the background.

  Sonja sighed, shaking her head when a strange noise caught her attention.

  There was a loud, low, metallic click—barely audible above the sound of the band, the cheering fans, and the grumble of the float engines. Instantly, she felt sick to her stomach, knowing that something was wrong.

  Standing up, she prepared to shout at Mr. Trivilli to get off the float right away.

  She was too late.

  In one blinding, all-encompassing flash, the float burst into a thousand sparks and explosions. The boom that resonated through the street was deafening, drowning out every other hint of noise around. Colorful fireworks shot upwards from the float and into the sky, letting off more booms and cracks.

  At first, people were shouting and applauding the display, thinking it was just an elaborate Fourth of July preview for what else was to come. But once they all began to realize that Mr. Trivilli had disappeared in the explosion, the tone over the crowd changed.

  People were screaming, moving away from the float as the paper casing on the displays caught in the blaze. Luckily, all the sparks and fire seemed to be directed upward instead of out. No one on the sidelines appeared to have been put in any serious danger from the blast.

  Mr. Trivilli, however, had disappeared into the oblivion of fire and colorful light, as if he’d never even been there in the first place.

  “Oh my gosh,” Sonja whispered, watching the fire engulf the float and reach up with mammoth flames toward the sky.

  CHAPTER 6