The Honeyed Taste of Deception

by CeeCee James

  They arrived at the diner a few minutes later, with Elise parking outside Wedding Dreams. Elise peeked in the boutique window as they walked past, but didn’t see Sonya.

  The diner was busy with the lunch crowd. Uncle Rozzo stood to the side to take it all in before finally smiling at Catalina.

  “Well, little girl,” he kissed his niece on the head. “Thanks for letting this old man tag along today. I’m off to make a dollar. You coming by later?”

  “Of course, Uncle Rozzo. I’ll be there by seven.”

  His eyes glinted under bushy eyebrows as he smiled with apparent affection. “It’s just not going to be the same without you, little Cat.”

  She giggled. “You know that I haven’t done the trapeze in years.”

  “Maybe tonight, though, eh?” he asked. He laughed as she shook her head. “No? Well, soon you’ll be having kids and we’ll be training those ‘un’s right.” He patted her shoulder and turned his attention to Elise. “You should come visit, too. It’s not likely we’ll be back in these parts for quite some time. I can give you the premier tour.”

  “Oh,” Elise was caught off guard. “You don’t have to do that. But, actually, I think I’d like to. It’s been years since I’ve last been.”

  “What circus have you been to?” His eyes squinted skeptically.

  “The Brandle Circus,” she answered.

  He let out a loud guffaw. “Those cheapskate imitators! You might as well have never been to a circus then. They feed their tigers swill and their patrons not much better. Come tonight to visit the Petrovitsky Family Circus. I’ll have tickets waiting for you at the booth. Just ask for Uncle Rozzo.” He touched the side of his nose and then pointed at her and winked cheerfully.

  Elise couldn’t help but chuckle. He definitely was a charmer! “Okay. Maybe this weekend, if I’m not working too hard.” She nudged Catalina’s arm.

  He gave a wave as he left the diner. Elise watched as, coincidentally, he passed by Brad outside on the sidewalk.

  Brad’s eyes flickered when he saw Uncle Rozzo, and his mouth was drawn as he walked into the coffee shop. It relaxed into a grin at Elise’s wave.

  “Hey sweetie!” She hurried over to give him a hug. Mmm, he smelled like fresh air and cedar. “We have to eat quick because we have an appointment.” She beckoned to Catalina. “This is my new friend and bride-to be, Catalina. And, this is my boyfriend, Brad.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Brad gave the petite blonde an easy smile.

  As usual, she gushed with enthusiasm, “It’s so nice to meet you. Any friend of Elise’s is a friend of mine! And you just missed my Uncle Rozzo!”

  He raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

  “Yes,” she giggled. “You just passed him on the street.”

  Brad jerked his thumb in the direction of the door. “That guy in the blue jacket is your uncle?”

  Catalina nodded. Elise glanced at her watch and tried to gently herd them to the counter to order. They didn’t have a lot of time.

  Brad wasn’t budging. “Interesting. I think I saw him, before. Was that your aunt he was with the other day?”

  Catalina’s smile dropped off and her eyebrows knotted in confusion. “No Aunt. In fact, my uncle doesn’t have a lady friend. He’s been single since,” here she looked up into the sky as though the answer might be up there. “Since I was just learning the tightrope.”

  Brad gave her a shrug. “Maybe that’s just want he wants you to think. Contrary to popular opinion, men can be secretive too.”

  Catalina shook her head firmly before brushing down the ruffled flounce at the hem of her blouse. “Carnies aren’t secretive.” She caught the snort from Brad and amended, “Not among ourselves, we aren’t. We’re all a big family, whether we’re related or not. Besides,” she grinned wickedly, “there’s the gossip train. And trust me, if Uncle Rozzo were seeing anyone, that’d be all over the gossip train.” She lifted her arm as though pulling a rope and sang out, “Toot, toot!”

  Elise laughed despite herself. This girl was a trip. “You don’t think there’s anyway he could be seeing someone on the side?” And then to Brad, “Tell me about her.”

  “She had dark hair, cut to about here,” he demonstrated with his hand to the base of his neck, “Short,” his eyes flashed mischievously. “Cute,” He laughed and raised his hands to fend off Elise’s punch. “Not as cute as you, though.”

  “Short hair?” Catalina interrupted. She bit her lip and looked down.

  “Yeah.” The joking tone drained out of his voice at her reaction. “You know her?”

  Catalina crossed her arms and shook her head in the negative. But her bubbly nature was squashed. As if to emphasize her contemplative thoughts, she sighed, then pulled out her phone and began to type.

  Elise cleared her throat. “So, should we get something to eat?”

  Brad nodded. “I’m starving.”

  “You guys go ahead and order. I’m not hungry anymore.” Still typing, Catalina ignored them both. She spun around on her little heels and walked to the far side of the diner, staring at her phone.

  “Well, thank you for that,” Elise rolled her eyes at Brad. “As if it isn’t hard enough to help a crazed woman find a dress that makes her feel good. I thought I was just going to have to do the normal, no that doesn’t make you look fat, comments. But this…” she sighed. “This looks like it’s going to be quite the catalyst for drama.”

  “Hmm. It doesn’t look good, and it definitely sounds like there is more to the story.” He leaned over to kiss her. “I trust you to skulk it out.”

  The manager headed over, attracted by Brad’s uniform. His apron looked like he’d wiped his hands on it after fixing his greasy hair. He had tiny pig eyes and a tight grin. Reaching them, he stretched out his hand. “Hello! Name’s Henry Dory. I’m sorry about this,” he gestured to the busy restaurant. “My cook quit, too, and with Emily Rose gone, we’ve been short-staffed. Have a Craigslist ad out, but in the meantime,” he shrugged.

  Elise’s ears perked up at the mention of Craigslist and she eyed his height. The news had stated the other night that one of the Bandits was a tall male. That didn’t jive with her idea of the robber being a fancy dressed lady who wore sparkling heels, but she wasn’t ready to give that idea up.

  Behind the manager, she noticed eight or ten framed photos hanging on the wall, each with a plaque underneath. The photo closest to her held the title of employee of winter season, along with the name Emily Rose. Elise leaned closer to study the woman’s features.

  The waitress was slight with high cheekbones, but otherwise rather unremarkable. Elise could have passed her a hundred times in town and not remembered who she was.

  “Can you tell me a little about her?” Brad asked.

  More people came into the restaurant and waited to be seated. The noise grew with loud conversation and laughter.

  “Not a lot to tell.” Henry’s face flushed and he glanced nervously at the growing crowd. “She was a hard worker, great attitude. Single.” He licked his bottom lip at the mention of her being single and Elise shivered.

  “Did she give any notification that she was leaving?”

  Henry shook his head. “No, none at all. We’d closed together the night before, and she’d seemed fine.”

  “How was she the day she left? Did she appear nervous? Anxious?”

  Again, Henry shook his head.

  From the corner by the entrance came a squeak. Catalina’s eyes were squeezed tight and her shoulders shook.

  Elise sighed, realizing she had to forgo the rest of Brad’s interview and her lunch. She patted his arm goodbye and cautiously walked over. “You okay, sweetie?”

  Catalina nodded, still biting her bottom lip. Elise wondered how she had any lip left the way she chewed on it. “Come on. Let’s go and make you pretty.” She rested her hand on Catalina’s arm. “Take a deep breath. We’re going to have fun.”

  Catalina gave a shaky, pink-bubblegum lipgloss
smile and tucked her cell phone back in her bra. She nodded. “You’re right. I’m ready.” She entwined her arm though Elise’s. “Where are we going?”

  The two women left the shop and walked over to Elise’s yellow car. Catalina dropped into the front passenger seat with a sigh.

  Elise settled into the driver’s seat and glanced over at the other woman. “So,” she started hesitantly, “I don’t want to pry, but Brad’s news seemed to kind of take you off guard.”

  Catalina looked out the window and chewed on her thumbnail.

  “I just wanted to say, I’m here if you want to talk. Or if you want to forget everything and just have fun, I’m totally down for that, too.”

  Catalina retrieved her phone and checked her messages. Wrinkling her nose, she shoved it back. “It’s nothing. I’m sure she’s just some lady he ran into. Sometimes things can just appear other than what they really are.”

  At the wedding dress shop, Elise swerved the car into the last parking spot with the finesse of threading a needle. What made the parking tight was a white van parked on the line, its side advertising ‘Carson’s Painting—We paint it all’ with a cartoon man covered in blue paint.

  Hogging the space on the other side of the Pinto was a black Lexus, quite an unusual sight around these parts of Angel Lake.

  She’d tried to angle her car so that Catalina had enough room to climb out. It was a tight squeeze for Elise herself, and she found herself sucking in her gut to make it through. “You okay?” Elise called over the top of her car to Catalina.

  “I’m just fine, ducky,” Catalina called back, after shimmying down the side of the car. The two women brushed themselves off and Catalina readjusted her shirt’s flounce. Together, they headed across the parking lot to the strip mall, where BRIDE’S BEST held the most prominent place on the large sign.

  “So, you think they’ll have something for me?” Catalina’s forehead creased with worry and her dark eyelashes fluttered.

  “Of course. That’s why I brought you here.”

  “I need something big. Big. Big.”

  “We’ll find it here.”

  Chapter 11

  They walked into the dress shop and were instantly descended upon by two saleswomen clad in identical, tight pink dresses. At their side was a dog—a very large poodle whose pink fur was shaved to full pom-pom glory. The dog’s nails clicked on the marble floor as she meandered over to check out the newcomers. Elise checked. Nails painted blue.

  “Catalina?” one of the women asked. Her black hair was pulled tight into a smooth chignon at the base of her neck.

  Catalina giggled as usual, before squealing out effusively, “I’m so delighted to be here!” She looked around the room. “It’s just absolutely lovely.”

  The other saleswoman stepped in then, a blonde with a similar chignon. “I’m Allison and this is Simone. And this darling here,” her hand rested on the poodle’s head. “Is Cupcake! We’re going to make you look so beautiful!”

  “Oh hush, now.” Simone sidled up, her glossed lips in a pink pout. “This sweet, young thing is already beautiful.” She flashed a hundred-watt smile. “What we’re going to do is accentuate that beauty.”

  “Make that groom of yours go ga-ga,” Allison intoned with a wink.

  Catalina twirled a nub of a curl around her finger before shivering with excitement. Whatever had happened between the text message and the news about her uncle seemed long forgotten.

  The two women ushered her between pale peach curtains to what could only be described as a dressing room decadent enough for a Queen. White silk damask covered a round couch while beveled floor-to-ceiling mirrors provided the staging area. There was even a white, carpeted, two-step platform for the bride-to-be to stand upon and admire the long train behind her.

  “Now, what are you thinking?” asked Simone as she quickly sized up Catalina with a gaze. Her eyes paused at her waist, hips, and chest as if measuring.

  “Yes. Tell us about your dream dress. Mermaid? Formal? Long train?” the other consultant chipped in. “Where is the wedding being held? Is it important for your arms to be covered? What type of wedding are you having?”

  Sonya’s words echoed in Elise’s head and all she could imagine was a Gypsy wedding dress. Would Catalina ask for pom-poms? Diamond dazzles? Ruffles galore? She held her breath and waited for Catalina’s answer.

  The bride-to-be smiled. “I’d like something that’s a little off the shoulder, and not too fitted,” she patted her stomach area. “Here.” Her cheeks turned slightly pink.

  Both sales associates zeroed in on her stomach. Simone raised an eyebrow. “So you’re saying….”

  “I believe we’ll need to delay the fitting of the dress until the last possible moment,” Allison winked.

  Catalina giggled and hid her face behind her hand shyly. Her eyes sparkled as she caught Elise’s surprised face. “It’s true. Due at the beginning of summer. My own little trapeze artist.”

  Her comment triggered Elise’s memory. “Your uncle knows?”

  With a nod, Catalina answered, “I told you. There aren’t any secrets in the Carny world.”

  “Well, you aren’t the first to come in with that beautiful glow.” Simone clasped her hands together.

  “We know just what to do. You’ll be the most gorgeous bride ever!” Allison agreed.

  “First, do you have a bathroom?” Catalina asked. Elise noticed she was fidgeting a bit from foot to foot.

  “Of course! Right this way,” Simone answered with a gentle nod and beckoned her to follow her.

  While Simone ushered the pregnant woman to the restroom, Allison turned her attention to Elise. With bright eyes, she asked, “Can I get you some coffee?”

  Elise shook her head. No, after all that sugar earlier, what she needed was a sandwich, and STAT. The consultant must have read her mind. “How about a dish of mixed nuts?” she asked with a tip of her blonde head.

  “That would be incredible,” Elise’s stomach growled and she laughed, embarrassed.

  Allison gave an amused smile. “Coming right up.” She sauntered from the dressing room.

  On her way out, Elise caught Allison making a pucker face and refreshing her lipstick in front of the mirror. The consultant smiled at her reflection and checked her teeth, before disappearing into another room, presumably for the snacks.

  Elise spun slowly around to take the space in. There was the wall that was lined with mirrors, while the other wall displayed veils and sparkling tiaras. Elise walked over to check out the crowns, smiling a bit. The tiaras came in all forms, from fully-formed circlets, to combs holding the jeweled headpiece.

  The veils were a variety lengths and styles and hung from several rotating racks. She drew her fingers through the silky fabrics. Gorgeous.

  On the far wall stood shelves filled with shoes, looking much like the closet of a wealthy socialite. Ninety percent were colored cream or white, but the bottom shelf held an assortment of colors.

  Her breath caught in her throat. There it was. The green pair. She hurried over and retrieved one from the rack. Turning it over, she noted the designer’s name stamped into the bottom. Lavina had been right.

  “Aren’t those lovely?” Allison said.

  Elise jumped at the sound of the consultant’s voice and spun around, somehow feeling guilty about the heel in her hand.

  “Those are more popular than you’d imagine. You never know when you might need a shamrock slipper. They might just lead you to the end of the rainbow!” Allison laughed at her own joke.

  “You sell a lot of these?”

  “Oh, so many. We’re one of the only ones who keeps them in stock, so we have customers travel from all over to buy them. Stage performers, charity event holders, even politicians. Why, we had the governor’s wife in here just last week.”

  Elise turned the heel over in her hand. “It really is lovely.”

  Allison set the dish of nuts on the coffee table. “Is that color calling to
you?”

  With her toes wiggling inside her sensible ballet flats, Elise could hardly keep a straight face. “No. I’m likely to break my neck wearing these.”

  “Nonsense. With a few lessons, you’ll be walking like a run-way model.” Allison apprised Elise with her critical eye. “In fact, with the right clothes….”

  “One more question.” Elise butted in to head off the consultant’s train of thought. “Do you keep records of the people who bought the shoes?”

  “Why do you ask?”

  “Well, oddly enough, I found one outside a place that had recently been robbed. I was wondering if she’d seen something.”

  Allison raised her nose in the air. “In order to give something like that out we’d need a court order. Some things are just private, and people trust us to respect their privacy.”

  “I’m back and ready to play dress-up!” Catalina called as Simone trailed behind her.

  Allison turned her attention to Catalina, dismissing Elise. Well, that conversation didn’t go well. She scooped up a handful of nuts when something flickered in her peripheral vision. Elise turned to see a slender figure standing outside the boutique’s window.

  It was the tiny shape of a teenage girl, whose hands were cupped to see inside. She caught Elise’s stare and shivered, before drawing back and hurrying away.

  Chapter 12

  T minus 6 on the count-down to Catalina and Cook’s wedding day. Elise padded in her wooly socks and t-shirt into the kitchen. Sonya had texted and said she didn’t need to come in until eleven, since Catalina would be at a fitting for her wedding dress all morning. Having the time to sit and slowly drink her coffee felt like such a luxury.

  Max followed after her, his orange tail swishing. “Are you hungry, buddy?” she asked, already knowing the answer. Max was always hungry, as his hanging belly flap attested. “What’s the vet going to say the next time he sees you? He’s going to say, kitty diet, that’s what.” Max rubbed his cheek up against her leg. “Oh fine, one treat.” She retrieved a treat from the bag and set it on the floor. Then she set about making her own breakfast. “Eggs this morning I think. With lots of salsa. So I can have an excuse to eat bacon.”