by Holly Plum
Bridget cried harder.
“Bridget thinks that someone was in her room,” Willow explained.
“Housekeeping?” Sara Beth went on. Maya shot her a harsh look, warning her not to push it.
“No, not housekeeping. I came back from getting a drink and…” Bridget sobbed. “…and the blankets had been ripped off of the bed, and the lamp had been turned on. My suitcase was a mess. Housekeeping wouldn't do that! No, someone broke into my room. What if I had been in there?"
Willow made soothing sounds for her sister, rubbing her back gently.
Joy moved past the group and looked inside Bridget's room. The bed was messy, but nothing else seemed out of place. She walked over to the window, glancing around the room as she went. Aside from Bridget's suitcase, the room looked identical to the room Joy was sharing with Sara Beth. Joy pulled back the curtains to make sure there was no one lurking behind the shades. She was met with a crash of lightning and howling wind banging against the glass. Joy quickly re-joined the women in the hall.
“Those doors have a double-lock on the inside, so you should be safe once you're inside,” Sara Beth suggested.
“Should be safe isn't enough," Bridget protested. "I'm getting married in a week. I don't want something awful to happen before then. You saw what happened in the ballroom today."
“Calm down, Bridget,” Maya insisted. “You're just stressed out because the bridal shower didn't go according to plan.”
“Didn't go according to plan? Maya, everything is terrible. I can't even talk to my fiancé because the phones here aren't working. This is the worst day of my life!” Bridget threw her hands up in surrender.
Willow stepped up and took Bridget's hands. “Listen to me; everything is going to be fine if you just take a breath and...”
“Why isn't anyone taking this seriously?" Bridget cut in. "I feel like I'm losing my mind.” Bridget yelled, almost screaming.
A door further down the hall opened, and Maple McWayne poked her head out. When she saw that it was the bride-to-be causing all the commotion, Maple joined the pack of women outside Bridget's room.
“What's going on here?" Maple said. "Oh, you poor thing. You shouldn't be stressing yourself out like this." Maple cooed at Bridget. Bridget wiped her tears and sniffled.
“Thank you for caring,” Bridget responded to Maple.
“What's the matter, dear?” Maple said attentively.
Joy rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe that Maple was swooping in to win favor from Bridget when the bride-to-be was having an emotional breakdown. Bridget told Maple the whole story of the break-in and how terrified she was to sleep in her room.
“Oh, take mine,” Maple immediately suggested.
“Are you sure?” Bridget asked.
“What?” Joy nearly shouted. She couldn't believe it.
“Let's switch rooms, Bridget. It's no problem at all. Lenny and I will pack up our things and switch with you. That way you can feel safe and get a good night's sleep. After everything that has happened to you today, you deserve to rest.”
Bridget threw her arms around Maple and hugged her tightly.
“Oh!” Maple laughed. "It's nothing, dear girl."
Sara Beth put a hand on Joy's shoulder, keeping her temper grounded. Joy opened her mouth to protest, but Sara Beth dragged her back into their room.
“I don't think so,” Sara Beth said as Joy lunged for the door.
“But –”
“Just leave it be,” Sara Beth interrupted.
“At this rate, Maple is going to get Bridget as a client," Joy argued. "I can't let that happen. I can't let her steal business from right under my nose like that."
“The day isn't over yet.” Sara Beth locked the door from the inside, put the keycard in her robe, and relaxed on the bed. She handed Joy something from the mini bar. "We might be here a while."
CHAPTER SIX
Sara Beth kept Joy under lock and key. Or rather, lock and keycard. The southern belle lay back on the bed, sipping sweet tea and eating roasted nuts as she touched the keycard in the pocket of her robe. Joy paced back and forth around the room, snacking on a bag of pretzels. Her ramblings about Maple were punctuated by crashes of thunder and the constant rumble of rain against the glass. Joy felt like the wind outside was whirring inside her mind. She couldn't stop thinking about how Maple had won over Bridget so easily.
Patty Cakes Bake Shop wasn't in trouble, but it was close. Joy needed every big catering gig she could get. The Sugar Room, on the other hand, was a pet project of Maple McWayne's. She came from a wealthy family, was married to a very successful businessman. Maple had the funds to do whatever she wanted. And to make it even worse, if The Sugar Room failed then Maple could close up shop and go on living her life quite happily. Joy didn't have that privilege. Patty Cakes Bake Shop was all she had to show for herself. The bakery was all she had left of her mother's memory.
The storm, the potential murder, and the involvement of Maple McWayne had set off Joy's emotions. She paced back and forth, her bare feet sinking into the plush hotel carpet with each step. The howling winds ramped up her anxiety, and she began talking about how Maple was out to get her.
“If you have low blood sugar, there are snacks over there,” Sara Beth announced, pointing to the minibar.
Joy stopped momentarily to go through her options. A snack would keep her mouth busy. She chose a spicy trail mix. Sara Beth enjoyed the few moments of silence as Joy shoveled spiced nuts into her mouth. Joy grabbed a beverage to wash down her food and quickly returned to talking about Maple.
“Soda? Do you really think caffeine is what you need right now?" Sara Beth sighed.
“What are you saying?” Joy looked at her with huge, wild eyes. Joy resembled her cat Cheesecake when he got hyperactive under the full moon.
“You're acting like a crazy person," Sara Beth said. "Maple did something uncharacteristically nice, and it worked. That doesn't mean Bridget is going to choose The Sugar Room.”
“She planned this," Joy continued theorizing. "Maple planned this whole thing because she knew she couldn't win fair and square. I bet she is the one who broke into Bridget's hotel room so that she could save the day."
Sara Beth groaned and leaned back against the bed, closing her eyes. Joy's ranting was just as bad as the hurricane whirling around outside.
"See what I mean," Sara Beth mumbled. "Crazy talk."
“She had to have done it. Maple's timing was just about perfect, wasn't it? Entering the conversation at the right moment. Why didn't I think to offer Bridget our room?” Joy tried to sort through her thoughts. She hated the way Maple got under her skin.
“I'm glad you didn't,” Sara Beth mentioned.
“We need to come up with a plan to sway Bridget in our direction,” Joy responded.
"How about we let her try a piece of our cake so she can see for herself that it tastes much better?" Sara Beth added.
Joy's stomach grumbled as loudly as the thunder.
“That's it." Joy ignored her assistant's simple suggestion. "We'll cook her an elaborate five-course meal. She has got to be starving right about now. I know I am. Let's go find the kitchen, Sara Beth."
“Joy, I don't think -,” Sara Beth began.
“Come on.” Joy jumped up just as the lights flickered.
The two women looked up at the light fixture. Suddenly, they were overcome with darkness. The power had failed. The mini fridge had stopped humming. The light from the television slowly faded away.
“Joy?” Sara Beth squeaked.
“I'm right here.” Joy sounded sane again, much to Sara Beth's relief.
There was a knock at the door the made Sara Beth let out a loud yelp. Joy placed a hand on her chest. Her heart raced at full speed.
“Who is it?” Joy asked quietly.
A muffled female voice came through the door. Joy pulled out her cell phone and used the light from the screen to unlock and open the door.
Joy found
herself facing another crying woman. In the dim emergency lighting in the hallway, Joy saw that Willow had tears streaming down her face. Her mascara had run, and her eyeliner was streaked across her face.
“Oh my gosh, are you alright?” Joy gasped at the sight.
“No, I'm not. My worst nightmare has come true.” Willow sobbed.
Joy's stomach tied itself in a knot. What else could go wrong?
CHAPTER SEVEN
The emergency lighting in the hallway was dim but bright enough for Joy to see that Willow was genuinely distraught. She could barely get the words out between sobs.
Sara Beth appeared beside Joy. She adjusted her silk robe and ushered Willow into their room. As Willow moved past Joy, the baker saw the shadows of other guests moving up and down the hallway, probably confused about the power outage. Joy closed the door behind her.
Willow sat on the edge of the bed, her head in her hands. Sara Beth dragged a few blankets toward Willow and tried to help her get comfy. She offered her a bottle of water from the mini-fridge.
“What's going on, Willow?” Joy asked softly.
“The worst thing has happened,” Willow croaked. “I lost him. He's gone.”
“Has something else happened in the hotel?” Sara Beth asked.
“Yes, it is horrible,” Willow exclaimed. "I don't know what to do or who to turn to."
Joy's heart beat faster. Had someone broken into Bridget's room again, even after she switched with Maple? Had someone else fallen from the roof?
“It's Charles,” Willow explained.
“Your parrot?” Sara Beth asked, then bit her tongue as she realized how insensitive she sounded.
“Yes, my parrot. He just flew off. He's never done this before, and now I can't find him anywhere.” Willow began crying again.
Joy and Sara Beth exchanged a look of concern, but neither of them had any idea how to comfort Willow. Sara Beth was a dog person, having grown up with a pack of farm hounds on her parent's land in Mississippi. And Joy was a cat person, having found true love in Cheesecake. Neither of them were bird people, but Charles the parrot seemed to be the love of Willow's life.
“He's my best friend,” Willow cried. "I can't believe this happened."
“I'm sure he'll be fine,” Joy said. She didn't sound very convincing since she actually had no idea if the parrot would be fine. Joy was no expert on how birds behaved indoors. She figured that as long as he didn't find his way outside, Charles the parrot would be okay.
“I'm not sure that he'll be fine,” Willow replied defiantly. “What if he goes out into the storm? He was so young when I first rescued him. He has no idea how to take care of himself!”
“I once lost a little pup of mine in a big storm like this,” Sara Beth commented. “He scampered out the door and bolted off into the night. I spent five hours out in the rain looking for him. I almost got blown away, myself.”
"This story better have a happy ending," Joy mumbled.
Willow nodded enthusiastically. “We should go look for Charles.”
“No, no, no, that's not what I'm saying,” Sara Beth said. “When I got back from looking for him, I was drenched and exhausted. I got into bed and found my puppy curled up under the blankets. The little scamp found his way inside somehow, and had been warm and happy right under my nose."
Willow sniffed and nodded slowly, considering Sara Beth's story.
Suddenly there was another knock on the door. Joy rushed to answer it, considering for a moment that she could escape to the kitchen and start making the five-course meal the impress Bridget. But as Joy opened the door, she saw it was too late. Bridget was mid-knock and almost racked her knuckles into Joy's face.
“Joy have you seen Willow?” Bridget said immediately.
“Yes, she's in here -,” Joy began, but Bridget let out a relieved sigh and pushed her aside. Joy propped the door open so that a little light from the hallway illuminated the room.
“Bridget?” Willow sniffed.
“I have been looking everywhere for you. I was worried sick. What is wrong?” Bridget unwrapped the blankets from around her sister. “We have to go; there's something happening downstairs right now, and I don't want to go alone.”
“Charles is missing,” Willow explained.
“Again?”
“What do you mean again?" Willow argued. "He's never left my side.”
“Oh, Willow. Please. That bird disappeared just last week at the dress fitting, and the week before at lunch. He'll be fine. He's just going on one of his little parrot adventures. Come downstairs with me.”
“This time is different,” Willow insisted, snatching the blanket back from Bridget.
“Willow, don't be like this.” Bridget grabbed the blanket back, trying to get her sister to stand up. "I have enough stress in my life right now. I don't need any more from you."
“Charles is not fine!" Willow shouted at her sister.
“Ladies?” a familiar voice asked. A shadow filled the doorway. It took Joy a moment, but she recognized the figure as Susan, the staff member she had met in the ballroom.
“Everyone doing alright in here?” Susan asked, moving into the room and turning on her flashlight. Joy followed the beam of light and took in the scene in front of her. Blankets had been thrown everywhere, and both Bridget and Willow looked like they had been crying for days.
“We're fine,” Joy replied. The hotel employee shrugged and explained that the hotel owner, Mr. Sullivan, had requested all the guests come downstairs for their own safety until the power was restored.
“There will be entertainment and food," Susan added. "Plus, there are more lights down there as well as a police presence if that makes you feel safer.”
As everyone filed out of the room and followed Susan to the stairway, Willow made her way to the front of the group. “Do you have a pet-finding service? My parrot is missing.”
“Actually, the hotel has a no pet policy," Susan responded. "But I'll see what I can do." She smiled kindly at Willow and ushered the group down the dark staircase.
CHAPTER EIGHT
The banquet hall was lit with power from the hotel's backup generators, creating a beautiful ambiance. Two huge, long tables spanned the center of the room. They were decorated with fine white linen tablecloths, gigantic vases of flowers, and delicate china. All of the guests mingled nervously, unsure as to why they had been called to such an extravagant looking room in a time like this.
Sara Beth clutched the neck of her robe. She had plans to take it home with her after the storm passed. Sara Beth nudged Joy as Maple entered the room. Maple ran her finger over the crest of one of the oak dining chairs. Beside her was her loyal assistant, Lenny, who was dressed in a silk robe identical to Sara Beth's. Sara Beth let out a laugh. Lenny looked up and saw Sara Beth's choice of attire.
Joy kept her eyes on Maple. Maple was now rubbing a piece of the tablecloth between her finger and thumb as if inspecting its quality. Joy rolled her eyes. A man in an elegant blue suit walked onto the stage. Joy recognized him as Mr. Sullivan, the owner of the hotel.
“Hello, beloved guests and staff,” he greeted the room, yelling as loud as he could. “I want to welcome you to the Diamond Shell Hotel. Whether this is the beginning of your stay with us or the middle, or if you are here seeking shelter from the storm – we thank you for being here with us. My name is Edward Sullivan.”
“He's rather charming,” Sara Beth whispered to Joy.
Joy grunted skeptically in response. She was suspicious of anyone who was charming. Her ex-boyfriend was plenty charming.
“I have good news and bad news,” Mr. Sullivan continued. “The bad news is that we don't know how long the power will be out. Many of our backup generators have failed, including those that service the refrigeration and freezing room in the kitchen. Without the coolers running, the hotel's food supply won't last the night. The good news is that, as a result, we must eat all of the food in the kitchen. Don't worry. Our finest chef
s are stuck here with us too. So please, take a seat, and allow us to serve you. All complimentary, of course.”
The crowd buzzed with excitement.
“Yes!” Sara Beth clapped her hands in delight as the doors to the kitchen opened. She joined the rest of the guests as they all found seats. Lenny sat down next to Sara Beth, straightening his matching silk robe.
“May I sit here?" Lenny asked.
"I believe you already are," Sara Beth playfully replied.
Joy chuckled as she sat on the opposite side of her assistant. But where ever Lenny went, Maple McWayne followed. Joy cringed when Maple sat at their table.
“I wonder if they'll be serving cake?” Maple commented.
Joy's eyes widened. She shot Sara Beth a look, but her assistant was busy laughing with Lenny.
Joy glanced around at the servers and the trays they were carrying throughout the room. Many of them had a variety of desserts. A waiter approached Joy's table.
“Dessert first?" Maple questioned the server. "Oh, but everyone's appetites will be spoiled when I pull my cake out again. It's almost completely gone, you know. I've received lots of compliments already."
"It doesn't count when you fish for them," Joy murmured.
“I'm just bringing out what I'm told, ma'am," the waiter responded.
Joy spotted her cake box and jumped up before Maple could notice. She unboxed her creation, planning on serving her masterpiece along with the rest of the food.
“Perhaps you could serve the rest of my cake to all of your lovely guests instead of that drivel from the hotel pantry," Maple suggested.
“It looks like someone beat you to that.” The waiter nodded to where Joy was wielding a serving knife and a stack of plates.
Maple gasped, throwing her napkin to the floor and racing over to Joy.
“What are you doing?” Maple hissed.
“What you planned on doing as soon as you got down here,” Joy replied. She skilfully carried eight plates, each with a slice of her cake and a decorative flower. Joy smiled smugly and began serving her cake to the guests. Maple cursed and started hacking away at what was left of her own cake, trying to catch up.