by Holly Plum
Joy frowned and continued, “Well, I had nightmares too. I even got up thinking I heard someone breaking into the bungalow. Maybe it was the wind or something.” Joy lied to herself to spare Sara Beth the stress.
“Well,” Sara Beth said quietly. “That mocha cheesecake might help.”
"It couldn't hurt," Joy agreed.
Joy let the issue go for now and took Sara Beth's advice. She sat at the bay window and ate a slice of mocha cheesecake to try and perk herself up. While she ate, she felt wide awake thanks to the bitterness of the coffee blending with the sharp tart flavor of the silky cheesecake. The bell above the door sounded. It was another regular named Coco. Sara Beth had often commented that Coco's big hair was just as big as her mouth.
“Sara Beth, my darling.” Coco approached the counter and put a hand on her heart. “I just can't believe the news. Joy must be devastated.”
“Morning, Coco.” Joy waved from the bay window.
“Joy, honey,” Coco responded so that the entire shop could hear her. "I'm so sorry about what happened. I just can't believe it. I really can't."
All eyes were on Coco. Sara Beth looked faint.
Joy joined her and Sara Beth at the counter, hoping to turn the volume of the conversation down a notch.
"Unfortunate things happen sometimes," Joy said.
“You must be devastated.” Coco put a hand on Joy's shoulder and squeezed tightly. “Don't worry; I'll stand by you one hundred percent, no matter what Maple says.”
“What do you mean by that?” Sara Beth suddenly perked up. “What did Maple say?”
“Oh, honey.” Coco's volume rose again. “She told me the news. She's been telling everyone in town the sad, sad news.”
“What news?” Sara Beth squeaked.
“What exactly has Maple been saying?” Joy pushed, her face flushed with curiosity.
“The terrible news about the …,” Coco lowered her voice, but everyone in the shop could still hear her, “… well, let's just say I'm surprised you're still selling those.” She motioned dramatically to the chocolate tarts in the display case.
Sara Beth huffed.
“News of your chocolate tart scandal is all over town,” Coco hissed. “Maple has been making sure of that. I don't normally listen to what she has to say, but I wanted to let you know I support you one hundred percent.”
“Well, I'd recommend you not listen to much of what Maple has to say since she has been out to get me since day one,” Joy warned.
“I think it might be a bit late for that, Joy. I just can't believe you're closing the bake shop. I'm glad you're mother isn't here to see this.” Coco flicked her poofy hair.
“What?” Joy exclaimed. "Maple has been saying that I'm closing the shop? Well, that's a lie."
“No one wants a poisoned pastry,” Coco replied. Everyone in the shop slowly put down their forks and looked at their plates. Joel dabbed his mouth with a napkin and made a hasty exit. The rest of Joy's customers quickly followed.
“Hey, wait!” Joy called after them.
“Sorry, sister. I can't risk it with my bad liver.” Patsy left cash on the table beside her half-eaten slice of vanilla pound cake.
Sara Beth gasped at the sight of the empty shop. Joy put her head in her hands and groaned.
“Well.” Coco sighed. “What a shame. I'm with you one hundred percent, though. In solidarity, I'll take one of those rose water macarons, thanks. It's for the best, Joy, don't worry so much.”
“How is it for the best, Coco?” Sara Beth asked snappily as she boxed up her sweets.
“The fewer customers you have, the less painful it'll be when you're shut down.”
“Excuse me?” Joy looked between her fingers at Coco.
“But Maple said-"
“Well, you can tell Maple to …” Joy took a deep breath to calm herself down. “Like I said Coco, we're not closing down. Not today anyway. And you can spread that rumor through town.”
“Maple can come and see for herself that we're still here and as happy as ever to serve our perfectly safe, delicious, and renowned baked goods.” Sara Beth put on a bright smile and led Coco towards the door.
“Oh, I'm not one for gossip.” Coco clutched her box of sugary treats.
“Of course,” Sara Beth replied with a polite smile on her face. “Enjoy the macarons. Thanks for coming in, Coco." Sara Beth wasted no time hurrying Coco out of the shop.
Joy and Sara Beth sat by the counter for an hour with their hands in their heads and watched through the big front windows as people crossed the street to avoid walking by the shop. Sara Beth gulped down an endless glass of sweet tea.
“There goes Mrs. Hunter.” Joy sighed as she saw one of her favorite regulars approach the shop, change her mind, and scamper away towards the direction of The Sugar Room.
“Alright,” Sara Beth slapped her hand on the counter, “We need a plan.”
“Step one,” Joy responded. "We wait for Detective Sugar to get back to us. Step two. We pray that the shop doesn't get into any more trouble."
“That's a horrible plan.” Sara Beth slapped her hand on the counter again, forcing Joy to pay attention. “We need a plan of action.” Sara Beth slapped the counter a third time again. “Ouch, that hurt. But do you get my point?” She cradled her hand.
“Go on.”
“We have to find out what really happened,” Sara Beth suggested.
“How are we going to do that?" Joy asked. "We're not police officers."
"That makes no difference. We can still conduct our own investigation.” Sara Beth leaned in close to Joy and took an intimate sip of sweet tea. She continued in a hushed tone. “How did this Tony Florentine get his hands on one of our chocolate tarts? How was the tart poisoned? We need to at least try and figure it out.”
“And if it brings the shop more problems?” Joy hesitated, but she knew that she couldn't let Patty Cakes Bake Shop crumble so easily. Her mother had put all of her time and hard-earned savings into making it what it was today.
“You're a brilliant baker, Joy." Sara Beth did her best to butter up her boss. "You make the flakiest pastries I've ever eaten, and I've been eating them for years and years. There is something fishy going on, and you know it.”
Joy did know it. She knew it in her gut and her heart. Tony Florentine wasn't her fault, and the bake shop shouldn't be punished for the actions of the killer. Joy knew that staying in business wouldn't always be easy. She knew that one day she would have to fight for it just like her mother had.
“You're right, Sara Beth," Joy admitted. "There is something very, very wrong going on here. That detective did not give me a sense of confidence that he would get to the bottom of this himself.”
“If he was a detective at all."
“I hadn't thought of that," Joy gasped. “Oh, wait. I did see his badge.”
“Oh, right." Sara Beth shrugged. "I guess the way he snooped around the kitchen gave me the creeps."
“That's his job, I suppose,” Joy replied.
“But he took your mother's spice blend.” Sara Beth nodded and pursed her lips.
“Do you think –,” Joy hissed. “Do you think all of this might be some colossal set up by The Sugar Room?”
“I don't know.” Sara Beth sighed and took a huge gulp of sweet tea. “But we need to find out.”
“We need to follow that chocolate tart.” Joy grabbed her keys and began locking up. “Get Crystal's work address. It's about time we get started. We might as well do something with our morning.”
“Yes, boss.” Sara Beth saluted, and Joy noticed the excitement on her face.
CHAPTER FOUR
Sweetown Yoga Studio was housed in an space above a seaside cafe. Wafts of coffee grounds and caramelized sugar blew up the stairs into the studio, mixing with air from the sea.
Joy and Sara Beth shuffled awkwardly at the check-in desk as numerous women in yoga pants moved in and out of the hallways. They spotted Crystal seeing off her clients
and making her way out of a big studio room. She had her hands in prayer position at her chest, and her high bun bobbled up and down as she bowed her head over and over again to each client, saying namaste to each one. Crystal spotted Joy and Sara Beth and bounced over.
“Ladies, I'm glad you're here.” Crystal inhaled deeply as she reached her hands overhead, brought them back to prayer position at her chest, and suddenly dove into a deep forward fold.
“Namaste,” she exhaled, barely making a sound with her lips pressed against her kneecaps.
“So flexible,” Sara Beth whispered. "You must be so proud."
Joy nudged her.
Crystal stood quickly, jewelry jangling. She smiled and put a hand on Joy's shoulder.
“So glad to see you here, Joy. Yoga is a perfect hobby for someone like you who is so stressed all of the time.”
“Yoga?” Joy coughed gently. “Actually we're here to talk about the chocolate tart we gave you.”
“Oh, of course. Well, then I guess you've heard. Thank the stars Tony got to that tart first before I did." Crystal let out a soft laugh.
Joy and Sara Beth exchanged curious glances.
“You know Tony Florentine?” Joy asked.
“Yes.” Crystal brought two fingers to the third-eye point of her brow. “Tony and I had a deep psychic connection at one point in time. We were-”
“Oh my gosh, you were lovers?” Sara Beth gasped, putting a hand on her heart.
“You must be devastated," Joy responded. "There's no worse time for things like this to happen than right before your wedding day."
“I'm fine. We hadn't seen each other for years. I was shocked when I sensed Tony's death, but his spirit helped me come to terms with it.”
“Crystal,” Sara Beth whispered, “you sensed his death?”
“Yes, I did.” Crystal held her head proudly. “Also that handsome Detective Sugar came to question me this morning and told me all about Tony's death. It's horrible, but it's also the circle of life.”
“Oh.” Sara Beth frowned. "So Detective Sugar told you all about the death." She, more than Joy, wanted to believe that Crystal had psychic abilities.
“Have you heard any rumors going through town about the incident?” Joy changed the subject.
“Oh Joy, you must be so stressed out,” Crystal replied. “I heard your shop might be closing." Crystal began breathing rapidly, and her hands began to shake. “You are still able to do my wedding, right? Please, say you can. Please, don't close your bakery before my wedding. You have no idea how long it'll take me to find someone else. The Sugar Room has such a long waiting list, not that I want to do business with them. I just thought I should check since I heard you're closing and –,” Crystal was on the brink of a full-fledged panic attack.
“We're not closing,” Joy assured her, cutting her off.
“Do you promise?” Crystal took some deep breaths, exhaling through pursed lips. “Okay. Alright. I'm fine. Just fine.” Crystal nodded between breaths to show that she was in control.
“I promise we're not closing,” Joy explained. “That's just a rumor started by a desperate woman at The Sugar Room. We came here to ask you for any information you might have that could help us figure out who killed Tony Florentine. I mean, your ex-boyfriend.”
Crystal nodded again and took hold of the front desk to steady herself through her deep breathing. Joy and Sara Beth looked at each other, cautious about whether they should keep asking questions. Crystal noticed and motioned with her hands to continue. Sara Beth took a notepad from her purse where they'd brainstormed questions on the drive over.
“I take it the detective asked you all kinds of questions about your relationship with Tony?” Joy asked.
Crystal paused, and then nodded. Sara Beth jotted down the response on her notepad.
"He seemed a little strange too if you ask me," Crystal informed them.
“What do you mean by that?” Joy waited for her to answer.
"He didn't try and flirt with me," she said quietly. "Not even once."
“Very strange,” Sara Beth agreed, holding back an eye roll.
Joy continued with the questioning, “You said you hadn't seen Tony for years, and the detective said he died in his home. Do you have any idea how Tony could have gotten the chocolate tart?”
Crystal shook her head and exhaled a long sigh.
“Do you have any idea how the chocolate tart was poisoned?” Joy went on.
Crystal shook her head again.
“Do you know anyone who would have wanted to harm Tony?” Joy waited patiently, hoping that Crystal would have a solid answer to at least one of her questions.
“Crystal, who's this?” A woman approached the group and put an arm around Crystal's shoulders. Crystal immediately perked up, smiled and introduced her roommate, Kendra.
“Oh, you're the bakers,” Kendra said. “So sorry to hear about the scandal. What a horrible thing to happen in our sleepy little town, even if Tony was a major creep.”
Joy and Sara Beth pushed Kendra for more information.
“Tony was stalking Crystal,” Kendra said bluntly. "But I doubt she mentioned that. She failed to mention that to the police too."
“Kendra,” Crystal groaned.
“You said you hadn't seen Tony for years?” Joy repeated to Crystal.
“Oh, she never saw him,” Kendra interrupted. “But I figured out it was him making all the weird phone calls and leaving weird gifts on our doorstep ever since Crystal got engaged."
"So, he left a gift or two," Crystal admitted. "It's a phase all of my ex-boyfriends eventually goes through."
“Look,” Kendra said bluntly to Joy and Sara Beth. “Tony was a jerk with a temper. He got worked up when Crystal first started dating Lucas. I'm sure the news of their engagement crushed him.”
“He probably was.” Crystal sighed.
“Tony must have broken into the apartment, and for some reason took the chocolate tart in the process,” Kendra suggested.
"I did leave a cute little note to Lucas on the box," Crystal confessed. "Maybe he saw it, and got angry."
“Were either of you home last night?” Joy asked.
“I dropped the chocolate tart off at home before coming to work. Kendra and I were both here teaching evening classes, and the chocolate tart was missing by the time we got back home.” Crystal cleared her throat. “I was so annoyed that my darling Lucas wouldn't get to try any of that incredible chocolate, but now I know it was the will of the universe.”
“That chocolate tart looked incredible,” Kendra agreed. "And it was dairy-free too. It's such a shame."
A gong sounded suddenly.
“Oh, we need to get ready for our next classes.” Crystal began untying and retying her hair into a higher bun. “Joy and Sara Beth, please stay for a class.”
“Oh no –,” Joy began.
“It's not really our thing,” Sara Beth cut in, shaking her head.
“Please, it would mean so much to me,” Crystal implored. “Today has been so hard. It will be such a comfort to have familiar faces in my class.”
“You must try Crystal's class.” Kendra echoed. “It's life-changing, I swear.”
Joy and Sara Beth gave a few more excuses before finally giving in.
“I'll need a sweet tea after this,” Sara Beth whispered.
“I'll need an entire cake,” Joy replied.
CHAPTER FIVE
The yoga class began with everyone humming together. Crystal was at the front of the class on a slightly raised stage, sitting in a full lotus pose with her legs woven together. She led the humming by groaning into her headset. Joy and Sara Beth tiptoed their way through the lines of aspiring yogis sitting cross-legged and humming. The bakers were wearing sweats, and Sara Beth had ill-advisedly brought her handbag with her which jingled and clanked with every step. Joy shot her a look.
“Sorry,” Sara Beth whispered. “I brought sweet tea just in case.”
“Just
in case of what?” Joy asked as they found two spare mats and settled themselves down.
“In case this class stresses me out even more," Sara Beth replied as she easily, and smugly, crossed her legs in front of her. Joy struggled to get her legs into a pretzel shape, and instead sat slouching until the humming was over.
“And breathe,” Crystal instructed the class.
The beginning of the class was easy enough for Joy and Sara Beth. It consisted of rotating their heads from side to side and stretching their backs. Sara Beth felt herself relaxing into the stretches, and started to smile.
“And now let's relax into a downward dog position,” Crystal instructed.
Joy and Sara Beth looked up to see what everyone else was doing and then looked at each other concerned.
“Form a sharp triangle shape with your body,” Crystal breathed into the mic.
Joy and Sara Beth got the triangular shape for a moment, arms long and buttocks high, but quickly began to break a sweat. Their arms started to shake.
“Another thirty seconds,” Crystal crooned. “Just breathe.”
“Oh my gosh,” Sara Beth whispered.
“This isn't so bad,” Joy whispered back. “We can do this.”
But the class escalated from a downward dog position, and into a standing sequence that highlighted how inflexible Joy and Sara Beth were. While the yogis around them were effortlessly lunging deeply into their warrior two poses, the women were practically upright with the stretch across their hamstrings burning.
“Now rest back into downward dog position and breathe,” Crystal calmly announced. It was the most ridiculous thing Joy had ever heard in her life. There was no resting in this pose, but Crystal kept saying it in between the other poses that were admittedly even harder. All of them were back-breakers and leg-burners.
Joy's limbs were shaking, and Sara Beth was sweating so much that her mat became slippery. They were a hazard to their classmates. In dancer's pose, Sara Beth accidentally kicked the man behind her in the face. In tree pose, Joy toppled over into the woman next to her.
“I'm so –,” Joy huffed, “I'm a hot mess of cake.”