Oh, Fudge!

by Nancy CoCo

  “I wasn’t even really trying this time,” I said. “The seniors came to see me. We speculated that the killer might have been the wife of whomever Barbara was sleeping with. So they put out some feelers out on the gossip circuit to figure out who was Barbara’s last lover.”

  “Let me guess. Fred Sikes.”

  “Yes,” I said. “The seniors hadn’t even gotten back to me when Wanda jumped me in the alley.”

  “You have a busy alleyway,” he said and helped me to my feet.

  “Yes, I do,” I admitted. “But there’s no way to fix that. It’s Mal’s backyard.”

  “Speaking of Mal,” he said and patted the pup on the head. “She looks good, too.”

  “I’m surprised she kept the bows in,” I said. “Maybe they hair sprayed them in like my hair.”

  The front door to the apartment burst open. “We saw the ambulance leaving,” Jenn said. “Are you all right?”

  “I’m fine.” I said as Jenn hugged me. Her hair was as stiff as mine. We had matching beehive dos with buns in the back.

  “You scared the bejeezus out of us,” Jenn said.

  I glanced over to see Frances with tears in her eyes. “It was Wanda Sikes,” I said.

  “Allie phoned me and I got here before anything could happen,” Rex said.

  “But the ambulance . . . is Wanda dead?”

  “No,” Rex reassured her. “She’s only wounded.”

  “So wait. Why did Wanda . . .”

  “She jumped me in the alley,” I said. “I guess she heard that the seniors were looking into who Barbara’s last romance was. She knew it wouldn’t take long before everyone knew it was her husband.”

  “That must have been devastating,” Frances said. “To find out your best friend was sleeping with your husband.”

  “Apparently Wanda and Barbara fought and Wanda killed her.”

  “Oh my,” Frances said and sat down. “Did Wanda also kill Dan?”

  “That’s what she said,” I slipped onto a bar stool. “She blamed me for all her troubles.”

  “So she came after you?” Jenn asked.

  “With a knife,” I said.

  “That had to be scary.”

  “I’m thankful it wasn’t a gun or I would be dead.”

  Frances looked at Rex. “How did you know?”

  “Allie called me. I heard most of the confession.”

  “Smart to call him,” Jenn said.

  “How did you do that?” Frances asked.

  “I hit redial,” I said. “I was hoping at the very least it would be recorded on Rex’s answering machine.”

  “It’s a good thing Rex was the last person you talked to on your phone.”

  “Allie, are you all right?” Trent came in through the open front door.

  “Yes,” I said. He came over and kissed and held me.

  “I heard that the ambulance was headed to your apartment and I got worried.”

  “It seems you aren’t the only one,” I said. I hadn’t put my arms around Trent. I wasn’t ready yet. It was a bit awkward.

  “She had Mal in her arms,” Rex said. “I think she’s getting multitalented with the speed dial.”

  I laughed. It broke the tension as Trent stepped back. “With everything that goes on here, it’s handy to be good with a phone.”

  “I bet,” Rex said.

  Trent’s expression faded and he stuck his hands in his pockets. “What happened?”

  I retold the story yet again.

  “So Wanda killed Dan?” Trent asked.

  “I think so,” I said. “I know she confessed to killing Barbara and she tried to kill me.”

  “Thankfully she didn’t.”

  “Should we put the wedding off another day?” Frances asked, a worried expression on her face.

  “No!” Jenn and I said at the same time.

  I went over and patted Frances’s hand. “No,” I assured her. “I’m fine. Mal is fine. What we really need is a celebration of love right now. If you’re okay with getting married, then we’re okay with you getting married.”

  “Oh, honey,” Frances said and gave me a big hug. “I’ve been ready for days now.”

  “Good!” said Jenn and she jumped up. “Let’s get things over to your house and get you ready. Rex, call Mr. Devaney and make sure he gets to the park on time. I’ll take care of everything else.”

  “I hope it’s okay if I invited the senior center ladies,” I said.

  Frances laughed. “The more the merrier at this point. I just want to get married.”

  “Then let’s do this,” Jenn said.

  We got everyone out of my apartment, grabbed our bridesmaids dresses, and went to Frances’s condo. It was time for a celebration.

  * * *

  The evening air was cool with a gentle lake breeze. The sunset made the sky a lovely rainbow of pinks, blues, and reds. The park seats were packed. It seems word had gotten out that there was to be a wedding in the park. All the island regulars were there.

  Jenn had done a bang-up job. There were rows of white folding seats, each row with a ribbon on the end. Luminaria bags lit the aisles with the gentle glow of candles. The bags had star cutouts and cast star shadows on the white paper runner.

  The arched arbor was covered in white twinkle lights and white flowers. The Pastor Neaveau stood in a black jacket under the archway. A harp began to play music as Rex, Shane, Ted and Mr. Devaney stood beside the preacher. All the men wore black tuxes and bow ties except Mr. Devaney who wore gray. They looked like elegant James Bond types. Jenn started down the aisle, then me, then finally Maggs. I smiled at the townspeople, feeling like I had finally made townie status. When Maggs arrived across from Rex and Mr. Devaney, the harp picked up the sound and chords. Everyone stood as Frances came down the aisle in her elegant gown. Her face beamed with joy and happiness.

  The flowers in her hands trembled slightly. She was a gorgeous bride. She arrived at the front and I arranged her dress in the back then took her bouquet as she took Douglas’s hands in hers.

  “Ladies and gentlemen,” Pastor Neaveau began. “We are here tonight to join this man and this woman in the bonds of holy matrimony. A wedding is a celebration of love, where two pledge to become one. To care for each other, to cherish and love one another for the rest of their days. Douglas Devaney, please recite your vows.”

  Mr. Devaney cleared his throat. “Frances, since the first moment I met you I knew you were special. I wanted to get to know you and all the mysteries of you. Every day my love grows stronger and I promise to spend every moment of the rest of my life cherishing you, loving you, and being the partner you need in love and in life.”

  “Frances?” the pastor said.

  “Douglas, since the moment I met you, I knew you were a very special man. In fact, the very man I wanted to know better. I love and cherish you and I promise to spend the rest of my life loving and cherishing you and being your partner in love and in life.”

  “You may now exchange the rings.”

  Douglas took Frances’s hand. “With this ring, I thee wed,” he said and put the ring on her finger.

  Frances took his hand. “With this ring, I thee wed.” She put the ring on his finger.

  “By the power invested in me by God and the State of Michigan, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  They kissed and we all clapped and cheered. When they turned to face the crowd, I handed her back her bouquet. The harpist played a happy march and they went down the aisle together. People pelleted them with birdseed and blew bubbles.

  Rex held out his arm and I put my hand on it and we went down the aisle. Shane and Jenn came behind us.

  Frances and Douglas got into a horse-drawn carriage for a trip around the island. Meanwhile, everyone else went back to the McMurphy for a buffet of finger foods, an open bar, and a small swing band.

  Sandy had made a chocolate sculpture for the cake topper and everyone wished the new couple well when they
entered the McMurphy. It was a happy party. Mal loved dancing with people. Mella hung out on the top of the stairs and watched all the goings-on from a distance. People were not her big thing.

  As the night wore down, the band played a slow song. Rex came over and asked me to dance. I took his hand and slipped easily into his arms.

  “They make a great couple, don’t they?” I asked as we watched Douglas and Frances dance slowly around the floor. It was late and people had started to go home, leaving only the die-hards.

  “They do,” Rex said. “They make me think about doing it again.”

  “After two marriages?”

  He chuckled and it was a warm rumble of his chest. “I’m a die-hard romantic.”

  We danced silently for a moment. It was a comfortable silence between friends. “I wanted to thank you for rescuing me today,” I said and looked up into his gorgeous blue eyes.

  “I was afraid I wasn’t going to make it,” he said, his expression fierce. “I sprinted over to you.”

  “I think I need a constant patrol in the alleyway,” I teased.

  “Maybe you do,” he said and paused for a heartbeat. “Or maybe you need more of a police presence in your life.”

  I smiled at him. “I think I already drive the police crazy.”

  “In more ways than one,” he said and leaned down and kissed me. My arms were around his neck. His hands on my waist. His mouth was soft and warm on mine and a thrill went through me. I might have leaned into the kiss. He might have deepened it.

  Someone cleared their throat. I pulled back to see Shane and Jenn dancing beside us. Shane nodded his head toward the door. I looked over to see Trent in a tux. He turned on his heel, and left the McMurphy.

  “Oh no,” I said and disengaged myself from Rex. I went after Trent, but when I got out onto Main Street he was gone. I hurried to one end of the block, then the other, but never found him.

  Rex came out with a jacket and put it on my shoulders. Our breath mingled in the cool night air. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to cause trouble. It’s just that it seemed the right thing to do.”

  “We’re on a break,” I said halfheartedly.

  “I know. I heard that you saw him kissing Victoria.”

  “I asked him not to come.”

  Rex reached down and picked up a bouquet of roses that were on the ground just outside the door. “It looks like he came anyway.” He handed me the flowers.

  My heart squeezed. “I’m sorry,” I said.

  “I know. I’ll go.” He lifted my hand and kissed my fingers. “Good night, Allie. Please pass on my congratulations to Frances and Douglas.”

  “I will,” I said and watched him leave. I walked back into the McMurphy alone with Trent’s flowers in hand. Jenn and Shane met me at the door.

  “Are you all right?” Jenn asked.

  “Yes,” I said, even though I didn’t feel all right.

  “Frances and Douglas are saying their good-byes,” Jenn said.

  Shane put his jacket across Jenn’s shoulders. “We’re going to the Grand for a nightcap. Did you want to come?”

  I looked at them and realized they needed to be alone. “Thanks,” I said. “But I’m going to stay here and clean up.”

  “You don’t have to,” Jenn said. “I’ve hired a crew to come in.”

  “A crew?”

  “Okay, two teenagers and a parent. They cleaned up the park and I paid them for an extra hour to clean up the McMurphy,” Jenn said. “I didn’t think it was right to leave it all to you.”

  I sent her a smile and gave her a hug. “Just like you to think of everything. You two go on and have a nice night.” I watched them leave and went over to find Frances and Douglas.

  “Congratulations,” I said and gave them both a big hug. “It was a beautiful wedding.”

  “I couldn’t have asked for better,” Frances said. “Thank you to you and Jenn.”

  “You’re most welcome. Now I don’t expect you two back to work until Monday at the earliest. What are your honeymoon plans?”

  “If we told you, there wouldn’t be a honeymoon,” Mr. Devaney said and winked at me.

  “Just call if you need more time off,” I said. “Life is short. Enjoy it while you can.”

  “We’ll be back on Monday,” Frances said and patted my hand. “Now that we’re married every day will be a honeymoon.”

  I waved them off with rice and best wishes. I said good-bye to the last of the party-goers and let the cleanup crew in. I let them do their job. But I wanted to save the top layer of cake for Frances as tradition said. So I grabbed a box and slid the top layer inside and wrapped it up. Then I placed the chocolate sculpture of the bride and groom walking into the sunset in another box. The rest of the cake was put in boxes to be distributed at the senior center the next day for lunch.

  I helped the cleaning crew finish up and then went upstairs to my apartment. It was quiet there. I tried not to think too much about the kiss. Tried not to wonder what it meant. I put Trent’s flowers into water, wondering why I kept them. I touched my mouth. We were on a break. I let Rex kiss me.

  I wondered if my romance with Trent was truly over. I thought back to my first month on the island. That first kiss. A lot of things had changed since then. I hoped Papa Liam would be proud of most of them. The papers had come from the lawyer ceding a quarter of ownership of the McMurphy to Victoria. I hadn’t read them over yet. I wasn’t ready. I wasn’t even sure if she still wanted legal rights or if family rights were enough.

  I dialed her number. It was late, but she was back in California so it wasn’t quite so late there. “Hello?”

  “Hi, Tori,” I said. “It’s Allie. How are you doing?”

  “I’m fine,” she said. “How are you?”

  I looked at the ligature wounds on my wrists. “I’m alive,” I said with a small laugh. “Thank you for saving my life.”

  “I was just returning the favor. So do you know who the killer was?”

  “Wanda was the killer,” I said. “She had some serious issues.”

  “Wanda, I would have never thought of her.”

  “She wasn’t my first pick either,” I admitted. “Changing the subject, Frances and Douglas got married this evening.”

  “Good for them,” she said and I could hear her delight. “I’ll send a card. They are a great couple.”

  “I kissed Rex,” I blurted out. “Trent saw me.”

  “Ouch,” Tori said, and I heard her settle into her seat. “What are you going to do now?”

  “I don’t know,” I said. “But I think I have a better understanding of you kissing Trent. I wanted to say I’m sorry for everything.”

  “Me, too,” she said. “And don’t worry about legal rights to the McMurphy. I had a long talk with my parents. I don’t think I’ll be back to visit the island for a long time to come.”

  “What about the fund-raiser?”

  “Irene is going to hand that back over to the committee. While I was in the hospital I wrote down the plan and all the contacts and other important information. They have it now.”

  “You will be missed.”

  “You’re always welcome in California,” she said. “Come see me sometime.”

  “I will,” I promised, said my good-byes, and hung up. I made a cup of tea and curled up on the couch with Mal and Mella and wondered what the future would hold. “Tomorrow is another day, babies,” I said and petted both of them. “As long as I have you by my side, everything will be okay.”

  And I knew it would be.

  Acknowledgments

  Special thanks go out to the crew at the Original Mackinac Island Butterfly House and Insect World. They very kindly answered my questions. Any errors made in the book are completely mine as I do blend bits of truth in my fictional world. I want to acknowledge my editor, Michaela Hamilton, for her encouragement, cheer, and wonderful eye for editing. Also the rest of the crew at Kensington, for all the hard work they do to make a book become a
reality. Thanks to my agent, Paige Wheeler, for putting up with all my crazy ideas and helping my stories reach readers. Most importantly, thanks to my readers for continuing to buy the books and allowing me to live in this wonderful fictional world on Mackinac Island.

  Don’t miss the next delicious

  Candy-Coated Mystery

  by Nancy Coco

  Forever Fudge

  Coming soon from Kensington Publishing Corp.

  Keep reading to enjoy a sample excerpt . . .

  Chapter 1

  “Allie, have you heard the news?” Jenn, my best friend and this season’s assistant manager of the McMurphy Hotel and Fudge Shop, came bouncing into the office.

  “There’s a town hall meeting tonight,” I said and didn’t look up from my work on the finances. Labor Day weekend was the official end of the season on Mackinac Island. I was working up the numbers to see how successful the season had been and if I could stay in business.

  “Yes.” Jenn sat on the edge of my desk. “But do you know why?”

  I set down my pencil. “Tell me.”

  “They are announcing that a television pilot for a mystery series set on the island will be shot starting next week.”

  “A mystery series set on Mackinac?” I sat back. “That’s cool.”

  “It is so cool. Marsha Goodwin told me that a Hollywood producer visited us on vacation a year or so back and wanted to do a series set here. They finally got up the funds to shoot the pilot. They will be doing outside shots here and then inside shots back in their L.A. studios.” She wiggled into place on my desk. “Now here’s the fun part. For a mere two thousand dollars, they will include shots of the exterior of the McMurphy. We could be part of the opening credits for the run of the show!”

  “I’m familiar with reality TV,” I said, thinking back to this summer’s cooking show I got roped into. “While a pilot is cool, that doesn’t mean a show will get made.”

  “But it’s a shot you can’t pass up,” she said and crossed her arms. “What if the series takes off? You could be on the opening for years and on reruns forever.”