Hot Fudge Fraud
Anisa Claire West
This is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and events depicted in this book are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any similarity to actual people, either living or deceased, is purely coincidental.
Prologue
North Charleston, South Carolina
Gripping the puppy’s leash and her father’s hand tightly, Melanie skipped into the ice cream parlor. Her baby blue eyes lit up in amazement as she surveyed the bounty of flavors on display. She smacked her lips, tugging on the puppy’s leash and wondering what kind of ice cream cone she would order.
“No dogs allowed!” The store owner bellowed, pointing a finger at the door.
The child cowered against her father as he spoke up gruffly. “You don’t have to be so nasty about it!”
“Store policy, sir,” the stern faced woman informed tersely.
“It’s okay, Melanie. Go tie Sunny outside, and when you come back in, I’ll have a triple scoop ice cream cone waitin’ for you!” Scott Bradley said good naturedly to his 10 year old daughter.
“Okay, Daddy, I’ll be right back,” Melanie said, scurrying out the door with the mixed breed shelter pup she had adopted a few months ago when her life had been vastly different…
Her mother had been sick with the “big, ugly C word” as she called it, but she was still alive. Succumbing to cancer after a formidable battle, Mrs. Bradley had unwillingly left her husband and only child behind. Now Melanie was left to cope with the onslaught of her preteen years without the comforting reassurance of a mother. She adored her father, but he was usually busy and exhausted from his grueling hours as a construction worker. He did his best but knew nothing about “girl stuff” like fixing her hair and choosing a pretty wardrobe. Ever since her mother had died, Melanie went to school in their working class neighborhood in ratty tee shirts and sweat pants. Her attire and unkempt appearance had earned her the cruel nickname, Smelly Melly.
Tying the tiny white puppy securely to a bike ramp, Melanie whispered, “Don’t be scared, Sunny. I’ll be right back, I promise.”
Hurrying back into the store, she smiled gleefully as her father handed her an enormous, dripping ice cream cone. “Yummy!” She exclaimed. “Daddy, you picked my favorite flavors, double chocolate, strawberry pie and French vanilla!”
“French vanilla is your mama’s favorite too. She loves it with caramel sauce on top,” Mr. Bradley murmured sadly, still in the denial phase of the grief process and referring to his wife in the present tense.
Melanie hung her head as stray teardrops cascaded down her freckled face. Wiping a wisp of corn silk hair away from her eyes, her father said, “Oh honey, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you cry. Come on now, eat your ice cream. Isn’t it delicious?” He cajoled, taking a mouthful of his own pistachio cone.
“Yeah, I guess so,” she said sullenly before brightening and declaring, “Hey, guess what! This week we’re writing a story in English class about what we wanna do when we grow up. I think I’ll be an ice cream lady, Daddy!”
Scott Bradley laughed heartily and encouraged his daughter. “Well that sounds just fine, honey. Just fine.”
“Then I could eat ice cream cones all day long and…” she cut herself off as the door to the shop swung open and in walked a boy flanked by his parents. At first she was jealous to see a child with a complete set of parents, but as she recognized the handsome boy, another feeling took over. Her ivory face turned candy apple red as she glanced at the 12 year old boy who had been her crush for the past year.
“Hi Melanie,” the boy greeted, giving her a friendly smile.
“Hi Keith,” she replied shyly as a dollop of melted ice cream dribbled onto her shirt. She hastily pressed a napkin to her shirt as the boy chuckled.
“That’s a big ice cream cone you got! But not as big as mine is gonna be! I’m gonna get four scoops! Quadruple!” Keith announced proudly as his parents made small talk with Mr. Bradley.
“You’re gonna get a tummy ache,” Melanie warned, giggling.
“It’s worth it!” Keith said in his gregarious manner that offset her quiet demeanor.
Licking her ice cream cone quickly to make sure no more sticky accidents occurred, Melanie said, “I gotta go untie my dog now. I don’t want anyone to take him.”
“That’s your dog outside? Oh man, you’re so lucky! I want a dog too, but my dad won’t let me get one. He says they’re too much work. You’re really lucky, Melanie!” Keith exclaimed as tears threatened to tumble down her cheeks.
Without replying, she ran out of the ice cream parlor and pulled Sunny into a mighty hug. “You’re my best friend, Sunny,” she declared in a shaky voice. “No one else understands me or loves me like you do.” Gently, she set the pup free as he eagerly jumped onto her and stood on his hind legs for a lick of her ice cream cone. Melanie laughed and said, “I am lucky to have you, Sunny. But I’m unlucky in everything else.”
*****
Chapter 1
Isle of Palms, South Carolina
16 Years Later
A balmy breeze coasted across the sweet white sand beach of Isle of Palms. The sky was a flawless shade of turquoise, and the sun shone like a halo over Melanie Bradley as she lifted the heavy suitcases from her car. From the front step of the house, a slim young woman with a dark ponytail waved her down.
“Melanie! You’re finally here! Need any help?” Chloe ran down the steps to greet her new roommate.
“Gee, thanks,” Melanie managed as the luggage weighed her down. “You can tell I’ve never moved before!”
At 26, Melanie was finally flying out of the nest---and leaving her beloved father. Since high school, she had been helping him pay the bills by waitressing as well as pitching in with domestic chores. She thought wistfully of her dad and how he was still so lonely after all these years. He had dated on and off since losing his wife but never fallen in love again.
“First time moving? You must be really excited!” Chloe enthused, dragging a suitcase up the stairs. “I mean, get a load of this view!” She gestured to the sweeping ocean vistas that beckoned from their doorstep. “It’s a long way from North Charleston and all those ugly strip malls and fast food restaurants!”
“It is like another world,” Melanie breathed in the salt air and marveled at how clean the scent was. I definitely don’t want to click my ruby slippers together and go back to Kansas, she thought. No more smells of exhaust fumes and greasy burgers in this paradise.
“Is this the last of your luggage?” Chloe asked hopefully as she dumped a third suitcase onto the porch.
“Not quite! I’ve still got my most important piece of luggage waiting for me in the car!” Melanie replied as Chloe looked perplexed.
Dutifully, Melanie opened the back seat and cradled Sunny in her arms. The 16 year old dog was lagging these days. Didn’t have a fraction of the pep he had when Melanie was growing up. But her bond with the animal was iron clad, and she felt grateful that Sunny had already exceeded the life expectancy of most canines.
“Aw, so that’s your dog! Dang, it looks old!” Chloe said laughingly as Melanie scowled at her.
“This is Sunny. And he is pretty old. I’ve had him since I was 10.”
“Dang!” Chloe said again as Melanie’s scowl deepened. “He might keel over before you even move in!”
Stricken, Melanie said nothing and plastered a false smile of amusement on her face. She had learned a long time ago to hide her feelings from insensitive people. As she looked at the tart faced college girl, Melanie wondered if sharing this beach house was a wise idea. She couldn’t afford such a beautiful place on her own, so she had sought out roommates
to share expenses. The problem was that Chloe was just an acquaintance, not a friend. They had met at a Pilates class in nearby Mount Pleasant and chatted a few times. Somehow those casual conversations had ballooned into renting a beachfront property together. Swallowing nervously, Melanie realized that she still hadn’t met the third roommate in the deal.
“So where’s our other roommate? Lynne? Is that her name?” Melanie asked, taking a seat on a porch swing and setting Sunny down on her lap.
“Yeah, Lynne’s at work right now. But you’re gonna love her! She’s in the same business as you,” Chloe revealed.
“Oh really? That’s funny. I haven’t met too many people in the ice cream business since opening Hot Fudge Fancy last year,” Melanie commented lightly.
“Well, it’s not exactly ice cream. It’s fro yo. You know, frozen yogurt,” Chloe clarified as Melanie wore a blank expression. “Anyway, her store is in downtown Charleston. Right near your shop, I think.”
“No, that can’t be. I was very careful not to open my parlor next to any competition,” Melanie said, frowning.
“Well, I think the owner opened up around the same time you did. Last year sometime. It’s called Daisy’s Frozen Delights. On King Street. That’s where your shop is, right?”
“Yes, but I’ve never heard of Daisy’s Frozen Delights. I’m not really a fan of frozen yogurt. If I’m going to eat dessert, you’ve gotta give me full sugar, full fat, full flavor!” Melanie said confidently as Chloe raked her eyes up and down her lush body.
“Not for me. I like fro yo. That’s how I keep my figure,” she said arrogantly, sliding her hands along her boyishly trim waist and hips.
Melanie looked her square in the eyes. “I don’t mind my curves. And the men don’t either…” she trailed off, rising from the swing and walking Sunny into the house.
“Your bedroom is the one at the end of the hallway,” Chloe called after her with a sulk on her face.
“Thanks!” Melanie replied, retreating to the peace of her private bedroom. She sighed, parting the blinds and gazing out the window. “Check out that view, Sunny. Miles and miles of shoreline. It’s gorgeous.”
She plopped onto the bed and shut her eyes for a second. The moment her head hit the pillow, her cell phone rang. “Hi Dad,” she said wryly, knowing that he was the only one who would be calling right now.
“Hi honey! How’s the moving day going? You sure you don’t need me to help you?” He asked with a hoarse note in his voice that made Melanie wonder if he had been crying.
“I’m fine, Dad. And this is your day off! I want you to get some rest cause you deserve it!” She scolded, thinking how much she wanted her father to retire from the construction field. At 59, he should be the one living on the beach and enjoying an oceanfront view.
“Don’t you worry, darlin’. Your ol’ dad is gonna be just fine. Alright, I guess I better not bother you anymore. You probably got a lotta unpackin’ to do.”
“You never bother me, Dad. I’ll call you soon. I love you,” Melanie said softly.
“And I love you, baby girl,” Mr. Bradley replied, reluctantly hanging up the phone.
Melanie sank back down onto the pillow, deciding to forego the unpacking in favor of a little cat nap. Curling up into a fetal position, she was startled to hear Chloe’s strident voice in the hallway.
“Lynne’s home!” Chloe announced. “You can meet her now.”
“Oh joy,” Melanie said sarcastically under her breath. A bit louder, she feigned enthusiasm and exclaimed, “Sure, come on in!”
Melanie flinched as a skeletal young woman poked her head in the bedroom. Even skinnier than Chloe, the girl had dingy brown hair that hung limply to her shoulders and close-set eyes that critically appraised the newcomer. The frail girl’s expression soured even more as she noticed Sunny asleep on the bed.
“Ugh! You didn’t say she had a dog!” Lynne screamed at Chloe.
“Yes I did! I’m sure I told you,” Chloe said defensively.
“No, you did not! Because if you had told me I would have said that she can’t move in with that shedding mut!” Lynne cried furiously, balling her bony hands into fists.
“You hate dogs?” Melanie asked with a sinking heart. There was no way she would part from Sunny. After more than a decade and a half together, they were inseparable. If Sunny had to leave, then Melanie would leave too.
“I don’t hate them. I’m allergic,” Lynne sniffed, and Melanie had the distinct feeling she was lying.
“Well, I don’t know what to say, ladies. Sunny and I are a package deal. If you want my dog to go, I’m gonna have to go too.” Melanie held her chin up determinedly as she spoke.
“No! Melanie, don’t you even think about leavin’!” Chloe cried. “Lynne, be reasonable. We can’t afford this place without a third roommate. And it’s so hard to find a decent gal who’s not a psycho! Come on, buck up and deal with your allergies.”
Reluctantly, Lynne said, “Fine. Just keep the mut far away from me.”
“Will do,” Melanie clipped darkly. She had an inherent mistrust of anyone who didn’t like animals. Sighing, she thought how she had only moved in fifteen minutes ago and already she was having friction with her housemates. Scrambling off the bed, she said, “It’s so pretty out. I don’t want to spend all day cooped up inside. I think I’ll take Sunny for a walk.”
“Bye,” Lynne waved dismissively at Melanie while shooting Chloe a venomous glare.
Grabbing Sunny’s leash, Melanie sprinted down the porch steps and expelled a sigh of relief. The atmosphere in that house was oppressive. Nothing like the loving home she had shared with her dad. But there was no turning back. Melanie knew she was a late bloomer, to put it mildly, for living at home until her mid twenties. The only way to go was forward, and if that included living with a couple of snippy girls for a while, then so be it. Once her ice cream parlor got off the ground, she would have enough money to rent a place of her own. Or maybe even buy a place of her own.
Sunny trudged along next to her as she looked at the dog sadly. “Come on, boy. Get some energy in you! We’re gonna take a nice walk through town. Maybe we’ll find a pet store somewhere and I’ll get you a milk bone!” Sunny’s eyes perked up when she said ‘milk bone’ and Melanie smiled, always amazed at how much the animal could understand.
The streets were crowded with leisurely beachgoers and harried tourists. Melanie listened curiously to the different accents filling the air. Plenty of northerners vacationed in the south, but once in a while she heard a European accent as well. Charming seafood restaurants, souvenir shops, and a national ice cream franchise lined the boulevard. Melanie wrinkled her nose disdainfully at the corporate ice cream shop. She hated big business and especially hated it in the Charleston area. These parts of the state were pure antebellum south, and she wanted to keep it that way. Hot Fudge Fancy, with its swivel stools and creamy treats, fit in perfectly with Charleston’s classic vibe.
Window shopping with avid eyes, she wished she had the money to spare on some new fashion. But she had poured all of her savings into opening her store in swanky downtown Charleston where rents were steep. She tried not to get overwhelmed thinking how this was her only day off and she would have to be at the parlor for the next 6 days straight. This is what I signed up for, she reminded herself. Hard work.
From down the street, a vaguely familiar voice called out to her. “Melanie Bradley? Is that you?” The voice sounded like a ghost from a distant chapter in her past, but she couldn’t identify it. The tenor was several decibels deeper than she recalled, but there was a friendly undertone that struck her with déjà vu.
Melanie whirled around as her eyes widened into Olympic size sapphire pools. Striding towards her in a sleek gray suit, looking dapper, sexy and very grown up, was none other than Keith McBrennan. The last time she had seen him was in 10th grade. He had been a senior, about to go away to college up north and study business at Wharton. A lowly sophomore, she had kept her
long simmering feelings for him locked inside. They had been casual friends throughout their school years, but Melanie didn’t have the heart to say goodbye to him when he was packing up for college. He had slipped away at the end of August, and she had never seen or heard from him---until now.
“Yes, it’s me! Hi Keith! Oh my goodness, how are you?” Melanie burst out, feeling like a kid again as she nervously bit her lower lip and waited for him to reply.
His gaze landed appreciatively on her suntanned face. “You’ve still got those freckles. Maybe even some more now,” he said with a crooked grin.
“Yup, I do,” she said self-consciously, feeling like a country bumpkin in her cotton tank top and jeans.
Keith smiled disarmingly at her before glancing down and noticing the dog sitting at her feet. “Hey, is this the same dog you’ve had since we were kids?” He asked incredulously.
“Yes,” Melanie replied proudly. “Sunny is still going strong.”
Keith reached down to pat the dog on the head. Sunny leaned into the man’s touch as Melanie tried not to focus on how sophisticated Keith looked in his business suit. “Sunny sheds a lot. I wouldn’t want your suit to get messed up.”
“Don’t worry about that! I love dogs! Always have,” Keith said, chuckling as the dog licked his hand.
“So what are you doing all dressed up in a beach town? Shouldn’t you be in a pair of swimming trunks ‘round here?” Melanie asked with mild flirtation.
“I’m on my way to a business meeting actually. How about you? You still livin’ in North Charleston?”
“No, it’s funny, but I just moved to Isle of Palms about an hour ago! I’m renting a house on the water,” she informed, neglecting to mention her two pesky roommates.
“That’s great! You know, I’d love to catch up with you sometime, but I really do need to run to my meeting,” Keith said, frowning as he glanced at his watch.
Is that a Rolex? Melanie wondered. The watch looked expensive, just like everything else that Keith wore. She was tempted to ask him his line of work but didn’t want to pry. Casually, she said, “Sure, let’s catch up sometime.”
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