by Rosie Sams
"I can't wait to see Smudge. It's a great night for a long walk. She'll love it."
Melody nodded in agreement, then rested her head against the passenger door window. She gazed up and watched the stars glitter in the clear, night sky as the car slowed for a red light.
"You know, I owe you dinner. I just realized I never made up for it,” Alvin said.
"You mean that midnight feast you prepared for me the night Atkins died?"
"That's the one. Are you hungry for a midnight snack?"
"You know I am."
"It's the least I could do since you helped me close the case."
"Well, there is something else you could do for me."
"Oh? What did you have in mind?"
"You could help me set a wedding date."
"How's tomorrow at 3pm? That's when I get off work."
Melody slid closer to Alvin and rested her head on his shoulder. The traffic light turned green.
“I think I could bake a cake by then,” she said after some consideration.
“The cake’s the most important part.”
Together, they drove toward their future. The wedding wouldn’t be tomorrow, but they both knew it was coming.
The Wedding Cake Murder
Bakers and Bulldog Mysteries
by
Rosie Sams
Chapter One Hundred Sixty
“This place is positively beautiful!” gasped Melody Marshall to Kerry Porter, her dear friend and business partner in their pastry shop, Decadently Delicious. The two were visiting the newly renovated Bronwyn’s Country Inn, where Kerry would soon marry her fiancé, Bradford Smedley.
Melody was slightly surprised that Kerry wanted to come back; their last visit to the place had ended in murder. But Kerry had fallen in love with the inn, and this was her opportunity to check over the final details before her big day.
As she spun slowly on the spot, Melody’s eyes widened. The panoramic view of the inn’s newly restored English gardens was simply breathtaking. They had entered the garden through the French doors of the main dining room. Those doors led to an outdoor patio made of large flat brown and gray stones with a smattering of outdoor café style tables. Two symmetrical ivy topiaries carefully manicured in spiral shapes decorated with white pin lights marked the entrance to the gardens. The walkway was covered in white and gray gravel. The small pebbles glittered like diamonds when the sun hit them just right. The pathway was also lined with short symmetrical hedges that squared off four open lawn spaces of beautiful green.
Each garden was separated by another path, just like the one leading away from the inn. From a bird’s eye view, these paths made a perfect cross between the gardens, and it was stunning.
Guests were welcome to play some of the outdoor games Bronwyn had set up on the lawns such as croquet or horseshoes. In the very center of each path, raised flower beds of marigolds, hydrangea, and hibiscus, to name a few, brought color and butterflies to the gardens. Green shrubs helped disguise beautifully decorated birdbaths, hand-painted birdhouses, and hidden stone benches that were strategically placed along the way. It was at the very center of the paths, where they all joined, that Melody and Kerry now stood. Together, they surveyed the grounds under a beautiful white trellis decorated with sheer white curtains that blew in the soft breeze. That same breeze carried the sweet scent of the garden’s blooming red, pink, and yellow roses along with the delicate white rambling roses that climbed the bridal trellis.
“This is the exact spot!” Kerry said as she planted her feet, marking where she would pledge her eternal love to Bradford.
Melody quickly stepped whimsically into the groom’s spot.
“I do, take thee, Kerry, in baking and business, ‘til death do us part,” Melody joked as she mimicked Bradford’s deep masculine voice.
“I do, take thee, Melody, in frosting and fondant, ‘til death do us part,” laughed Kerry as she pressed her hands to her heart, overdramatizing the moment. Together, they shared a laugh that ended in deep sighs for them both as they anticipated tomorrow’s big event.
Deeper in the gardens, Smudge, Melody’s lovable blue-gray French Bulldog, explored, twitching her little wet nose at the various flowers and bugs she discovered. When she trotted back to where the friends were standing, she had a stray daisy caught in her collar.
“And right on cue, here comes the flower girl.” Melody smiled at Smudge. She bent down and scratched her adorable pup’s ears.
Even as a young girl, Kerry knew the inn was the perfect venue for her dream wedding. In fact, after Bradford proposed, the first phone call she’d made was not to her mother, father, or sister, but to the then proprietor of the inn. A lot had happened since then, and it was now Coleman Urquhart who had bought the quaint but faltering inn and restored its original elegance, making Bronwyn’s the most sought-after wedding venue for miles around Port Warren. Kerry hadn’t hesitated to lock in her date.
The inn was a renovated English style stone mansion originally constructed in the 1800s. Visitors traveled a private graveled driveway that branched off one of Port Warren’s main roadways to get there. The driveway ended in a circular loop around a restored water fountain. The mansion was just on the other side of the loop, opposite the fountain. Its exterior brown-gray stone walls were covered in lush green ivy. It had a wide-open lobby with a staircase leading up to its twenty guest rooms, two parlors, and one main dining hall that was surrounded by French doors that led to a maze of English gardens. The wedding ceremony would be held in the gardens, followed by a celebration back in the main dining hall, complete with a wooden dance floor and crystal chandeliers. The new Bronwyn’s Country Inn was nothing short of spectacular.
“Isn’t it just like a fairy tale, Mel?” Kerry asked while she conducted her final walkthrough of the garden’s restored elegance. “I’m so ready for my happy ending!”
“Everything will be perfect, Kerry. I’m sure of it.”
“Hey!” A familiar voice called toward Melody and Kerry. It was Leslie Mathers, the close friend and business partner of both Melody and Kerry. They made a fine trio.
“The kitchen staff are ready for us to bring in the cake!” Leslie yelled across the garden as she stood waving from an open set of French doors. Smudge barked happily as she appeared from the gardens and bounded toward Leslie.
“I planned every detail exactly like I’ve always dreamed and in such a way that nothing should go wrong… except for one thing,” Kelly said. Her voice transitioned from excited to worried in the matter of a single sentence.
“What are you worried about? The staff here is top-notch. The view is stunning, and the best pastry chef in the country handcrafted your customized wedding cake.” Melody flashed Kerry a playful grin, as she had made the wedding cake.
Kerry’s steps halted abruptly just as she was about to cross the threshold from the garden into the main dining hall.
“It’s my sister, Kim,” Kerry answered both Melody’s question and announced her sister’s arrival. Her expression was grave.
Inside, a woman who could easily pass for Kerry chatted politely with Leslie. As Kerry stepped into the doorway, Leslie looked relieved to see her. “Oh, look, Kim,” Leslie interrupted Kim’s tale of travel woes. “Here, she is!” Leslie’s voice sounded a bit too enthusiastic.
Kerry and her sister, Kim Porter Anders, had been estranged for some time now. Their relationship was strained due to Kim’s husband, Jared Anders. Melody and Leslie found it hard to make conversation with Kim on the odd occasion she called the bakery looking for Kerry. Usually, those phone calls left Kerry sad and distracted for the entire day. It was obvious to Melody that Leslie was waiting for an excuse to exit the conversation.
“Hi, Kim. It’s good to see you. Leslie, let’s go get the cake into the walk-in,” Melody said as she picked up on Leslie’s need to escape. Smudge trotted alongside Melody, eager to assist.
“Hello, Melody… and Smudge!” Kim said. Then, she threw her
arms up in the air and ran toward her sister, fully intending to hug her. “Kerry! You’ve outdone yourself! This place is like a little storybook cottage! Sure, it’s not as big as where Jared and I got married, but still, it’s great. My only wish is that your day is as special as ours was and that you and Bradford are as happy as Jared and I.”
Kerry extended her arms toward her sister inviting her in for a hug. At first, she smiled, but once her chin rested firmly on Kim’s shoulder, Kerry’s expression changed to one of sadness. Deep in her heart, she knew her sister didn’t intend to insult her venue, but she also knew that her sister was struggling with her own marriage. Jared wasn’t as nice as he could be to Kim and Kerry often worried about her sister’s happiness. As a result, Kerry found herself keeping her distance from her sister, and that separation hurt most. As Kerry pulled back from the hug, she took Kim’s hands in hers. “It’s perfect for Bradford and me. How was your trip into Port Warren?” Kerry asked. While Kerry waited for Kim’s answer, she realized how tired Kim looked. Her eyes were puffy and watery as if she had been crying.
“It was…” Kim’s voice trailed off as Jared entered the main dining hall. The very sound of his footsteps caused her to squeeze her eyes shut and her body to stiffen. Kerry noticed the change in Kim’s body language right away. He was distracted by his cellphone, texting as he walked. He didn’t bother to look up and greet anyone.
“Of course, the room isn’t ready. I guess you get what you pay for,” Jared huffed, his words insinuating the venue choice was second rate.
Jared Anders was a hot-shot businessman. He married Kim Porter just after college graduation. They were high school sweethearts with a typical teen love story. He was the captain of the football team. She was the captain of the cheerleading team. He proposed at the Homecoming dance. She accepted immediately. Surprisingly, their romance lasted through college, even though they attended different schools. Kim found out about several of Jared’s indiscretions, but she forgave them, writing them off as college exploration. Perhaps, he just needed to get it out of his system.
But as Jared gained more confidence and became successful in his business career, the more poorly he treated Kim. To Kerry’s knowledge, he didn’t physically abuse her, but his sense of entitlement grew, and he treated Kim like she was his servant rather than his partner. Kerry was unable to convince Kim that the marriage wasn’t a good one, and as a result, their relationship was strained.
With glassy eyes, Kim pulled away from Kerry and headed toward Jared. “I’ll go talk with the front desk. I’m sure it’s just a misunderstanding.”
Kerry inhaled sharply as she watched her sister try to accommodate the selfish little man that thought himself a king. Quietly, she said to herself, “Yep… as happy as you two are.”
Chapter One Hundred Sixty-One
Melody and Leslie removed the Porter-Smedley wedding cake and a large sheet cake for the rehearsal dinner from the back of their new Decadently Delicious delivery van while Smudge waited at the curbside. The van was about the size of a standard SUV. Instead of a backseat and trunk area, the entire back was remodeled as a large rectangular shaped refrigerator compartment. It was big enough for multiple tier wedding cakes, such as Kerry’s. There were two side access doors where an SUV would normally have passenger doors. There were also two back doors that opened wide, much like a standard van. There was even a little lift function making it easier to slide cakes out and lower them to a rolling cart. The rolling cart was perfect for safely delivering the cakes to their final venue.
With the new refrigerated delivery van, Decadently Delicious was able to expand its service area to neighboring towns. Plus, with the outside of the van wrapped to advertise the bakery, the mobile billboard was an investment worth every penny.
Together, they carefully pushed the rolling cart carrying Kerry’s dream cake toward the kitchen of Bronwyn’s. Smudge trotted along behind them, her ears up and alert. There, Coleman reviewed the details of the dinner service with his executive chef, his full-time staff, and the additional wait staff hired to accommodate a wedding of this unusual size. Bronwyn’s weddings were typically a more intimate size. It was clear that Coleman was stressed. By his tone and body language, Melody sensed he didn’t have much faith in his staff either.
As the Decadently Delicious rolling cart entered the kitchen, Coleman stopped speaking. His eyes took in the beautiful wedding cake. The cake was five tiers high. Instead of the tiers gradually getting smaller as they were stacked higher, these tiers were all the same size giving the cake a more modern, elegant appearance. Each tier was covered in eggshell-colored fondant. Flecks of gold smattered the fondant giving it a glittered effect. Horizontally and vertically centered, six red rosebuds adorned each tier. Atop the cake sat two white porcelain love birds. It was Kerry’s mother’s wedding cake topper.
“Melody, that cake is just divine! What flavor is it?” Coleman asked curiously. Behind him, the chef and staff applauded the cake.
Smudge sat up straight and proud as if she had made the cake herself.
“The yellow cake has a light lemon flavor. It’s coated in a white chocolate buttercream underneath the fondant.” Melody blushed at the applause and playfully offered a curtsy in return. “The sheet cake is a strawberry shortcake for the rehearsal dinner.”
“Here, let me help you with that,” the chef said as he approached the rolling cart. He took over for Melody and helped Leslie guide the cakes into the walk-in refrigerator.
“I’m sure the guests will go crazy over both,” Coleman said. He turned back toward the staff to finish preparations and noticed one of the additional hires was on her cell phone… again. She had been texting through the whole final walkthrough, and Coleman didn’t appreciate it one bit.
Bronwyn’s Country Inn was a Port Warren landmark, but it was no secret that the inn had experienced its share of troubles in the past. With Coleman’s recent takeover, his first order of business was to fire the majority of the staff. His problem, however, was finding suitable replacements.
“Liza, I’ve told you repeatedly, put your phone away. Weddings are serious business, and I won’t have you ruining some bride’s most special occasion,” Coleman warned impatiently. “When you’re here, and I’m paying you, your attention should be on nothing else but Bronwyn’s.”
Liza Summers slipped behind another new hire to hide her rolling her ocean blue eyes. She tucked her cell phone into the back pocket of her black work pants and huffed. She was an attractive young woman with impeccable bone structure and long blond hair swept up into a messy bun that Coleman would address after the preparation session. Coleman presumed she was probably an aspiring actress or model waitressing to make ends meet until she hit it big. He noticed she had a chip on her shoulder. He wasn’t exactly a poor judge of character and had spotted that Liza really disliked working at the inn. She had very little interest in watching couples wed or any other formal event for that matter. Liza had one goal in mind when working this kind of gig – find a wealthy, unhappily married, older gentleman that she could con into paying her way. Her boss, however, was repeatedly getting in her way. At the last wedding event she worked for at Bronwyn’s, she had met a wonderful candidate. The man was in his late fifties. He was a widower of three years and not quite yet confident enough to start dating again, but then he saw Liza. Her striking beauty took him completely off his guard. He stuttered his words when she introduced herself after bullying another co-worker named Emily into trading tables. She was confident she would have had the man’s undivided attention and bank account balance by the end of the night had Coleman not stalked her with annoying demands like “hurry up,” and “clean that up right now” and irritating questions every five minutes like “why is your table still waiting for their food?” Coleman was a buzzkill in Liza’s eyes. She needed to land her “Sugar Daddy” and fast!
“Everyone just… take a break. We regroup back here in twenty,” Coleman huffed. He needed the break him
self.
Melody approached him as the crowd dispersed. She placed a hand on his tense shoulder. “Coleman, you look a little frazzled. I know this isn’t your first wedding. Why do you look like you’re the one with wedding jitters?” she asked him. Her voice held a note of concern. “Are you worried the new staff won’t be ready?”
“Melody, if I had to list my successes in life, revitalizing this inn would be one of them,” he answered her confidently, but then continued. “Securing the right people to run it… well, that’s a whole other challenge. In fact, as it stands, it’s a borderline failure. I live for the day I have complete faith in my employees.”
Just then, Emily Norton, a shy, mousy server, entered the kitchen. She seemed extremely concerned about approaching Coleman. It was as if she was about to give him bad news, even though that was not the case. Melody wondered if Coleman had been stressing the staff to the point where he had become unapproachable.
“Mr. Urquhart, sir, we’ve finished setting up for the rehearsal dinner in the large parlor,” Emily stammered nervously.
“Oh, I highly doubt that, Emily! Did you steam the wrinkles from the linens as I asked?” Coleman asked curtly. He glared at her over his shoulder, not even giving her the courtesy to turn and face her.
Emily lowered her eyes, realizing she had forgotten that one important request from her strict employer. “No… no, sir. I’ll get on it right now.” Quickly, she left the room to amend her mistake. She cursed herself for forgetting the detail. Even though Coleman was incapable of noticing it now, Emily was his best worker. She worked for the previous owners of the inn for years. She knew every detail of the inn and had the potential to be Coleman’s “right hand” if he would just give her a chance. Day in and day out, she tried her best to please him, so forgetting such an important detail made her doubt her own abilities. She cared about the inn and wanted each event to be special for every guest. After all, these events were some of their clients’ most important life milestones, and Emily loved helping them make beautiful memories