by Rosie Sams
Melody smiled. She appreciated the resourceful nature Tara appeared to have, but she sensed there was more to the story when Tara mentioned the word “necessity.” “Well, necessity or not, you are very talented. I’m sure the girls appreciate you sharing your creativity with them.” Melody shared an encouraging smile with the young woman before switching her attention to the matter at hand — dessert! “Now, what kind of cake did you want for your mother’s special day?”
Tara retrieved a piece of sketch paper from her hand-sewn bag and smoothed it flat on the little cafe table. “After my mother retires, she and Otto will be traveling to the Caribbean for a long-overdue vacation. They are going on a cruise of a lifetime.”
“Otto?”
“Yes, Otto Kelshaw. He’s my mother’s boyfriend. She loves him so much, she just bought him a new car!” Tara flinched. “Well, she doesn’t say as much, but she must really like him. Somehow, he convinced her to leave Port Warren, and get on a boat to go to an island, no less. That feat alone deserves a party. Honestly, I thought my mother would die in that shop before she ever gave it up or retired.” A touch of sadness dropped her mouth before she motioned for Melody to look at her sketch of the cake. “It has a mechanical component that I can craft if you need it. I got the idea from one of those baking contest shows.”
Melody was impressed! Tara was quite the sketch artist. Inherited from her mother or not, the woman was creatively inclined. The sketch, accompanied by notes, portrayed a cake covered with edible sand. On top were 3D elements such as a sandcastle made from crispy puffed rice, candied shells, silver-dollars, and a starfish made from sugar, and two pairs of sandals made of chocolate. The finishing touch was some writing in the sand that read: Relax... You’re Retired!
“So, what do you think?” Tara asked. Her eyes studied Melody’s face while she studied the sketch.
Melody suspected the woman was seeking approval, but in this case, it was easy to give.
“I think it’s amazing!” Melody’s fingers touched the beach-themed cake drawing as her mind drifted to the Tahitian honeymoon she and Alvin hadn’t yet taken. “I think she’s going to love it. What is the mechanical element you mentioned?”
Tara pointed to a section that was colored blue to indicate the surf. “I thought we could use some kind of liquor as the water. The mechanical element would make the water move with subtle ripples, like how the water moves along the surf. It wouldn’t be as elaborate as having waves but just enough to give a visual effect.” Her fingers moved along the shoreline, demonstrating the wave pattern. “It would have a sound element, too, like a wave machine.”
“Wo, I’m blown away with this. Let’s do it! A person only retires once, and your mother should have an awesome cake! She is fortunate to have such a thoughtful daughter!”
Tara blushed at Melody’s kind sentiment.
“I just want to give her a night to remember. She deserves it,” Tara said without making eye contact with Melody. While the words were perfect coming from Tara’s mouth, they sounded hollow. Melody sensed they weren’t altogether truthful.
Nonetheless, Melody agreed to make the cake to the specifications provided Tara would supply the mechanical piece for the little waves. She wrote up the order and took the deposit.
“You’re all set. Where are we delivering this tropical paradise?” Melody asked.
“Oh right,” Tara said with a laugh. “The party will be this Saturday at 7pm in the Happy Frog on Court Street. Do you know the place?”
“I do! I actually thought it closed, but I’m glad to hear it’s still open.”
“Yes, it’s been around forever. The owner came by the craft store about a month ago looking for some creative but inexpensive ways to spruce up the decor. I helped him out, so he’s helping me out with the party.”
“Oh! I’m sorry to interrupt!” Kerry had come through the kitchen door with Smudge and her leash. She smiled at Tara. “Alvin called. He said dinner is almost ready.” Then to Tara, she said, “Hello, how’s your mom?”
Tara shrugged. “Retiring.” Then she turned to Melody and said, “Thanks again for everything. Have a good night!” She waved to both women and exited the front door.
Kerry narrowed her eyes as she watched Tara leave. “She’s throwing a retirement party for her mother?”
“Yes. The cake is stellar. Here, look.” Melody showed her the sketch. She looked curiously at Kerry. “What’s wrong?”
Kerry looked astonished as she studied the sketch. “I’m just surprised that Tara would be so generous to that woman. Rumor has it, they never really got along. Francine wasn’t very motherly to Tara throughout the years; in fact, at times, she darn mean.”
“Well, I imagine there must be some love between them, look at the thought Tara put into this cake. It seems like she cares about her mother very much.” Then, she laughed. “Kerry Bradford, stop indulging in idle gossip!” With a grin to soften her words, she took Smudge’s leash from Kerry. “Are the cupcakes ready for tomorrow’s pickup?”
“Yes, to the cupcakes, but my gossip is not idle. Mary Jane Ellis is a cousin of Jamie Beth Gallagher, who was Tara’s best friend growing up, and she can attest to Francine’s unkindness during Tara’s most formative years!”
Melody teased Kerry. “Oh yeah, and where is this Ellis girl now so we can have her sign a witness statement?”
“Well, she moved from Port Warren years ago.”
“What do you think, Smudge? Fact or rumor?”
Smudge looked up at Melody, spun in a circle, and then yipped at Melody before sitting in front of her and waving one paw.
“The jury has spoken. Rumor.” Melody chuckled and grabbed two butter cookies for the road. “See you in the morning.”
“Thanks, Smudge — way to take sides,” Kerry said humorously as she locked the door behind them.
Chapter Two Hundred Eighteen
“Good evening Mrs. Hennessey. You’re just in time for dinner.” Alvin set two food-filled dinner plates down on the dining room table. Over his fitted white tee and blue jeans, he wore an apron with the words “Just Married” embroidered on the front. “And, hello to you, too, Smudgearoo.”
Smudge whined softly at the nickname, then covered her eyes with her paw.
Alvin had been trying to find one that would stick. “Ok, fine. We’ll keep working on that,” he said.
Melody chuckled.
“I noticed that since the wedding; you’ve been trying to come up with these cute nicknames for Smudge. What’s up with that?” Melody asked as she wrapped her arms tightly around his waist.
Draping his arm around her shoulders, he sighed as he searched for the right words. “I don’t know. When I call you, ‘Mrs. Hennessey, it sounds fun and romantic. But if I were to say ‘Mrs. Hennessey and Smudge’... it just doesn’t roll off the tongue. It doesn’t sound as special. I think she and I should have something that’s ours.”
Melody tried to hold a serious face, but she couldn’t. She laughed and covered her mouth. “That is... the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. What do you think, Smudge?” Smudge trotted over to Alvin and rubbed up against his legs lovingly. “I think she loves you no matter what cute nickname you come up with.” As she watched, Melody stole a kiss from his lips.
“Now, what’s all this?” she said as she motioned toward the dinner table. “Are those palm fronds?”
While Melody was at work, Alvin had transformed their dining room table to look like a scene from a Tahitian travel brochure. The table was covered in a mat weaved from dried palm fronds.
“Do you like my handy work?” he asked. The placemats were shaped like seashells; the serving platters were shaped like tropical fish. A centerpiece of tropical flowers adorned the table. “Care for a Tahitian Sunset? It’s quite tasty.” He picked up a clear pitcher that contained a chilled mix of champagne, grenadine, and pineapple juice, then poured them each a glass.
“This is amazing, Al, but why all the fuss?” Melody took th
e glass from him. He clinked their glasses together before letting her drink. As they each took a sip, Melody’s eyes lit up. “That does taste yummy.”
“I found the recipe online.” He set his drink down quickly, then clicked a button on their iHome. Immediately, the soft sounds of a tropical tune accompanied by the tranquil sounds of waves filled the air around them. With a flourish, he pulled out her chair and welcomed her to sit. “Your dinner by the sea awaits.”
Melody took a seat and looked down at her dish. She had no idea what she was looking at. “It looks delicious, but what is it?” She laughed.
Alvin pulled out his mini flashlight, much like he imagine being done in some of the more upscale restaurants that were often dimly lit. He spotlighted the food, as he explained, “We have Chicken Fafa, which is chicken with taro leaves. Then, we have Fe’ i, which is baked plantains.”
Melody watched in awe as the spotlight moved around her plate.
“These are ‘Umara, which is Tahitian for baked sweet potatoes, and lastly, we have coconut bread.” With a click of this thumb, he killed the light of his little flashlight and disappeared into the kitchen. He returned in seconds with Smudge’s dinner on a special fish-shaped plate, which he set down between him and Melody. “For Smudge, we have a small taste of grilled chicken with some baked sweet potato.”
“I am blown away,” Melody said. “This must have taken you all afternoon.” Then, she looked at him intently. “Alvin, if this is about the honeymoon…”
He took her hand and interrupted. “Look, I’m sorry we didn’t get to take that dream honeymoon. I really want us to go, but since we couldn’t go yet, I wanted to surprise you by bringing Tahiti to us.”
She leaned toward him, bringing her face very near to his. “I am astonished and fortunate to be Mrs. Hennessey. The honeymoon is a week or two of our entire life together. I’m in this for the latter.” She pressed her lips to his. But then she broke it and said, “And, I can’t wait to eat this! I’m starved. It looks delicious!”
As they ate, they chatted between oohing and ahhing over the island cuisine. “How did you find all of these decorations?” she asked.
“It’s a funny thing. Do you remember Otto Kelshaw?”
“The former Sheriff before you?”
“Yes, that’s the one. Well, Otto came into the station today for a visit. He looks great! He still has a full head of blond hair and tanned skin, and he’s still wearing the same old leather jacket. I think retirement agrees with him, though. He’s dating the woman that owns the craft shop. We got talking about what’s new in our lives. I told him about us, of course.” Alvin put on a smile that could have bested a Cheshire Cat. “Then he told me about his newfound relationship with…”
“Francine Leeson.”
“Yes, that’s her name.” Alvin’s eyes narrowed with confusion, but he continued, excited to share his day. “When he told me about her, I got the idea that she might have some stuff I could use to decorate the place. It snowballed from there.”
“That’s funny. Francine’s daughter came into the bakery today. She’s throwing her mother a retirement party. I’m supplying the cake.” Then, Melody laughed, realizing something.
“What is it?”
“It’s a cake that looks like the beach.” She smiled and took a bite of her Chicken Fafa.
“See, we may get that honeymoon after all. There are signs all around us,” Alvin joked.
“I wonder if Francine’s new romance is the inspiration to her sudden desire to retire.”
“That’s not a bad thing. We’ll make up for the honeymoon when we retire. We’ll travel all over.” Just then, Smudge whined and headed for the door. Alvin laughed. “We’re not leaving just yet, Smudge.”
Melody shook her head and turned to the little Frenchie, who whined again and rang the bells hanging the door. They had been in just over a month, and it hadn’t taken Smudge long to learn how to ring them when she needed to go out.
“Smudge, come sit. We’ll take you out after dinner,” Melody said.
Smudge raised her paw and touched the rope of bells one more, huffed, and sat down, demonstrating she had no intention of leaving her post.
“You should finish eating, Al. I’ll take her out quick.”
Alvin jumped up before Melody could stand. “I’ll take her!” he said, taking off his apron.
“You don’t have to. I can do it.”
“No, no. I want to. Besides, soon enough, we’ll have another ‘little one’ in the house, and we’ll have to trade off duties! You can take her out tonight before bed.” He grinned from ear to ear at the thought of the stork dropping off a little Hennessey soon. “Besides, this will give Smudge and I some time to bond even more. Right, Smudge?”
Smudge huffed and tinkled the bells while Alvin blew Melody a kiss.
As the door closed, Melody froze in her seat.
A little one? Melody thought as a frisson of fear slid down her back. Am I ready for this?
Chapter Two Hundred Nineteen
“Hiram! It’s so good to see you,” Melody said as she led Kerry and Leslie inside “The Happy Frog.” It was one of Port Warren’s oldest and most beloved eateries.
Together, Kerry and Leslie guided a small cart through the front door. It was draped with a sand-colored tablecloth. A square rectangle box sat atop the cart.
Hiram Green put down a wine glass he had been inspecting and ushered over to them. “Ladies! Welcome back,” he said as his eyes curiously surveyed the cart. “Are you here for tonight’s special event?”
“We are! This is the cake for Francine’s retirement party,” Melody said. Carefully, she lifted the box, which was just a protective lid.
“Wow, that is an amazing cake!” Hiram gazed at it. “It makes me want to retire, but that will never happen.” He chuckled softly until it turned into a sigh. “I have the perfect spot for it. Follow me, girls!”
As he led them toward the back of the restaurant, he chatted about business. “How’s the bakery doing? I bet it was a bit scary when that other shop opened up right across the street.”
“Swan’s Sweets?” Melody asked. Without waiting for a response, she said, “Competition is an interesting thing. It can be good for business or bad. Thankfully, business is good right now.”
“Well, for the Happy Frog, it was looking a bit gloomy there for a while. So many restaurants have been opening in the neighborhood.” Then, Hiram had a thought. “Hey! Now that I’ve added private party options to our services, we should team up! You could be our exclusive baker for all of the events.”
“I think that’s a great idea! Call me this week, and we can work out the details. I’d be happy to recommend our clients here for party services.” Melody reached into her pocket and handed him a business card.
Hiram pointed to an open area against the back wall of the main dining room. “Here, this would be the perfect spot, don’t you think?”
Kerry and Leslie agreed as they slid the cart into the waiting space. Leslie locked the cart’s wheels as Kerry popped off the lid permanently. “That’s perfect, Hiram. Thanks so much. The guests will really be able to appreciate it here,” Kerry said.
“Wow! Look at that cake,” Tara Leeson said as she strode into the room. She had a big box in her hands. Melody suspected it was one that Tara made herself. “I’m so excited. My mom is going to love it!”
Melody ran to help her with the box.
“We’re so happy you like it,” Melody said as she peeked inside it. “What are these?”
“Those are the centerpieces for the guests’ tables,” she said as she shook off her leather jacket. Melody noticed Kerry admiring it.
Melody looked closer at the centerpieces. Each one was unique, but they were all crafted with a vacation motif in mind. “Did you make these Tara?” Melody asked as Kerry, Leslie, and Hiram joined Melody at the table to examine them as they were unpacked.
“Yes! They’re cute, right?” Tara seemed very proud
of them, except I didn’t get a chance to finish all of them. I’m short three.”
Kerry held one up. “Oh my, these are just adorable!” In the palm of her hand, was a glittered conch shell glued to a square pedestal. The top of the little base was covered in gold, and beige glitter made to look like sand. Wrapped around the bottom of the base was a piece of manilla rope similar to the rope commonly used to tether boats to a dock.
Leslie picked up another of the centerpieces. “Look at this one!” Hers was a glittered starfish glued to the same type of stand.
“They are each a little different. I figured that since she and Otto will be taking a dream cruise after she retires, the tropical vacation theme was most appropriate. It was hard to keep my mother from seeing them, though. She’s like a hawk when it comes to the store’s inventory. Thankfully, Otto distracted her long enough for me to smuggle them out of the shop.”
“Oh, no. People are already coming. Would you two mind helping me by putting the centerpieces on the tables, so Melody and I can quickly set up the motor on the cake? Just put them on every other table if you have to. I guess I’m not the best planner!”
As they set out to complete their final tasks, Hiram distracted the guests, buying them some time.
Once Melody and Tara finished setting up the finishing touch on the cake, Melody called for Kerry and Leslie so see the cake. Everyone was blown away.
“Wow,” Kerry said.
“It’s amazing,” Leslie added.
“It really is the best, you should be very proud, your mom is going to love it,” Melody added before they turned to leave.
Tara stopped them. “Why don’t you three stay? It would be great to have you join us, and I’m sure my mom would appreciate being able to thank you herself for the beautiful cake.”
The three bakers glanced at each other, then nodded.
“Sure, we’ll stay a bit! Thanks for the invitation,” Melody said as they quickly went to join the other guests in doing their best to hide in the shadowy corners of the eatery.