Death at the Day Lily Cafe (2 page)

“You going to be okay?” I said.

“I could use a few eggs.”

“Oh my gosh. They're still in the trunk. Here.” I tossed him my car keys.

A smile crept up his face as he looked down at the keys cradled in his palm. I drove a sporty red Mercedes convertible, a fortieth-birthday gift from my now ex-husband, and had never felt comfortable in it.

“Don't get any ideas.” I put my hands on my hips. “You know, Custer, Tyler won't tell me why you needed this job so desperately. But he did say something about a probation officer.”

“Nobody was wronged. Nothing got stolen.” He closed his fingers over the keys. “I guess that's all you need to know.”

I watched him walk out the door. With his good looks and sassy attitude, Custer could very well be Tyler's son and not his nephew. Maybe Tyler had a few secrets of his own.

I picked up my belongings, pushed through the swivel doors, and stopped as a wave of happiness washed over me. The room glowed, its ocher-tinted walls as warm and inviting as a Tuscan hillside. The tables sported turquoise-and-white floral cloths with small white toppers, and the honey-colored wood floors shone in the light streaming in the front windows.

“Hello, my dear,” Glenn said. He approached wearing our standard uniform: black slacks, crisp white shirt, and his own turquoise apron around his waist, with pockets to accommodate order pads, tips, and straws. “Glad you could make it,” he said, and winked.

“Today of all days.” I smiled. “Thanks for getting things started.” I set a bucketful of fresh flowers onto the dark marble counter, which hosted a row of eight high-backed chairs. Two industrial-sized Miele coffee systems sparkled along the wall, ready for action. I lifted a snowy white peony out of the bucket. Water clung to its stem, and the flower had recently burst open into a display of velvety petals.

“I swear, Glenn, between gathering eggs, snipping herbs, and cutting flowers, I'm lucky I got here when I did. Oh, and did I mention the rooster who is in need of a sleeping aid?”

“Mick Jagger?”

“The one and only. Although Tyler often calls him
stud muffin
. Same difference, I guess.”

Glenn chuckled as he pulled two more flowers out of the bucket. “You're here now, and I'm looking forward to the morning.” He smiled over at me. “It's going to be the best debut this town has ever seen.” Glenn snipped the stems and dropped several more peonies into a glass vase.

Crystal emerged from the ladies room, tucked her cloth bag under the counter, and walked over to us. Her black slacks sat low on her hips. A long, honey brown braid hung down her back, exposing an intricate Celtic tattoo encircling the back of her ear.

“Hi, sweetie,” I said. “Are you ready for the big day?”

“I'm cool.” She cocked her head. “You all right?”

“Never been better.”

At twenty-six, Crystal had translucent skin and dark eyes that she adorned with thick navy liner. She clutched the chunk of golden amber she wore around her neck, smoothing it with her thumb. “I just got a weird feeling. Is everything okay?”

“Oh my goodness, yes.” I patted her arm. “I'm sorry I was late. I think I'm still a little frazzled.” I glanced at the clock. Ten minutes to opening. “You ready for our big day?”

“Rosalie.” Glenn nudged my arm. “Doris Bird is at the door.”

I followed his gaze. Doris, proprietor of Birdie's Shoe Store and a dear friend who had helped me out more than once, including bailing me out of jail last year, had her hands cupped around her eyes, peering in at us. An uncharacteristic frown was set hard on her face. “Oh my,” I said, and hurried over to let her in.

 

F
OUR

Glenn fetched Doris a cup of coffee while I escorted her to the counter. She perched on one of the high chairs at the bar and gazed around as if to orient herself.

“Doris,” I said, “what's happened?”

She pushed her thick glasses up her nose. “I brought you your paper.” She handed me the
Washington Post
. “I figured you wouldn't have time to pick it up today.”

“Thank you.” I set it aside. “Who's watching the store?”

“My granddaughter, Ellie Sue. She can't work the credit card machine yet, but she can count money pretty good.”

Glenn set a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. “Doris,” he said, “you seem upset.”

She nodded and gazed over at me. “I need your help, Miss Rosalie. My baby sister, Lori, is in a heap of trouble, and you're the first person I thought of. You did such a good job figuring out who killed that college girl last year, I thought maybe you could help us.”

Glenn and I exchanged a knowing look. Crystal hummed while she folded napkins, but I knew she was listening. “What kind of trouble?” I said.

She looked down at her lap and tugged her printed dress over her knees. “CJ, her husband of thirty-one years, was killed night before last.” She looked up, her forehead lined with worry.

“Oh,” I said. “I'm so sorry.” Out of the corner of my eye I saw Crystal frantically sliding a finger across her neck, signaling me to cut the conversation short.

“I can't imagine who could do such a thing.” Doris frowned. “Problem is the sheriff has decided Lori is the one who killed him.”

“And you're certain she didn't?” Glenn said.

Doris looked surprised at Glenn's question. “She says she didn't. I mean, I believe her, of course. Lori is a lamb. She never even raised a hand to swat at a fly.”

“It's seven o'clock,” Crystal sang. “And we have customers.”

Doris pushed herself off the stool. “I won't keep you. I know this is your big day.” Her eyes darted around. I had never seen her so nervous. “I'll be sending folks over here. I have a stack of your menus on the counter.”

“Doris—” I took her hand in mine. “I have no idea how I can be of help to you, but that doesn't mean I won't try.”

“Rosalie…” Glenn said, narrowing his eyes in a warning look.

I wasn't sure if Glenn was concerned about me neglecting the café or getting into trouble, or maybe both, but I felt indebted to Doris for all she had done to help me over the past year. “Can we get together after I close?” I said. “Oh, and let me pour your coffee into a paper cup so you can take it back to the store.”

“I don't suppose you would go to Lori's house with me? The sheriff let her go late last night, but she's still pretty upset.”

“All right,” I said, trying to ignore the million things I would need to do once we closed at three.

“Welcome to the Day Lily Café,” I heard Crystal say. She led a young couple over to the table in the corner by the windows.

“How did he die?” I said as we walked to the door.

“Shotgun to the chest. Close range.” Doris lifted a hand to the tight gray curls framing her head and stepped gingerly outside.

Glenn watched her go. “Well, that would certainly do it.”

 

F
IVE

By ten o'clock we had a line forming outside and I was hustling, making coffee, wiping down tables, and seating customers. Glenn and Crystal were busy taking orders, and for a moment I stopped and took in the scene. A mother with a child in a high chair was placing sliced cantaloupe on the tray. The father played peek-a-boo with her, and the child giggled so hard I thought she would topple out of the chair. Two tanned couples—who looked to be boaters based on their preppy clothes and deck shoes—were sipping coffee and smiling, their breakfasts recent history. I took pride in their spotless plates, practically licked clean. I noticed a woman I vaguely recognized at a table bobbing a tea bag up and down. I placed her at around sixty-five or maybe a little older. Muffin crumbs dotted her plate. She had a grin on her face even though she was alone. And then I realized her eyes were following Glenn.

Glenn approached. Sweat dotted his brow and hairline. “Table six has been waiting a while for their orders. How is Custer keeping up?”

“I'll check. Do you need anything else?”

“Two lattes and a double espresso.”

“I'm on it.” I pushed through the swivel doors as Custer slid a tray of potato cakes into the oven. Several plates sat under the warming lights. “Table six?”

“Yes, boss.” He closed the oven door.

I exhaled, realizing I'd been holding my breath, worried Custer wasn't up to the task. “Three specials?”

“Yes, boss.” Custer wiped his hands on his already-soiled apron.

“I don't suppose I could bring you some coffee?”

“Yes…”

“Got it,” I interrupted. I placed one of the plates on my forearm and held the other two in my hands. I admired the china I had special ordered—bone white with a scalloped edge and a delicate orange day lily hand painted at the top. Custer had arranged the food perfectly: a triangle of omelet filled with applewood-smoked cheddar, scallions, and fresh oregano in the center, surrounded by a wedge of cantaloupe topped with blueberries and crème fraîche, a thick slice of buttered whole-grain bread, and a toasted potato cake.

“Beautiful, Custer,” I said. “You are very good at what you do.”

He hesitated, looking confused, as if he wasn't sure what to do with the praise I had just offered. I decided to give him time to let it sift in and headed out the door. After delivering the specials to table six, I turned around, and there was my Annie.

“Mom!”

“You're here.”

“Of course I'm here.”

I smoothed her hair. “Aren't you supposed to be at Jenna's picnic?”

“That can wait.” Annie perched on a chair at the bar and pulled an iPad from her tote. “Besides, I don't want to stay at Dad's this weekend.”

“Why not?” I said, trying to quell the ember of anger in my gut. What had Ed done this time?

Annie avoided my eyes. “Dad is entertaining.”

I started Glenn's coffee orders. “What's she like?”

Annie opened her iPad. “Well, she's skinnier than the last one, if you can believe it. She spends most of her time smoking weed on the back deck.” Annie typed in her passcode. “That's probably the only thing that doesn't annoy me.” She kept her eyes on the screen.

I decided against a follow-up question in response to that last comment. “Do you want something to eat?”

“Not right now. I'm here because you're doing a lousy job with your Facebook fan page. Today is
huge
.” She tapped on the screen, bringing it to life. “You should be posting hourly updates, synced with tweets and Instagram pics.”

She tucked a strand of her dark shiny hair behind an ear. Annie was my only child and had just finished her second year at Duke. Last summer she had lived with her father in order to be closer to her friends. I had missed her terribly, and was thrilled when she chose to live with me this summer. When Ed and I first separated, Annie hated the fact that I moved to Cardigan. But as time went by, she began to grow as attached to the people and the pace of life here as I had.

“Okay…” She looked up at me, her wide brown eyes bright with enthusiasm. “I'll start by taking some photos.” She pulled her phone out of her back pocket and looked around the room. “Do you think I could ask Glenn to stand next to the chalkboard with the specials written on it?”

“You don't waste any time.”

“We don't
have
time, Mom.” She gave me a peck on the cheek and strode over to Glenn. They embraced, and my heart warmed. Lifting up her iPhone, she clicked a photo of Glenn, scanned the room, and asked Crystal to stand by the coffee station.

She continued taking more photos, including one of me in front of the restaurant, a plated special, and a fabulous close-up of a vase of peonies.

“How's the kitchen?” Annie said. “I wouldn't mind taking some pics back there.”

“Custer is working away. My guess is he's very photogenic, so have at it. Oh, and be sure to tell him you're my daughter.”

“Since when have I ever had to do that? Everyone says we're twins.” Annie backed through the swinging doors.

I cleaned off several tables and seated three more waiting parties. I looked out at the sun-soaked day. The streets were crowded with people on this holiday weekend. Parents with strollers, loved ones pushing wheelchairs, and couples holding hands, all heading to the park where booths and canvas tents were set up selling crafts and local fare.

Crystal approached, tucking a check pad into her pocket. “That man at table one ordered a double of sausage and bacon. That's it.”

“Must be doing the no carb thing. Be sure to tell him the sausage is homemade here in Devon County.”

“Already did. You seem better,” she said matter-of-factly. “Must be because your kid is here. You're different when she's around. It's like you're complete or something.”

“Wow,” I said. “That's exactly how it feels.” I shook my head in amazement.

“Except there's no love interest,” Crystal added. “That could be the last missing piece.” She started to walk away but paused. “I hate those missing pieces, don't you?”

Glenn stopped on his way to the water pitcher. “How are the muffins holding up? That woman over there has eaten three and she hasn't ordered any food yet.”

I glanced at the table. It was the smiling woman. “She looks familiar.”

“I think her name is Gretchen. She owns a bed-and-breakfast just outside of town.” Glenn squinted at her. “She's on the smart-growth committee.”

“She's eaten three muffins? Maybe Tony was right. He posted on my fan page that I shouldn't give away free stuff.”

“Yes, I think he is exactly right.” He brushed his hair from his forehead. “Live and learn.” He shrugged his shoulders and headed toward the kitchen, passing Annie as he went through the door.