Haylee stood up and blew out a breath, and it rustled the hair that had fallen over her forehead. “Why did I think this was a good idea?”
“I don’t know what the problem is, Hay-Hay. I mean, forty-one dozen cupcakes are like no big deal,” I said, flipping my hand around while I imitated her. “That’s what you told me when I asked if I should take the order this year.”
She rolled her eyes and went back to her cupcake counting. “It’s not a big deal when I thought I was going to make generic cupcakes. When I found out they wanted the school logo on each one, then it became a big deal.”
I peeked at the tray of cupcakes closest to me and grinned. “They look great, though! Look at the cute penguins.” We were called the Lake Pendle Penguins, and even growing up here, I never entirely understood it. We don’t have penguins in Minnesota.
“They’re cute, but they’re a pain in my gigantic ass,” she muttered, putting together another cake box to start packing cupcakes. At this rate, it will only take nine hundred boxes to transport them all to the school. Okay, that was dramatic. It will only take thirteen. I started putting together another box and helped her move all of the cupcakes from pans to boxes.
“I know the kids at the elementary school are going to love them, Hay-Hay. They’re cute, and we all know they’re going to be delicious.” Another boom of thunder shook the cooler, and I leaned back against the shelf, covering my ears and waiting for it to pass before I started packing again. I didn’t want to drop a cupcake and get in trouble with the baker.
Haylee came over and rubbed my back a couple of times. “You’re okay. The weatherman said it’s just passing showers and storms today. Nothing severe.”
I nodded and let out the breath I’d been holding. “You know I’m a chickenshit, but I’ll be fine.”
She started on the next box of cupcakes. “You’re not a chickenshit. You went through a lot, and you’re entitled to carry scars because of it.”
We packed the next four boxes of cupcakes in silence, my fingers able to count the forty-eight cupcakes for each box without even having to think about it. When most of them were packed, I glanced around the almost empty cooler.
“There’s not much product here for the case,” I observed.
Haylee pointed out the door of the cooler. “Able Baker Brady is baking off all the cupcakes and cakes we need for today. They should be cooling on the racks by now. I’ll decorate everything when I finish here. I kept it simple for today since we had all of these cupcakes going out the door. It’s Tuesday, so three flavors of cupcakes will be enough.”
“I should have known you had it under control,” I said on a head shake. “You’ve never not had it under control.”
She frowned, and her eyes clouded for a moment. “Well, there was that one time.”
My arms went around her for a gentle hug. “And that one time wasn’t your fault.”
It was just a few days before Haylee’s birthday last July when Darla McFinkle attacked her. She thought Haylee had cost her the title of Strawberry Fest Princess, but at nearly thirty, it was pathetic that Darla was even running for the crown. Darla always did what Darla wanted to do, though. She’d bullied Haylee her entire life, and it culminated with Darla trying to kill my best friend behind our bakery. If Brady hadn’t found her when he did, Darla might have succeeded. I was so glad she was still here with me every day.
“Have you heard anything about the trial?” I asked, sliding the last box onto the rack we’d push out to the delivery van later.
She grimaced, and her eyes went to the ceiling. “Jury selection starts next week. She’s hired the best attorney in the state, so she’ll probably walk.”
“Where does she get the money to pay for that?” I asked, stymied. “She hasn’t worked a day in her pathetic thirty years of life.”
“Daddy,” Haylee said, her eyes rolling. “Daddy has always spoiled her. He’s the reason she’s the way she is now.”
“A murderer,” I muttered, shaking my head.
“Innocent until proven guilty, Amber,” she reminded me, and we both broke down into a fit of giggles.
“Hard to pretend you’re innocent when you leave the knife you stabbed someone with in your bathtub, and your DNA all over their body.”
“I’m sure she will find a way to twist it in her favor. She always does. Anyway, I think we’re done here.” She pointed at the cupcakes, but I knew she was talking about the discussion regarding Darla. She didn’t like to talk about it, not that I could blame her, so I nodded my head in agreement.
“We’re ready. Once Taylor comes in, I’ll have Brady help me load these, and I’ll deliver them. That way, you can finish your work.”
She slung her arm over my shoulders and squeezed me. “Thanks, bestie. I appreciate it. You’re better at schmoozing with people than I am anyway.”
“That’s what makes us a great team,” I said, throwing her a wink and heading to the front of the bakery to start the day.
THE LAKE PENDLE SCHOOL District consisted of three schools in different areas of the town. Lake Pendle Elementary sat near the lake in a sprawling brick building that had been around for only a few decades. It was built new in the nineties to replace an old building past its prime and fire codes. The new building was a source of pride for the community, with windows in all the classrooms, interior computer labs, and a beautiful gymnasium. There was no doubt that the Lake Pendle Littles, as they’re referred to, get a state-of-the-art education. I don’t have kids, but I do know technology is more important than anything now that our world runs on it.
Today’s
