Apple Pie and Trouble Read online

  APPLE PIE AND TROUBLE

  A Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery

  By

  Amber Crewes

  Published by Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing in 2018

  All characters and events in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

  Copyright © Pen-n-a-Pad Publishing

  The moral right of the author has been asserted.

  All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.

  CONTENTS

  About Apple Pie and Trouble

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  1

  2

  3

  4

  5

  6

  7

  8

  9

  10

  11

  12

  13

  Thank You!

  Brownies and Dark Shadows Cover

  About Brownies and Dark Shadows

  BROWNIES AND DARK SHADOWS CHAPTER 1 SNEEK PEEK

  ALSO BY AMBER CREWES

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  About Apple Pie and Trouble

  Released: July, 2018

  Series: Book 1 – Sandy Bay Cozy Mystery Series

  Standalone: Yes

  Cliff-hanger: No

  Meghan Truman always had a dream to become a Hollywood actress. Hollywood decided she wasn’t good enough. She left Hollywood broken but with a burning desire to start afresh in the Pacific Northwest, pursuing her second dream – opening a bakery.

  She never expected that the owner of a rival establishment would be found dead and all eyes would be focused on her as the prime suspect.

  As the new girl in town with a new bakery store, she’s determined to clear her name and find the murderer; otherwise she’ll have to leave Sandy Bay penniless and pitiful and possibly the murderer’s next victim.

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  1

  “GOOD MORNING, MEGHAN TRUMAN! It’s a beautiful day to be in Sandy Bay!”

  Meghan smiled sleepily at Karen, her seventy-two year old friend and former neighbor, who had just walked through the front door of the bakery, Truly Sweet. The two had met back in Los Angeles; Karen was a retired nurse, and she and Meghan had lived in the same apartment complex. Meghan adored Karen’s enthusiasm and vigor, and Karen was filled with energy as she burst through the door.

  “Someone’s cheerful this morning!” Meghan said, rubbing her hazel eyes and stifling a yawn as Karen hoisted herself up to sit on the counter. “I wasn’t expecting you. I’m sorry I’m still in my pajamas!”

  Karen tossed her frosted, shoulder-length blonde hair behind her shoulder and shook her head. “Sorry to surprise you, sweetie! I just couldn’t resist stopping by. I was driving by after leaving the gym, and I saw that you had painted the front door. I just had to stop by and admire it!”

  Meghan grinned. “I couldn’t sleep last night, and so there I was, outside, painting the front door at two in the morning. I just wanted everything to be perfect, Karen! It’s not every day that you start the business of your dreams!”

  Karen’s eyes became solemn and as she nodded, Meghan saw Karen’s eyes begin to glitter with tears. “Meghan,” Karen said. “I’m just so proud of you! At twenty-seven years old, you’ve moved across the country, and now, you’re about to open your bakery. How fabulous!”

  Meghan walked over to Karen and wrapped her arms around the older woman, feeling the warmth of Karen’s body as she leaned her head on Karen’s shoulder. “You are too much, Karen! I wouldn’t be here in Sandy Bay without your help; if you hadn’t convinced me to leave LA, I would probably still be at some audition, still trying to make it as an actress.”

  Karen shrugged her narrow, but muscular shoulders as she gently pulled away from Meghan’s embrace. “Look, sweetie,” Karen said kindly. “You are young and beautiful, and the world is your oyster right now! Hollywood is a rough town for such a sweet girl. I think you’ll be happier here than you’ve ever been. Sandy Bay is quiet, and the people are kind. The Pacific Northwest is a special place, Meghan, and I know you’ll fit right in.”

  Meghan ran a hand through her dark, messy hair and sighed. She had another long, busy day ahead of her. After moving to Sandy Bay from Los Angeles on a whim three weeks ago, Meghan’s life had been brimming with excitement; Karen had persuaded her to lease a charming little two-story brick building on the town square, and Meghan had applied for the permits to open Truly Sweet, the bakery of her dreams. She had moved her belongings into the tiny upstairs apartment above the bakery, and she had changed her address at the post office. After nearly three years of trying to make it in Hollywood, Meghan was now officially a resident of Sandy Bay, and as she painted and cleaned in preparation for the opening of her bakery, she felt herself begin to feel at ease for the first time since she had left home in Texas after college.

  Karen lifted her arms above her body and stretched. “Meghan? Are you sure you don’t want to go to pilates with me? There’s an afternoon class today, and plenty of girls your age go! It could be a good chance to meet people in Sandy Bay!”

  Meghan raised one eyebrow at Karen and shook her head. “Karen,” she began, “It’s nice of you to ask me, but I have to tell you the same thing I told you when you first asked me last night. I’ve been moving boxes and painting for days, and my body is aching. I can hardly move, let alone do pilates.”

  Karen shrugged. “Just had to ask,” she said. “Well, I’ll let you wake up a bit and get your day started. I just had to compliment you on the front door. The yellow paint looks simply fabulous!”

  Karen leaned in to kiss Meghan on the cheek, and then, she marched out of the bakery, her matching velour sweatsuit lighting up the gray morning as she strode to her orange jeep.

  “That lady is in better shape than me, and I’m half her age!” Meghan murmured to herself as she looked down at her curvy, womanly figure. “I hope I have that much energy when I am in my seventies, because I definitely don’t have any today!”

  Meghan slowly made her way upstairs to change into her clothes, her legs and arms sore from the labor she had put into making Truly Sweet beautiful. As she came back downstairs, she grinned as she stepped into the bakery. Meghan was proud of her hard work; she had little experience with decor or design, but with Karen’s help, she had turned the dilapidated brick building into a quaint little space. The walls were painted pale yellow, and little white tables were positioned around the dining area. The counters and cabinets were painted white as well, and a long, painted wooden shelf held a diverse array of rich, green succulents that gave the room a fresh, airy feeling.

  “It’s almost ready,” Meghan said, as she stood in the bakery, her hands on her hips. “It’s almost my time to shine!”

  Meghan took a long breath as she surveyed the pale yellow walls of the bakery. “These could use another coat of paint,” she muttered to herself, inhaling deeply. “I could probably get away with the walls as they are, but another coat would be just perfect. We only have three days until the opening though….”

  Meghan took a seat at one of the little white tables and looked around the room. She had poured herself into making Truly Sweet a lovely place, and she hoped the citizens of Sandy Bay would be pleased by
the addition of a bakery. Back in Los Angeles, Karen had sworn to Meghan that opening a bakery in Sandy Bay would be a wonderful idea, and now, with only a few days until the grand opening, Meghan felt her heart flutter with nerves each time she imagined someone stepping inside and having a taste of Meghan’s homemade treats!

  “It’ll be awesome, Meghan! Just imagine it!” Karen had gushed back in California. “Sweetie, you’ve been auditioning nonstop for every movie, play, and commercial, and I can see it in your eyes that you’re unhappy. You always talk about that bakery you worked at in your hometown as a girl, and I see the way your face lights up when you bring a new little dessert over to show me. I’m moving home to Sandy Bay at the end of the month. Come with me! There’s a cute little building downtown that’s been sitting vacant, and you could start a new chapter with a bakery! Just imagine!”

  Meghan thought back to that conversation with Karen. It felt like ages ago, but in reality, she had only been in Sandy Bay for a few weeks. Meghan was nervous about the bakery’s opening ceremony, but as she studied the little space she had devoted herself to fixing up, she felt her heart pound with pride.

  “It’s going to be great,” Meghan whispered. “I’ve loved making this place pretty, and if it weren’t for Karen, I would still be back trying to make it big in LA. This is where I belong now. This is going to be home.”

  A loud pounding at the front door of the bakery stirred Meghan from her wistful daydreaming, and she nearly jumped out of her seat.

  “Hello?” Meghan called out. “Who is it?”

  “This is Norman Butcher! Who are you?”

  Meghan cringed at the loud, fussy voice on the other side of her newly painted door. She rose from the chair, and tucked her dark hair behind her ears.

  “It’s Meghan. Meghan Truman? I’m new in town.”

  Meghan carefully pulled the white lace curtains back and peered outside. A short, stout man wearing a pair of tortoiseshell spectacles looked back at her, and he gestured feverishly toward the door.

  “Please, open this door. We need to have a chat, Ms. Truman.”

  Meghan noticed a British accent. She opened the door, and the man came barreling in.

  “I see from the sign that was put up outside that this is a bakery,” Norman said brusquely as he took a seat in one of the little white chairs. “I own a tea shop just across the way, and we bake and sell our own goods.”

  Meghan joined Norman at the table. “Another business owner! How nice of you to stop by!” Meghan said happily.

  Norman shook his head vigorously. “This isn’t a social call,” he said sternly as Meghan’s eyes widened. “You’re new in town, and when I saw that someone was trying to open a bakery here, I knew I needed to speak up.”

  Meghan shook her head. “I’m not trying to open a bakery here,” she said steadily, folding her hands delicately in front of her on the table. “I am opening a bakery here. I have all of the paperwork and permits ready, and as soon as I’m finished fixing this place up, I’ll be in business!”

  Norman folded his arms across his chest. He was an older gentleman, and as he furrowed his brow, the wrinkles on his forehead cut deep across his face to form an angry expression. “Look,” he said quietly as Meghan leaned away from him. “This town doesn’t need another place to buy baked goods. It could be years before your business makes a profit. You look young enough. Why don’t you go somewhere else and open a bakery? I hear Nantucket is nice.”

  Meghan rose from the table, irritated with Norman’s intrusion. She had work to do, and he was being quite rude.

  “Thank you for stopping by today, but I must say goodbye for now,” Meghan said, her hazel eyes filled with annoyance as she gestured toward the yellow door of Truly Sweet. “I’ll be staying in Sandy Bay. I do hope we can get along well together.”

  Norman muttered under his breath as he stomped out, and as he stepped across the threshold, Meghan turned the lock on the door.

  “That’s enough excitement for one morning,” Meghan huffed, trying to lower her shoulders and relax her body. She was confused by Norman’s visit; everyone she had met in Sandy Bay thus far had been so kind, but Norman’s visit was perplexing. He had been terribly rude, and Meghan did her best to not get upset.

  Turning back to face the kitchen, she shrugged. “Time to get back to work!” Meghan exclaimed, picking up a paintbrush and smiling as she got underway. She wondered if there would be any other distractions that morning.

  2

  “IT JUST LOOKS FABULOUS,” Karen cooed, as she looked around Truly Sweet. Meghan beamed. It did look fabulous, and the grand opening of the bakery was proving to be a success! The night before, Karen and Meghan had hung strands of string lights through the wooden rafters in the ceiling of the dining area. The lights were twinkling, and the pale yellow walls glowed. Karen had loaned Meghan fifty antique powder blue plates to place on the white tables, and nearly fifty guests were milling about Truly Sweet.

  “I couldn’t have done it without you,” Meghan said, reaching to hug Karen. “This night wouldn’t have been possible without you!”

  Karen playfully rolled her eyes. “Nope. You get all the credit, sweetie! Now, go enjoy your special night. I need to go have a piece of that apple pie of yours! My niece, Debbie, is here, and she said it’s the best thing she’s ever eaten and that nearly all of it is gone already!”

  “You’ll have to introduce us!” Meghan said. “I’m happy she was able to come.”

  Karen smiled. “She’s about your age. You two will get on well. I’ll bring her over sometime this week. You go mix and mingle; you only have one opening ceremony, and I want you to soak it in!”

  Karen scuttled away, and Meghan’s heart swelled with pride as she glanced around the room. People were smiling, her desserts were being eaten, and the opening ceremony was proving to be a roaring success! For the first time since she had arrived in Sandy Bay, Meghan truly felt as though she had made it and that everything was going to work out for her in her new home.

  Within a week of the opening, Truly Sweet was one of the most popular establishments in town. Meghan was swarmed with orders and walk-in customers, and with every day, her schedule grew busier.

  “I just don’t know how I’ll manage it all!” Meghan exclaimed to Karen on the phone one evening. “It’s taken off faster than I ever imagined!”

  Meghan could hear Karen giggling. “I told you,” Karen said gleefully. “I told you that this was a good idea!”

  “It was,” Meghan agreed. “I just hope I can maintain it all.”

  “How about I stop by tomorrow and give you a hand?” Karen asked. “I have some time between my morning run and my yoga class. I can stop by and help you!”

  “That would be wonderful,” Meghan said, thankful for Karen’s unfailing support. “I can’t wait to see you!”

  The next day, Karen visited the bakery in the afternoon. It had been a hectic morning, but all was quiet when Karen arrived, a young, blonde-haired woman walking in behind her.

  “Karen!” Meghan said. “So happy to see you. It’s been a crazy morning!”

  Karen looked at the pile of dishes in the sink, her eyes large. “I see that,” Karen said. She walked behind the counter and retrieved a spare apron, tying it tightly around her thin waist. “I’ll get to work on these dishes, but first, let me introduce my niece!”

  The blond woman stepped up to the counter and smiled at Meghan. “It’s nice to meet you!

  I was at the opening, but I didn’t get to say hello. I’m Debbie! Aunt Karen speaks so highly of you.”

  Meghan studied Debbie, noticing her impeccable clothes and tidy appearance. Meghan felt sloppy and bashful; her dark hair was thrown up into a loose bun atop her head, and she was covered in flour from the morning in the kitchen.

  “Thanks,” Meghan said quietly, looking down at the ground. “Nice to meet you, Debbie.”

  Karen picked up the pile of dishes and carried them to the back room. “I’ll work
on these. You girls chat!”

  Meghan shifted awkwardly, but Debbie continued to smile at her. “The opening was so nice,” Debbie said, smoothing her blunt, chin-length hair with the back of her right hand. “There is some serious potential here, Meghan.”

  Meghan felt herself relax, and she smiled shyly at Debbie. “Thank you so much,” Meghan said, feeling herself blush.

  “Seriously,” Debbie continued, looking around the bakery with business-like ferocity. “I was going to be an investment banker on Wall Street. I’m back in town from New York as of last month. It just didn’t work out. I know my stuff though, and from the looks of what you have going on here, I think that with the right management and systems in place, this place could be listed on the stock exchange!”

  Meghan’s jaw dropped. “Really?” Meghan asked, placing her hands on her hips, her eyes wide. “You really think that?”