King Cake and Grave Mistakes Read online

  “That’s the problem,” Jackie croaked. “She sent Lawrence, that hunk of an officer, out to talk to me. Meghan, he is gorgeous. I want to run my hands through those dark curls of his. And that jawline? He is a babe.”

  Meghan laughed. “I’ll have to tell Jack you said that. Maybe we can set you two up and double date?”

  “I don’t think that’s going to happen,” Jackie moaned. “I didn’t expect such a cutie pie to show up at my door, and I acted like a fool, Meghan. I could hardly speak. When he looked at me, I lost all ability to speak. I sounded like such a loser.”

  “I’m sure that isn’t true. The police are used to people feeling awkward and tense in interviews. It probably went better than you thought.”

  “I hope you’re right,” Jackie said. “Anyway, what did you call me for? What’s up?”

  “One of my nails broke last night,” Meghan told Jackie.

  “Oh no. How did that happen?” Jackie asked.

  “It’s….a long story,” Meghan murmured, not wanting to recount the mugging. “I have some time right now. Could I run over and have the nail fixed?”

  “Yeah, it’s quiet around here today,” Jackie said. “Why don’t you come on over?”

  “Awesome. I’ll see you in a few.”

  When Meghan arrived at the salon, she was pleasantly surprised to find that there were no customers. She wasn’t in the mood to make small talk, and Meghan was happy to relax and spend time with her friend.

  “Thank you for squeezing me in,” Meghan told Jackie as Jackie greeted her.

  “No problem,” Jackie said. “I’m happy to see you.”

  Meghan settled into the chair at one of the manicure stations, feeling luxurious as she sank into the leather seat. Jackie examined her hands. “How did this nail come off?” she asked as she looked at Meghan’s pointer finger, the nail torn and the skin jagged. “Meghan? This didn’t happen while you were baking, did it?”

  Meghan sighed. “I didn’t want to tell you,” she began. “But I was mugged last night as I walked home from your house.”

  Jackie gasped. “You were mugged? Were you hurt? Did they take anything? Oh Meghan, I am so sorry. Are you okay?”

  Meghan felt tears brim in her dark eyes, and she took a long breath. “It was terrifying,” she told Jackie. “He came out of nowhere, and he tried to take my purse. Dash bit him in the leg, and he ran off, but I’m pretty upset.”

  “I’m sure,” Jackie said. “What an awful thing to go through. I’m so glad you are safe, Meghan.”

  “Me too,” Meghan murmured.

  “Hey,” a cool voice greeted Meghan and Jackie. They turned to see Rosie Jakes march into the salon.

  “Rosie,” Jackie said. “It’s nice to see you today. Are you here to drop off the remaining balance for the salon day?”

  Rosie nodded. “Yes,” she said. “Here’s the check.”

  Jackie beamed. “Thank you for such a wonderful opportunity,” she told Rosie as she opened the envelope. “It didn’t end the way we hoped, but I’m glad that we were able to partner together to create such a fun, relaxing day for Mariah and her friends.”

  “Our friends,” Rosie corrected.

  “Of course,” Jackie apologized as she looked down at the check. She frowned. “Rosie, this is not the amount we agreed on,” she said. “Will there be another check?”

  “No,” Rosie told her. “We agreed on an amount that was meant to compensate you for two days of service. You only worked for one day.”

  Jackie’s eyes widened. “But Cathy Thomas died that evening,” she argued. “And no one responded to my calls or texts when I reached out regarding the plans for the next day.”

  Rosie shrugged. “That isn’t my problem,” she informed Jackie. “You signed a contract that says you would be paid for working two days. You worked one day. Mariah Cooper is not going to pay you in full if you can’t provide the fullest experience.”

  Jackie glared at Rosie. “You can’t be serious. You never returned my calls. I tried to reach out to see if you wanted me to come back. This is on you, Rosie. You should be writing a check to me yourself.”

  Rosie placed her hands on her hips. “Oh really?”

  Jackie nodded. “Really. I can see right through you, Rosie. You’re riding on Mariah’s coattails, and everyone knows it. It’s cute that she has a little lackey to do her work for her, like arranging spa days and dropping off checks.”

  Rosie held her hands up and dropped them down quickly, banging them against Jackie’s counter. “Don’t you dare talk to me like that,” she roared as Meghan and Jackie’s jaws dropped. “You know who I am, and you know who my crowd is. Don’t mess with me, Jenny.”

  “It’s Jackie,” Jackie whispered, stunned by Rosie’s outburst.

  “Whatever,” Rosie said, regaining her composure and smoothing her hair. “Take what I’m giving you and be grateful. You signed a contract, Jackie, and if you want to keep up this little tiff, I can have Mariah’s lawyer in here, pronto. In fact, I think I see some mold on the walls.”

  Jackie’s eyes widened. “Those walls are freshly painted and clean. There is no mold!”

  Rosie rolled her eyes. “That’s what you say, but I don’t know...I think I see some mold. I might just have to have the health inspector drop by at Mariah’s insistence…”

  “I’ll take the check,” Jackie pleaded. “I’m done arguing. Thank you for the opportunity.”

  “Of course,” Rosie said, flashing a bright smile as she turned on her Prada heels to leave. “It was a pleasure, Jackie. A real pleasure.”

  11

  “Siesta, sit,” Meghan commanded as Siesta pawed at her hand. “Mama needs to order some ingredients online for a new recipe, and you are not helping her.”

  Meghan leaned back against her pillows and refreshed the browser on her red laptop, happy to be settled in her bed after the stressful afternoon at the salon. She hadn’t expected Rosie Jakes to burst in unannounced, and Rosie’s rudeness had been quite a shock. Jackie had been speechless when Rosie left, and Meghan felt terrible for her friend.

  “Let’s see,” Meghan said aloud as she browsed the online cane sugar boutique. “This type looks good, but I don’t think it would melt well in the oven. I love the color of this sugar, but the grains are too large for the dish.”

  Siesta wriggled her way down from Meghan’s bed and began sniffing underneath Meghan’s dresser. The dog wagged her tail back and forth in excitement, and Meghan was curious as to what Siesta had found.

  “What do you have there?” Meghan asked. “What are you looking at, Siesta?”

  Meghan placed her laptop on her bedside table and got up from her bed. She bent down to see what her dog had been looking at beneath the dresser. “It’s a photo album,” Meghan exclaimed as she removed a large burgundy book from the floor. “I’ve been looking for this. Siesta, you good girl!”

  Meghan leaned against the side of her bed, opening the burgundy photo album. She smiled as she looked at a picture of herself holding hands with Jack; he had called earlier to tell her that he wouldn’t be able to make it home for a few more days, and Meghan missed him desperately.

  “Look at Karen and me,” Meghan cried in delight as she turned to a picture of herself and Karen posing in front of the Hollywood sign. “This was one of our first outings together,” Meghan murmured. “Karen and I have been through so much together. From Los Angeles to Sandy Bay, she is a friend I never want to lose. In fact, I need to check in on her; it’s been a few days since we’ve spoken, and I need to make sure she is doing alright after her mugging...now I know what it feels like to be the victim of such a crime, and we need to stick together!”

  Meghan put away the scrapbook and reached for her cell phone. She hopped back into bed, careful not to crush Fiesta, who was sleeping soundly. Meghan dialed Karen’s number, and was delighted when she answered.

  “It’s good to hear your voice,” Karen said worriedly. “I heard about what happened to y
ou, Sweetie. I’m sorry I didn’t call sooner. Are you alright?”

  “I’m still shaken,” Meghan admitted as she scratched Siesta’s forehead. “It really takes a lot out of you, you know?”

  “I do know,” Karen agreed. “I’m feeling better myself, though. I had a nice pity party for myself the day it happened, but now, I feel like myself again. I’m not going to let some low-life mugger steal my zest for life, Meghan, and I hope you don’t either.”

  “You are just the person I needed to talk to,” Meghan told Karen. “You are so upbeat and positive, and that’s what I needed to hear.”

  “I’m always here for you, Sweetie,” Karen told her. “Say, I was going to call you about this later, so I’m glad we’ve connected. I decided that I am going to take some martial arts classes at the recreational center. I want to be able to properly defend myself in case anything happens again. You know how I love fitness classes.”

  Meghan laughed, thinking of the hundreds of yoga, Pilates, zumba, free weights, ballet, barre, and swim cardio classes Karen had dragged her to over the last few years. “I do know that you love your workouts,” Meghan giggled.

  “I think martial arts would be the perfect thing to get my mind off of feeling sorry for myself, and to get my body trained to fight,” Karen declared. “We women have to be tough as nails in this world, and I know that some slick moves would help me feel safer. What do you think, Meghan? Do you want to join me? The class is free with a Sandy Bay ID card, and even if it is just silly, we would have fun together.”

  “Yes,” Meghan said without hesitation. “Let’s do it.”

  “Really?” Karen asked in amazement. “Usually I have to beg you to come to classes with me.”

  “I need to feel safer,” Meghan told her friend. “I want to be stronger, and safer, and I think taking a martial arts class will help me feel better after what happened the other night. I’m in, Karen. Sign me up.”

  The next morning, Karen and Meghan met up outside of the recreational center, both dressed in matching martial arts outfits. Meghan had hastily purchased the white smock and matching leggings that morning, and while she thought the ensemble made her look frumpy, she hoped eventually, it would get her into the mindset of martial arts.

  “You look fabulous, Sweetie,” Karen shouted as Meghan walked up. “White is definitely one of your colors.”

  Meghan stared at Karen’s uniform; it fit Karen perfectly, and Karen looked fierce and strong in the white canvas outfit. “Yours looks so good, Karen,” Meghan told her friend.

  “I had it specially made,” Karen said gleefully. “I always feel like if I dress well, I perform well, so I made sure to have my tailor do some nipping and tucking here and there.”

  “Maybe I’ll grow into mine?” Meghan joked as she tugged at the loose fabric pooling around her waist.

  “You look adorable,” Karen assured her. “It’s not about how you look, though. It’s about how you feel. And I am ready to feel like a fierce, fabulous fighter!”

  Karen led Meghan inside of the recreational center and down a long, narrow hallway. “This reminds me of the karate competitions I used to do as a teenager,” Karen whispered to Meghan as they entered the large, airy practice room. “I had a black belt by the time I was thirteen, and I was the only girl in my division, too.”

  Meghan’s jaw dropped. “You competed in karate competitions?”

  Karen smiled. “I’m a Karen-of-all-trades, my dear,” she joked. “Now, let’s have a seat; it looks like the sensei is about to begin.”

  As if on cue, a tall, muscular woman entered the room and glided to the front. With her auburn hair tucked into a top-knot, a strong jawline, and high cheekbones, she looked both fierce and fabulous, the two qualities Meghan was seeking to find in the class.

  “Welcome, everyone,” the sensei murmured as she lowered herself to a cross-legged seat on the wooden floor. “I am honored to be teaching your class today. My name is Sharon, and I hope that we will learn from each other on this journey.”

  “She’s great,” Meghan whispered to Karen. “I like her already. Will she be the teacher for each session?”

  “I don’t know,” Karen said. “But I hope so.”

  Sharon continued. “Today, we will be working on some lighter moves to prepare our bodies for the difficult positions we will learn next week.”

  “Oh, good,” Meghan thought. “We’ll ease into this martial arts thing.”

  “But let me begin by telling all of you a story,” the sensai announced. “When I was a young girl, I felt helpless and weak. The world told me that women should be meek and sweet, not strong and powerful. When I went away to school, one day, I was mugged.”

  “Just like us,” Karen hissed to Meghan. “See? She can relate!”

  “I was mugged, and my heart was broken. I felt weak and sad, but after some self-examination, I knew that I needed to grow my strength and become the powerful woman I was destined to be. I began studying martial arts. I found myself through my study, and now, I am affirmed in my strength and power. No matter the reason you decided to show up here today, you are all here for a reason. Ladies and gentlemen, you are all strong, mighty beings, and it is my honor to work with you today.”

  “That was such a good speech,” Meghan said to Karen. “She seems to really get it. I’m excited to learn from her.”

  “But today, you will not just be learning from me,” Sharon said.

  “Ugh,” Meghan groaned. “I really like her. I don’t want another teacher.”

  “You will be learning with our special guest. This guest was my sensei when I was a young, lost girl. I trained under this sensei for years and have learned everything from them. Her power and might is unmistakable, and it is my honor to introduce her.”

  The class began to clap. “And now, my sensei!”

  Meghan gasped as the sensei walked into the room. It was none other than Sally Sheridan, one of the oldest ladies in town. Mrs. Sheridan was notorious for her grumpiness, but she and Meghan had connected a few months prior. While Mrs. Sheridan was still fussy with her at times, Meghan knew that Sally had a heart of gold and only the best intentions.

  “I am the sensei,” Mrs. Sheridan announced to the room. She was dressed in a red smock, holding her cane to support her. “I trained Sharon many years ago, and it is my pleasure to train some of you today.”

  Sharon smiled at Mrs. Sheridan. “Mrs. Sheridan here has agreed to do a demonstration today,” Sharon told the class. “We are going to do a martial arts fight together, right here in front of you.”

  “She’s going to fight Mrs. Sheridan?” Meghan gasped. “But Mrs. Sheridan is so old!”

  “Hey, don’t you hate on us oldies,” Karen teased. “We are strong, too.”

  Meghan giggled. “Whoops. I didn’t mean it like that, Karen.”

  “Hush, Meghan Truman,” Mrs. Sheridan ordered. “I hear you talking back there.”

  “Sorry, Mrs. Sheridan,” Meghan apologized.

  Sharon turned to Mrs. Sheridan. Both women bowed toward each other, and then, they began to fight. While Sharon was quick, Mrs. Sheridan was strong. She used her cane to fight, weaving it in and out of Sharon’s legs as the two women moved back and forth.

  “Look at her go,” Meghan exclaimed. “Mrs. Sheridan is kicking Sharon’s butt! I didn’t expect that.”

  Mrs. Sheridan avoided a blow from Sharon’s elbow. She leaned the opposite direction, and then stuck her cane between Sharon’s arms, trapping Sharon and winning the fight.

  “She has persevered,” Sharon told the class, her breath choppy. “My sensei has defeated me. I hope you all have learned something from our demonstration today, and I hope you have enjoyed this exhibition of Mrs. Sheridan’s fine-tuned skills.”

  The class nodded silently, all in amazement that Mrs. Sheridan had won the fight. “It’s all about your momentum,” Mrs. Sheridan declared as she dramatically took a bow in front of the awestruck class. “Remember, use your advantages
and strengths, and don’t think about your weaknesses. Focusing on your weaknesses makes you weaker, but thinking of your strengths makes you better.”

  “Wow,” Meghan whispered to Karen. “Her moves were amazing. I wonder if I’m ever going to have those kind of moves.”

  “You will,” Karen told Meghan as they rose to their feet to begin their stretches. “You will.”

  12

  “Thanks for bringing me along today,” Pamela chirped as she and Meghan perused the fruit section of the indoor winter farmer’s market.

  “Of course,” Meghan said. “Your idea to put strawberries into the next batch of King Cake is wonderful, and you are the perfect person to bring along for some shopping.”