Free 2 Yule Be the Death of Me by J.D. Shaw Page B

swallowed before answering. “I
don’t know. I sort of feel a bit guilty for sticking my nose in.”
    “We’re doing a
good thing here.” Kathy reminded her as the new waitress, a young college
student named Alexis, poured a refill of coffee as she sauntered by the booth.
Unlike former waitress, Stephanie Bridgeman, Alexis had the grace of a runway
model and the looks to go along with it. Kathy smiled at the pretty girl.
“Thank you so much. Would you be a love and get our checks ready?”
    Alexis nodded,
as she brushed her expertly trimmed blond bangs to the side of her face. “Sure
thing.” She swayed her hips back and forth as she walked to the cash register
where Clara was busy signing paperwork for the truck driver who had dropped off
her weekly food delivery.
    “I’m almost
done, Frank.” Clara flipped to the last page of the manifest. “I know you’re
always in a hurry.”
    “Take your
time, Miss Clara.” Frank smiled as Alexis moved past, causing him to suck in
his stomach which spilled over his belt. “I’m not complaining.”
    Clara cast a
wary eye at him. “There’s a first time for everything I suppose.”
    “Ah, to be
that young again.” Kathy pointed with her index finger at the scene taking
place near the cash register. “Like he’d even have a chance with her.” 
    “I just hate
it when someone is mad at me.” Vivienne replied as she took a sip of coffee.
“It just throws my whole day off.”
    “You’re not
even listening to what I say, are you?” Kathy said with a hint of annoyance in
her tone.
    “I’m sorry.” Vivienne
took a deep breath and shook her head.
    “He’ll get
over it soon enough when he realizes that he’s wrong.” Kathy smiled back. “So,
I haven’t heard anything about Eddie Robertson’s condition. Bryce Starr
mentioned that he was in critical condition at Cayuga Memorial Hospital on his
radio show this morning.”
    “I heard it
too. They’re describing it as an ‘incident’.” Vivienne used her fingers to make
air quotes.
    “Do you think
Natalie shot him?” Kathy whispered.
    Vivienne
shrugged. “I don’t know. I didn’t get to see the actual crime scene.”
    Kathy finished
off the last of her yogurt and dapped a napkin across her lips. “Well, I don’t
think there will be many people shedding a tear if he doesn’t make it.”
    “Don’t say
that.” Vivienne interrupted. “I don’t ever want to get involved with a murder
again. I’ve barely recovered from the last time.”
    Kathy shook
her head. “Look on the bright side. At least he didn’t end up in the dumpster
behind your bakery.”
    “That’s the
bright side? Really?” Vivienne scoffed.
    Alexis returned
with two checks and placed them face down on the table. “Have a good morning,
ladies.”
    “Thanks hon.”
Kathy grabbed Vivienne’s check.
    “I can afford
to pay for toast and coffee.” Vivienne protested.
    “It was my
idea to come here.” Kathy opened one of her many designer Coach purses and pulled out a ten and a five. “That Alexis sure
was a good waitress.”
    Vivienne
nodded. “She’s very quick and polite.”
    Kathy slipped
the five under the sugar container. “She has a figure most women would die
for.”
    “Where is this
going?” Vivienne asked.
    “Whatever do
you mean?”
    Vivienne
pointed to the five. “Our breakfast couldn’t have been more than seven dollars.
Why the huge tip?”
    Kathy sighed.
“Okay, you’ve got me. There’s a spring fashion show coming up in Syracuse and I
want her to model for my store.”
    “So why don’t
you just ask her? “
    Kathy pursed
her lips together. “Because I don’t want her to have the power in this deal. I
know kids these days and they all have such an air of entitlement about them. I
ask her to do this and the next thing you know she has a contract drawn up with
some crazy modeling fee.”
    Vivienne
exhaled at her friend’s response. “Aren’t you putting the cart before the horse
a