Free A Frothy Fiasco: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 3) by Constance Barker Page B

Edna Gertz across the street from the Baumgardners had called him for an emergency repair of a broken window. But she didn’t call him, and her windows were fine. And he knew the Baumgardners were at their rental store and not home.”
    Jules looked at me.
    “I’d like to make a case against the ponytail guy and the lady biker, but my evidence can’t hold a candle to Essie’s and Hildie’s accounts.”
    “Well, I better go and get some pictures of the picnic and the golf tournament,” Jules said. “Are you and Eli going out tonight?”
    “Yup.”
    “To the moonlight square dance at Sleepy Palms?”
    “Nope.”
    “Bowling?”
    “Nope.” I couldn’t hold back the hint of a smile.
    “So…spill. Where’s he taking you?”
    “Oh, no place special. We’re just going to grab a bite…at the Torch Club.”
    Jules’ jaw dropped and she gave me a hug.
    “I knew that big lug was in love with you. Don’t come home early, if at all, and tell me all the details at the steeplechase tomorrow.”
    Essie and Hildie seemed pleased too as Jules waved and went out the front door.
    “That’s where Joe proposed to me,” Essie said with a misty look in her eye. “It was the nicest place in town back then.”
    “It’s still one of the nicest,” Hildie said. “Do you think…”
    “No.” I stopped her in mid-sentence. “He won’t be popping any question tonight. We’re not at that stage yet…but maybe this will bring us a step closer.”
    “Well, you just go on and get out of here. Check out the picnic for a while, and then get home early so you can start getting ready,” Essie said with a pat on my arm. “We’ll run the shop today. Hildie knows all of the fancy coffee drinks, and I’ve been watching you do the cold ones. Just don’t worry about the Coffee Cabana today.”
    Hildie had pulled her phone out of her pocket. I didn’t even know she had joined the cellular age.
    “Hello, Connie? It’s Hildie. …No, no, there’s no problem with my new hair-do. It’s just fine. But I have an emergency for you. My niece is going to the Torch Club tonight, and…well, I’ve told you about the sorry state of her hair. …That would be great. Now, this will take you a while. It’s a real hornet’s nest.”
    Gee, thanks Hildie.
    “Yes,” Hildie continued, “whatever you can do, just put it on my account. Hot oil, extensions, highlights, and any other tricks you’ve got up your sleeve. Thanks so much Connie. I’ll send her right over.”
    Hildie stood up and literally pushed me towards the door.
    “Hildie…”
    “Don’t ‘Hildie’ me. You’re going to Connie’s right now.”
    “Essie…” I pleaded.
    “Don’t make me tie you up and carry you there…”
    “Auntie…”
    “…cause I’ll do it! What?”
    “Thank you!”

  Chapter Ten
     
     
    I came home from Connie’s with an armful of dry shampoo, leave-in conditioner, spray mousse for my roots, salt spray for double volume, the rest of the box of clip-in hair extensions (since I was too chicken to let her use the kind that have to be glued in), a round brush, blow dryer, and a satin pillow case. She said that would be “a good start.”
    And the good news is, my hair looked like real hair that belonged on the head of a real girl! She moisturized the heck out of it, cut off the split ends, layered it just a little, brightened up the color, added highlights and a few of the clip-in extensions, put in some other “product,” and then blow-dried and styled it. Two hours later, I was a very happy camper.
    I called Jules to come over to make sure it didn’t look like I was going overboard for the occasion, and she was also really fantastic with makeup – and helping me pick out the right dress. I starved myself, since I only had a few hours to lose ten pounds. Well…it’s the thought that counts. And I soaked in a warm bubble bath for half an hour. I made sure the water wasn’t hot enough to steam the body out of my hair. Jules arrived