Free Raisin the Dead by Karoline Barrett Page B

with Dottie and Beau. I had a birthday cake to work on, which was a good thing. It was a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. The man’s wife had requested a motorcycle motif, and I had several drawings of motorcycles spread around me. It would take my mind off love and death. I slipped past the counter as Olivia handed a customer a box of cupcakes.
    â€œI’d like one of your cute t-shirts, too, I think,” I heard the customer tell Olivia as I grabbed my apron from behind the door, slipped it over my head, and tied it.
    â€œHi,” Olivia greeted me when the woman left. “Phew! It’s been crazy busy today so far, not that I’m complaining. Glad you’re here. Do you mind if I go grab a sandwich at Morton’s to bring back? I’m starving.”
    â€œNot at all. Take your time. Can you get me a Swiss cheese sandwich with lettuce, tomatoes, and mustard? And a bag of corn chips. I drank a smoothie earlier, and that’s it. Oh, and one of Morton’s apples, too. They buy them from that Mennonite market, they’re fabulous.”
    She laughed. “Are you sure that’s it?”
    â€œI think so.” I dug in my pocket for money then handed it to her.
    â€œBe right back,” Olivia called as she went out the door.
    I straightened up our pile of t-shirts, adjusted the mugs, then went in the back to line up my ingredients for my afternoon project, a Batman cake for a seven-year-old boy. Maybe I should’ve ordered a banana chocolate milkshake from Morton’s. I was that hungry.
    The bell on the front door jingled. I hurried to the front. I was pleased to see Ed McCray. He was renting the apartment over the garage at Addair Funeral Home, which is owned by Brian’s family. Brian runs it now and lives in the main house.
    I’d lived in the garage apartment before I moved into Dottie’s house. Lola had a problem with me living in such close proximity to him, so Brian asked me to move out. It had hurt a little, but in retrospect, it was the best thing that could have happened to me.
    Ed’s a great guy who had helped me with some questions I had about Calista’s murder. I’d grown fond of him. “Hello there, good to see you.”
    He removed his worn Brooklyn Dodgers baseball cap. “Hi there, Molly. How’s the bakery business?”
    â€œExcellent, thank you. What can I get you?”
    He looked down at our case. “How ’bout some of those chocolate and mint cupcakes? They taste like the Girl Scout cookies. Go great with a glass of milk.”
    â€œThey do, don’t they? How many?” I reached for a box in which to put the cupcakes.
    â€œOh, a dozen, I guess. Dozen cannoli, too. Got family coming this weekend. I’m sure they’ll go quick.”
    I handed him the box of cupcakes and the box of cannoli and rang him up. “I hear you’re taking Dottie to the dance at the Elks Club in two weeks. She’s so excited.”
    He pulled out his wallet. “I’m not much of a dancer anymore, but she thought we’d have a good time, so there you are. She’s probably right. Guess I’ll buy a new suit. Got one I go to church in, but it’s looking a little old. Like me.”
    I’d fixed Dottie and Ed up a few months back and they’d hit it off wonderfully. I was so happy. I wondered if wedding bells might be in their future. I’d do their cake as a wedding gift. “You look amazing. I’m sure you’ll have fun.”
    He put his hat back on and took the boxes from me. “She is a wonderful woman, I’ll give her that. Glad you forced her on me.” He scowled. “Haven’t seen her pull out an iron yet and offer to do my shirts, but it’s the little things you have to let go.”
    I laughed because I knew he wasn’t serious, and he knew I didn’t force her on him. I merely suggested. “She’s crazy about you, too. She blushes and