Free Real Women Eat Cake: A Yellow Rose Cozy Mystery (Yellow Rose Mystery Series Book 1) by K. P. Hilton Page B
Authors: K. P. Hilton
walked in. “I'm here to see John Able,” she told the woman behind the counter.
The clerk was seated on a well-worn stool and used a computer that looked like it was manufactured shortly after DOS went obsolete. “Do you have an appointment?” the woman asked, looking up.
“No. But he's expecting me. I think. It's a long story,” Betty said as she breathed in deeply and gathered her thoughts. “Could you tell him Betty Hitchens is here, please?”
The clerk finished her data processing and said, “Wait here. I'll see if he's in.” A moment later she returned. “Follow me,” she said.
Betty pushed past a pair of small chest-high swinging doors and around the corner. The clerk motioned Betty into a room, then returned to her station. John Able, seated behind his desk, rose and greeted her. Betty sat in one of two plastic chairs opposite him.
“I take it you talked with Shaun,” he began, taking his seat again.
“Yes. I think I've got the gist of what's going on. The wiring in the building where my bakery will be is old and outdated.” John nodded. “Here are the permits that have been filed and the other paperwork that's been filled out and approved.” Betty laid the paperwork across John's desk. “The two things I need to know are, why is this just coming up now, and what needs to happen next?”
John cleared his throat. “First, let me say I'm terribly sorry about the inconvenience. We've had some recent personnel changes and several of the departments have gotten behind on their duties as a result.”
“Life happens,” Betty said, failing in her effort to sound sympathetic.
“Exactly,” John said. “As to your second question, the only thing to be done is to have new wiring put in.”
“How long do you think that will take? I'm scheduled to open next week.”
“That's something you'll have to discuss with the person or company you hire to have the work done.”
“I don't own the building. Hank Blevins does.”
“Then getting hold of him would probably be your next step, I would think.”
The pair talked for another few minutes. Betty eventually stood, thanked John, gathered her paperwork, and headed outside. As she got into her vehicle pondering what she should do next, she heard the familiar chirp from her phone and looked at the screen. She read the message, which was from Brianna. Betty headed for home trying to decide what to say to her landlord when she contacted him later in the day.
Chapter 3
Brianna had texted her mother that she'd gone to the house for lunch. The twenty-one-year-old had continued living at home after graduating from high school, which had helped hold down expenses while she attended Carrollton Creek Community College. Her mother worried that she was missing out on gaining additional independence and receiving the full college experience like her sister Bobbi. Secretly, though, Betty enjoyed the extra company and was glad to have her around.
The pair had talked intermittently throughout their light noonday lunch of rice and vegetables. Betty generally had her big meal of the day in the evening and Brianna was inching toward a vegan diet – a move hindered by her love of barbecue.
They finished eating as the stove's timer went off. Betty opened the oven door and pulled out a muffin tin containing twelve banana cupcakes. She carefully placed two of them on separate plates, which she then put on the the kitchen table.
“So,” Betty began, pulling off a chunk of cake and keeping her voice even. “You said earlier that you decided to drop out of school. Can you tell me some more about that?”
“Not much to tell, actually. After exams next week, I'm done. I'm thinking about getting my license and becoming a stylist.”
Betty breathed a little easier. Earlier, Brianna had made it sound like she was walking away from a whole semester's worth of classes.
“Okay. Why
The clerk was seated on a well-worn stool and used a computer that looked like it was manufactured shortly after DOS went obsolete. “Do you have an appointment?” the woman asked, looking up.
“No. But he's expecting me. I think. It's a long story,” Betty said as she breathed in deeply and gathered her thoughts. “Could you tell him Betty Hitchens is here, please?”
The clerk finished her data processing and said, “Wait here. I'll see if he's in.” A moment later she returned. “Follow me,” she said.
Betty pushed past a pair of small chest-high swinging doors and around the corner. The clerk motioned Betty into a room, then returned to her station. John Able, seated behind his desk, rose and greeted her. Betty sat in one of two plastic chairs opposite him.
“I take it you talked with Shaun,” he began, taking his seat again.
“Yes. I think I've got the gist of what's going on. The wiring in the building where my bakery will be is old and outdated.” John nodded. “Here are the permits that have been filed and the other paperwork that's been filled out and approved.” Betty laid the paperwork across John's desk. “The two things I need to know are, why is this just coming up now, and what needs to happen next?”
John cleared his throat. “First, let me say I'm terribly sorry about the inconvenience. We've had some recent personnel changes and several of the departments have gotten behind on their duties as a result.”
“Life happens,” Betty said, failing in her effort to sound sympathetic.
“Exactly,” John said. “As to your second question, the only thing to be done is to have new wiring put in.”
“How long do you think that will take? I'm scheduled to open next week.”
“That's something you'll have to discuss with the person or company you hire to have the work done.”
“I don't own the building. Hank Blevins does.”
“Then getting hold of him would probably be your next step, I would think.”
The pair talked for another few minutes. Betty eventually stood, thanked John, gathered her paperwork, and headed outside. As she got into her vehicle pondering what she should do next, she heard the familiar chirp from her phone and looked at the screen. She read the message, which was from Brianna. Betty headed for home trying to decide what to say to her landlord when she contacted him later in the day.
Chapter 3
Brianna had texted her mother that she'd gone to the house for lunch. The twenty-one-year-old had continued living at home after graduating from high school, which had helped hold down expenses while she attended Carrollton Creek Community College. Her mother worried that she was missing out on gaining additional independence and receiving the full college experience like her sister Bobbi. Secretly, though, Betty enjoyed the extra company and was glad to have her around.
The pair had talked intermittently throughout their light noonday lunch of rice and vegetables. Betty generally had her big meal of the day in the evening and Brianna was inching toward a vegan diet – a move hindered by her love of barbecue.
They finished eating as the stove's timer went off. Betty opened the oven door and pulled out a muffin tin containing twelve banana cupcakes. She carefully placed two of them on separate plates, which she then put on the the kitchen table.
“So,” Betty began, pulling off a chunk of cake and keeping her voice even. “You said earlier that you decided to drop out of school. Can you tell me some more about that?”
“Not much to tell, actually. After exams next week, I'm done. I'm thinking about getting my license and becoming a stylist.”
Betty breathed a little easier. Earlier, Brianna had made it sound like she was walking away from a whole semester's worth of classes.
“Okay. Why
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