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Synopsis
In the coastal town of South Cove, June is tourist season—and wedding season. Unfortunately, Jill Gardner’s own wedding has been delayed. But that just gives her more time to search for a missing bride—and a killer . . .
Things are looking up for the owner of Coffee, Books, and More—Jill’s finally getting her MBA, and though her wedding to police detective Greg is postponed a few months, she still has plenty to celebrate. A girls’ weekend in Santa Barbara is just the ticket. But back in South Cove, someone else’s big day has become a big problem. Antiques dealer Josh Thomas and Mandy Jensen were planning a small private ceremony under an olive tree on the historic Jensen farm—until Mandy went missing . . .
Is this a case of a runaway bride—or a guilty groom? Greg zeroes in on Josh but finds him so annoying that he quietly asks Jill’s help in keeping his number-one suspect distracted. She knows that Josh is searching for something else besides his fiancée—a bank robber’s buried gold bullion. And when the professor he’d been discussing it with turns up dead, she can’t help wondering if what looked like cold feet was actually cold-blooded murder . . .
Release date: June 4, 2024
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Print pages: 208
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Olive You to Death
Lynn Cahoon
Praise for Lynn Cahoon and Her Irresistible Cozy Mysteries
THREE TAINTED TEAS
“A kitchen witch reluctantly takes over as planner for a cursed wedding... This witchy tale is a hoot.”
—Kirkus Reviews
ONE POISON PIE
“One Poison Pie deliciously blends charm and magic with a dash of mystery and a sprinkle of romance. Mia Malone is a zesty protagonist who relies on her wits to solve the crime, and the enchanting cast of characters that populate Magic Springs are a delight.”
—Daryl Wood Gerber, Agatha winner and nationally best-selling author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries and Fairy Garden Mysteries
“A witchy cooking cozy for fans of the supernatural and good eating.”
—Kirkus Reviews
A FIELD GUIDE TO HOMICIDE
“The best entry in this character-driven series mixes a well-plotted mystery with a romance that rings true to life.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Informative as well as entertaining, A Field Guide to Homicide is the perfect book for cozy mystery lovers who entertain thoughts of writing novels themselves... This is, without a doubt, one of the best Cat Latimer novels to date.”
—Criminal Element
“Cat is a great heroine with a lot of spirit that readers will enjoy solving the mystery.”
—Parkersburg News & Sentinel
SCONED TO DEATH
“The most intriguing aspect of this story is the writers’ retreat itself. Although the writers themselves are not suspect, they add freshness and new relationships to the series. Fans of Lucy Arlington’s ‘Novel Idea’ mysteries may want to enter the writing world from another angle.”
—Library Journal
OF MURDER AND MEN
“A Colorado widow discovers that everything she knew about her husband’s death is wrong... Interesting plot and quirky characters.”
—Kirkus Reviews
A STORY TO KILL
“Well-crafted... Cat and crew prove to be engaging characters and Cahoon does a stellar job of keeping them—and the reader—guessing.”
—Mystery Scene
“Lynn Cahoon has hit the golden trifecta—Murder, intrigue, and a really hot handyman. Better get your flashlight handy, A Story to Kill will keep you reading all night.”
—Laura Bradford, author of the Amish Mysteries
TOURIST TRAP MYSTERIES
“Lynn Cahoon’s popular Tourist Trap series is set all around the charming coastal town of South Cove, California, but the heroine Jill Gardner owns a delightful bookstore/coffee shop so a lot of the scenes take place there. This is one of my go-to cozy mystery series, bookish or not, and I’m always eager to get my hands on the next book!”
—Hope By the Book
“Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true.”
—Susan McBride, author of the Debutante Dropout Mysteries
“This was a good read and I love the author’s style, which was warm and friendly... I can’t wait to read the next book in this wonderfully appealing series.”
—Dru’s Book Musings
“I am happy to admit that some of my expectations were met while other aspects of the story exceeded my own imagination... This mystery novel was light, fun, and kept me thoroughly engaged. I only wish it was longer.”
—The Young Folks
“If the Shoe Kills is entertaining and I would be happy to visit Jill and the residents of South Cove again.”
—MysteryPlease.com
“In If the Shoe Kills, author Lynn Cahoon gave me exactly what I wanted. She crafted a well told small town murder that kept me guessing who the murderer was until the end. I will definitely have to take a trip back to South Cove and maybe even visit tales of Jill Gardner’s past in the previous two Tourist Trap Mystery books. I do love a holiday mystery! And with this book, so will you.”
—ArtBooksCoffee.com
“I would recommend If the Shoe Kills if you are looking for a well written cozy mystery.”
—Mysteries, Etc.
“This novella is short and easily read in an hour or two with interesting angst and dynamics between mothers and daughters and mothers and sons... I enjoyed the first-person narrative.”
—Kings River Life Magazine on Mother’s Day Mayhem
Chapter 1
The business-to-business meeting for May was stuffed with agenda items. The Memorial Day parade and the fireworks display on the beach still needed volunteers to make sure the festival ran smoothly. Darla Taylor, our marketing maven and owner/operator of the South Cove Winery, was wrangling as smoothly as a tenured politician for committee placements. It was too bad Mayor Baylor—or his wife, Tina—wasn’t here to see the way community activism should be handled.
Since Darla was running the meeting, I’d been ignoring the discussion and quietly working on outlining my last paper, on community development, for my business ethics class. I was using South Cove’s business-to-business group as my example of what happens when people work together for the greater good. Not having the town politicians here helped make my case that towns could be managed by a council of civic-minded business owners rather than elected officials. What? It was my fantasy, and no one but my professor would see the paper anyway.
If Mayor Baylor happened to read my paper, he’d think I was staging a revolution during my two-hour monthly meeting and would probably attend every meeting after he’d read it. That wouldn’t be in my best interest, especially since I couldn’t stand the guy.
Anyway, I had one more paper, and I’d have those three little letters after my name, Jill Gardner, MBA. Not as impressive as a PhD or even the JD I’d already earned after I finished my law degree, but I was running my dream business. I owned South Cove’s only bookstore: Coffee, Books, and More. And better, I almost owned the brick building the store was housed in.
The building where our monthly meeting was still droning on. The coffee carafes were empty, and all the treats I’d put out at the beginning had been devoured. The mayor had decreased my treat budget last year, so I limited the amount I set out. I could buy the cookies cheaper at the grocery store in Bakerstown, but I wanted to continue to support Pies on the Fly, my friend Sadie’s bakery. As it was, I didn’t put any markup on the treats or the coffee from my bookstore, a decision my aunt didn’t agree with. I told her it was my donation to the cause.
When Darla finally got the volunteers she needed, she moved to end the meeting.
Josh Thomas, owner of Antiques by Thomas, the upscale antique store that sat next to my coffee shop, stood and raised his hand. “I have one last agenda item.”
There was a collective groan from the table. Josh’s items were never quick. Nor were they usually important. But he was a council member.
“Then you have the floor.” Darla looked at me, her question—What now?—clear on her face. I shrugged. Josh hadn’t campaigned for any agenda item before the meeting. At least not to me. Everyone else looked as confused as I was or maybe just tired and ready to get out of the meeting.
Josh shuffled from foot to foot as he stood there. He wore a bright blue polo shirt and tan khakis, the typical uniform for a business owner in the central coastal section of California. However, it was a far cry from the black suit he’d worn on his then-oversize frame when I’d first moved here. Josh’s dress code and even his appearance had done a complete one-eighty since he’d started dating Mandy Jensen. She ran the farmers market on the highway between my house and the beach. Well, on the other side of the road. And she was a cousin or something to the people who ran the olive farm in the hills above South Cove.
I’d never thought the relationship would gain traction. Mandy was light, Josh, dark. Mandy was an extrovert, and Josh, an introvert. Mandy was young, and Josh was almost ten years older. He acted even older than that. Mandy liked being outside in the sun; Josh loved spending his free time digging through old buildings and garages for stock for his business. They were complete opposites. Mandy was human. Josh was probably a vampire.
Maybe that was a bit too far.
Josh cleared his throat. “I wanted to tell you that Mandy and me, I mean, Miss Jensen, Mandy Jensen and I are engaged. The wedding will be a small private ceremony next month, and we’ll be hosting a reception at the community hall on June 15. That’s all.” He sat back down, his cheeks flaming red.
No one said anything for a few minutes. Finally, Darla stood at the podium and smiled. “Well, isn’t that amazing news. Congratulations to Josh Thomas and Mandy Jensen on their upcoming nuptials. I suspect details will be forthcoming on the reception?”
Josh stood again. He had his hands crossed in front of him. “Yes. As I mentioned before, we will have a reception. Everyone’s invited to that, and it will be from two to six at the community hall on the fifteenth.”
He sat back down. Then he popped back up. “Gifts are optional.”
“Well, with that happy news, I’ll end the meeting, unless Jill has anything?” Darla looked at me to confirm, but I shook my head. “Okay, then see you all in June.”
Josh stood and nearly ran out of the shop. I saw him go past the window and toward his store. People called out best wishes and congrats as he passed by them, but I didn’t think he heard anyone. He was too focused on getting back to the shop and away from people and questions.
After most everyone had left, Darla and Amy Newman-Cross, South Cove city planner and my best friend, stayed behind to help me get the café back in order.
“Wow, Josh is getting married. Did you know?” Amy moved a table, then set chairs under it.
I shook my head. “Not a clue. I guess I’m glad Greg’s mom asked us to delay the wedding until fall now. Although I was a little put out by her request.”
“A little put out? Girl, I’d be furious. The woman never visits anyway, but then she asks you to change your wedding date because it interfered with elective surgery. That’s cold.” Amy washed another table. “Thank goodness I like Justin’s parents. They are super nice. His mom’s coming out next month to visit now that we have the new house ready.”
“You are still coming to Santa Barbara next weekend for our girls’ trip, right?” Amy had a habit of forgetting appointments and dates. I bought her a planner for Christmas after Greg had gotten me attached to mine.
“Not a problem. I’ve got it on my work calendar. Greg has already hired a temp to answer phones that weekend so both Esmeralda and I can get away.” Amy and I turned to Darla, who had been unusually quiet.
“Hey, I’m in. Don’t look at me that way. I’ve already got Matt and my day manager looped in. I told Matt he can’t take any gigs since he has to run the winery that weekend so I’m free. No emergencies. Besides, I’m excited to have the fitting for the bridesmaid dress. I’ve lost weight since we ordered them. It might be too big.” Darla glanced around the now back-to-normal dining room and grabbed her tote bag. “I’m out of here. We’ve got a beer delivery coming, and last time they shorted us two cases. I’m doing the counting this time, not Matt. He talks too much, and they get distracted.”
“Esmeralda has a reading at lunchtime, so I’ve got to be back to answer phones. I never thought that most of my work time would be spent playing phone dispatcher rather than actual city planning. Although, if I didn’t have to also work for the mayor, my job would be perfect.” Amy followed Darla out of the door. Esmeralda was Greg’s part-time police dispatcher and office secretary, and she also ran a fortune-telling shop out of her house, across the street from mine.
I glanced around the empty dining room. The rain had kept people from walking in during the meeting, which was good, since I’d been alone at the shop. Judith had asked for the day off. She needed to run to the city for her annual checkup. I would have asked Aunt Jackie to step in, but then she would have gone off on how irresponsible it was to schedule an appointment on a workday. My aunt didn’t like Judith.
Since my relief, Toby Killian, was due in at eleven, I finished my morning shift-change tasks. Then I grabbed a book and poured myself a cup of coffee. The book was a romance, and the fictional couple’s back-and-forth chatter brought me back to thinking about Josh and Mandy.
Maybe I should invite them to have dinner with Greg and me this week so we could commiserate on the pain of wedding planning. I liked Mandy. Josh, he was an acquired taste, but he’d gotten nicer since he started dating Mandy. There’s always at least one key for every lock. That was one of my aunt’s favorite sayings. Especially around relationships.
I grabbed my phone and called Greg. When he answered, I jumped right into my question. “Hey, you’re home Thursday for dinner, right?”
“Don’t you have class?” Greg reminded me.
“The professor has a thing, so the class got moved to earlier that day. So I’ll be home in time. I was wondering if it would be okay for me to ask Josh and Mandy to dinner.”
There was no answer on the phone. I held it out to check to make sure we hadn’t been disconnected. “Greg?”
“I’m here. I’m just trying to process your question. You want to invite Josh Thomas to our house for dinner, intentionally?”
“I know, but Josh just dropped the bombshell that he and Mandy are getting married next month. I thought it would be nice to have dinner and talk to them about the wedding. Like Amy and Justin did for us.”
“We were already friends with Justin and Amy.” He paused, letting out a sigh. “But if you want to, I don’t care. You’ll owe me. I’m not quite sure what horrible thing Josh will say or do, but I know the man. He isn’t all sunshine and roses.”
“No, but he’s a good guy, deep down. I’ll keep dinner simple, maybe grilled pork chops, a pasta salad, and a cheesecake?”
“Now I’m hungry.” Greg smacked his lips like that frog on the commercial.
I laughed and then heard the bell over the door go off. “Got to go. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Call me when you get back from your run this afternoon, or text if you’re busy. I’d like to know that you’re home. Unless you’re not going because of the rain.”
“Okay, but why?” But then I realized Greg had already hung up. He hadn’t wanted to answer my question, so he had ended the call. Was something going on? Or did Greg just want me to check in?
Toby Killian dropped a picture of a little girl on the counter in front of me. “Sasha gave that to me last week. I thought you’d like to see a recent picture of Olivia.”
“She’s getting so big.” I picked up the photo to see her smiling face. She had her hair in cornrows with beads at the end. Olivia was the daughter of one of my former baristas. And that specific barista, Sasha, had dated Toby for a while before she went to the city to get a degree. She’d never come back to South Cove. “What grade is she in now?”
“She’ll be starting first grade in the fall. I went to the city for her kindergarten graduation last week. I took that at the park.” Toby washed his hands and put on an apron. “It was a nice trip.”
“So you and Sasha again?” I handed him the photo, but he waved it away.
“Keep it. I have another one. Or put it on the community board. I bet a lot of people would love to see how much Olivia has grown.” He moved the cups to where he liked them by the coffeemaker.
“You’re avoiding my question.” I leaned on the counter, watching him. He and Sasha had been a thing for a while years ago. To the point he had started saving for a house. Then she moved to go to school. And started dating someone else.
He stopped moving and then leaned against the counter. “Maybe. We don’t know. She broke up with that guy she’d been seeing. He wasn’t putting her or Olivia first. All he wanted was a ready-made family for his career. On the other hand, she has a good job in the city. I don’t want to leave South Cove, so right now, we’re just hanging out again. She might be coming into town to visit this weekend.”
“Well, I’d love to see her and Olivia.” I knew Toby still had a soft spot in his heart for Sasha. Once he committed to someone, they stayed with him, even after the breakup. My newest employee was proof of that. Tessa and Toby had dated in high school, but then they’d broken up. Toby still had feelings for her. He was a hopeless romantic for a police officer and part-time barista. And he gave me hope for all men everywhere.
Walking home after my shift ended, I realized I hadn’t stopped at the antique store to invite Josh and Mandy to dinner on Thursday. When I got to the house, Emma, my golden retriever, stared at her leash after I let her back inside. The rain had stopped hours ago.
“Give me a minute. I need to call Josh.” I dialed the shop number and got his machine. I left a message, then went to get ready to run. I’d call again later if I didn’t hear back.
When we were walking to the beach, I noticed Mandy’s small red truck at the farmers market. We crossed the road, and I found her in the back, setting up trays for display. “Mandy, Josh told everyone the big news. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. It’s about time. I asked him to tell everyone last month, but he forgot.” Mandy nodded to a metal folding chair. “Want to sit?”
“I’ve been sitting all day. So are you excited? Where is the ceremony going to be?” Emma sat near my foot, watching us talk.
“Under the oldest olive tree at the farm. I know, it hasn’t been the happiest of places with all the history, but I want to change that. It’s a lovely place. And a wedding is so filled with happiness and joy, it has to change the tree’s karma, right?”
I didn’t want to upset Mandy’s plans, but the tree did have an infamous history. “I don’t know, maybe.”
“You sound like Josh. He wants to support me, but he really hates the idea of getting married at the tree. He’s a little bit superstitious.”
“It’s a beautiful spot, that’s for sure.” I didn’t want to get into the middle of this argument. “Anyway, do you and Josh want to come over for dinner on Thursday? We can compare notes about the pain of planning a wedding.”
“You’ve had a lot more time to plan.” Mandy laughed. “I’ll have to check with Josh, but we’d be happy to come. Can I bring anything? I’m hoping to have some Idaho huckleberries soon. I could make a crumble or a coffee cake.”
“Just yourselves. It will be very casual, as I’ve got a class in Bakerstown earlier that day. This will be fun.” I turned to go toward the highway, where we’d cross over to the beach parking lot. A line of eucalyptus trees went from the stand to the corner away from our road. “I didn’t realize these were here. Do you get monarchs in the winter?”
“Tons. They swarm the trees. I love watching them as they take off.” Mandy stood next to me and pointed toward the ocean. “And sometimes, I get to see whales out there. It’s such a blessing living here.”
“We’re surrounded by nature’s beauty, that’s for sure.” I tightened my hold on Emma’s leash. I always worried about her as we crossed the road to the beach. “See you Thursday.”
“Okay, maybe we’ll have a surprise to tell you when we come over.” Mandy waved as we crossed the road and headed over the empty parking lot toward the stairs to the beach.
I was already running before her words hit me. What surprise did she have that she wanted to share but couldn’t, so she half-shared that something was coming? It was telling but not telling. Was Mandy pregnant? Was that why the quick wedding? I thought about the way she looked, and to me, she looked as skinny as ever. But some women didn’t always show, especially not at first.
Josh Thomas with a wife and baby. My next thought was that the world might just be coming to an end.
Chapter 2
I was determined to finish my coursework, including my final project before summer made my . . .
THREE TAINTED TEAS
“A kitchen witch reluctantly takes over as planner for a cursed wedding... This witchy tale is a hoot.”
—Kirkus Reviews
ONE POISON PIE
“One Poison Pie deliciously blends charm and magic with a dash of mystery and a sprinkle of romance. Mia Malone is a zesty protagonist who relies on her wits to solve the crime, and the enchanting cast of characters that populate Magic Springs are a delight.”
—Daryl Wood Gerber, Agatha winner and nationally best-selling author of the Cookbook Nook Mysteries and Fairy Garden Mysteries
“A witchy cooking cozy for fans of the supernatural and good eating.”
—Kirkus Reviews
A FIELD GUIDE TO HOMICIDE
“The best entry in this character-driven series mixes a well-plotted mystery with a romance that rings true to life.”
—Kirkus Reviews
“Informative as well as entertaining, A Field Guide to Homicide is the perfect book for cozy mystery lovers who entertain thoughts of writing novels themselves... This is, without a doubt, one of the best Cat Latimer novels to date.”
—Criminal Element
“Cat is a great heroine with a lot of spirit that readers will enjoy solving the mystery.”
—Parkersburg News & Sentinel
SCONED TO DEATH
“The most intriguing aspect of this story is the writers’ retreat itself. Although the writers themselves are not suspect, they add freshness and new relationships to the series. Fans of Lucy Arlington’s ‘Novel Idea’ mysteries may want to enter the writing world from another angle.”
—Library Journal
OF MURDER AND MEN
“A Colorado widow discovers that everything she knew about her husband’s death is wrong... Interesting plot and quirky characters.”
—Kirkus Reviews
A STORY TO KILL
“Well-crafted... Cat and crew prove to be engaging characters and Cahoon does a stellar job of keeping them—and the reader—guessing.”
—Mystery Scene
“Lynn Cahoon has hit the golden trifecta—Murder, intrigue, and a really hot handyman. Better get your flashlight handy, A Story to Kill will keep you reading all night.”
—Laura Bradford, author of the Amish Mysteries
TOURIST TRAP MYSTERIES
“Lynn Cahoon’s popular Tourist Trap series is set all around the charming coastal town of South Cove, California, but the heroine Jill Gardner owns a delightful bookstore/coffee shop so a lot of the scenes take place there. This is one of my go-to cozy mystery series, bookish or not, and I’m always eager to get my hands on the next book!”
—Hope By the Book
“Murder, dirty politics, pirate lore, and a hot police detective: Guidebook to Murder has it all! A cozy lover’s dream come true.”
—Susan McBride, author of the Debutante Dropout Mysteries
“This was a good read and I love the author’s style, which was warm and friendly... I can’t wait to read the next book in this wonderfully appealing series.”
—Dru’s Book Musings
“I am happy to admit that some of my expectations were met while other aspects of the story exceeded my own imagination... This mystery novel was light, fun, and kept me thoroughly engaged. I only wish it was longer.”
—The Young Folks
“If the Shoe Kills is entertaining and I would be happy to visit Jill and the residents of South Cove again.”
—MysteryPlease.com
“In If the Shoe Kills, author Lynn Cahoon gave me exactly what I wanted. She crafted a well told small town murder that kept me guessing who the murderer was until the end. I will definitely have to take a trip back to South Cove and maybe even visit tales of Jill Gardner’s past in the previous two Tourist Trap Mystery books. I do love a holiday mystery! And with this book, so will you.”
—ArtBooksCoffee.com
“I would recommend If the Shoe Kills if you are looking for a well written cozy mystery.”
—Mysteries, Etc.
“This novella is short and easily read in an hour or two with interesting angst and dynamics between mothers and daughters and mothers and sons... I enjoyed the first-person narrative.”
—Kings River Life Magazine on Mother’s Day Mayhem
Chapter 1
The business-to-business meeting for May was stuffed with agenda items. The Memorial Day parade and the fireworks display on the beach still needed volunteers to make sure the festival ran smoothly. Darla Taylor, our marketing maven and owner/operator of the South Cove Winery, was wrangling as smoothly as a tenured politician for committee placements. It was too bad Mayor Baylor—or his wife, Tina—wasn’t here to see the way community activism should be handled.
Since Darla was running the meeting, I’d been ignoring the discussion and quietly working on outlining my last paper, on community development, for my business ethics class. I was using South Cove’s business-to-business group as my example of what happens when people work together for the greater good. Not having the town politicians here helped make my case that towns could be managed by a council of civic-minded business owners rather than elected officials. What? It was my fantasy, and no one but my professor would see the paper anyway.
If Mayor Baylor happened to read my paper, he’d think I was staging a revolution during my two-hour monthly meeting and would probably attend every meeting after he’d read it. That wouldn’t be in my best interest, especially since I couldn’t stand the guy.
Anyway, I had one more paper, and I’d have those three little letters after my name, Jill Gardner, MBA. Not as impressive as a PhD or even the JD I’d already earned after I finished my law degree, but I was running my dream business. I owned South Cove’s only bookstore: Coffee, Books, and More. And better, I almost owned the brick building the store was housed in.
The building where our monthly meeting was still droning on. The coffee carafes were empty, and all the treats I’d put out at the beginning had been devoured. The mayor had decreased my treat budget last year, so I limited the amount I set out. I could buy the cookies cheaper at the grocery store in Bakerstown, but I wanted to continue to support Pies on the Fly, my friend Sadie’s bakery. As it was, I didn’t put any markup on the treats or the coffee from my bookstore, a decision my aunt didn’t agree with. I told her it was my donation to the cause.
When Darla finally got the volunteers she needed, she moved to end the meeting.
Josh Thomas, owner of Antiques by Thomas, the upscale antique store that sat next to my coffee shop, stood and raised his hand. “I have one last agenda item.”
There was a collective groan from the table. Josh’s items were never quick. Nor were they usually important. But he was a council member.
“Then you have the floor.” Darla looked at me, her question—What now?—clear on her face. I shrugged. Josh hadn’t campaigned for any agenda item before the meeting. At least not to me. Everyone else looked as confused as I was or maybe just tired and ready to get out of the meeting.
Josh shuffled from foot to foot as he stood there. He wore a bright blue polo shirt and tan khakis, the typical uniform for a business owner in the central coastal section of California. However, it was a far cry from the black suit he’d worn on his then-oversize frame when I’d first moved here. Josh’s dress code and even his appearance had done a complete one-eighty since he’d started dating Mandy Jensen. She ran the farmers market on the highway between my house and the beach. Well, on the other side of the road. And she was a cousin or something to the people who ran the olive farm in the hills above South Cove.
I’d never thought the relationship would gain traction. Mandy was light, Josh, dark. Mandy was an extrovert, and Josh, an introvert. Mandy was young, and Josh was almost ten years older. He acted even older than that. Mandy liked being outside in the sun; Josh loved spending his free time digging through old buildings and garages for stock for his business. They were complete opposites. Mandy was human. Josh was probably a vampire.
Maybe that was a bit too far.
Josh cleared his throat. “I wanted to tell you that Mandy and me, I mean, Miss Jensen, Mandy Jensen and I are engaged. The wedding will be a small private ceremony next month, and we’ll be hosting a reception at the community hall on June 15. That’s all.” He sat back down, his cheeks flaming red.
No one said anything for a few minutes. Finally, Darla stood at the podium and smiled. “Well, isn’t that amazing news. Congratulations to Josh Thomas and Mandy Jensen on their upcoming nuptials. I suspect details will be forthcoming on the reception?”
Josh stood again. He had his hands crossed in front of him. “Yes. As I mentioned before, we will have a reception. Everyone’s invited to that, and it will be from two to six at the community hall on the fifteenth.”
He sat back down. Then he popped back up. “Gifts are optional.”
“Well, with that happy news, I’ll end the meeting, unless Jill has anything?” Darla looked at me to confirm, but I shook my head. “Okay, then see you all in June.”
Josh stood and nearly ran out of the shop. I saw him go past the window and toward his store. People called out best wishes and congrats as he passed by them, but I didn’t think he heard anyone. He was too focused on getting back to the shop and away from people and questions.
After most everyone had left, Darla and Amy Newman-Cross, South Cove city planner and my best friend, stayed behind to help me get the café back in order.
“Wow, Josh is getting married. Did you know?” Amy moved a table, then set chairs under it.
I shook my head. “Not a clue. I guess I’m glad Greg’s mom asked us to delay the wedding until fall now. Although I was a little put out by her request.”
“A little put out? Girl, I’d be furious. The woman never visits anyway, but then she asks you to change your wedding date because it interfered with elective surgery. That’s cold.” Amy washed another table. “Thank goodness I like Justin’s parents. They are super nice. His mom’s coming out next month to visit now that we have the new house ready.”
“You are still coming to Santa Barbara next weekend for our girls’ trip, right?” Amy had a habit of forgetting appointments and dates. I bought her a planner for Christmas after Greg had gotten me attached to mine.
“Not a problem. I’ve got it on my work calendar. Greg has already hired a temp to answer phones that weekend so both Esmeralda and I can get away.” Amy and I turned to Darla, who had been unusually quiet.
“Hey, I’m in. Don’t look at me that way. I’ve already got Matt and my day manager looped in. I told Matt he can’t take any gigs since he has to run the winery that weekend so I’m free. No emergencies. Besides, I’m excited to have the fitting for the bridesmaid dress. I’ve lost weight since we ordered them. It might be too big.” Darla glanced around the now back-to-normal dining room and grabbed her tote bag. “I’m out of here. We’ve got a beer delivery coming, and last time they shorted us two cases. I’m doing the counting this time, not Matt. He talks too much, and they get distracted.”
“Esmeralda has a reading at lunchtime, so I’ve got to be back to answer phones. I never thought that most of my work time would be spent playing phone dispatcher rather than actual city planning. Although, if I didn’t have to also work for the mayor, my job would be perfect.” Amy followed Darla out of the door. Esmeralda was Greg’s part-time police dispatcher and office secretary, and she also ran a fortune-telling shop out of her house, across the street from mine.
I glanced around the empty dining room. The rain had kept people from walking in during the meeting, which was good, since I’d been alone at the shop. Judith had asked for the day off. She needed to run to the city for her annual checkup. I would have asked Aunt Jackie to step in, but then she would have gone off on how irresponsible it was to schedule an appointment on a workday. My aunt didn’t like Judith.
Since my relief, Toby Killian, was due in at eleven, I finished my morning shift-change tasks. Then I grabbed a book and poured myself a cup of coffee. The book was a romance, and the fictional couple’s back-and-forth chatter brought me back to thinking about Josh and Mandy.
Maybe I should invite them to have dinner with Greg and me this week so we could commiserate on the pain of wedding planning. I liked Mandy. Josh, he was an acquired taste, but he’d gotten nicer since he started dating Mandy. There’s always at least one key for every lock. That was one of my aunt’s favorite sayings. Especially around relationships.
I grabbed my phone and called Greg. When he answered, I jumped right into my question. “Hey, you’re home Thursday for dinner, right?”
“Don’t you have class?” Greg reminded me.
“The professor has a thing, so the class got moved to earlier that day. So I’ll be home in time. I was wondering if it would be okay for me to ask Josh and Mandy to dinner.”
There was no answer on the phone. I held it out to check to make sure we hadn’t been disconnected. “Greg?”
“I’m here. I’m just trying to process your question. You want to invite Josh Thomas to our house for dinner, intentionally?”
“I know, but Josh just dropped the bombshell that he and Mandy are getting married next month. I thought it would be nice to have dinner and talk to them about the wedding. Like Amy and Justin did for us.”
“We were already friends with Justin and Amy.” He paused, letting out a sigh. “But if you want to, I don’t care. You’ll owe me. I’m not quite sure what horrible thing Josh will say or do, but I know the man. He isn’t all sunshine and roses.”
“No, but he’s a good guy, deep down. I’ll keep dinner simple, maybe grilled pork chops, a pasta salad, and a cheesecake?”
“Now I’m hungry.” Greg smacked his lips like that frog on the commercial.
I laughed and then heard the bell over the door go off. “Got to go. I’ll see you tonight.”
“Call me when you get back from your run this afternoon, or text if you’re busy. I’d like to know that you’re home. Unless you’re not going because of the rain.”
“Okay, but why?” But then I realized Greg had already hung up. He hadn’t wanted to answer my question, so he had ended the call. Was something going on? Or did Greg just want me to check in?
Toby Killian dropped a picture of a little girl on the counter in front of me. “Sasha gave that to me last week. I thought you’d like to see a recent picture of Olivia.”
“She’s getting so big.” I picked up the photo to see her smiling face. She had her hair in cornrows with beads at the end. Olivia was the daughter of one of my former baristas. And that specific barista, Sasha, had dated Toby for a while before she went to the city to get a degree. She’d never come back to South Cove. “What grade is she in now?”
“She’ll be starting first grade in the fall. I went to the city for her kindergarten graduation last week. I took that at the park.” Toby washed his hands and put on an apron. “It was a nice trip.”
“So you and Sasha again?” I handed him the photo, but he waved it away.
“Keep it. I have another one. Or put it on the community board. I bet a lot of people would love to see how much Olivia has grown.” He moved the cups to where he liked them by the coffeemaker.
“You’re avoiding my question.” I leaned on the counter, watching him. He and Sasha had been a thing for a while years ago. To the point he had started saving for a house. Then she moved to go to school. And started dating someone else.
He stopped moving and then leaned against the counter. “Maybe. We don’t know. She broke up with that guy she’d been seeing. He wasn’t putting her or Olivia first. All he wanted was a ready-made family for his career. On the other hand, she has a good job in the city. I don’t want to leave South Cove, so right now, we’re just hanging out again. She might be coming into town to visit this weekend.”
“Well, I’d love to see her and Olivia.” I knew Toby still had a soft spot in his heart for Sasha. Once he committed to someone, they stayed with him, even after the breakup. My newest employee was proof of that. Tessa and Toby had dated in high school, but then they’d broken up. Toby still had feelings for her. He was a hopeless romantic for a police officer and part-time barista. And he gave me hope for all men everywhere.
Walking home after my shift ended, I realized I hadn’t stopped at the antique store to invite Josh and Mandy to dinner on Thursday. When I got to the house, Emma, my golden retriever, stared at her leash after I let her back inside. The rain had stopped hours ago.
“Give me a minute. I need to call Josh.” I dialed the shop number and got his machine. I left a message, then went to get ready to run. I’d call again later if I didn’t hear back.
When we were walking to the beach, I noticed Mandy’s small red truck at the farmers market. We crossed the road, and I found her in the back, setting up trays for display. “Mandy, Josh told everyone the big news. Congratulations.”
“Thanks. It’s about time. I asked him to tell everyone last month, but he forgot.” Mandy nodded to a metal folding chair. “Want to sit?”
“I’ve been sitting all day. So are you excited? Where is the ceremony going to be?” Emma sat near my foot, watching us talk.
“Under the oldest olive tree at the farm. I know, it hasn’t been the happiest of places with all the history, but I want to change that. It’s a lovely place. And a wedding is so filled with happiness and joy, it has to change the tree’s karma, right?”
I didn’t want to upset Mandy’s plans, but the tree did have an infamous history. “I don’t know, maybe.”
“You sound like Josh. He wants to support me, but he really hates the idea of getting married at the tree. He’s a little bit superstitious.”
“It’s a beautiful spot, that’s for sure.” I didn’t want to get into the middle of this argument. “Anyway, do you and Josh want to come over for dinner on Thursday? We can compare notes about the pain of planning a wedding.”
“You’ve had a lot more time to plan.” Mandy laughed. “I’ll have to check with Josh, but we’d be happy to come. Can I bring anything? I’m hoping to have some Idaho huckleberries soon. I could make a crumble or a coffee cake.”
“Just yourselves. It will be very casual, as I’ve got a class in Bakerstown earlier that day. This will be fun.” I turned to go toward the highway, where we’d cross over to the beach parking lot. A line of eucalyptus trees went from the stand to the corner away from our road. “I didn’t realize these were here. Do you get monarchs in the winter?”
“Tons. They swarm the trees. I love watching them as they take off.” Mandy stood next to me and pointed toward the ocean. “And sometimes, I get to see whales out there. It’s such a blessing living here.”
“We’re surrounded by nature’s beauty, that’s for sure.” I tightened my hold on Emma’s leash. I always worried about her as we crossed the road to the beach. “See you Thursday.”
“Okay, maybe we’ll have a surprise to tell you when we come over.” Mandy waved as we crossed the road and headed over the empty parking lot toward the stairs to the beach.
I was already running before her words hit me. What surprise did she have that she wanted to share but couldn’t, so she half-shared that something was coming? It was telling but not telling. Was Mandy pregnant? Was that why the quick wedding? I thought about the way she looked, and to me, she looked as skinny as ever. But some women didn’t always show, especially not at first.
Josh Thomas with a wife and baby. My next thought was that the world might just be coming to an end.
Chapter 2
I was determined to finish my coursework, including my final project before summer made my . . .
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