Baby Bundt Cake Confusion (Murder in the Mix Book 31) by Unknown (reading eggs books .txt) 📗

Lily puts the kitchen staff on alert to take over as both she and Suze take off their aprons and soon we all hustle our way out into the snowy afternoon.

I’m curious as to what in the world is going on at the B&B, and exactly how my Bundt cakes might play into it.

What was once the Honey Hollow Bed and Breakfast has horrifically been renamed the Rendezvous Luxury Resort and Razzle Dazzle Day Spa.

A horrible groan evicts from me as I take in the latest assault to what was once my mother’s adorable B&B.

“It’s pink!” I howl as if I’ve been mortally injured. No wonder she needed us here stat. But it looks as if the painters are all done with the catastrophe. They must have worked quickly. We’re too late.” The B&B is basically a large boxy mansion with Roman columns, wrought iron balconies, and a sprawling front porch. Mom bought the place with the money from Dad’s life insurance payout when he died, and it’s been her baby ever since—right up until it was swiped from beneath her. And just a couple of years ago, she tacked on a glass conservatory to the back and it affords a stunning view of the woods behind the B&B.

Carlotta parks in the rear, and I note the back door to the conservatory is open.

I huff at the sight. “I bet my mother has finally had enough of Cormack and Cressida’s hot pink shenanigans.”

“No way, Mom.” Evie swings open the door to Carlotta’s minivan as soon as it rolls to a stop. “I talked to Glam Glam this morning and she wishes she came up with half the ideas the dual ditzes have implemented.”

“You talked to Glam Glam this morning? What did she say?”

Her mouth opens a notch. “Let’s get inside and ask her ourselves.”

“Fine,” I say as Carlotta and Evie help me wobble my way through the shoveled walkway. “I’m sure Cormack and Cressi-duh made Glam Glam shovel this walk.” Cressi-duh is usually Evie’s derogatory way of saying her mother’s name, but I’m feeling ornery today and my stomach keeps seizing up like a bowling ball, and now that the B&B is pink, for Pete’s sake. The universe cannot expect me to stand by with a smile on my face.

A van in the lot catches my eye.

“Would you look at that?” I point over at it. “The bakery van is already here. I guess Lily and Suze beat us. I wonder why they brought the van? Never mind. I bet Suze told Lily it was cheaper to waste my gas than theirs. That woman knows how to pinch a nickel until it screams for mercy. If anyone should go on a talk show, it’s Suze Fox.”

“Which talk show, Lot?” Carlotta asks as we’re about to crest the entry.

“Extreme Cheapskates,” I say. “Suze Fox makes even the cheapest cheapskate green with envy as to what a tightwad she can be.”

We step into the conservatory as the lights blink on, and just about every woman in Honey Hollow jumps out and shouts SURPRISE!

The first thing I see is Suze Fox’s beady little eyes glaring at me because clearly she heard every last cheapskate word.

“Oh my…what?” I press a hand against my chest as I stagger back. “What in the world?” I take a quick look around at all of the colorful balloons sprinkled around the room. Above the refreshment table, giant rose gold Mylar balloons spell out the words baby shower. To the right there’s a table laden with hundreds of my miniature lemon Bundt cakes, and tears come to my eyes just looking at them. Next to that there’s a buffet of finger sandwiches and salads of which most of the women here seem to be partaking in already. In the front of the room there’s a table brimming with gifts, cellophane wrapped baskets, and enough teddy bears to outfit a preschool.

Next to the refreshment table stands Noah’s look-alike father doling out mama-mosas per the sign perched before him. Wiley Fox has been the resident bartender whenever his services are needed. At least he’s useful for something.

The sound of cheery music kicks on over the speakers as the women break out into chatty conversations all at once.

Mom tackles me with a hearty embrace, and I take in the lilac scent of her perfume.

“Oh, Lottie”—she pulls back and her blue eyes sparkle with tears of their own—“were you truly surprised?” Mom has creamy blonde hair that touches her shoulders, she’s somehow forgotten to age, and always has an upbeat attitude no matter what might be happening around her—case in point, the hot pink couture frock Cormack and Cressida force her to wear around here. Mom has gone from owner to employee in a single bound. But at least she’s still got a free bedroom here.

Mom sold the place to give Noah’s father money for his publishing house. So far Mom and Carlotta are his only two authors. Mom has transitioned from writing trashy novels to penning steamy beach reads, and Carlotta writes self-help books that teach women how to snag a man. It’s safe to say Carlotta’s been doing extensive research while living with me.

“Yes, I’m completely surprised.” I give a few hard blinks. I spot Evie in the corner with her best friend, Dash, and my sisters, along with my half-sisters, headed this way. “How did you? Why did you? You certainly didn’t have to.”

My sisters, Lainey and Meg, come at me at once.

Lainey has her precious little girl, Josie, sitting on her hip. Josie is a golden hair cutie with amber eyes and is all of seven months old. She’s wearing a frilly dress that looks as scrumptious and delicious as her rosy cheeks, and I can’t stop myself from kissing her first.

Lainey is one year old older than me, same caramel hair and hazel eyes even though we’re not blood-related. Meg, my younger sister by a year, has dyed