A Caffeinated Crunch: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Home Mystery Series Book 2) by Constance Barker Page B
Authors: Constance Barker
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know the difference in those beverages.”
“Basically the latte has less froth than the cappuccino.”
“Oh that drink that leaves you with a mustache? I don’t think I want that. Might mar my image.”
“Latte it is then.” I commenced making Toe’s latte and received a dirty look from Essie when I turned on the frothier. She hated noisy machines, especially my coffee grinder. Now this one was worse. She’d have to get use to it. The customers were enjoying the different choices in java. I also served tea in the afternoon. I handed Toe his cup and he took a sip.
“That’s mighty tasty Lily.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Hey Toe,” Essie hollered. “I hear your girlfriend is messing around with a married man.”
I knew she was trying to rattle his chain.
“Which one?” Toe asked. Ha!
Essie looked peeved. “Just how many women do you have in your harem?”
Toe pulled up a chair and sat down. “I don‘t like to kiss and tell.”
Hildie smiled and Essie pouted. As much as she tried to hide it, it was evident to me and Hildie she was sweet on Toe. But knowing my aunt, she would never let on.
“Harvey has spies everywhere Toe, you better be careful,” Hildie said with a sly smile.
Harvey downed the rest of his coffee. “Just a friendly conversation during our weekly euchre card game. The ladies got wind of Mr. Jefferies having a snuggle fest with Mildred in Sabina.”
Toe sipped on his latte. “Lily, this is good. You may have converted me.”
“Watch it Toe, it’s got a kick to it. Made with espresso,” Essie offered.
“Hmmm, you don’t say. Just the kick I need to replace Miss Dorothy’s bathroom sink this afternoon.”
“She’s finally pulling the trigger,” Hildie said. “She’s been talking about it for over a year.”
Essie looked exasperated. “Can we please get back to Mr. Jefferies and his wandering eye.”
“I don’t think it’s wandering,” Hildie said as she stood up from the table. “Sound like it settled on Mildred.”
“That’s the thing,” Harvey said. “The ladies also said he was seen with another woman last weekend. A young one.”
Essie leaned forward. “Who?”
Harvey shook his head. “They didn’t know. Wasn’t anyone from around here.”
Hildie headed back around the counter. “That’s enough gossip for one day. I need to get to the grocery and stock up on butter, sugar and shortening. Essie you coming or staying?”
Essie looked over at Toe who was enjoying his latte. “I’ll stay and help Lily.”
“It’s really not that busy the rest of the day if you want to go.” I knew that’s not what she wanted to hear.
Essie gave me a look that would drop a bear. “I really don’t need to go to the store. Besides, your inventory skills could use some help.”
“You just don’t know how to read my writing.”
“No one can read that chicken scratch young lady.” Very true. Of course I knew she wasn’t about to go over my inventory numbers. She wanted to stick around because of Toe. But once he was finished with his latte he stood up to leave.
“Heading out so soon Toe,” Essie asked.
“Yep, that bathroom sink isn’t going to install itself so I better get with it. See you all later.” He walked out the door with Essie looking after him. Harvey stood up as well.
“I better run along as well. The boys are playing poker this afternoon and I don’t want to be late.”
“From euchre to poker,” I said. “You’re becoming a card shark.”
Harvey pointed to the fin on top of his golf cart. “Now you get the picture.”
Indeed I did. Sly ol’ dog.
The rest of the day was slow but normal for a Wednesday. That evening my friend Jules and I went to dinner at the local café. I wanted to see how her first week at a new job was going. She previously worked as a receptionist with a legal firm in Orlando, but the drive back and forth became too much. A receptionist job at a local dentist
“Basically the latte has less froth than the cappuccino.”
“Oh that drink that leaves you with a mustache? I don’t think I want that. Might mar my image.”
“Latte it is then.” I commenced making Toe’s latte and received a dirty look from Essie when I turned on the frothier. She hated noisy machines, especially my coffee grinder. Now this one was worse. She’d have to get use to it. The customers were enjoying the different choices in java. I also served tea in the afternoon. I handed Toe his cup and he took a sip.
“That’s mighty tasty Lily.”
“I’m glad you like it.”
“Hey Toe,” Essie hollered. “I hear your girlfriend is messing around with a married man.”
I knew she was trying to rattle his chain.
“Which one?” Toe asked. Ha!
Essie looked peeved. “Just how many women do you have in your harem?”
Toe pulled up a chair and sat down. “I don‘t like to kiss and tell.”
Hildie smiled and Essie pouted. As much as she tried to hide it, it was evident to me and Hildie she was sweet on Toe. But knowing my aunt, she would never let on.
“Harvey has spies everywhere Toe, you better be careful,” Hildie said with a sly smile.
Harvey downed the rest of his coffee. “Just a friendly conversation during our weekly euchre card game. The ladies got wind of Mr. Jefferies having a snuggle fest with Mildred in Sabina.”
Toe sipped on his latte. “Lily, this is good. You may have converted me.”
“Watch it Toe, it’s got a kick to it. Made with espresso,” Essie offered.
“Hmmm, you don’t say. Just the kick I need to replace Miss Dorothy’s bathroom sink this afternoon.”
“She’s finally pulling the trigger,” Hildie said. “She’s been talking about it for over a year.”
Essie looked exasperated. “Can we please get back to Mr. Jefferies and his wandering eye.”
“I don’t think it’s wandering,” Hildie said as she stood up from the table. “Sound like it settled on Mildred.”
“That’s the thing,” Harvey said. “The ladies also said he was seen with another woman last weekend. A young one.”
Essie leaned forward. “Who?”
Harvey shook his head. “They didn’t know. Wasn’t anyone from around here.”
Hildie headed back around the counter. “That’s enough gossip for one day. I need to get to the grocery and stock up on butter, sugar and shortening. Essie you coming or staying?”
Essie looked over at Toe who was enjoying his latte. “I’ll stay and help Lily.”
“It’s really not that busy the rest of the day if you want to go.” I knew that’s not what she wanted to hear.
Essie gave me a look that would drop a bear. “I really don’t need to go to the store. Besides, your inventory skills could use some help.”
“You just don’t know how to read my writing.”
“No one can read that chicken scratch young lady.” Very true. Of course I knew she wasn’t about to go over my inventory numbers. She wanted to stick around because of Toe. But once he was finished with his latte he stood up to leave.
“Heading out so soon Toe,” Essie asked.
“Yep, that bathroom sink isn’t going to install itself so I better get with it. See you all later.” He walked out the door with Essie looking after him. Harvey stood up as well.
“I better run along as well. The boys are playing poker this afternoon and I don’t want to be late.”
“From euchre to poker,” I said. “You’re becoming a card shark.”
Harvey pointed to the fin on top of his golf cart. “Now you get the picture.”
Indeed I did. Sly ol’ dog.
The rest of the day was slow but normal for a Wednesday. That evening my friend Jules and I went to dinner at the local café. I wanted to see how her first week at a new job was going. She previously worked as a receptionist with a legal firm in Orlando, but the drive back and forth became too much. A receptionist job at a local dentist
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