displays yet. Normally, we'd already be on this second batch of deliciousness. If these items hadn't been sold by morning, I'd have to tell Joe to stay home. Of course, that would mean calling Mrs. Hendrickson tonight to find out. Darn.
I grabbed a carrot cake muffin, sunk my teeth into its firm softness, and softly moaned as the flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg caressed my tongue. I enjoyed eating as much as I loved baking.
After inhaling the muffin, I wheeled my bike out of the bakery's back door and decided to stop by Nathan's again. I wanted to see Max and to find out more information. Not only did I have Mom and Nathan questions, and who killed Nathan questions, but now I added in Nathan and his siblings questions. They may not have been my business, but I didn't care. I wanted to know everything I could about this mysterious and puzzling man. Aside from the curiosity of him and Mom, the best way to figure out who killed him was by learning who wanted him dead. And since he was a recluse, I had no idea where to begin finding these suspects. Other than his own sisters perhaps. Gloria spoke about Nathan's estate and money as if she'd really wanted it.
The white Camry sat in the driveway, and two other cars—both black rentals—were parked on the street in front of the house. When I braked, the neighbor peeked out from the side of his bush, in the exact same spot he'd been the last time I saw him. He wore the same trousers and T-shirt from last time too, but instead of red suspenders, he now wore green ones. Several strands of his white hair were stuck together on the top of his head, which gave him a birdlike look.
I stopped, thinking he wanted to say something, but he just stood there staring at me. How odd. Was he always out here, or did he rush out when he heard someone approaching? If he weren't borderline creepy, I'd try to grill him. I would've been shocked if he hadn't observed and learned some interesting tidbits about the Dearborns this past week.
A loud sound boomed from inside the house. I flinched, and so did the neighbor. The front door swung open, and Gloria stormed from the house. She didn't seem to see me as she stomped down the walkway. A nauseating cloud of rose perfume followed her.
Max appeared at the door. His face was pink and scrunched up in fury. "Age has nothing to do with it," he shouted.
Gloria stopped, looked back, and snarled. I expected her to yell a response, but she just continued to her car. Shifting it into gear, she peeled out of there, complete with screeching tires and the wretched scent of burning rubber.
Max blinked twice, then looked straight at me. That was when he noticed me. Instantly his expression softened. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Riley, I'm sorry you saw that."
"That's fine. You should've seen some of the arguments I had with my grandmother when I was younger. You have some time?"
He still looked frazzled but waved me over. "Sure, come on in."
I followed him inside and back to the kitchen. One day I hoped to make it into the other rooms. His aunt Holly was seated at the table, eating a bowl of cereal. She scooped a huge spoonful of multicolored marshmallows into her mouth. She eyed me, but I couldn't tell what she was thinking with all that chewing going on.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," I said.
Max glanced at his aunt in disgust. "No, Aunt Holly and Aunt Gloria thought they'd come over to mooch."
Wow, I couldn't imagine speaking to Uncle Doug or Aunt Bernie like that.
Holly glared at him, then lifted her bowl and held it to her mouth. Once she finished slurping the milk, with loud sounds and all, she stood, placed the bowl in the sink, and wiped away the milk mustache with the back of her hand. "I'll get out of your way now. Thanks for being the ever-so-gracious man you've always been, nephew."
She walked out without a glance to me. Several seconds later, the front door slammed.
"Family," Max said with a half smile.
"Are they always like
I grabbed a carrot cake muffin, sunk my teeth into its firm softness, and softly moaned as the flavors of cinnamon and nutmeg caressed my tongue. I enjoyed eating as much as I loved baking.
After inhaling the muffin, I wheeled my bike out of the bakery's back door and decided to stop by Nathan's again. I wanted to see Max and to find out more information. Not only did I have Mom and Nathan questions, and who killed Nathan questions, but now I added in Nathan and his siblings questions. They may not have been my business, but I didn't care. I wanted to know everything I could about this mysterious and puzzling man. Aside from the curiosity of him and Mom, the best way to figure out who killed him was by learning who wanted him dead. And since he was a recluse, I had no idea where to begin finding these suspects. Other than his own sisters perhaps. Gloria spoke about Nathan's estate and money as if she'd really wanted it.
The white Camry sat in the driveway, and two other cars—both black rentals—were parked on the street in front of the house. When I braked, the neighbor peeked out from the side of his bush, in the exact same spot he'd been the last time I saw him. He wore the same trousers and T-shirt from last time too, but instead of red suspenders, he now wore green ones. Several strands of his white hair were stuck together on the top of his head, which gave him a birdlike look.
I stopped, thinking he wanted to say something, but he just stood there staring at me. How odd. Was he always out here, or did he rush out when he heard someone approaching? If he weren't borderline creepy, I'd try to grill him. I would've been shocked if he hadn't observed and learned some interesting tidbits about the Dearborns this past week.
A loud sound boomed from inside the house. I flinched, and so did the neighbor. The front door swung open, and Gloria stormed from the house. She didn't seem to see me as she stomped down the walkway. A nauseating cloud of rose perfume followed her.
Max appeared at the door. His face was pink and scrunched up in fury. "Age has nothing to do with it," he shouted.
Gloria stopped, looked back, and snarled. I expected her to yell a response, but she just continued to her car. Shifting it into gear, she peeled out of there, complete with screeching tires and the wretched scent of burning rubber.
Max blinked twice, then looked straight at me. That was when he noticed me. Instantly his expression softened. He ran a hand through his hair and sighed. "Riley, I'm sorry you saw that."
"That's fine. You should've seen some of the arguments I had with my grandmother when I was younger. You have some time?"
He still looked frazzled but waved me over. "Sure, come on in."
I followed him inside and back to the kitchen. One day I hoped to make it into the other rooms. His aunt Holly was seated at the table, eating a bowl of cereal. She scooped a huge spoonful of multicolored marshmallows into her mouth. She eyed me, but I couldn't tell what she was thinking with all that chewing going on.
"I hope I'm not interrupting," I said.
Max glanced at his aunt in disgust. "No, Aunt Holly and Aunt Gloria thought they'd come over to mooch."
Wow, I couldn't imagine speaking to Uncle Doug or Aunt Bernie like that.
Holly glared at him, then lifted her bowl and held it to her mouth. Once she finished slurping the milk, with loud sounds and all, she stood, placed the bowl in the sink, and wiped away the milk mustache with the back of her hand. "I'll get out of your way now. Thanks for being the ever-so-gracious man you've always been, nephew."
She walked out without a glance to me. Several seconds later, the front door slammed.
"Family," Max said with a half smile.
"Are they always like
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