Ice Coffee Corruption, page 2
“Aunt Maxi!” I called out, watching her face light up with joy as she approached.
“You’ve got a good nose,” she said, parking her bike and hopping to her feet with surprising agility. Her oversized coat flapped around her like a cape, and the big scarf twisted around her neck nearly hid the beaming smile on her face. She wore a knit cap pulled down over her ears, and her crossbody purse was strapped securely across her chest. As she stuffed her gloves into the front pocket, she noticed Pepper yipping and yapping in excitement.
“Why, hello there, sweet boy,” she cooed, bending down and giving Pepper a scratch behind the ears. When she straightened up, she tugged off her knit cap, revealing her hair, which was now dyed a vibrant shade of orange and adorned with streaks of yellow and red—perfectly matching the fall theme of the Friendsgiving Harvest Fest.
“Aunt Maxi,” I said with a chuckle, “your hair is perfect for the festival.”
“Thank you, darling. I thought I’d get into the spirit,” she replied, giving her hair a playful toss. “Now, what’s on the agenda for today?”
“I’m taking the complimentary coffee to the Cocoon Hotel’s hospitality room,” I said, lifting the industrial thermos. “And Pepper here needs his morning walk.”
“I’ll just be-bop on inside the coffeehouse and start getting things ready.” Aunt Maxi started toward the door.
“Be nice to Bunny,” I told Aunt Maxi as she reached for the door handle and then pulled her hand back. “Bunny is early today.”
I had to warn her because she and Bunny didn’t really see eye to eye, which made situations between them sticky at times.
“Then I’ll take the coffee to Camey,” she said, referring to Camey Montgomery, the owner of the Cocoon Hotel. “And Pepper too.”
I handed her the thermos.
“Thank you, Aunt Maxi.”
After giving me a reassuring smile, she started down the boardwalk, the morning fog still lingering around her. Pepper trotted happily beside her, his tail wagging in rhythm with her steps.
Aunt Maxi had started to whistle a happy tune as she proceeded to the Cocoon Hotel.
As I watched her walk away, her vibrant hair catching the soft morning light, I couldn’t help but shake my head and smile. Aunt Maxi always brought me a touch of chaos and joy, and I couldn’t imagine starting my day any other way. But I also wondered what I could do this Friendsgiving to get Aunt Maxi and Bunny to be nicer to each other.
With a deep breath, I turned back to the Bean Hive, ready to tackle the preparations for the busy day ahead. The sound of the festive tunes from Aunt Maxi’s radio faded into the distance as she disappeared down the empty boardwalk with Pepper in tow. The thought of creating harmony between the two older women stayed with me as I stepped inside, determined to make this Friendsgiving the best one yet.
CHAPTER TWO
“Looky here, looky here.” Loretta Bebe hurried into the coffeehouse, waving something above her head. Her bracelets, which covered the skin on her arm from her elbow to her wrist, jingled with each sway of the item. The morning light filtered through the windows, shining a spotlight on the pumpkin centerpieces and autumnal garlands that I had used to decorate the coffeehouse.
Freshly brewed coffee and baked goods filled the air, mingling with the chatter of the early bird customers. The scent of cinnamon and nutmeg lingered, adding to the festive atmosphere.
“Does Low-retta think she’s in some beauty contest?” Aunt Maxi asked sarcastically as she used her hip to push off the edge of the counter she’d planted herself on since the Bean Hive opened a couple hours ago.
The soft hum of conversations blended with the occasional clatter of cups and spoons, creating the background noise that I loved so much.
“She’s got the whole wrist-elbow technique they teach you in those beauty school classes down.” Aunt Maxi wouldn’t let it go.
I sucked in a deep breath, preparing myself to stop an argument between them as Aunt Maxi did a horrible impression with her other hand and arm, the ones that weren’t holding the full cup of coffee. Her exaggerated motions drew a few amused glances from nearby patrons.
“Shhhut up, Maxine.” Loretta’s Southern accent drew out one-syllable words into two syllables. “It’s Looow-retta,” she corrected, her voice cutting through the soft murmur of the café.
“That’s what I said,” Aunt Maxi stated matter-of-factly. “Low-retta.”
“That’s not how I say it,” Loretta spat, her upper lip curling with each word. “Anyways, it don’t matter, because of the brochures that I, Loooow-retta”—this time, she exaggerated not only her pronunciation but the width of her open mouth, forming her lips into an obvious O shape—“and not you, Maxine Bloom, came up with.”
The conversation in the coffeehouse quieted momentarily as a few curious customers glanced over at Loretta and Aunt Maxi, intrigued by the lively exchange. The sun’s rays danced across the colorful autumn leaves that adorned the windows, creating playful shadows on the walls.
The fall was my favorite time of year. Adding the little autumnal details to the Bean Hive, especially since I was pairing them with the eclectic mix of furniture that I’d gotten from the tea gardens at the Wild and Whimsy, made the coffeehouse the perfect spot for the community to gather and enjoy the season’s delights.
“I see you’ve been tanning lately,” Aunt Maxi remarked, noticing the very distinct dark-to-white lines between Loretta’s fingers as they splayed over what I could now see was the scarecrow scavenger hunt map.
“I dee-clare, Maxi, what crawled up your butt and died?” Loretta retorted, turning to Aunt Maxi and crossing her arms across her chest, the fringe on her shawl swaying with the movement. “Always piss and vinegar.”
“Come on, Loretta.” Aunt Maxi finally relented in her exaggerated pronunciation of Loretta’s name. “It’s all in good fun.” As she took a sip of her coffee, her eyes twinkled with mischief over the rim of her cup.
“Okay, you two, break it up,” I interjected, wiping my hands down my apron. From the other side of the counter, I reached across it and picked up the brochure. The rustic wood of the counter felt smooth under my fingers.
The brochure was a delightful piece of work, colorful and brimming with whimsical illustrations of scarecrows scattered throughout Honey Springs. The text promised a day of fun and adventure, with prizes for the person who found the most scarecrows.
“This looks fantastic, Loretta,” I said, genuinely impressed. “The kids are going to love this.”
Loretta beamed, her earlier annoyance with Aunt Maxi apparently forgotten. “I thought it would be a great way to get everyone involved in the Friendsgiving Harvest Fest. And it’s not just for kids—everyone can join in on the fun.”
“You did a great job,” I assured her, glancing up and seeing Aunt Maxi making a playful face behind Loretta’s back, mimicking the scarecrow illustrations. I stifled a laugh, shaking my head at her antics.
The door chimed, and a few more customers trickled in, bringing with them a gust of crisp fall air. The scene outside was picturesque, with the leaves turning brilliant shades of orange and red, fluttering down and carpeting the boardwalk.
Loretta just couldn’t let the matter go.
“If Maxine’s design was chosen, those cute little scarecrows that I had them put on the exact locations would’ve been Xs.” Loretta leaned far over the counter, her bracelets jingling wildly as she pointed the scarecrows out on the map, as if I didn’t understand what she was telling me.
I wanted to really look and listen, but Aunt Maxi’s voice was in my head like one of those earworms that you couldn’t shake loose. You know the kind—a song that gets in your mind in the morning and stays there, playing over and over like a broken record? Yeah, that was Aunt Maxi’s commentary about Loretta’s tan, looping endlessly in my brain.
Aunt Maxi’s pointed observation was so vivid. Poor Loretta couldn’t deny that her tan didn’t come from the sun. The woman was brown all year round. She claimed she was Cherokee, which she might’ve been, but the lines between her fingers and on her neck when she lifted her chin showed an altogether different shade of skin that told me she was ninety percent tanning bed.
Almost everything on Loretta Bebe was fake, down to the color of her coal-black hair, which came from a store-bought box. But despite all that, she was awfully kind to me and the Bean Hive. Plus, her granddaughter Birdie, whom I loved like a little sister, worked for the Bean Hive.
“Loretta,” I said gently, trying to steer the conversation back to calmer waters, “those scarecrows are adorable, and they add so much charm to the map. I’m sure everyone will love them.”
“Adorable?” Aunt Maxi scoffed, unable to resist getting in one last jab. “They look like they’re ready for a scarecrow fashion show, not a scavenger hunt.”
“Oh, hush, Maxine,” Loretta shot back, rolling her eyes dramatically. “You wouldn’t know good design if it hit you in the face. Obviously, since your design wasn’t chosen.”
“Why, Loretta, I’m surprised your head fit through the door,” Aunt Maxi quipped from behind her coffee mug. She barely suppressed a smirk as she took a sip.
Loretta’s bracelets jangled as she crossed her arms, her lips pursing tightly. “Well, bless your heart, Maxine,” she drawled, her words dripping with Southern charm. “Don’t say nothing unless you’ve got something nice to say.”
“Don’t you be blessing my heart because I’m blessing your heart,” Aunt Maxi retorted. Her voice carried a sharp edge that made Bunny Bowowski gasp from way across the counter, where she was taking a customer’s light lunch order.
“We do not need a bless-your-heart showdown, you two,” I said, sliding open the glass display counter and using the tongs to plate two sweet potato biscuits. The rich scent of cinnamon and butter wafted through the air. “Here.” I slid one plate across the counter to Loretta and set another down in front of Aunt Maxi. “Keep your mouths busy with these delicious biscuits.”
“Do you mind if I stick some of these right here?” Loretta asked me, pulling a handful of brochures from her purse.
“Not at all,” I said, removing some older brochures from an acrylic stand so she could replace them with the new ones. I glanced behind her and addressed the next customer in line. “What can I get you?”
“Can I get a cup of that special coffee I’ve been hearing about?” they asked.
“Sure, would you like it hot or iced?” I replied, already reaching for the chilled pitcher of our Autumn Harvest iced coffee blend and watching Aunt Maxi be kind to Loretta.
“Come on, Low-retta, let’s grab a seat at the window bar and go talk about someone else,” Aunt Maxi snickered, picking up her plate and leading Loretta across the coffeehouse. They settled at the window bar, a perfect spot to watch all the goings-on along the boardwalk as everyone geared up for the mayor’s ceremonial announcement that would officially open the Friendsgiving Harvest Fest.
There was a steady line of customers, each one eager to sample the Bean Hive’s delights. The air filled with voices, the clinking of cups, and the occasional hiss of the espresso machine.
In the midst of this bustling scene, Louise Carlton appeared, being dragged through the coffeehouse by what looked to be an adult hound dog. He had his nose to the floor, not caring a bit that he was dragging the middle-aged, silver-haired woman behind him. Just like Loretta, Louise wore bangles around her wrist, and her silver bob and blunt bangs were always neatly combed, but this dog had surely done a number on them. Louise’s stray hairs stuck out at odd angles, and her usually pristine outfit was slightly askew.
“Whoa there, Louise!” I called out, stepping around the counter to help. “Who’s this energetic fellow?”
“This is Deputy,” Louise said while panting, trying to regain her composure. “He’s got a nose for trouble and an appetite to match.”
Aunt Maxi and Loretta turned their attention from the window to Louise, amusement dancing in their eyes as they watched the spectacle.
“Looks like Deputy’s ready for the Friendsgiving scavenger hunt,” Bunny quipped, receiving a chuckle from the surrounding customers.
“Well, he’s certainly ready for something,” Louise replied, finally managing to get Deputy to sit. She adjusted her bangles and smoothed down her hair, flashing me a grateful smile. “And that’s a family.”
“Louise.” I didn’t mean for my tone to sound negative, but it did. “You can’t possibly think Deputy would be a good fit for us.”
“He would be. He just needs a little training.” Louise pulled out the very familiar-looking folder she brought with all the animals from Pet Palace she intended to be fostered in the Bean Hive until they were adopted.
Pet Palace was Honey Springs’s take on a local SPCA. Not all small towns in Kentucky had animal shelters, and Pet Palace was run solely on volunteers and donated money. Louise never turned away an animal of any kind. Every Monday night, I volunteered to clean cages, feed the animals, and help get them adopted. The Bean Hive served as a temporary foster home for animals, allowing people to see them in a natural environment rather than in the shelter. The animals I fostered had a one hundred percent adoption rate, but Deputy looked like he was going to ruin my perfect score.
“Roxy, you’ve got the magic touch,” Louise insisted, her eyes pleading. “Just give him a chance.”
Pepper hurried over, his tail wagging furiously as he sniffed at Deputy. The two dogs exchanged a few tentative sniffs before Pepper gave Deputy a friendly nudge and wagged his tail even faster. It was a good sign—Pepper’s instincts about other dogs were usually spot-on.
Louise beamed and handed me the folder. “Thank you, Roxy. You won’t regret it.”
As I took the folder, I couldn’t help but feel a mix of apprehension and determination. Deputy might be a challenge, but I was willing to do what Louise said and give him a chance. After all, the Bean Hive had become known for helping both people and pets find their place in the world. With Pepper’s approval, I felt a little more confident that Deputy could find his forever home too.
The door swung open, and along with the dry leaves that swept inside came a blood-curdling scream that got not only human attention but also Deputy’s. In an instant, Deputy jerked free from Louise's grip on his leash and darted out the door. He paused briefly and visibly sniffed the air before he took off down the boardwalk, his hound instincts in full gear.
"Deputy, no!" Louise shouted, but it was too late. The dog was already bolting down the boardwalk, people jumping out of his way as he barreled forward.
Pepper tried to take off after him, but I called out, “Pepper, stay!”
Like the good dog he was, Pepper froze in place, though his eyes were fixed anxiously on Deputy’s retreating form.
I bolted out the door after Deputy, the crisp fall air hitting me as I ran. Aunt Maxi and Loretta, not people to be left behind, scrambled after me. The sight of them fumbling over people, nearly tripping over a baby stroller and apologizing profusely to a man holding a hot coffee, would’ve been funny if the situation weren’t so dire.
“Outta the way, folks!” Aunt Maxi hollered, waving her arms dramatically. “Deputy on the loose!”
“Coming through, y’all!” Loretta added, her bracelets jingling wildly as she struggled to keep up, her scarf flapping like a banner behind her.
People were diving out of the way, some staring in confusion and others in mild amusement as our chaotic trio chased the runaway hound.
We reached the marina. Deputy was already at the edge of the boat dock, his nose to the wood, sniffing frantically. My heart pounding, I pushed forward as a boat roared to life, shot out of the no-wake zone at full throttle, and disappeared before I could get a good view of the vessel.
Deputy stood at the edge of the dock, howling toward the boat, his mournful cries echoing over the water. The sound was haunting, a mix of desperation and determination.
“Deputy!” I called, breathless as I finally reached him. I bent down and wrapped my arms around his neck to calm him. “Good boy, it's okay.”
Aunt Maxi and Loretta stumbled up behind me, panting and slightly disheveled. Aunt Maxi’s hat was askew, and Loretta’s hair looked like it had been through a wind tunnel.
“What in tarnation was that all about?” Aunt Maxi asked, adjusting her hat.
“I reckon Deputy’s got himself a nose for trouble,” Loretta said, trying to catch her breath.
Big Bib, the owner of the marina, ran up, his face pale.
“Did you see that? Someone took off in that boat like a bat outta…” He stopped shy of saying the curse word.
“I saw,” I said, still holding on to Deputy, who was now panting but calmer than he had been. “Did you get a look at who it was?”
“No, it all happened so fast,” Big Bib replied. “One minute everything was quiet, and the next, that boat was gone.”
I looked out over the lake, my mind racing with questions. Whoever it was, they had something to hide, and Deputy had picked up on it.
This Friendsgiving Harvest Fest was turning out to be far more eventful than I’d anticipated.
CHAPTER THREE
“Deputy!”
Apparently, the chase wasn’t over. Deputy had taken off again, only this time, he went back the way we came.
“What is wrong with that dog?” Big Bib turned his attention to me. He was a big burly man, wearing a pair of jeans, a pair of red suspenders clipped to the waist of those jeans, and a sleeveless Metallica shirt. “He’s got some kind of head worm or somethin’.”
Big Bib shook his head, but I didn’t wait around to hear what else he had to say about Deputy.
The chase to get the crazy mutt was on, and Aunt Maxi, Loretta, and I were the fools running after him. We were all flailing our arms, screaming, “Deputy!” like we needed a real deputy. The tourists and folks on the boardwalk parted like the Red Sea when they heard the thunderous paws of the hound dog coming toward them, echoing along Lake Honey Springs and the forested island across it.
