BlueBuried Muffins (Black Cat Cafe Cozy Mystery Series Book 1) Read Free

we couldn’t add a few simple grilled breakfast items once we get a good feel for business.” Leona made a note on her menu. “The homemade granola and various fruit juices will be set up next to the beverages on another self-serve cart. The breakfast smoothies will be made to order.”
    “That sounds like a good selection for the mornings. Do you have any idea what the customer numbers will be?”
    “This is a better location than where I was before. We’re right on the water now, which is prime real estate and where everyone likes to be. I expect there will be a lot of tourists coming through for most of the year and they can help themselves and do take out if they want to keep moving or they can sit in here and enjoy the view. That’s why simple is best. We’ll be able to handle a lot more people if we don’t have to prepare individual meals.”
    “What about lunch?”
    Leona opened a new file for the lunch menu. “Lunch will be more labor intensive with made-to-order sandwiches, wraps and paninis. We’ll precut and measure ingredients so customers don’t need to wait too long after they order. And I want a variety of soups but we can make them ahead and freeze them.” Leona leaned back and waited for Annie to process all the information.
    “That sounds like a well thought out plan. What are we going to make first? My stomach is telling me to send something down before we get too busy,” Annie said, hands on her rumbling stomach.
    “I’ll make strawberry-banana smoothies and an egg sandwich for us if you want to get started making the blueberry muffins. All the recipes are in this folder on my laptop.” Leona opened the folder so Annie could easily find the recipe.
    Annie hummed to herself as she pulled ingredients from the big refrigerator and the shelves. The whirr of the blender was soothing and the aroma of fried eggs and toast made her mouth water. When the food was ready, they both sat at the counter enjoying the quiet while they ate the delicious food.
    “How’s my mom?” Annie finally broke the silence.
    “Well,” Leona wiped her mouth and put her elbows on the counter. “She’s not great. I think something died inside after you left.”
    “That’s not fair. Don’t try to make me feel guilty. It’s her own fault that I left and you know it,” Annie said angrily.
    “I’m not blaming you, and it may be hard to forgive her, but sometimes it’s harder to hang onto the anger. She was trying to protect you. My guess is that she realizes what a bad choice it was to keep information from you but she can’t go back and do it over. Are you still searching for your birth mother?”
    Annie nodded. “Max was helping and I thought he was getting closer, but then the lead disappeared into thin air. I’m still wondering if he found out more than he told me.”
    “Max, your boyfriend?” Leona put her hand on Annie’s shoulder. “I know how hard it must be.”
    “No you don’t. You can’t imagine what I’m feeling.” Annie quickly wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Let’s get this finished for today so I can go back and check on Smokey.”
    “You go ahead if you want. I’ll call Danny and check if he can stop by to get started on the shelves for the books. Get yourself settled into your apartment, I don’t mind baking by myself for the rest of the day. See you tomorrow morning, bright and early?”
    Annie swiveled the stool around and slid off. “Sure. Bright and early.”
    As Annie walked back to JC’s house to get her car, she called JC to fill her in about the apartment and Annie’s job working at the new café. JC was happy for Annie, and Annie had to wonder if that was because it meant she wouldn’t be crashing on JC’s floor again.
     
    ***
     
    The early morning mist hung over Heron Lake like a warm down comforter when Annie walked to her window the next morning. She remembered, from living near the lake for most of her life, that the mist would break up, letting