Ginny Gold - Early Bird Café 03 - Dead and Berried Read Free Page B

way. She let the phone ring until Nora’s voicemail picked up and then Kori left a message, “Hey. Hope you’re on your way to the festival.” Glancing out the front gate, Kori continued, “The line of customers is already at least thirty deep. See you soon?”
    Kori started panicking. What had happened to Nora? She was as reliable as Kori was. If she was going to be somewhere, she’d be there. So something big must have happened, but what?
    Kori knew she didn’t have time to make it all the way out to Red Clover Farm and get back before the front gates opened, so she carried her phone with her and walked quickly through the rest of the booths setup on the fairgrounds. Way in the back she found the beer tent—and many of the teen volunteers.
    Next to the beer tent was a booth selling homemade strawberry wine. Kori was glad those were as far from her booth as they could be. She didn’t mind people enjoying themselves, but she didn’t need them getting rowdy right up front where she’d soon be serving customers.
    Coming around the rest of the circle, Jenna Rhodes had a booth setup for face painting for kids. She had a knack for attracting them to her tent. Which made sense since she worked with kids every day of the week, running an in home daycare in Hermit Cove.
    Next to her booth was Scoop’s Scoops selling ice cream and Betsy waved, a huge smile on her face, as Kori passed. There were even a couple different kinds of ice cream makers where families or kids could make their own. There were hand crank ice cream makers and even a couple that looked like hamster wheels and were always the kids’ favorites. Betsy had made gallons of strawberry ice cream for the weekend and she was hoping to sell out.
    When Kori arrived back at her tent she was disappointed to see that Red Clover Farm’s booth was still empty. She called Nora again but didn’t leave another message. She hung up when no one answered and glanced at the time on her phone. Only two minutes left.
    Kori walked behind her table, put Nora out of her mind and a smile on her face. She was ready for the initial influx of festival attendees and the new business they would create for The Early Bird Café.
    And it was a good thing. Because as soon as the flood gates were opened, her tent was swarmed with both locals and visitors alike. She was making crepes and waffles as fast as she could, piling the toppings and fillings on as she got the next ones ready. During the first thirty second break she managed to take, she considered how she should have recruited Jackie to volunteer at her booth to help out. Now she knew for next year’s festival—or by the end of the summer if she was going to be serious with herself. Having someone help in the mornings at the café was becoming almost a necessity.
    She was quickly brought back to the task at hand when none other than Zach Gulch walked up to her booth. She couldn’t help grinning from ear to ear like one of the teenagers walking around trying to get the attention of the boys their age.
    “Hey Zach,” Kori said, thrilled to see him.
    Before he answered, he leaned across her table—in danger of getting spilled waffle batter on his uniform—and planted a kiss. Kori could feel herself blushing.
    “Hi beautiful.” Kori’s face grew even hotter. “Looks like you’ve been busy.” Zach scanned the contents on the tables, his eyes lingering on the pile of coolers.
    “ And it’s not even eight thirty yet! It’s even busier than at the café. I thought it was going to be an easier weekend since there are other places to get food. But Strawberry Fields is constantly bombarded too.”
    “You do have prime real estate,” he said, looking around at the other booths. Kori saw his gaze land on Nora’s empty booth and stay there. When he finally turned back he asked, “Where’s Nora?”
    Kori shrugged. “I tried calling her multiple times before eight but never heard back.” Kori glanced at her phone just to