Soft Serve Secrets: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 3) Read Free Page A

heart stop once today from an eight legged mutant creature.”
     
    Brandon looked at her warily, and then decided not to pursue the subject.
    “As I was saying…you all think you know Miss Trixie but maybe you don’t.”
     
    Stormi side eyed Brandon. “Okay, what have you heard?”
     
    Brandon pulled up a chair and filled us in. “As you all know, word spreads fast in this town. Even the blowup between Trixie and her stepdaughter has become old news already.”
     
    Stormi looked impatient. “Yes yes, Tara and I were there. So what else is the hubbub around town?”
     
    Brandon stretched back in his chair. “Seems there’s some speculation about how Trixie’s first husband died.”
     
    “How did he die?” Paige asked. “It was so long ago and I never heard anyone talk about it.”
     
    “He fell off a cliff in Stone Mountain Park,” Brandon answered.
     
    Not what I expected. “He fell off a cliff? That’s kind of odd.”
     
    Brandon nodded his head. “Yeah. Seems there wasn’t much of an investigation into it. She said he accidentally got too close to the edge and fell. Of course back then the police didn’t have the forensics they have now to tell if he actually fell or was pushed.”
     
    Stormi shook her head. “No way she pushed him. I’d bet my life on it.”
     
    “But now maybe you can see why this Miss Gracie is all a twitter,” Brandon remarked.
     
    “How did she know?” Paige asked.
     
    “She’s the one telling the story and it’s backed up by old newspaper clippings she found on the internet.” Brandon stood up. “She’s shown them to the police and the local newspaper.”
     
    “Oh no.” I didn’t like this one bit. I knew how this kind of gossip spread and before morning Trixie would be labeled a black widow for sure.
     
    “I just wanted to let you girls know what was being said in town so be prepared when customers talk about it. And they will.” Brandon looked at me. “How about a chocolate peanut butter shake for the road.”
     
    As I prepared Brandon’s shake and the three of them talked, I wondered how I could help Miss Trixie. I didn’t like how things were spiraling out of control and so fast. But that’s what happens in a small town. Gossip, good or bad, spreads like wild fire. As much as people adored Trixie, it wouldn’t stop the drumbeat. Within hours, doubt was cast over her reputation, and it would take months if not years to regain her good name.
     
    I understood what Paige was saying about Gracie, but how could she be so irresponsible with her accusations. This was a woman’s character at stake. But then Gracie was thinking of her father and keeping him safe. Crap! Everything was so messed up.
     
    I handed Brandon his shake as he smiled and gave me a five-dollar bill. “Keep the change gorgeous.” I felt a heat rise in my cheeks. What the heck was wrong with me?
     
    “Thanks,” was all I was able to squeak out. Stormi looked at me sideways. Normally I’d give him a wisecrack but I just couldn’t today.
     
    The rest of the day was off and on busy. I prepared my ice cream cakes and popped them into the freezer for delivery the next day. As the evening rush subsided, Stormi and I wound things up for the day by putting chairs on the tables, sweeping, and mopping the floor. It was getting dark outside, which made it harder to see outside from the glare of my overhead lights. As Stormi swept the floor, she looked up to see a face staring back at her through the window.
     
    “Oh for crying out loud!” Stormi squealed. “This day is going to kill me yet.”
     
    In walked Miss Trixie. “Oh Stormi, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I wasn’t sure if the shoppe was still open or not so thought I’d peer in first.”
     
    Stormi caught her breath. “That’s okay Miss Trixie; it’s been one of those days.”
     
    “Tell me about it,” Trixie replied.
     
    Stormi grimaced. “I’m sorry Trix; I know your day has been hell.