Poison Apple Crisp - Addison Moore Page 0,33
door chimes and in walks a familiar looking woman with a blonde wavy bob, along with a teenage girl with her red hair in a ponytail. It takes a second to place the woman, and I gasp as I wave.
“Rachelle,” I say as both she and the girl head our way.
“Drats.” Carlotta slumps in her seat. “I guess that means the dive bar is out.”
“Lottie.” Rachelle hikes a smile over her face. “This is my stepdaughter, Amber, the one who’s going to be a junior this year.”
“That’s right, you mentioned her. Nice to meet you, Amber. This is my daughter, Evie. She’s going to be a junior as well, and she’s trying out for cheer.”
The girl’s eyes expand. “I’m on the squad.” No sooner does she say it than she’s seated next to Evie, and they’re embroiled in a conversation as if they were old friends.
“Please join us.” I laugh as I give the invite to Rachelle. “I was just about to refresh the brownies. I’ll get us some coffee.” I motion to Lily, and she gives me the thumbs-up.
Rachelle lands next to me with her cherry red turtleneck with a plaid jacket pulled over it, and suddenly I’m craving a whole new fall wardrobe. I suppose that’s not practical in my condition. But, then again, it sort of does warrant a whole new wardrobe.
“I heard what happened last night.” Her pale blue eyes are wide. “About the break-in,” she whispers.
“You did?”
A burst of pink sparkles erupts, bright and obnoxious, as if a glitter bomb just went off as Ginger comes to life before me. She prances her tiny feet all over the last of the cinnamon rolls on the table and leaves adorable impressions of her paws through them.
Amber glances over at the sweet treat and gobbles it down paw prints and all.
Rachelle nods. “Detective Fox came by the school, and I heard him telling Cokie all about it.”
I make a face. I’m not too thrilled with Noah spending time with Kooky Cokie. It’s clear she’s hot-to-trot, and her hooves just so happen to be pointed in his direction.
“We’re fine,” I say. “I don’t know if he mentioned it, but they were just after one thing.”
“The book,” she whispers. “I’m sorry. I knew it was valuable, but I had no idea anyone would do something like that to get their hands on it. Creepy.” She shudders.
Ginger lets out a sharp bark. “Ask her where she was last night from ten o’clock until three in the morning?”
Carlotta scoops up the ghostly pooch and begins petting and kissing her as if everyone in the room could see the adorable furball.
“Never mind my mother,” I say to Rachelle. “She’s had a rough life.”
“I can commiserate.” She gives a nervous laugh.
“So what’s the word at school? I’m sure those that knew Brenda are taking it pretty hard.”
A dull laugh thumps through her just as Lily sets down a round of fresh brewed coffee and brownies.
“I don’t think anyone is taking it too hard. Thank you,” she says to Lily as she picks up a brownie. “No one is boo-hooing, but we’re all in shock. Brenda was a fixture at that school.” She leans in. “A bit of a tyrant. She ran the PTA like a dictatorship. For as much as she went out of her way to tell people she wanted their input, and for the decisions to be made with all parties involved—in the end, everything went exactly how she said she wanted it to go to begin with.”
“Cokie mentioned you were close.”
Rachelle frowns at the thought. “We were. Actually, we were so close she just invited me to be in her wedding.”
“Wow, I guess you really were close. Her fiancé must be pretty distraught.” Although, he sure wasn’t acting that way the night Brenda keeled over.
She wrinkles her nose. “I don’t know. He was sort of a strange one. I was a little surprised she let it get that far.”
“Let what get that far?”
“Well—” She glances toward the girls before leaning in another notch.
“Hold your gossiping horses.” Carlotta drags her seat around our way while trying to balance Ginger. “Let’s hear whatcha got. I may have been deprived out of heading to a dive bar, but it doesn’t mean I’m gonna miss out on the spilling of the tea.”
Rachelle chuckles her way. “I think I like you.”
Ginger barks, “This is it, Lottie. She’s going to tell us the truth, isn’t she?”
Rachelle looks my way. “Brenda practically stole Martin away from Cokie.