Easy Bake Coven: Book One of the Vivienne Finch Magical Mysteries (13 page)

“Sure.”
Tristan was quick to reply. “Next time I’m at auction I’ll try to pick up a few
things.”

“Oh,
you don’t need to go to any trouble just yet.” Vivienne could almost feel the
dollar bills disappearing from her purse. She shifted uncomfortably in her
chair.

“Don’t
feel pressured to buy them.” Nathaniel sensed her discomfort. “How about you
place them in your store and if someone wants to buy them you direct them to
us?”

“That’s
so kind of you.” She rose from the chair. “It’s a deal.” She glanced at a
gorgeous grandfather clock that nearly touched the ceiling with its impressive
height. “Well, I’ve taken up enough of your time as it is.”

“I’m
sure we’ll see you at the service for Mona Clarke.” Tristan added.

Nathaniel
poked his partner in the ribs in annoyance. “If you’re going, that is.”

“Have
they set the date?” Vivienne asked the pair.

“Not
yet.” Nathaniel answered. “I’m sure the investigation is holding things up.”

“It’s
such a tragedy.” Vivien offered. “Not to mention the fact I don’t know when I’m
going to have my grand opening.”

“I’m
sure that the turnout will be impressive, regardless.” Tristan spoke up.
“Despite how people felt after that meeting the other night, I’m sure they will
still attend out of respect.”

“Were
you at the meeting too?” Vivienne wondered.

“I
was.” Nathaniel nodded. “But I hate speaking in front of crowds so I just
watched the fireworks.”

Tristan
sighed. “I was out of town picking up that owl lamp for Mrs.
Rathbun
. But I really wish I had been there to see it all
in person.”

“I
told you all about it.” Nathaniel protested.

Tristan
wrapped his arm around him. “Honey, I love you dearly but you are not a good
gossip.”

Nathaniel
shrugged. “I report the facts.”

“Yes,
you do. But it’s like reading an article in a newspaper about Elizabeth Taylor
versus watching a trashy television movie about her.” Tristan smiled. “It’s
just more exciting when you have Lindsay
Lohan’s
poor
acting powering the train wreck.”

“See
what I have to put up with?” Nathaniel smiled at Vivienne.
 

“How
do you two feel about the proposed changes to Main Street?” She asked.

“I’m
all for it.” Tristan eagerly chimed in. “The buildings are looking rather tired
and worn down lately.”

“But
we don’t think forcing the issue with the business owners is the right
approach.” Nathaniel countered.

“We
can’t rely on Mrs.
Rathbun
to keep us afloat every
month, honey.” Tristan’s voice was firm. “Mona was right about making the
changes sooner rather than later. Besides, she said our business needed only
minimal changes. A few hundred dollars tops. We already have a wooden sign and
she told us that she was using that as the base model for all the other
stores.”

“Well,
that’s convenient.” Vivienne added.

Nathaniel
nodded in agreement. “It’s a divisive issue to say the least. But we’re
flattered that Mona chose to use our store as a springboard for change.”

“Well,
I really have taken too much of your time today.” Vivienne pulled herself up
from the comfortable chair.

“So
how’s that handsome deputy of yours doing?” Tristan took her by the arm and
escorted her toward the door. “He certainly is easy on the eyes.”

Nathaniel
took her other arm. “We heard it was a blind date your Mother set up. You sure
are lucky.”

Vivienne
swallowed hard. “Boy, news sure travels fast in this town. Did you hear about
our first date too?”

“We
heard it was a cozy dinner for two at
Shanghai
Sunset
.” Tristan added with a laugh. “Nora stopped in here yesterday to see
if we had any good finds at the auction.”

“News
travels fast, but my Mother moves at the speed of light.” Vivienne joked.
“Well, it was a wonderful date and I’ll leave it at that.”

“Tell
him he’s welcome to stop by our store and visit anytime.” Nathaniel
interrupted. “Business is sure to pick up with a handsome guy like that
standing in the showroom.”

Vivienne
broke out into a hearty laugh. “You two are crazy but I love you anyway.” She
gave them each a little kiss on the cheeks. “Thank you so much for your help
and keep me posted if you hear about when the service is going to be.”

“We’ll
save you a seat next to us.” Tristan waved as she left the store. “We’ll save
one for the handsome deputy too.”

As
she walked down Main Street, she flipped open the journal and made sure the
entries were still there. As she suspected, they were quite clear under the
gauzy sunlight of the overcast day. Why couldn’t they see it? Was she going mad
from all the stress of opening her business and Mona’s murder?

No,
she decided as she climbed into her car and turned the engine over. She wasn’t
crazy. She was going to go to the source of the book and get answers. She
pulled out into the light traffic and set course for the Whispering Oaks
assisted living facility. She’d have the answer.

Despite
the overcast day that almost made the scenery around the lake resemble an old
black and white film, the drive along Cayuga Circle was quite pleasant. Here,
most of the grand Victorian homes from the old days stood proudly on their
manicured lawns that overlooked the lake. The homeowners were a mix of
established old family money and new wealth that had sought refuge from the
concrete jungles of New York and New Jersey. The driveways were paved and
smooth, with luxury cars tucked inside gingerbread decorated garages that
matched the colors of the homes. Front porches were decorated with corn stalks
and pumpkins and ribbons of orange and black. There were no tacky crashed
witches against the old oaks, nor were there white sheets twisted to make
little ghosts holding hands. The mood was refined and elegant and also a
reminder that this area was monitored by a strict homeowners association.

She
pulled into the parking lot of the two-story building that housed the
Whispering Oaks
assisted living facility
and found a spot near the picnic tables were staff members often enjoyed meal
breaks on nice days.

With
the journal tucked safely under her right arm, she entered the facility and was
greeted by the cheerful face of Sandy Cumberland at the reception desk. “Hello
Vivienne. Mary didn’t tell me you were coming to visit today.”

“It’s
a surprise.” Vivienne replied. “Is she upstairs?”

Sandy
checked the schedule on her computer. “She’s probably at the bingo game in the
recreation hall.”

“When
did it start?” Vivienne hated to interrupt the game, especially if Nana Mary
was on a hot streak. She’s never hear the end of it.

“It’s
almost over.” Sandy looked at the clock near her desk. “I’d guess another ten
or fifteen minutes.”

“I
better wait here.” She smiled back.

“You
should go down to the ice cream shop and try the new pumpkin pie ice cream.
It’s heaven.” Sandy offered.

Vivienne
was always impressed with the facility. In fact, it looked very much like a
nice hotel in a larger city. The walls were wood-paneled in rich honey oak, the
plush carpeting a pleasing green shade that brought to mind a summer lawn.
There were no clinical white walls, nor the trace of urine smell that one associated
with nursing homes. No corkboards with paper decorations stapled up amongst
activities flyers. The residents who called this building home needed only
minimal care. Once that situation changed, they were required to leave. It was
the perfect fit for Cayuga Circle, Vivienne thought to herself. Rules and
regulations were followed, protocols observed.

She
had taken Sandy’s advice and wandered down to the small ice cream parlor that
the residents often enjoyed when their families came to visit. The young man
working behind the counter was well groomed and wore an old-fashioned red and
white striped shirt that was tucked into a pair of black pants. “I hear you
have pumpkin pie ice cream?” She asked.

He
nodded. “Sure do. Would you like a cone or dish?” He asked politely.

“A
dish please.” Vivienne found cones too messy.

The
young man, whose metal nametag read Jonathan, pulled out a little cardboard
dish with pink polka dots on it and plopped a fairly large scoop of
orange-tinted ice cream inside. “Would you like whipped cream and a cherry?”

“No,
thank you.” Vivienne wanted nothing to disrupt the taste of the ice cream.

Jonathan
placed the dish on the counter along with a plastic spoon and some napkins.
“Would you like anything else today? We have rock candy on special, buy one get
one free?”

“I’ll
just take the ice cream today.” Vivienne repeated. “How much do I owe you?”

“Two
dollars even.” He replied.

She
opened her purse and gave him a five. “Keep the change.” She smiled warmly.

“Thank
you so much.” His eyes sparkled.

As
she left with her treat, she had a feeling the residents rarely tipped. It was
a different generation, she reminded herself. These were people who lived
through the depression and believed one had to work hard for their money. She
put a spoonful of ice cream into her mouth, and her tongue was treated to a
mixture of pumpkin, graham cracker, and caramel. It tasted amazingly just like
a slice of pie.

“Bingo.”
Nana Mary’s voice startled Vivienne from behind. She whirled around to find her
holding a little stuffed bear dressed in a witch’s outfit. “I was on a hell of
a hot streak today, let me tell you.” She was dressed in a cream-colored
sweater and a pair of lavender linen pants. Vivienne guessed it was an outfit
Nora had purchased from one of her excursions to the retail outlets near
Waterloo. Her short white hair was cut and styled in a pleasing look with a
slight body wave, as the facility employed a rather talented beauty and
barbering staff.

“Nana
Mary”, Vivienne held out her arms for a hug, “I didn’t want to disturb you.”

Nana
Mary hugged her warmly. “You never disturb me.” She pulled away with an impish
grin on her face. “Your mother on the other hand…”

“She
means well.” Vivienne held out the ice cream. “Have you tried this pumpkin ice
cream yet?”

“So
much I’m sick of pumpkin already and it’s not even Halloween yet.” She gestured
toward the elevators. “It’s so nice you took time out of your busy schedule to
visit me.”

They
walked into the elevator and rode it to the third floor where Nana Mary’s
apartment was located. “So what’s up with the witch bear?” Vivienne asked.

“It
was a door prize during intermission.” Nana Mary smiled. “I won fifty dollars
on a full card game today.”

“You
always have good luck.” Vivienne knew that
Whispering
Oaks
had a special agreement with
Our
Lady of the Lake
church over on Lakeshore Drive. The nuns set up a
bi-monthly bingo game to raise money for their Christmas toy fund and the
residents appreciated getting to play a bingo game for real money without
having to leave their comfortable home. Although it lacked the big jackpots of
the regular games in the church hall, it was still well attended and something
the residents always looked forward to.

Once
they were settled in apartment 3-F, Nana Mary took her usual seat in the
Amish-crafted rocking chair near the picture window. “Nora told me she set you
up on a date with a handsome deputy.”

“She
did indeed.” Vivienne revealed. “His name is Joshua
Arkins
and he’s a very nice man.”

“I
can’t believe Nora picked a good one. She’s usually so lousy at it.” Nana Mary
chuckled. “Except for your father, that is. She got that one right, thank
goodness.” As she rocked back and forth in the chair she rested her fingers
under her chin. “So I heard there was some foul play downtown.”

“Yes.”
Vivienne began to grow tired of discussing the subject. “I wasn’t able to open
my bakery because of it.”

“But
that’s not why you’re here.” Nana Mary’s green eyes sparkled. “You’re here
because of the book.”

Vivienne
had almost forgotten the journal tucked under her arm. “Yes. How did you know?”

“I
had a feeling you’d be coming sooner or later once Nora remembered to give you
the cookbooks.” Nana Mary chuckled. “And she thinks I’m the one with the
failing memory.”

“Well,
she did have some concerns after her last visit. She had mentioned you talking
to a bird outside the window?”

Nana
Mary let out a hearty laugh and then snorted.

“What’s
so funny?” Vivienne wondered.

“It’s
just a game I was playing on your mother. She’s always watching me, waiting for
some random ailment to strike. So I decided to give her something to scratch
that itch.”

“Nana
Mary, you are terrible.” Vivienne found herself chuckling at her grandmother’s
wit. “She was really worried, I think.”