“Not because of me.”
Edsel laughed. “It is, and thank you.” Edsel pulled an envelope from under the counter. “This is a little something for your good work and friendship. It’s not much, so don’t count it till you get home. And it’s all cash, so it won’t be added to your wages. What the tax man don’t know is fine with me.”
“Edsel, you don’t owe me anything.”
“It’s a bonus.” Edsel hugged her friend. “Enjoy it.”
At that moment, a customer walked in, and Hope went into the back room where she created her cakes. She was tempted to count the bonus money, but she didn’t. It could wait. Doug had always told her that bonuses could be problematic. If they were too much, the recipient felt embarrassed. If they were too little, the recipient felt used. It was rare, very rare when the bonus was just right.
No matter the amount, Hope was very grateful for Edsel’s kind and thoughtful gesture.
The afternoon flew by as the cake orders kept Hope hopping. Since she enjoyed baking, the cakes didn’t seem like work. She was getting paid for something she loved to do. What could be better than that? Since she was in the back, she didn’t have to worry about running into Clive or Carol Thomas. She could hide behind her cakes. It was the best job she ever had—outside of teaching.
At the end of the day, Hope walked out with a sack of Santa cookies.
“Tomorrow?” Edsel asked.
“All day,” Hope answered.
“Great. You know, your cakes are giving you a reputation.”
“Better to be known for cakes than for murder,” Hope kidded.
“Best to be known for both.”
The two women laughed together.
“Can I ask you a question?” Hope said.
“Anything.”
“Clive Thomas. What should I know about him?”
Edsel’s smile disappeared. “That you should stay away from him. He’s been trouble since the day he was born. I try not to repeat gossip, but it’s a known fact that he chases pretty women, like you. And when he catches them, he dumps them. Like catch-and-release, if you’re a fisherman. He’s also had business problems. He has a partner who isn’t happy. And his brother and sister say Clive cheated them out of the restaurant. I don’t know anything about that, but no one would put it past Clive.”
“Good to know. Thanks for the information. See you tomorrow.”
Cori appeared as soon as Hope walked into the kitchen.
“Well?” Cori asked.
“No phone call yet,” Hope answered.
“Are you sure your phone is on?”
Hope showed the phone to Cori. “See, on and connected. They haven’t called.”
Cori frowned. “I thought sure.”
“What do you want for dinner?”
“Cookies?” Cori pointed to the sack.
“Dessert. Start the salad, while I shower off this flour.”
“I was going to say something,” Cori said.
“Can you save it for a little later?” Hope asked. “I’m tired and I need a shower.”
The hot water did wonders for Hope’s arms and shoulders. Baking wasn’t the hardest job in the world, but it did require some upper body strength. Hope supposed that if she did it daily, she wouldn’t get the aches.
During the shower, Hope remembered the envelope of cash in her purse. She hadn’t yet counted it, and she needed to. The extra money would be added to the budget—or saved. Her savings account needed some feeding, as did her budget. Why was it that she managed to spend all her income over the month? How did people get ahead? She didn’t know.
Hope walked into the kitchen, as her phone rang. Cori picked up the phone, glanced at the caller, and handed it to her mother.
“Them,” was all Cori said, her eyes bright and hopeful.
“Hello,” Hope said.
“Hope, this is Adele, Lottie’s mother. How are you?”
“I’m fine, I hope you’re well.”
“Doing as good as I know how. What with the holidays and getting ready for our trip, which is why I called. Cori has mentioned our trip to Hawaii, hasn’t she?”
“She has.”
“Great. Because, as she probably said, we’d like to take her with us. We think it would be better for Lottie if she had a friend along.”
Hope said, “I agree with you, and perhaps next year, we’ll take Lottie along with us.”
“That would be fantastic. Now, what is your email? I will send you all the details. And don’t you worry about a thing except spending money. Our treat.”
“I can’t let you do that,” Hope said. “Cori has to pay her own way.”
“Nonsense. Our invitation, our treat.”
“Adele, that’s not fair.”
“It is to us. Besides, you’re doing us a huge favor. Lottie is an absolute pest if she doesn’t have someone her age around. We took her to the Grand Canyon which is about as pretty a spot as you’ll ever see. Was she impressed? Not one little bit, and all because she didn’t have someone to chat with. It was mortifying.”
Hope listened as Adele spent another five minutes recounting a trip by donkey down to the bottom of the Grand Canyon with Lottie complaining the entire time. Hope managed to sneak in an ending when Adele paused for breath.
“Let me read the email,” Hope said, “and I’ll get back to you.”
“That would be so kind. Thank you.”
Hope ended the connection.
“Well?” Cori asked.
“She’s sending me an email with all the details.”
“So, can I go?”
“We’ll see. I need the details.”
“Mom.”
“Decisions made in haste are repented at leisure.”
“You made that up.”
Hope laughed. “Maybe.”
Cori rolled her eyes and left the kitchen while Hope set about making dinner. She knew that if all Cori needed was spending money, then the Hawaiian trip was doable. Yet, did Hope want to let Cori leave?
When the doorbell rang, Hope answered since Cori was in her room where the bells of Hades couldn’t rouse her. Hope opened the door and felt a wave of surprise.
“May I come in?” Wanda Basset asked.
10
“There is nothing so warming as a cup of hot coffee,” Wanda said.
“With a bit of extra.” Hope added a swallow of Irish whiskey to the coffee mug.
Wanda smiled, a twinkle in her blue eyes. “Indeed, the extra is exactly what is needed on a cold December day.”
Hope poured her own cup, adding a splash of whiskey. She didn’t need the alcohol, but she did want to be hospitable with her principal. There was value in having a principal who came for coffee, and she sincerely liked Wanda.
“Do you believe in miracles?” Wanda asked.
“Depends,” Hope said. “Are we talking about one of us running a marathon or Dagen Moore passing the math final?”
Wanda laughed. “It would definitely be Dagen passing math.”
“I think so too. What kind of miracle did you have mind?”
“The simple kind. Carol Thomas informed me that she is looking for a position with another school system. Next semester will be her last with Castle Park.”