Carlotta scoots to the edge of her seat. “What about Foxy? Should we bring our pistol-packing friend to the studio with us? Or lover, depending which one of us is talking.”
“You’re talking,” I tell her. “And no. If the real killer is lurking around the studio tomorrow, his presence will only spook them. Noah is pretty much useless to us in that respect.”
As if on cue, both Noah and his mother Suze walk into the bakery.
Suze is tall, stalky, a full-time sourpuss, and has short blonde hair with long swooping bangs that give off that nineties boy band vibe. She doesn’t care for me, and I recently got her to admit—albeit in a roundabout way—that she’s transmundane like Carlotta and me.
There are several powers under the transmundane umbrella, and Carlotta and I fall under the category of supersensual. I’m not aware of every power that falls beneath its guidelines, but Suze is what’s known as a beguiler—someone who can make the weak-willed change their minds, or they can even harness their powers and charm a whirlwind to come forth, make objects move at will, cause people to bend to do their bidding, cause earthquakes, fires, and who knows what other chaos can ensue because of them.
The ghost that caused my house and Everett’s to burn down was a beguiler. And oddly, the ghost and I came away from that on good terms. But Suze and I can’t seem to get on good terms ever.
“Hey, Lot.” Noah kisses my cheek before he pulls back and his eyes grow wide. “Lyla Nell’s here.” He quickly excavates her from Everett’s arms and buries his nose in her hair. The look of abject joy on his face says it all. “I love you, baby girl.” He lands a sweet kiss to the top of her head. “Mom, here she is.” He walks her over to Suze, and I half-expect Lyla Nell to break out into tears.
“Yes, here she is,” Suze says without the proper enthusiasm. “I think she has your hair, Essex.”
Suze falls under the mom rule when using Everett’s proper name. Speaking of moms, unlike Suze, Everett’s mother Eliza is smitten with Lyla Nell as is his sister Meghan. They both share Everett’s jet-black hair and brilliant blue eyes and his stoic yet gentle heart.
“Mom”—Noah inches back—“my hair is black, too.”
Suze squints over at the baby and Lyla Nell’s eyes open with surprise and her little legs start kicking as if she were trying to swim away. The look of surprise on Lyla Nell’s face quickly morphs to fear and Noah wisely turns her away just enough to get Suze out of her line of vision.
“And she’s got blue eyes,” Suze says with a gleeful lilt to her voice as she straightens. “See that?” She gives Everett a manufactured smile. “She’s all you, Essex. You don’t need a fancy paternity test after all,” she sings as she heads behind the counter and tosses on an apron.
A few months back Suze hallucinated the fact that I asked her to work at the bakery and so here she is. Okay, so she didn’t quite hallucinate it. Whoever that woman is that’s running around looking an awful lot like me basically suggested to Suze that she should work here after Suze complained of God knows what. Regardless, she’s here and I’m darn glad about it. Having Lily and Suze and an entire army of kitchen help is the only reason I get to enjoy so much time at home with the baby. I know it won’t last forever, so I’m soaking in every minute of it while I can.
Noah looks momentarily crestfallen by his mother’s words. I know how badly he wants Lyla Nell to be his. It’s his connection to me, and not only that, she’s as adorable as can be.
“I don’t know,” Keelie says as she comes over. “Her hair looks as if it’s lightening up to me, and it’s looking red at the tips like yours, Noah.”
Lily scuttles this way and squints at the baby. “She’s serious. She hasn’t smiled once. That girl is a Baxter if ever I’ve seen one.”
“Smiling is the next milestone on her list,” I’m quick to defend Lyla Nell’s serious demeanor. “But she’s really good at looking surprised.” And afraid, as evidenced by that worried look she gave Suze a moment ago. “I’m sure the smile is on its way.”
Lily shakes her head. “Her eyes are navy blue. Sorry, Noah. This is Essex’s kid.”
“I don’t know,” Keelie is quick to contest. “All babies’ eyes are navy blue and they can change to any color within a six-week period. She was grunting a little while ago and I think I saw a dimple. Sorry, Everett, but this is Noah’s baby.”
“No need to apologize,” Everett says. “No matter what the outcome, she belongs to me.”
Noah all but growls, “People aren’t possessions.”
“People aren’t morons either,” Everett shoots back. “Everyone in this room knows what I mean. Except for you evidently. I guess that makes you a moron.”
Suze chuckles and Noah frowns in her direction.
“Don’t worry, Noah.” I head over and wrap my arms around both him and Lyla Nell. “You’re family and you know it.”
Carlotta looks my way. “Speaking of the results, Lot Lot. Now that the show went kaputz, I suggest you pop that envelope open. Where’s it at? I think we should have at it right here and now and settle this daddy debate once and for all.”
My mouth falls open as I look to Noah and Everett. “We left it at the studio. I guess I really do have an excuse to go back.”
The bell on the door chimes and in strides not one dodo bird but two, Cormack and Cressida. They’re both wearing matching yoga pants and tank tops, along with matching ponytails. My guess is they came from Swift Cycle across the street, the gym that Noah’s ex-wife Britney owns. Either that or Fanatical Fitness, the place next door. Funny how the clientele of both places head right over to my bakery when their classes are through. But I don’t mind, and Britney certainly doesn’t mind. I keep her business floating, and she’s doing the same for me.
“Big Boss!” Cormack makes a beeline to Noah. “There’s been another murder! Isn’t this exciting? Not to worry. Featherby Sleuths Investigative Services is on the case!”
Cormack’s father helped her buy a PI license with his billions. She bypassed all that pesky fieldwork and went straight into opening up shop right here on Main Street. I suppose it’s as good as any means for Cormack to get herself inadvertently killed. I’d say I wasn’t rooting for death, but I’m sleep-deprived, my hormones have gone haywire, and my boobs weep at random.
She rattles herself in front of Noah. “I’ve got a break in the case. I know who killed Candace Cottonwood.”
Noah growls at her, “Cormack, no. You’re not investigating this case. It’s too dangerous. And not only that, I’m investigating this case, and I can’t afford for you to get in my way.” He flits those evergreen eyes my way. “That goes for you, too, Lottie.”
Everett takes the baby back without asking.
“If you’re going to tell Lemon what to do, at least hand Lyla Nell off first. I don’t want her to hear anyone disparaging her mother.”
Both Keelie and Lily swoon.
“I’m not disparaging you, Lot.” Noah’s brows bounce. “I’m protecting you.”