Truffles and Troubadours Page 2

  “Don’t you get it, man?” Tyler said, beginning to look provoked. “I got here first.”

  Jenny thought Tyler sounded childish.

  “Let’s have a sing-off,” she suggested, springing up.

  “What’s that?” someone in the crowd asked.

  “We’ll have them play their music until one of them gives up,” Jenny explained.

  “Or they can each play five songs and we will vote on who’s the best,” Heather said, joining Jenny enthusiastically.

  “You can’t do that!” Tyler exclaimed. “What about my license? It gives me exclusive rights.”

  “Let’s be reasonable, young man,” Barb called out from her perch. “Don’t forget the town gave you that permit. The town can revoke it anytime.”

  Tyler stomped a foot and pointed at the bearded man.

  “Are you happy now, you gatecrasher?”

  “All I want to do is entertain people with my music,” Ocean said quietly.

  His face had the same serene expression it had worn before. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

  “There’s enough for the both of us,” he added.

  He held up his hand in a peace sign.

  “I’m gonna wipe that irritating smile off your face,” Tyler thundered.

  He stalked out of the room without a backward glance. Ocean gave Barb a deep bow and turned to face the crowd. He bowed again and walked to the back of the room.

  “I say we drive both these nut jobs out of town,” Peter Wilson yelled.

  Barb Norton banged the gavel again. A stream of sweat trickled down her forehead and beads of perspiration lined her upper lip. She dabbed at her face with a lace handkerchief. She cleared her throat and began. “We have an important item on the agenda today.”

  “Is it the fall festival?” someone cried from the crowd.

  Barb held up a hand to ward off the fresh wave of hecklers.

  “This is a historic moment for Pelican Cove,” Barb said, puffing up. “Mayor Franklin is stepping down.”

  Jenny knew the mayor of Pelican Cove was just a figurehead. Younger than Betty Sue, he was still pushing eighty. His bow tie was crooked and his suit was wrinkled. He sat on the podium next to Betty Sue, dozing with his neck lolling on his chest. Other than special appearances at town meetings, people barely saw him these days. Most of the civic work was done by his staff and a bunch of volunteers like Barb Norton.

  Mayor Franklin sat up with a start when Betty Sue gave him a sharp nudge. He flashed a toothless smile and waved at the crowd.

  The crowd had exploded in frenzy again.

  Barb pounded the gavel with all her might and kept talking.

  “Pelican Cove will have a mayoral election for the first time in fifty years. Nominations will be accepted at the town hall for the next three days.”

  “We know who’s going to be first in line,” Star said with a snort.

  “Maybe I should throw my hat in,” Heather joked. “I’m a Morse, after all.”

  “You can’t be serious,” Jenny said.

  Barb concluded the meeting. Heather walked over to give Betty Sue a hand as she joined Jenny and the girls.

  “We are coming to your place,” Molly reminded Jenny. “What’s for dinner?”

  “Let’s just grab a pizza,” Heather suggested and everyone agreed.

  The women started walking toward Mama Rosa’s, the only pizza place in town.

  “Did you know about the election?” Star asked Betty Sue. “You sure kept it close to your bosom.”

  “I knew about it,” Betty Sue admitted. “But I was sworn to secrecy. Barb wanted to make a big splash. You know how she loves attention.”

  “Are you going to be our new mayor, Betty Sue?” Molly asked.

  Betty Sue looked pensive as she shook her head.

  “Ten years ago, I might have considered it. But I’m getting on now. The town doesn’t need another Mayor Franklin.”

  “She’s right,” Star said. “We need some young blood to steer us into the twenty first century.”

  “The twenty first century arrived two decades ago,” Heather said with a smirk.

  “Not in Pelican Cove,” Star shot back.

  “Give it a rest, you two,” Jenny said, trying to diffuse the situation. “What toppings do you want on your pizza?”

  Everyone wanted something different. They decided to go for one loaded veggie pizza and one loaded meat one.

  A small crowd had gathered outside Mama Rosa’s.

  “Looks like everyone wants pizza for dinner,” Heather joked.

  “I don’t think that’s it,” Molly said, pointing to a tall, bearded guy who stood shaking his head.

  “Isn’t that the troubadour?” Jenny asked.

  “That’s him,” Star confirmed. “The second one – the trespasser.”

  “We don’t know anything about that,” Jenny argued. “Let them sort it out.”

  “Looks like that’s exactly what they are doing,” Star said.

  Jenny and the girls stared as Tyler, the blond guy, put his hands on the bearded guy’s chest and pushed. Offering no resistance, the bearded man toppled like a tree and crashed to the ground. Tyler turned around and stalked away without a backward glance. A couple of people in the crowd rushed to help the fallen man.

  “That young one has a temper,” Star said.

  “What do you think they were fighting about?” Betty Sue asked.

  “Weren’t you paying attention?” Star asked her. “This tall guy is encroaching on that young one’s turf. Neither of them is ready to back down.”

  “I’m beginning to agree with Peter Wilson,” Molly said. “Neither of them deserves to be here. We don’t need this kind of violence in our town.”

  Heather was talking to the man called Ocean.

  “Are you hurt? Do you need to see a doctor?”

  He shrugged off her concern.

  “I’m fine. Thanks for asking.”

  “He shouldn’t have hit you,” Heather sympathized. “Like you say, the town’s big enough for the two of you.”

  Ocean brushed the dirt off his clothes and shrugged. “He will get what’s coming to him.”

  He thanked Heather again and walked away.

  Jenny had gone ahead to order their food. She came out lugging big boxes of pizza and salad. Twenty minutes later, the ladies were at Seaview, Jenny’s sea facing mansion, sipping wine and noshing on breadsticks.

  “What a day!” Star exclaimed. “The town hall meeting never fails to entertain.”

  Heather cleared her throat.

  “Let’s talk about some more pressing things.”

  Everyone except Jenny nodded their heads.

  “This looks like an ambush,” Jenny said as she narrowed her eyes.

  “Call it whatever you like, sweetie,” Star said. “But it’s high time we had this conversation.”

  “We need to start planning your wedding,” Molly explained. “Unless you are hiring a wedding planner.”

  “She doesn’t need one,” Heather pouted. “She’s got us.”

  “But we are not professionals,” Star argued. “We may not be able to come up with a fully coordinated function like a seasoned planner would.”

  “But I’ve been looking forward to this since Jenny and Adam became a couple!” Heather cried.

  “Relax, you two,” Jenny interrupted them. “We are not hiring a wedding planner.”

  “But why?” Star and Molly chorused.

  “I already told you. Adam and I want a small but tasteful wedding. Nothing over the top, nothing too expensive. Hiring a wedding planner is out of question.”

  “Put me in charge, then,” Heather said. “Let me coordinate everything.”

  “What about us?” Star asked. “We have some ideas too, you know.”

  Jenny held up her hand.

  “You can all share your ideas,” she said. “But the final decision is going to be mine.”

  “Of course, dear,” Betty
Sue spoke up. “You are the bride, after all.”

  “Let’s start with the date,” Heather said. “Fall is almost here. So you will have to be more precise than ‘fall wedding’. Pick a date.”

  “She’s right, Jenny,” Molly said softly. “How about the first Sunday in November?”

  “Weather should be mild enough,” Star observed. “Although it could get chilly if there’s a winter storm up north.”

  Jenny gave her approval for the date.

  Heather wrote it down in a small notebook she pulled out of her bag.

  “This is my official wedding planning notebook. The date’s written here now, Jenny. You can’t change it.”

  Jenny popped the lid off a bowl of salad and plunged her fork in. She nodded quietly as she speared an olive and a chunk of feta cheese.

  “What about the venue?” Molly asked. “How about the gazebo in town? We can have a marquee in case it rains.”

  “I would go with the town hall,” Betty Sue said. “You don’t have to worry about the weather there. And it’s got central heating.”

  “I want a beach wedding,” Jenny said. “Do you think that’s possible?”

  “Have you forgotten you live in a beach house?” Star asked with a laugh. “You can get married right here, on the beach in front of Seaview.”

  “That’s a wonderful idea,” Jenny said approvingly. “Let’s eat now.”

  Chapter 3

  Jenny was up before the sun the next morning. Dressed in a light summer frock, she set off for the Boardwalk Café at 5 AM. She brewed her first pot of coffee and stood out on the deck, breathing in the cool air laced with a salty tang. The sun crept up the horizon, a large fiery orange ball. Jenny spotted a few early walkers on the beach and waved at them.

  By the time Jenny opened the café doors at six, she had baked a few batches of blueberry muffins and brewed some more coffee. Her favorite customer stood on the step outside, ready to barge in.

  “Good Morning, Captain Charlie,” she greeted him cheerfully. “Ready for your blueberry muffin?”

  Captain Charlie took the brown paper bag and large cup of coffee from Jenny.

  “That was some meeting last night, huh?” he said. “I was in high school when they elected Mayor Franklin. Can’t imagine anyone else in that position.”

  “I suppose he’s getting on,” Jenny offered. “Are you thinking of becoming our new mayor?”

  Captain Charlie laughed heartily.

  “Are you yankin’ my chain, missy? I’m ready to hang up my hat. Two more years on the water, tops. You’ll find me on the beach in a camp chair with a cooler by my side.”

  “That’s the dream, isn’t it?” Jenny sighed.

  Jenny stayed busy making crab omelets for the breakfast crowd. The town hall meeting was the talk of the town. Jenny heard snatches of conversation as she went from table to table. The troubadours were a hot topic, so was the mayoral election.

  Heather walked in with Betty Sue an hour later.

  “Is it 11 already?” Jenny asked as she dabbed her forehead with a tissue.

  The ladies went out on the deck and sat at their favorite table. The mid-morning coffee break was a ritual among the friends. They had christened themselves the Magnolias based on Heather’s favorite movie. They met every morning come rain or shine, eager to share what was going on in their lives.

  Betty Sue pulled out her knitting the moment she sat down. Her needles clacked in a rhythm as she worked on a bright orange scarf. Star pulled out a sketch pad and started doodling. Molly took a book from her bag. Heather was busy tapping keys on her phone.

  Jenny placed a plate of warm muffins on the table and took a big bite from one.

  “The town’s buzzing,” she said. “All anyone can talk about are those singers and the election.”

  “Pelican Cove has always welcomed artists,” Betty Sue said, looking up. “There was a really handsome troubadour one year. I must have been sixteen at the time. Lily and I were both smitten.”

  Lily had been Betty Sue’s childhood friend. She had gone missing one night twenty five years ago.

  “I don’t remember anyone singing songs on the street,” Star said.

  “We did have a couple of them troubadours when you were new in town,” Betty Sue said. “You probably don’t remember. But we haven’t had any of them traveling singers since Heather here was a teenager.”

  “I think they are obsolete,” Heather said. “Why not just upload a song online?”

  “That’s a question for Tyler,” Jenny said. “Maybe you should ask him the next time you see him.”

  “Why would I see him again?” Heather scowled. “It’s not like I have his number.”

  “Don’t you remember?” Molly asked. “He’s got a spot by the gazebo. You can go over any time you want.”

  “You can take his picture and put it on that Instagram,” Star suggested. “It’s one more attraction to draw tourists to town.”

  “That boy sure is pretty,” Betty Sue said, nodding as she twirled a piece of wool over a needle. “I saw you staring at him yesterday, Heather.”

  “I did no such thing,” Heather protested indignantly.

  “Hello ladies!” A voice hailed them from the boardwalk.

  The Magnolias smiled broadly as a tall, brown haired man walked up the café steps, holding a baby carrier. A bonny baby with large brown eyes clapped her hands as she spotted the women.

  “Jason!” Jenny exclaimed. “And Emily. What brings you here this morning?”

  Jason Stone was a lawyer, the only lawyer in town. He had recently become a single father. He was juggling work with his parenting duties with plenty of help from his friends. He was in love with Jenny but she had chosen Adam instead.

  Jenny sprang up and lifted the baby out of the carrier. The baby grabbed Jenny’s hair in her hands and pulled.

  “Ouch!” Jenny cried. “You are becoming very naughty, Emily.”

  Emily cooed and pulled harder.

  “She’s been doing that a lot lately,” Jason said with a grimace.

  Everyone wanted to hold the baby. Jenny handed her over to Molly and hugged Jason.

  “How about some coffee?” she asked. “It’s almost time for lunch.”

  “Lunch can wait,” Jason said seriously. “Haven’t you heard yet?”

  “Heard what?” the women chorused.

  “Did you all go to the town hall meeting?” Jason asked. “I didn’t get a baby sitter and Emily was being cranky. So I missed it.”

  “We were all there,” Jenny confirmed. “We know about the election.”

  “What election?” Jason asked.

  “The mayor’s election, of course,” Heather said. “What are you talking about?”

  “I’m talking about the musician,” Jason said. “Something called a troubadour.”

  “They are traveling musicians,” Jenny nodded. “There were two of them.”

  “What about them?” Betty Sue asked imperiously. “Did they get into another fight?”

  “I don’t know about that,” Jason said. “One of them was found dead a couple of hours ago.”

  “What?” the Magnolias cried in unison.

  “How’s that possible?” Star muttered. “They were both very young.”

  “He didn’t die naturally,” Jason said.

  Emily let out a cry and Jenny rubbed her back, trying to make her stop.

  “You don’t mean …” she stared at Jason, wide eyed.

  Jason pursed his lips and shrugged.

  “He was found near the gazebo, strangled to death with a guitar string.”

  “But who was it?” Heather asked urgently. “Was it Tyler? Or Ocean?”

  “I don’t know,” Jason said. “But I guess you’ll know soon enough. Nothing ever stays hidden in this town for long.”

  Jason stayed long enough to eat a muffin and have a cup of coffee. Emily ate a few crumbs of muffin that Jenny fed her.

  “She already loves your cooking, Jen
ny,” Jason laughed.

  Father and daughter bid goodbye and walked down the beach.

  “What’s wrong with this town?” Betty Sue moaned. “The new mayor needs to focus on crime prevention.”

  “We don’t even have good street lights,” Heather pointed out. “And our police force is sadly understaffed.”

  “Adam’s been trying to get the funds for a night patrol,” Jenny said. “But the recent budget cuts pushed him to the back of the line.”

  “But why?” Star asked. “Shouldn’t the security of the citizens be the town’s top priority?”

  Jenny jumped as a shrill voice interrupted them.

  “Yooohoooo …”

  A short, plump woman huffed up the café steps, looking full of herself.

  “Hello Barb,” Betty Sue snapped. “You look like you are about to burst.”

  “I’m sure you must have guessed,” Barb Norton panted.

  “Enough with the guessing games,” Star drawled. “Why are you here?”

  The Magnolias, especially Betty Sue and Star, were always a bit short with Barb. Jenny could never understand why. Barb was at the helm of every project or committee, and she worked tirelessly for the good of the town. But she could be pompous at times. She also took credit for everything she did.

  “I’m running for mayor.” Barb beamed at them. “I just put my name in this morning.”

  “We kind of guessed you would do that,” Star said dourly.

  “That means I can count on your support, right?” Barb asked.

  “Who’s going to run against you, Barb?” Jenny asked. “I am sure you will be unopposed.”

  “That’s what I think too,” Barb said. “But you never know. This is a democracy, after all. It’s a great opportunity to serve the people in this town. Anyone can contest. Even you, Jenny.”

  “I have my hands full with the café,” Jenny smiled. “I don’t think I’m qualified, anyway. I don’t know the town like you do, Barb.”

  “What are you going to do to prevent crime in this town, Barb?” Betty Sue thundered.

  “We already have a good police department,” Barb Norton said. “I thought you would be more interested in promoting tourism, Betty Sue.”

  “Tourists are great for business,” Jenny said. “But they can stretch the town’s resources.”