A Slice of Magic

Chapter 5

Day 4 ― Saturday, November 5th

I grabbed the newspaper from outside the front door and shuffled through the pages quickly trying to find Ask Elodie. I was hoping to get the gist of it before the Morning Pie Crew came in. Before I could find it, something caught my eye and I turned back a page.

The headline read, ‘Beloved Pie Shop Left in the Hands of a Beginner.’ My mouth fell open as I read the article underneath.

Residents of Hocus Hills were surprised when Erma Crosby, a leader in the community, disappeared on a business trip earlier this week leaving her pie shop in the hands of her niece, Susanna Daniels, 31 years old, who doesn’t seem to know a rolling pin from a bowling pin.

Erma’s pies have been a daily staple for many in town. It’s often claimed that they have an almost medicinal quality to them. Several residents are concerned that Susanna won’t be able to achieve that same high quality that we all know and love. Stay tuned readers – we’ll be updating the story as we learn more throughout the week.

I crumpled the paper up and threw it down on the table. I longed for the quiet anonymity that I had in the city. Back home, the list of people who knew my name or cared about what I did was short. My mother, my friends Josh and Michelle, and a couple baristas at the local coffee shop. I was good at my job, and no one printed updates about it in the local paper.

I flattened out the paper a little to check the byline. It simply read, ‘Elodie.’ Who was this Elodie anyway? What gave her the right to write about me?

I finished setting everything up, slamming any cupboard door that got in my way. This wasn’t exactly the pep talk I needed.

‘How’s your day going?’ Mr Barnes was the first of the Morning Pie Crew to walk through the door.

‘Great,’ I said, a slight edge to my voice. His eyebrows rose a little.

‘I take it you read the newspaper today.’

Just then, Lena and Flora walked in. ‘I brought matches so we can burn all the newspapers.’ Lena held up her purse.

‘No fires,’ I practically shouted.

‘Oh, right.’ She set her bag down on a chair. ‘We could all just rip our copies into shreds. That could be satisfying too.’

I considered the possibility as I served us all some pie.

‘Whoa,’ I said, looking out the window, almost dropping the last piece of pie. ‘What is that?’ Henry was walking down the street next to a giant gray and brown furry creature.

Mr Barnes glanced out the window. ‘That’s Henry’s dog, Willy.’

‘What’s Willy? Part dog, part horse?’ I had never in my life seen a dog that big. His face was covered with shaggy fur, and his back was taller than Henry’s waist.

‘He’s an Irish wolfhound,’ Flora explained. ‘Don’t worry, he’s very gentle.’

‘What does Henry do if Willy sees a squirrel?’ I asked.

‘Willy doesn’t really care for chasing squirrels,’ Flora said.

‘But he does love ice cream,’ Lena chimed in. ‘Remember that time Willy took off chasing the Miller kid who was eating an ice cream cone? That boy took off as fast as his little legs would carry him. Willy was close at his heels licking the air in anticipation, and Henry was being dragged behind grasping the leash with both hands.’

Lena and Mr Barnes hooted. Flora gave them a disapproving glare, but I noticed the corners of her mouth twitched.

I was relieved that Mitzy wasn’t the size of Bigfoot, but I felt a twinge of disappointment that Henry wasn’t coming into the pie shop as I watched them disappear around the corner. I glanced back at the Morning Pie Crew and Lena gave me a knowing look. I hurried back to the table and changed the conversation to Elodie.

‘Someone has to know who she is,’ I said. ‘She’s publishing articles about me. I want to talk to her and get a chance to set the record straight.’

‘Willard Jefferson runs the paper, but he’s always been very tight-lipped about Elodie,’ Mr Barnes said.

‘Where’s the newspaper office?’ I asked, still determined to get to the bottom of it.

‘In the basement of the bowling alley,’ Flora said.

I let the conversation drift into more important topics like whether or not the gazebo should be repainted the same shade of blue or if it should be painted two shades lighter.

‘It should match the sky,’ Lena said.

‘It’s been the same shade of blue for a hundred years,’ Flora said. ‘Tradition is important.’

Mr Barnes seemed decidedly undecided about the issue.

I realized I’d left my phone upstairs in the apartment. I excused myself to go fetch it in case Aunt Erma called. While I was upstairs, Mitzy gave me her big puppy dog eyes and I was guilted into taking her outside again. I was almost back to the front of the pie shop, when I heard the Morning Pie Crew speaking in hushed tones. I paused out of view in the kitchen doorway when I heard my name.

‘If she suspects something, she’s a great actress,’ Lena whispered.

‘Erma made it very clear that we’re not to talk about it,’ Mr Barnes said.

‘Poor thing, she doesn’t even know…’ Flora began.

‘Shh, I think I hear her coming,’ Lena said.

I made a big show of entering the front of the pie shop. I hoped I wasn’t smiling too brightly.

They all spoke at once about how busy their days were and then they paid for their pie and left. I assumed their conversation had something to do with the article in the paper, or maybe they were talking about my pie baking abilities. Either way, I felt knots forming in my stomach as a feeling of loneliness settled over me.

I scooped a small slice of cherry pie onto a plate for a snack. My phone rang, and I saw Josh’s name on the caller ID. My finger left a sticky smear on the screen as I answered it.

‘Where have you been?’ he greeted me. Josh was one of my coworkers and a good friend. He had heard my Aunt Erma sob story more than once. Usually it was after a bad day at work or a fight with my mother and a few beers.

‘Are you OK?’ he asked when I finished telling him that Aunt Erma was gone. I felt a lump form at the back of my throat. I nodded because I couldn’t speak even though I knew he couldn’t see me.

I took a deep breath. ‘Actually, I’m kind of making a mess of everything.’ I told him about my baking disasters and the judgement from the townspeople.

‘You went to a strange town to do a new job, and even when your aunt wasn’t there, you stayed. She’s lucky to have you. You’re the most fearless person I know,’ he said.

I smiled into my phone. ‘Thanks.’

‘Now go be the best pie baker you can be, and we’ll grab a beer when you get back,’ Josh said. We said our goodbyes, and I tried to hold on to the confidence he had given me.

The rest of the day was fairly quiet. A few people wandered by and peered in the windows, amplifying my feeling of being a fish in a bowl. With all the time alone with my thoughts, my loneliness was soon replaced by frustration towards Elodie.

Mitzy and I were walking off some of that frustration after dinner, the cold breeze sweeping through the streets fueling my anger. I was relieved that there weren’t many people out and about. ‘Doesn’t know a rolling pin from a bowling pin?’ I said to Mitzy, and she wagged her tail a little as she struggled to keep up. ‘It’s not my fault Aunt Erma abandoned me here to do all this work. Why won’t she call and check in?’ I grumbled. ‘Doesn’t she have a cell phone?’ I paused to let Mitzy sniff a leaf.

‘I’m sorry. Do you require some sort of assistance?’ A voice behind me made me jump. I turned and saw a woman about my age. Her frizzy blonde hair was held back by a thick navy headband that matched her leggings. She had a long thin bag slung over her shoulder and was evaluating me with slightly wide blue eyes.

‘No, I’m fine,’ I sighed.

‘You must be Erma’s niece,’ she said, noticing Mitzy. I introduced myself. She told me her name was Holly, and she ran the grocery store. ‘I’m on my way to Mr Barnes’s yoga class. You should come with me. You look like you could use a little yoga right now.’

‘I think I need a drink more than yoga,’ I said. ‘Know where I could find one?’

‘Sal’s is the best and basically only place for a drink in town, but it’s closed tonight,’ she said, leaning down to pet Mitzy who was demanding some attention.

‘Closed? On a Saturday?’

‘His kid’s in a play at the elementary school tonight, so he shut down to go watch it. The liquor store is closed too. Nancy’s kid is in the same play. Welcome to a small town,’ she said with a laugh. She looked at her watch. ‘I gotta run, but it was nice to meet you.’

I said goodbye then rounded the corner by the barber shop and saw Henry sitting on a bench in the town square looking up at the sky. Willy lay on the ground next to him. Even lying down, Willy looked gigantic.

‘Finding any answers up there?’ I asked, which seemed to startle him back to earth.

‘Just daydreaming. Or night dreaming, I guess.’ He smiled.

Mitzy shamelessly leapt up into his lap, and he stroked her head. I took that as an invitation to sit next to him. Willy stood up and sniffed Mitzy. His tail wagged, and he put a paw up on Henry’s lap.

‘Oh no, there’s not room for you too,’ he said. Willy gave me a hopeful look, and I crossed my legs. He reluctantly settled back on the ground.

‘How are things at the nursing home?’ I asked.

Henry’s brow furrowed. ‘It was kind of a rough day.’

‘I’m sorry. Do you want to talk about it?’ He looked so distraught. Part of me wanted to hug him, but since this was only our second meeting, I settled for resting my hand on his arm. He put his hand on top of mine, and I felt a little jolt of excitement run through me. His hands were so warm.

‘No thanks. Enough about me. Let’s talk about you,’ he said. ‘How are things going at the pie shop? Sneeze on any dough balls today?’

‘Of course not. Things have been going quite smoothly.’ I skipped telling him about the fire, the crazy gym owner, and the newspaper article. He probably had enough going right now that he wasn’t plugged into the gossip mill. I did tell him a very light and amusing anecdote about blueberries though.

‘How are you adjusting to this small town of ours?’

‘Well, I was going to stop at the liquor store, and I’ve just discovered that nothing is open because there’s a play at the elementary school,’ I said. ‘So that’s where I’m at.’

‘Ah, yes. Most of us know to plan ahead and shop around these major events.’ He removed his hand from mine and his warmth was replaced by the cold night air. I stuck my hand in my pocket. ‘For example, if you’re looking for a bottle of wine,’ he said, reaching into a canvas tote that was sitting next to him, ‘I happen to have one on me.’

I stared at him open-mouthed. His big brown eyes blinked brightly back at me. He might actually be the perfect man.

‘Why are you carrying a bottle of wine around with you?’

‘I had book club tonight, and it was my turn to bring the wine.’

‘The bottle is almost full.’

‘It was the fourth bottle.’

‘How many people in the club?’

‘I’d rather not answer that question,’ he giggled.

‘I’m guessing three.’

He answered with a wide smile and a wink before handing me the bottle. ‘Here. Consider it a welcome to town gift.’

‘Thanks,’ I took the bottle. ‘Pink. My favorite flavor.’

‘Not really a wine connoisseur, huh?’

‘I consider myself to be more of a wine enthusiast than a connoisseur,’ I said.

We sat in a comfortable silence for a few more minutes before Mitzy jumped off Henry’s lap and gave me her patented ‘are you coming?’ look.

‘I guess it’s time for me to go. I’ll see you around.’

When we were several steps away, I turned back to give him one more look. He was watching me go.

Mitzy and I strolled around the edge of the mostly deserted town square. Apparently, everyone was at the play. As we rounded the corner near the diner, I saw a blinking neon sign advertising the bowling alley. Without any plan whatsoever, I marched over to the bowling alley and found a dark staircase that lead to a red door. A small plaque next to the door said ‘Hocus Hills Gazette.’ This was the place. A tiny bit of my gumption had evaporated upon arrival, and I hesitated at the door. I glanced down at Mitzy who looked even more unsure of my actions.

‘We have to find out who this Elodie is,’ I rationalized with her. She sat down defiantly. ‘C’mon,’ I said, gently tugging her leash as I took a couple more steps towards the door. I could hear something happening inside and I wanted to see. It would make sense if Elodie was in there right now. If her identity was such a secret she would probably work at night. ‘Come on, we have to see. Quick, before anyone comes,’ I urged Mitzy, and she reluctantly got up and followed me down steps to the door.

I cracked the door open. I could hear something inside. It sounded like printing presses running. And something else. A popping sound, almost like popcorn. Strange noises, but not dangerous sounding.

I was just about to push the door the rest of the way open when a man appeared, blocking my path.

‘Hi,’ I said, taking a flustered step backwards. I could see half of his glasses and some curly strawberry blond hair on top of his head. He didn’t open the door any further. He just peered out the opening at me with one eye for a moment. Was this Willard Jefferson?

‘Can I help you?’ His voice was gruff and the fact that he was still masked by the darkness inside and the half-closed door made me take another step back. Then I remembered the newspaper article about me, and my righteous indignation returned.

‘I’m looking for Elodie,’ I said, clearing my throat when my voice wavered.

‘Not in.’ He started to close the door, but I stuck my foot out to stop him.

‘Are you the editor?’ I asked. ‘I’m Susanna Daniels.’

He opened the door a little further. I could tell I had piqued his interest. I tried to look around him to see what was happening inside or if Elodie was in there, but his body still took up most of the opening, and I couldn’t tell if anyone was behind him.

‘Would you like to comment on today’s story?’ He whipped a notebook out of his pocket, his pen poised over the paper ready for a quote.

‘No,’ I said flatly. ‘I just want to talk to Elodie.’

‘No one talks to Elodie,’ he said, and with that, he shut the door in my face.

‘This isn’t over yet,’ I said to the closed door. But Mitzy and I trudged back up the stairs and out to the town square to continue our walk.

I paused in front of the empty store front. This must have been the place the Morning Pie Crew was talking about. I peered in the window. I could make out stacks of boxes and a large floor mixer like the one in the kitchen at the pie shop.

‘Can I help you?’ A woman’s voice behind me made me jump. I turned and saw a plump woman in her mid-sixties. Her dark hair was streaked with gray, and she wore it in a pile of curls on top of her head. She had sharp blue eyes.

‘My name is Susanna.’ I stretched out my hand.

‘Alice.’ She shook it with a crushing grip, and I tried not to wince.

‘Are you opening something here?’ I asked, hoping that it was going to be something that would stay open past 8 p.m. For once, maybe I would have fresh gossip to share with the Morning Pie Crew.

She sized me up and looped her fingers through the straps on her denim overalls before answering, ‘Just setting up my cookie shop. Hoping to open in a couple days.’

‘Oh, that’s great,’ I said, trying to hide my disappointment. Not only did it sound like a place that would close early, but it also sounded like competition. I tried to force my most neighborly smile, thinking it would be what Aunt Erma would want me to do. ‘I’m new in town too. I work at the pie shop down the street.’

I could have sworn her eyes narrowed for a second before she smiled. ‘That’s wonderful,’ she said. ‘I’m looking forward to stopping in and trying your pie.’

‘Come on in anytime,’ I said.

The silver cat appeared by Alice’s feet, and she scooped her up. The cat yowled.

‘This is my cat. I named her Cookie,’ she said. How original, I thought. She stroked the cat’s head while it struggled slightly in her grip.

‘I’ve seen her around,’ I said.

‘Are you planning to enter the baking contest at the Fall Festival?’ she asked.

‘I don’t know. I’m still honing my baking skills,’ I said.

She nodded sympathetically. ‘I wouldn’t bother if I were you. My cookies are definitely going to win.’

My eyes widened. She had to be joking, but if she was, nothing on her face gave it away.

‘Well, it was nice to meet you.’ I hurried off down the street, not sure what else to say.

‘You too,’ she called after me, making my skin prickle.

When we got back to the apartment, I immediately flopped down on the sofa, the exhaustion of the day setting in. Then I sat straight up and grabbed my computer and found the online form to sign up for the baking contest. I hit the keyboard a little too hard as I entered in my information. I sat back, satisfied. I tried to picture the look on Alice’s face when I beat her.

Chapter 6

Day 5 ― Sunday, November 6th

Dear Elodie,

Let me open by saying I do not like cats. They’re creepy and hairy and their eyes always look angry. All my nightmares usually feature a cat. They are truly horrifying, even when they’re kittens. That being said, in general, I am quite the animal lover. What I don’t love is when people let their animals run free. There is a cat in the neighborhood that just wanders the streets. She apparently has a home, but the woman who owns her can’t keep her contained and doesn’t seem to understand what a huge problem that is. I keep seeing the cat outside my door, and she’s not bothered when I try to shoo her away.

Should I call animal control or just suck it up and accept that I’m going to be tormented by this cat on a regular basis?

Sincerely,

Crazy Cat-less Lady

Dear Crazy Cat-less Lady,

You didn’t say if you’ve directly spoken with the cat’s owner. Maybe you can explain to her your concerns for the cat. You could also try recommending that she find a new home for it if she doesn’t have the time to take care of it properly. Calling animal control seems a little extreme. Perhaps you should also consider talking to a professional who can help you work through your deep dislike of cats.

Ask and I’ll Answer,

Elodie

The next day started out with a bang, quite literally. I heard a loud crash in the kitchen and went running downstairs in my polka dot pajamas with Mitzy close at my heels. I slid down the last few stairs and fell through the door at the bottom.

I startled a twenty-something year old man who was stacking boxes that had fallen off his dolly. He let out a little squeak and jumped back making his straight brown hair flop into his large green eyes.

‘Who are you?’ I demanded as Mitzy, the ever-helpful guard dog, hid behind my feet.

‘I’m Stan,’ he said, composing himself.

‘Why are you in my kitchen, Stan?’ I demanded, searching the counter tops for a weapon, but the kitchen was obnoxiously clean. Thanks, mystery night cleaners.

‘I’m the delivery guy. You must be the niece.’ He spoke in a soft voice, and I had to lean in a little to hear him. He extended his hand, ignoring my hostile tone. He was very tall and very skinny. I wondered briefly if I could get him to check the attic space in Aunt Erma’s apartment for the pie recipes I still hadn’t found.

‘Oh,’ I said, feeling a little silly. I had seen ‘Delivery Day’ written on Aunt Erma’s calendar, but I assumed the delivery would happen during my waking hours. I shook his hand, which was a little cold and clammy, and he went back to stacking up the boxes and sacks of flour. ‘You deliver on a Sunday?’

‘We might be a small town, but this is still a pretty happening place,’ he said.

‘What are you delivering?’

He glanced over at the clipboard he had set down on the counter. ‘Flour, sugar, brown sugar, blueberries, strawberries, apples, chocolate, cream, eggs, butter, coffee, and canned pumpkin.’ He ticked them off. ‘I will have to get some of these things in the fridge right away.’