Page 3 of Donut Disaster
A couple more people join us, and Morgan is quick to introduce them.
“Noah, I hope you don’t mind a couple of party crashers,” he teases. “This is Dr. Colin Drake. We’re both up for chief of surgery.” He mock socks the lanky man with glasses. Dr. Drake is tall, sinewy like a bicyclist, has dark expressive eyes that squint heavily from his smile, and has a gaunt face. There’s sort of a rock star appeal to him in general. “And since I’ll be beating him out, I thought he could grab a bite out of that donut cake to make him feel better.” Dr. Drake shakes his head our way as if to contest Morgan’s theory.
Morgan holds a hand out toward an older woman, about my mother’s age, silver pixie cut hair, stylishly dressed in a white jean jacket and matching capris.
“And this is the lovely Sandra Bristol.” He comes shy of winking as the older woman giggles like a schoolgirl. “She’s a celebrated nurse, and Honey Hollow General Hospital is lucky to have her working in our labor and delivery unit.” He holds up a finger. “And she singlehandedly takes care of her ill sister. And if any of you think you’re going to nominate her for sainthood, you can’t. I’ve already beat you to it.”
She’s quick to wave him off with a laugh. “It’s very nice to meet you all. I just bumped into Colin at the festival, and the next thing I know we’re standing here. Happy birthday to you.” She nods to Noah with a hot pink grin.
Morgan shoots Colin with his finger. “Just keep this guy in line, would you? On second thought—shove him into the deep end of the lake.”
A warm laugh erupts between us as they begin in on a conversation of their own.
“Lottie”—Noah comes over—“I have to see this cake everyone is raving about.”
Everett growls at him. “Too late, I ate it.” He pats his stomach and I swat him.
“Come on, birthday boy. It’s right over here.”
Everett heads over to Alex while I take Noah to a picnic table laden with a feast that I purchased from the Honey Pot Diner. The Honey Pot is a restaurant that is conjoined with the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery—and that happens to be the bakery I own and run. Well, own might be a strong word. My grandmother, Nell Turner, technically owned the land and the building and almost every other piece of land and quite possibly structure in Honey Hollow. When she died, she left the lion's share of her estate to yours truly, but my Uncle Will has been contesting the will ever since Nell died back in January. That entire mess seems to be locked up in legal red tape for the better part of eternity.
We come upon the cake—a tower of glazed donuts with swirls of white frosting strewn throughout to give it a festive appeal. Next to it I’ve brought a variety of donuts to spice things up, double chocolate, sprinkles and confetti, raspberry and lemon filled, custard filled, bear claws, French twists, crullers, and apple fritters. You name it, I’ve spent the last few days frying up a storm.
“Lottie.” Noah ticks his head back as if he were bowled over. “It’s official. You’re my favorite everything.”
He wraps his arms around me, and just as it looks as if he’s about to brazenly go in for a kiss, my best friend, Keelie Nell Sawyer, pops up, squealing with delight. Keelie’s blonde locks look almost white under the peachy glow of the twinkle lights. She’s holding hands with her new beau, my long-time ex, OtisBearFisher. Bear is a sandy-haired, burly man who happens to work in construction.
Keelie is one of the perkiest people I know, and ever since I found out who my birth mother was last winter, it turns out not only is she my bestie, but Keelie is my cousin, too. We’ve been friends since preschool, and I’d trust her with just about anything. Ironic since I’ve never let it slip that I can see the dead. I’ve only told Noah and Everett about my transmundane status, further classified as supersensual. My birth mother, Carlotta, knows, of course, but outside of that, it’s a deep, dark secret I don’t plan on letting loose on society anytime soon.
Keelie and Bear get to the business of wishing Noah a happy birthday just as a giant black dog with droopy jowls and dark serious eyes bounds up. He looks sort of like a black Golden Retriever, but he’s built heavier with longer fur and a wider frame.
“Oh my goodness!” I say, bending over to give his head a quick scratch. “Aren’t you handsome tonight?” He gives a jovial bark as he butts his head against my knees and I laugh as I hug him. My goodness, he looks like a miniature black bear.
“Lottie?” Keelie sounds worried for me, and I turn so they can see my new furry little friend.
“It looks like we have another party crasher,” I tease. “I’m certain that someone at the lake is looking for him.”
“Looking for who?” Bear leans in and squints. It’s clear he’s been spending his fair share of time outside this summer, judging by his sun-kissed face and the blond streaks in his hair. Bear helped put my bakery together last fall. We dated in high school, and he was the first to cheat on me in a long line of cheats. Okay, so there were three, and Noah didn’t technically cheat, but it felt that way. But, believe you me, three is plenty of cheats for one lifetime. I’ve caught my limit.
“The dog,” I say, chipper, as I run my fingers through his luxurious fur.
Keelie’s eyes enlarge as Noah shakes his head frantically.
“This”—I glance down at the furry beast just as he leaps right through Bear and then right through the donut tower on the picnic table without disrupting it—“fake dog.” I shrug up at Keelie and Bear, and they’re quick to shrug off my behavior. “Donut anyone?”
Both Keelie and Bear head off to make their selections just as Everett joins Noah and me.
Noah nods his way. “She just saw another one.”
“Another idiot?” Everett’s brows hike as if he were amused. “Be nice to Bear. And you shouldn’t call yourself names on your birthday.” He gives a sly wink my way.
“Another dead creature.” Noah steps in close. “Lottie, did you say you saw a dog?”
I give an apprehensive nod as I glance around the vicinity in search of the perky poltergeist.
Noah catches my gaze. “Does that mean…?”
“Yes,” I say breathlessly. “Someone at the lake is going to die.”