Page 5 of Moonshine and Magnolias (Just Add Peaches #1)

A curl of pleasure unfurled in her belly before she stifled it.

The time to flirt with the customers would be never.

Besides, with Brandi around, it would be a waste of time.

Wendy had learned that lesson the summer after ninth grade when Randall Finkle had wanted to be her boyfriend only to meet her beautiful cousin with the different colored eyes.

Wendy returned to the kitchen and gathered more goodies until the three chafing dishes held steaming hot food. Aunt Eulalee had whipped up a homemade peach syrup as well, in addition to putting out the biscuits, fresh fruit and a selection of pastries.

As soon as her aunt’s back was turned, Wendy penciled peach syrup onto the printed breakfast menu hanging next to the schedule. Keeping accurate records was an important part of everything running smoothly. Even if she was the only one who recognized it.

By the time she was done with the buffet, her mom was in the kitchen loading the dishwasher, and Fountenoy Hall’s other three guests had joined Dr. Upshaw at the tables.

His brother slurped on a cup of coffee like a man reunited with his first love.

It was clear from Mr. Upshaw’s same thick brows and straight nose that the two men were related.

The new Mrs. Kipling sat in the lap of her groom while he fed her bits from his plate, both of them giggling.

The overt public display of affection didn’t seem to bother the Upshaws, so Wendy kept her mouth shut.

“Ms. Marsh, we want to thank you for the picnic basket yesterday,” said Mr. Kipling. “It was perfect.”

“We appreciate your willingness to reschedule,” Wendy said.

“The champagne and strawberries were so thoughtful. And romantic.” He kissed his wife on the cheek .

“The people at the park heard we were staying here and had nothing but nice things to say about Ms. Maybelle,” Mrs. Kipling said. “I’m sorry we didn’t get a chance to meet her. When I called my mom to tell her, she said your grandmother was a true Southern lady.”

“Thank you.” Wendy gave a quick nod while gathering some dirty dishes and hurried to the kitchen to avoid more talk about Grandma. She put them in the wash sink for her mom, then brewed another pot of coffee.

The rich, buttery scent of Eulalee’s pastries was almost enough to make her break her rule about a sugar rush at breakfast. If she ate everything her aunt cooked, she wouldn’t be able to fit through the door.

Yogurt would have to do. The clanking of silverware and spoons scraping the chafing dishes and the low hum of chatter that filtered in from the pass-through window assured Wendy all was going well with the patrons.

She sat on the stool next to the island and pulled out her phone.

“What does your all-knowing to-do list have for you today?” Eulalee asked, peering over her shoulder.

“Hey.” Wendy pointed her spoon with mock sternness. “Don’t knock the list. The list guides us with its wisdom and organization.”

She skimmed over the bullet points for her job at Steward Hotels that she’d get to when her shift was over.

The big one was the final proof of the printed materials for the Terre Haute opening.

The opening that could be the final confirmation her bosses needed to put her in charge of the whole department.

Next came her to-do list for Fountenoy Hall. She added a note about the financials, then turned to her aunt.

“Did you do the book keeping, or was that Grandma?”

“Maybelle, mostly. She hired someone at tax time, but she kept precise records.”

“And this was her ledger?” Wendy tapped the brown book by her side.

“You have the ledger?” Eulalee shot her a quick glance. “I thought it was still in the office. ”

“Mom got it for me a few days ago.” Wendy ignored the lump in her throat. She was going to have to face Grandma’s office sooner rather than later. Maybe even that afternoon. She wasn’t looking forward to it.

“Yeah, that’s it.”

“There’s nothing on the computer?”

“Not unless she didn’t tell me something.” Eulalee dipped a spoon into the sauce on the stove and tasted its contents. “Is the Hall in money trouble?”

“Not as far as I know.”

“Then why the worry about the finances? I’ll handle the ledger.” She put down the spoon and held out her hand.

“That’s okay. It’s not worry. I just like to know what’s going on.” Wendy scooped a spoonful of yogurt as her pocked vibrated.

She turned off the alarm that signaled the end of breakfast and the start of the staff meeting. No steps sounded on the back staircase announcing her cousin’s arrival. She took a peek out the pass-through window. Still no Brandi. The only person seated was Dr. Upshaw.

“I’m making some lemon balm tea for Brandi, bless her heart. She’s having a hard time keeping up with all this new work.” Aunt Eulalee rummaged around in the cabinets. “Want some? It’s very soothing.”

Was it Wendy’s imagination, or was her aunt pre-emptively excusing her cousin’s tardiness? “No, thank you.”

Dr. Upshaw’s profile was in view, and she took advantage of the opportunity to examine him. Maybe she could pinpoint the reason her stomach turned in knots whenever she was with him.

His laptop and papers gave him the perfect staging for a clean cut academic with his pale green button down and jeans. His shirtsleeves were rolled up, exposing sinewy forearms. The scruff from yesterday was gone, leaving his strong jawline clearly visible.

The kettle on the stove gave its sharp whistle. Dr. Upshaw jerked up from his papers and stared straight at the pass-through window. Straight at Wendy .

White-hot heat surged through her body. She fought with desperation to maintain the eye-contact instead of following her instinct to duck. He had to look away first. He had to, or she’d lose the silent battle waging within her.

But he didn’t, keeping her gaze with an intent one of his own. The seconds ticked by, her heart growing louder with each one. Wendy dug her fingernails into her palm to keep from moving.

Finally he smiled and gave a shake of his head, as if laughing at his own private surrender. When he turned back to his papers, an emptiness took hold in her chest.

“Wendy? You all right, honey?”

Her aunt’s tone had Wendy thinking it wasn’t the first time she had called her name. “I’m fine. Daydreaming, I guess.” She pressed her lips together at the lie and turned away from the window.

“Well, that’s good to hear. I don’t remember the last time I caught you daydreaming.” Aunt Eulalee hummed as she put the tea back into the cabinet.

Wendy needed normal, and fast. She went back to her to-do list, finding comfort in the check boxes and the summary of her work. Since the staff meeting was apparently canceled, she could catch up on her tasks.

Next two items were harvesting the peaches and calling Belle’s Medicinal Brewery for transporting them, and planning the Lurz retirement party.

The party had been scheduled six months ago and was an easy enough assignment for Brandi.

All she had to do was verify the menu and number of guests.

Picking the ripe fruit should continue today, with the unripe ones left on the trees for the guests to gather at their leisure over the next month or so.

The step stools and wide baskets were waiting in the rec room for the activity later that morning.

The last bullet was finalizing the contracts for the Pansy Hamilton historical reenactment. The one thing Wendy didn’t want to do.

Stupid list.

Sorting through the reenactment contracts that had accumulated when Grandma was sick meant entering the office, where her presence lingered amidst the filing cabinets and storage boxes.

Where her loss would be felt the most. Where sitting in the ornate antique chair would make Wendy face the fact that Grandma was really, truly gone.

Maybe now was the time to start deviating from the order of tasks on her list.

No. She released a slow, even breath. The structure existed for a reason. It guided her. Kept her on the path when turmoil surrounded her. Gave her control. Which, she was loathe to admit, was sorely lacking today.

She stood by the door with her computer and ledger, then braced herself before entering the dining room.

She needn’t have bothered. Dr. Upshaw was gone, but Brandi sat at the table.

No evidence of a late night or early morning was visible in her looks or actions aside from some heavy cover up around her mouth.

Remnants of eggs and some biscuit crumbs sat on a plate to her left.

A drop of syrup decorated the papers in front of her.

If those were official, she and Wendy were going to have words.

Brandi spotted her cousin and held up the pages, nearly knocking over her coffee cup. “Do you know which company I’m supposed to use to get fresh flowers delivered each week? I can’t find the name.”

Wendy had told her only five times already. “I can show you on the computer later.”

“Thanks. And how do I get more whiskey? I think we’re running low.”

Things she could have asked at the staff meeting. “We’ll do that later, too.”

“Everything is later with you. Can’t you fit me into your to-do list?” Brandi laughed. “Dr. Rob!”

“What about him?”

“Sorry to interrupt.” His smooth tenor sailed into the room and she forced herself to turn around. “I left…” He shifted his computer to his other arm and bent down to pick up a pen. “Got it. I need to write some notes before I can track down my next lead.”

“He told me a bit about his job before he scampered away.” Brandi raked her gaze over Dr. Upshaw’s lean physique.

Her voice held the perfect amount of interest and breathless wonder that always made Wendy seem like she had just run a marathon when she tried to emulate it.

“This guy hired him to research his many-times great uncle and a curse that seems to follow their family. That’s how he and his brother ended up in Claremont.

Their client wants to know how to break it. ”