Page 58 of The Pumpkin Spice Cafe

Jeanie blew out a long sigh, disturbing the wisp of hair that had fallen in front of her face. ‘No. And it’s gotten worse. This morning I discovered the dishwasher was broken. The guy that came to fix it said someone had cut some wires in the back.’

‘Shit, Jeanie. Have you reported any of this?’

‘Yeah.’ After the window-breaking incident, Jeanie had finally gone over to the police station and informed them about what had been going on. They’d started sending a patrol car by the café twice a night, which made her feel a bit better, but it didn’t do anything to help if the person doing the damage was working for her.

‘And what do your employees have to say for themselves?’ Ben shushed a dog at his feet that Jeanie couldn’t see, but could hear whining for attention.

‘Well, Crystal immediately started to cry when I asked if she knew what was going on.’

‘Hmm.’

‘Joe assured me he’d keep an eye out for anything suspicious, and then told me what a great boss I was and how much he loves working for me.’

‘Laying it on kinda thick,’ Ben muttered.

‘Iama good boss.’

‘I’m sure.’

‘And Norman got insulted. Said, how would he know about any of that? And then he floated the theory that some customer was doing it. How would that even be possible?’

‘It doesn’t make sense.’

‘I know.’

‘Maybe itisa ghost.’

‘Shut up, Ben.’

‘So, what are you going to do?’

Jeanie shrugged. She didn’t know what she was going to do about it. Threaten her employees? Install security cameras? She didn’t really love either of those options, but she had to do something. If she really did like running the café, if she wanted to keep her new life here, then she’d have to put an end to this nonsense.

‘I’ll figure it out.’

Ben looked skeptical but he didn’t push her further. Instead, he admonished whatever dog continued to whine. ‘No more treats for you. Not after you ate all that garbage yesterday.’

‘Garbage?’

Ben rolled his eyes. ‘Pudgy knocked over the trash can yesterday while I was at work and feasted on the garbage.’

‘Gross.’ Casper seemed to roll his eyes as if to say,dogs, am I right?

‘And yet, today she’s still acting like she’s starving to death.’

‘Well, name is destiny as they say.’

Ben smirked. ‘How’s the farmer?’

‘His name is Logan.’

‘And...’

Jeanie could feel her cheeks heating under her brother’s assessing gaze.

‘That good, huh?’ he asked with a laugh.

‘I don’t know!’ Jeanie shifted in her seat, bringing her knees up so she could prop her phone there. ‘I thought things were good. Theyweregood. But then, I don’t know. I kinda freaked out.’