An award-winning short story
Janky Fluffy
"How do I pretend my life isn't falling apart?" Gracie Tyler-Pepper adjusted her blue cocktail dress and walked towards the café.
The sky clouded over with darkness, and another rainstorm approached. A rainstorm that would stop the searchers from finding the body.
Gracie spoke again, her voice cracking. "I need to find her. She can't be left to the wild animals. Mother deserved better than that. Why do I have to show up anyway?"
"Everyone will gossip, and it'll hurt Marvin's feelings," Hilda said from behind.
Gracie dragged her sister back to the car. She whispered in Hilda's ear. "Can we leave? I feel sorry for Marvin. He always dreamed of a church wedding." She stared at the building.
Wait staff placed fake glitter pumpkins on the other side of the bay window and displayed a deep bowl with Jack-o-lantern suckers and chocolate marshmallow stars.
The town, Cupcake Hollow, was named after a popular cupcake factory. It opened its newest café/party palace after Buy All the Good Books closed down.
A group of artists painted over an old mural of a writer riding a rainbow.
Gracie couldn't escape the aftermath of her mother's accident or Marvin's sudden marriage.
"I don't even have my favorite comfort reads," Gracie mumbled.
A chalkboard menu could be seen from the outside. Autumn specials, pumpkin cheesecake, cupcakes, tomato soup, haunted salads, and creepy sandwiches.
Her stomach rumbled. It had been nine hours since Gracie had eaten anything. She needed to eat.
Another sign was placed in the window. Join us for our weekly book signing.
A few of The Happy Orange Fish Café's staff set up a picnic table outside. Two authors set up their book displays.
A romance author signed his latest book under a woman's name, and Marble Brooks signed western novels under a male pseudonym. Gracie stopped for a moment and bought signed copies.
"At least I can read a book while I wait," Gracie said. "The one thing I love about Cupcake Hollow is the books."
Her sister pulled her back towards the car.
"You feel sorry you aren't the bride. Are you still in love with him?" Hilda hugged her sister.
"Everything happened yesterday, and I haven't slept. I still need to search the lake for Mom and...um, Dad." Gracie opened her purse and pretended to read the Western novel.
"You need a two-hour break. Do you love Marvin?" Hilda asked.
"Yes, I still love him. But it's sad how it ended." Gracie stared at the brick façade of the café. "It ended in death." She stuffed the books into her purse.
"It wasn't your fault," Hilda said bluntly.
Gracie hugged her sister. "If I drove, Father wouldn't have fallen asleep at the wheel, he would have worn his seat belt, and Marvin wouldn't have asked Nancy to marry her during the search. She wanted Mom's job, so she'll probably get it."
"I'll be there for you," Hilda whispered.
"I meant to tell Marvin that I loved him before the accident. But I miss Mother more, and I feel guilty."
A ghostly woman whispered into Gracie's ear. "Even though I didn't give birth to you, I love you, and you and Hilda are my little girls. Always mine. They'll find me by the trees in the hidden spot where my father used to fish."
Gracie grabbed her phone and texted Officer Xander. "After the wedding, I'll search for Mother myself. She shouldn't be left like that." Tears welled up in her eyes, and her lips trembled. "I love Mom, and I can't even mourn with my best friends. We'll force frozen smiles on our faces. But it makes sense. Marvin's family came to search for Mom's body. Her students are still searching."
"You should object to the wedding. Nancy invited you to rub salt in your cuts, but she knows you're a coward." Hilda hugged her sister.
Gracie nodded.
Hilda grabbed her arm. "The accident wasn't your fault. It was Dad's, and I doubt Mom would allow him to drive. Marvin realized...." Hilda paused.
"Realized what?"
"They have only been dating for a couple of days. It's not fair, but don't worry. I'll stop this." Hilda's voice broke off.
"Don't ruin Marvin's wedding. He deserves happiness, and he said he hoped I'd show it."
"I'll park the car and meet you inside. And I promise you don't have to do this alone." Hilda hugged her and climbed back into her three-seat roadster. "Marvin knows I am showing up, but the bride doesn't."
Her sister drove away.
Gracie entered the café, and each step on the distorted black-and-white tiles resembled skulls, fish, and roses.
Half of the diners were rescue volunteers. Mini-white pumpkins decorated each table.
A waitress poured the hot chocolate into large, mismatched mugs. "Your host or hostess will be here in a moment. The regular guy is still searching for Mrs. Tyler-Pepper."
"Of course," Gracie said under her breath.
Ten minutes later, a host arrived.
He smiled at her. "Are you attending the hospital party or the wedding? If neither, you can order in the main room."
"The wedding." Gracie stepped back and pulled her auburn hair into a bun.
The hostess walked over to a lace guest book. "Name, please."
"Gracie Tyler-Pepper."
The man located her name. "The wedding is the blue door."
Gracie walked in. Bookshelves hadn't been moved, and the old books remained behind.
She stepped over a red walkway. A pond filled with thumb-sized goldfish swam underneath. "They kept the pond," Gracie said.
The young woman glanced at the fish swimming for a split second as abject misery swam away. She stepped over the walkway and stared at the words, You Will Find Love Today, hand-painted on the wall.
Her pain returned.
The smallest party room sat seventy-five. In the back of the room, a stage and blue altar faced the guests.
Gracie walked over to each circular table to search for her name. Each nameplate was a hand-cut paper star. She read her book in silence. For a moment, she felt her body transported to a world of gunslingers.
"Why aren't you listening to me?" Nancy placed a plastic bone on Hilda's empty plate. "Marvin's mother invited your sister anyway. She better not show up." She mouthed the words, "I won," Marvin said to Gracie.
Gracie ignored her. "Lloyd probably made these. Hilda is lucky. He's a man of many talents." She sat down at her table.
"He's a goofball, but he's crafty." Nancy walked away.
Guests trickled in.
Hilda's boyfriend, Lloyd, sat next to her. He straightened his police badge. Lloyd always gave off a Colombo vibe. Even more so with his sweet, disarming voice. He told a couple of bad jokes until Gracie smiled.
"I baked the cake too." Lloyd pulled Gracie close to him and whispered. "Your mother was..." he paused.
Nancy hovered over them. "She was only Gracie and Hilda's stepmother. Jem was a terrible teacher. Why act like she is important? It's taken away from my special day."
Gracie sighed and tucked the novel away. "No, she was always Mom to me," she whispered back.
A waiter brought over a porcelain kettle filled with hot chocolate and a bowl of star-shaped marshmallows. "Drink while you wait for the ceremony. It's going to be at least an hour."
Gracie attempted a smile, but her eyes misted over.
"We're partying first, then we will recite vows at the end," Marvin said. "The reverend is going to be late, and we couldn't book another officiant on such short notice unless we flew to Vegas."
The couple walked to each table and shook their hands!
Marvin kissed Nancy on the cheek.
The bride's silken brown hair fell on her perfect shoulders. She appeared to be a doll, but her white velvet dress was loose and flowing. It hid her figure.
"I'm so happy for you," Gracie's voice cracked. She ran to the bathroom and sobbed in the stall.
Hilda slammed open the bathroom door. "Marvin sent me."
Gracie rushed out and hugged her. "I miss Mom, and I miss Marvin." She walked to the sink and wiped off her cosmetics. "It's hard to see my best friend move on so quickly, but at least Nancy loves him as much as I do." Gracie blinked. Her eyes felt heavy. She looked into the mirror and saw the reflection of her beautiful stepmother.
Hilda snorted to herself.
"Mom!" Gracie cried out.
The ghostly apparition whispered in Gracie's ear again. "No one else can see me, and I need to find out how I ended up on the bank." Jem paused. "Something is happening. I need to go." Water poured out of her mouth. She started coughing and faded into nothingness.
"What if I told you Mom came to Lloyd in a dream?" Hilda asked.
"I'd believe." Gracie's shoulder slumped.
Hilda opened her purse, located a new red lipstick, and applied it to Gracie. "I want you to look your best. Mom wished for you to be happy."
"It won't happen. I wanted Marvin, but I won't interfere." Gracie gasped for air. "I need to stay away from him."
Hilda grabbed her sister's arm and whispered. "We all know Marvin's relationship won't last."
"Hilda, I won't harass married people for a date, unlike Nancy's creepy brother," Gracie said.
"Maybe," Hilda whispered. "Don't count Marvin out just yet. He's not yet married. I helped delay the wedding. The reverend isn't coming."
They walked out, and she bumped into a man. Nancy hovered near them with the cake knife, but she walked to the table and cut slices for the guests. "Where is that, reverend?" Nancy asked Marvin.
He shrugged.
"Oh, hi, Xander, you work with Lloyd, right? I thought you were still at the lake trying to locate my parent's bodies."
"The divers needed to quit because of the storm. It was almost like it was timed, but my partner decided to search with an off-duty officer," Xander said. "I sent your text to them."
"Oh," Gracie said sadly.
Nancy's brother approached them. "Hello, Gracie, it's nice seeing you around. My date didn't show, and I was wondering if you would sit with me," he said in a deep voice. "I just need to sit with someone until she shows up."
"Why would anyone stand a cheater up?" Gracie rolled her eyes.
"Sweetie, please, this wedding is uncomfortable for me." He winked at her.
"No, you're a jerk." Gracie walked to the table.
Xander and the man followed her.
"Please, don't bother Gracie," Marvin said.
"Oh, come on! You're marrying my sister. What is Grace the backup?" the man asked. He reached for Gracie's thigh.
"Leave her alone, or I'll." Xander glared at him. "You already hit on my wife and my mother."
"My fortune is getting better," Nancy's brother said to his ex-wife.
Gracie looked down at Xander's waist and noticed his gun. She clutched his arm.
Nancy headed to the door. "When is the reverend arriving? That man is an hour later than he promised."
"He can't make it. But Vick texted me; she'll be here in twenty minutes," Marvin said.
Lloyd walked up to Nancy. He hugged her and slipped cuffs around her wrists.
"What is this about? It's not about Gracie and Hilda's stupid stepmother, Jem. I didn't kill her."
"We picked up Mr. Tyler-Pepper at the hotel. Nice scam. Help your love kill his wife for insurance money. But you became greedy and planned to marry someone else. But Marvin isn't an idiot, and he came to me with his suspicions the day Mr. Tyler-Pepper introduced you to him."
"You don't have any evidence!" Nancy screamed.
"We do, but I wouldn't talk." Lloyd's voice was calm, but he lost the friendly tone he was known for.
Nancy blabbered about how it wasn't her fault. "I needed money for the baby." She turned to Hilda and Gracie. "You're going to have a new sister."
Lloyd read her rights.
Xander and another officer dragged her off. Lloyd's phone rang, and he didn't follow the officers. He answered his phone with a hushed voice.
Marvin sat next to Gracie. "I hope you're not mad at me, but Hilda and I were helping Lloyd, all legally, of course."
She hugged him. "I'm so sad." Gracie grabbed a cheese puff off an appetizer tray and devoured it. "Sorry, I'm also starving."
"So am I. Your mother was a great woman." He held her hand. "Why don't we just drink hot chocolate and talk?"
They ate more appetizers and finished two cups of hot chocolate without speaking.
Lloyd ran to their table. "I got the call. How did you know where to look for your mother? They found her. She needed to be resuscitated, but Jem didn't want to go into the hospital. The ambulance is heading for Mercy General. So it looks like the charges will be downgraded."
Marvin spoke to Hilda. "I'll drive Gracie. Meet us in the emergency room."
Obrigado pela leitura!
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