Cupcakes and Killing: A Cozy Mystery (Sweet Shoppe Mysteries - Book 2) Read Online Free

“Fine. If you despise me so much and don’t need my money, then I won’t give you any more. Good luck financing that little startup of yours and paying your rent without me.”
    She turned away, and Mia called out after her. “So what, you’re just going to cut me off? Well, fine. May as well call your lawyer and get him to cut me out of your will, too.”
    Zara turned back, her face red with anger. “Maybe I will do that, then! Maybe I’ll retire early and spend all my money on a lovely cruise around the world instead of paying for all your stuff.”
    “You wouldn’t do that. I’m all you have, mother. Although the cruise might be a nice idea. No one here likes you enough to miss you.”
    “I wouldn’t be so sure about that, darling . And plenty of people like me.”
    Kaye and I watched the scene unfold with horror. Mia might have been ashamed of her mother’s not-so-stellar reputation, but the way she was speaking to her was just plain awful. And in public too! It was utterly shameful.
    Mia stormed away, and Zara stood by the door to her flower shop, a forlorn expression marring her otherwise pretty features. She turned and pulled the door shut and locked it, obviously not in the mood to work any longer.
    “Should we go and talk to her?” I said to Kaye in hushed tones. “I feel kinda bad for her. Her daughter is vicious!”
    “Hmm…I don’t know. After that display, she probably just wants to be alone for a while.”
    “I guess so.”
    Once our manicures were done, we checked in on the stores to make sure everything was running smoothly and then headed to one of the local dress clothing boutiques. While getting our nails painted, we’d decided we may as well go all out on our day of luxury and pamper ourselves with new dresses for the wedding.
    I selected a few mid-length floral patterned dresses to try on, and Kaye grabbed a pretty satin dress in an emerald green color.
    “Am I too old for this type of material?” she asked, wrinkling her nose as she inspected it.
    “Of course not. That color would bring out your eyes, too. Want to go try it on?”
    We headed into the fitting room and entered separate cubicles, separated by dark red curtains. I slipped into my first choice and then vetoed it. It was a little too short, even for a spring wedding. As I was unzipping it, I heard the curtain on another cubicle swish open, and a vaguely familiar voice speaking in a hushed tone.
    “There you are. I knew I saw you come in here.”
    “Amy, what are you doing here? Can’t I try on a dress in peace?”
    I recognized the second voice as Zara, and I stopped still and listened. She’d referred to the first voice as Amy…it must have been Amy McNamara, her ex-employee.
    “You might have gotten my case thrown out, but I’m not letting you get away with the rest of it,” Amy said, her voice dripping with anger. “You think it’s okay to just steal everyone’s boyfriends?”
    “For God’s sake, Amy. I’ve tried explaining this to you a hundred times! I had no idea that man was your boyfriend. We met at the pub one weekend, and that was it. I loved having you work for me, and if I’d known he was already taken by you, then I wouldn’t have gone near him. Please just listen to me for once.”
    “Oh, that’s a load of bull. You just can’t keep your hands off any of the men in this town. Young…old...it doesn’t matter to you. Well mark my words, Zara, I’m going to get you back for this. Just wait and see.”
    My God, the poor woman was being attacked from left, right and center today! First Mia, and now Amy. There was a heavy sound of footsteps as Amy marched away, and I slipped back into my clothes before quietly exiting my cubicle. Kaye emerged a second later as well, and we exchanged a glance before peering into Zara’s cubicle.
    “Err… Zara? Are you all right?” I asked, my eyebrows knitted in concern.
    She sniffed and turned away, trying to mask her teary eyes. “I’m fine.”
    Kaye