Wicked Whoopie Pies Addison Moore (the false prince series TXT) 📖

as she looks out at the crowd still in full attack mode. “He had surgery last year on his shoulder. He sustained a really bad injury. It was sort of a freak accident while working on his car. But he’s better now. You know, we lead a happy life.” Her words come out a little terse.

Binky’s tail swishes back and forth. “She doesn’t sound happy, Lottie. I smell something stinky.”

I give a covert nod to the not-so-stinky specter.

“Sorry to hear it,” I say. “What’s Merv up to these days? I haven’t seen him around the bakery in ages.”

She laughs. “He’s still hitting the sweets. Believe me, I can’t get him to stop. But his department moved to Ashford, so he’s hitting the bakeries over there instead. He’s a software engineer for a utility company—the Department of Water. But he is trying as far as the weight goes. He’s been jogging ever since the snow melted away. That, apparently, doesn’t bother his shoulder.” Her features harden.

Binky jerks her head in my direction and her nose twitches. “Why does she sound angry about this?”

“Are you still over on Cranberry Lane, just past my mother’s B&B?”

“That would be right.” She smiles. “We’ve been there for ten years now.”

“Great neighborhood,” I say, trying to think of something that could get her to open up about Terri. “So sad about Terri,” I say and she closes her eyes and gives a deep nod. “I think I remember you and Terri were close friends at one point,” I tell her. “I remember the two of you coming into the Honey Pot Diner all the time together. Can I ask what happened?”

Her expression sours. “Fame, and Terri’s libido happened. You know, I was still new with Merv at the time. And Terri? Well, she wanted what we had, so I convinced her to sign up for that stupid show—Two Hearts Are Better Than One. And we all know how that ended up. She fell head over heels with Darren Merrin, the guy with the rhyming name. Remember him?”

I nod. “Who wouldn’t? They were a pretty big deal for a while there. We’re talking national fame. I remember thinking Terri Norris single-handedly put Honey Hollow on the map.”

Clementine laughs out loud at that one. “Well, you were right. But not in any good way. Her relationship with Darren was one-sided. The guy was a fake. The only reason he went on the show was to further his career options.”

“But then, don’t they all go on those shows for that?” I point out.

“Not Terri.” She shakes her head emphatically. “She truly went on for all the right reasons. And did she glom onto Darren immediately. She wanted it all, the marriage, the white picket fence, the two point five kids, and she wanted it all in five minutes. Darren couldn’t stand the heat, so he took off. Terri was humiliated. She quit all social media once she became a meme for bad breakups.”

Binky’s mouth falls open. “Where’s Darren now?” she asks and I quickly echo the sentiment.

Clementine glances to the sky. “Last I heard he was a broadcaster for a hockey league up in Canada. He’s married, has the whole white picket fence, two point five kids deal with someone else. Someone saner.” She adds the little quip as her expression grows dark once again. “Darren has a YouTube channel that Terri used to leave an entire slew of comments on. Obsessive comments. Anyway, he blocked her everywhere, and she eventually set her sights elsewhere. She wanted affection any way she could get it, and she didn’t care if the men she went after were married.”

Binky swats me on the nose with her tail. “Don’t just stand there, circle back to the woman’s husband. I bet he was running right into trouble. And once Terri trapped you, there wasn’t much hope for you after that.”

My heart breaks for the sweet creature. All she ever wanted was her freedom and all Terri wanted was someone to love.

I clear my throat as I look to the woman. “I take it Terri had her sights on Merv?”

Clementine lifts her chin as if I struck a nerve. “She sure did. He jogged right past Terri Norris’ house every single night. And just about every night he’d tell me she was trying to strike up a conversation with him. I’m not sorry to say it, but it’s a relief that she’s gone. After what she did to that poor family a few years back, it’s a wonder she wasn’t struck by lightning sooner.”

“What family?” both Binky and I ask in unison.

“The Brogans,” she whispers. “They used to live out in Hollyhock. It was the biggest scandal just a few years ago. You might have been away at college. Miles Brogan was some executive out in Ashford. If I remember correctly, that’s where Terri sank her hooks into him. He had a pregnant wife who lost the baby she was carrying when she discovered the affair. And as if that wasn’t tragic enough, Miles had a heart attack and died from the stress.”

“Oh my word.” My fingers float to my lips. “That’s terrible.”

“You’re telling me.” Clementine huffs. “Believe me, that’s why I made such a stink about the fact she was trying to snare my husband. No offense, but he’s a man. He could be lured away far easier than most women could.”

I’m not sure I agree with that, but I’ll go with it.

“Clementine, where is Miles’ wife now?” Whoever this woman is, she certainly has a motive.

She shakes her head. “You can just call me Clem, Lottie. As for Nellie, last I heard she moved to upstate New York. She’s since remarried, has a daughter and a working farm. My mother says she’s happy. You know how our mothers talk. They know everything about everyone. I suppose it’s healthier Nellie left the state altogether.”

“I certainly agree. Do you think there was foul play involved with Terri’s death?” Noah is still waiting for toxicology to