Part 8 (2/2)
Lucy shrugged and stared at the screen, but the only thing that turned up was an announcement that ran in the Portland paper a few years ago reporting that Tamzin had achieved black belt status in tae kwan do at the Maine Martial Arts Academy.
”Typical,” snarled Lucy.
”What's got into you?” asked Phyllis.
”That witch at Chanticleer Chocolate, and witch isn't the word I want to use,” said Lucy, scowling at the computer screen.
”But it rhymes with witch, right?” asked Phyllis, chuckling.
”You said it.” Lucy swung around in her office chair and faced Phyllis. ”She hired Zoe behind my back, never even mentioned a work permit. She wanted Zoe to start this afternoon.”
Just then Lucy's cell phone rang and she began digging in her purse for it. After a few more rings, she dumped the entire contents on her desk and s.n.a.t.c.hed it up. ”Zoe! I thought you might be calling.”
”Mom, I can't believe you did this to me!”
Zoe's voice was so loud that Phyllis could hear her right across the room.
”I did what I thought best,” said Lucy.
”And now I'm out of a job!”
Phyllis had turned back to her computer, but Lucy knew she was listening to every word.
”They were taking advantage of you,” said Lucy. ”You need my permission to work and I'm not going to let you work illegally. These laws are there for a reason. It's easy for employers to take advantage of underage workers.”
”Mom, it's a chocolate shop, not some sweatshop.”
”Then I don't see what the problem is. They can file the paperwork... .”
”Then you mean I can work there?”
Too late, Lucy saw she'd stumbled into a trap. ”I guess so. If the permit's approved,” she said, reluctantly. It wasn't really the work permit that was the issue, it was Tamzin. She really didn't want her daughter anywhere near the woman.
”You're the best, Mom. Tamzin's pretty sure they can have everything in order by tomorrow afternoon. She says Trey knows somebody in the Superintendent's office.”
”Oh, great,” said Lucy, with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm.
Looking over at Phyllis, she saw her shoulders shaking with laughter.
”It's not funny,” said Lucy, flipping the phone shut.
”I know,” said Phyllis. ”It was just your expression. You looked so p.i.s.sed.”
”I've been advised not to play poker,” said Lucy, already calling Sue. ”Have you got a minute?” she asked, knowing that Sue was working and the needs of the kids at Little Prodigies took precedence. ”Can you talk?”
Getting an affirmative, she continued, in a whisper. ”I was over at Chanticleer Chocolate and I saw Brad Cashman in a, well, compromising situation.”
”Hmmm,” said Sue. ”I'll have to check the invoice.” A few moments later, she was back on the phone. ”I'm in my office. Exactly how compromising was the situation?”
”I'm not sure,” admitted Lucy. ”I think I caught them kissing. They sort of jumped apart when I went into the shop.”
”I've heard she's a real flirt.”
”That's an understatement. She actually told me she thinks all men are available.”
”They probably are,” said Sue.
”How can you think that?” Lucy was shocked. ”Does Chris seem upset or worried?”
”No. She's the same as always.”
”Maybe she doesn't know,” said Lucy. ”Or maybe it's just the way Tamzin treats every man who comes in the shop. I saw her wrap a box of chocolates and it was about as subtle as a pole dance.” She paused. ”Maybe you can give Chris a heads-up.”
”This is awkward-I'll have to think about it. I don't want to cause a problem if there's nothing there, if it's just a little flirting,” said Sue.
”If she knows there's a potential problem she can take action,” said Lucy. ”She can cook his favorite dinner and wear a s.e.xy nightie to bed.”
”You think it's that simple?” Sue sounded amused.
Lucy bit her lip. In her experience, men were that simple. She and Bill had been married for over twenty-five years and there hadn't been much that a meat loaf dinner and a scented candle in the bedroom couldn't fix, but maybe she was just lucky. ”It's worth a try,” she said.
”I guess I can send up a test balloon and see if she's worried,” said Sue.
”That's a good idea-but you better be careful. Use tact.”
”Of course,” said Sue, sounding a bit miffed. ”By the way, have you been thinking about the dessert contest? It's just around the corner. Have you come up with any ideas?”
”Not really. Besides, I'm on a diet.”
”And I told you to make a diet dessert,” said Sue. ”There's plenty of recipes on the Internet.” Lucy heard a distant childish wail. ”Gotta go,” said Sue.
Lucy sat for a minute, holding her phone and scowling. Things were not going well. She sighed and looked out the window. It wasn't an inspiring sight. The street was filled with filthy snow, the sky was gray, it was so dark, in fact, that the street lights were still on and it was almost noon. She was thinking that if she had a gun she'd probably shoot herself, when she noticed Bill's red pickup truck going down the street. Impulsively, she punched in his cell phone number.
”Hey,” he said.
”I saw you driving by.”
”I'm done for the day. I thought I'd head home and have some lunch.”
”Want some company?”
”Sure.”
When Lucy got home, she found Bill was already heating up a can of soup on the stove and mixing up some tuna salad for sandwiches. A bowl of chips was on the table and she took one, then remembered her diet and put it back. ”I hate myself,” she said, collapsing in a chair.
<script>