Page 12 of Covert Chaos

Raspberry pies.

Emmeline looked up, frowning for a moment as if she had no idea who Hattie was.

Uh oh… She had to be faking it. No one could ever forget Hattie, or fail to recognize her.

Emmeline was a short little thing, but she exuded a fierceness that was all fight and attitude. There was nothing soft about her, despite her casual T-shirt and jeans. After a moment that was only a split second, but which gave her plenty of time to think fast and decide how to proceed, she burst into a wide smile. "Hattie Lawless! So great to see you."

Hattie walked over to her. "I heard you're part of the Diamond Pie Company."

Emmeline nodded. "I am. Beckwith and I do all the baking."

"Raspberry pie?" Hattie leaned over and peered at it. "Smells like my recipe. That's a funny coincidence, don't you think?"

Emmeline blinked in innocent surprise. "Are you accusing me of stealing your recipe?"

Hattie burst out laughing and patted her shoulder. "Lordy no, Emmeline. I'm teasing. I had some earlier. It's not mine. But it's delicious. Well done."

I blinked. That was a lie. Hattie absolutely believed it was her recipe.

Emmeline looked flustered. "Um, thanks?—"

"Speaking of pie, has Charles Barnes come through here?" Hattie asked. "I wanted to chat with him about pies. I want to have him supply pies to my café. I'm so busy now that I don't have time to cook everything, and that pie is up to my standards."

Emmeline tensed. "Charles? Is he at the Ugly Man tonight?"

Oh…that news hadn't made her happy. "He is," I said. "We saw him walk in." King Tut moved around in my sweatshirt, and I saw Emmeline's eyes go to the elephant baby I was pregnant with.

Fortunately, she was polite enough not to comment on my oddly shaped, undulating body. "I haven’t seen Charles." She wiped her hands on her jeans, and I saw there were streaks of raspberry pie on her pants. Because she was cutting pies, or because she had had a pie incident with Beckwith? She glanced toward the door that led to the front of the tavern, and I could see she was definitely nervous.

"What's up with Charles?" I asked softly.

Emmeline shook her head and went back to serving up pie. "Nothing. It’s fine.”

I looked at Hattie and Lucy, because it definitely wasn't fine.

Hattie leaned on the table. "Emmeline. I've known you since you were sixteen. What's going on?"

Emmeline finally looked up. "Hattie," she whispered. "Charles and Beckwith have been fighting. I want out, but I sold them my recipes."

Hattie grimaced. "All of them?"

Emmeline nodded. "I know, it was stupid. But I was broke, and my friend Rachel was dating Beckwith, and she convinced me. But Charles is…" she paused. "He's terrifying."

Hattie nodded. "I know, sweetie. You need to get out."

"I can't."

"You can make new recipes. Every great chef has a million recipes inside her. Your greatness doesn't come from this pie." She held up a plate. "It comes from what's inside you. Walk away. Create something better. Own your awesome, girl. It's the only way."

Lucy grinned at me, and I felt my heart go a little mushy. Hattie gave the best speeches, and she was the strongest advocate for woman power that I'd ever met. I loved her so much.

Emmeline sighed. "I have to wait. I think Beckwith is going to buy Charles out, and then it will just be him. I can work for him. He's a good guy."

Hattie frowned. "If the business is making money, Charles won't sell out."

Emmeline shook her head. "Beckwith has a plan to make him."

I grimaced. Forcing bullies to do something didn’t often end well.

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