Total pages in book: 85
Estimated words: 77663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 77663 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 388(@200wpm)___ 311(@250wpm)___ 259(@300wpm)
I put the address into the GPS and half an hour later found myself in one of the prettiest and most expensive sections of the little town. It was hard to imagine that there was a whole metropolis about an hour away from this quaint little idyllic spot.
My mouth hit my chest when I pulled through the gates to the estate. The place was huge with what looked like acres upon acres of lawn with a garden that ran the whole length of the place in back it looked like.
There was a carnival-sized water slide on one side of the lawn. I saw a magician when I drove down the driveway, a few Disney characters, a face painting stand, and, of course, a bouncy castle that would put Magic Kingdom to shame. Just wow.
I was more nervous about being here than I was about the cupcakes. It’s a good thing I’d changed out of the jeans I’d been wearing when he called and into a summer dress that seemed more appropriate for the setting.
There were a few people already sitting or standing around outside, and a woman in a servant’s uniform came out to greet me and take me inside. There was a table already set up with three carriage shaped cupcake stands that looked like they were made out of real gold. I was almost afraid to touch the things.
“You can just leave the boxes there; the mistress will sort them out when she comes down.” I was about to answer when a man in his thirties came bounding across the room.
“Amanda, I take it? Thank you so much for doing this for us; we really appreciate it. Estell, you go on and do what you were doing; I’ll see to this.”
“Yes, sir. But are you sure you shouldn’t wait for Mrs. Silverspoon?” She said it kind of tongue in cheek.
“Are you saying I can’t do this without my wife’s help? Get out of here, and remember, don’t drink too much.”
“What are you saying in front of Miss. Stewart.”
“Uh, he’s finally down.” A beauty queen came waltzing into the room. Surely, this woman wasn’t just getting a sick child down. She looked like she’d stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine.
“Oh, you must be Amanda. I heard about your cupcakes, and if they’re better than my cake, I’ll skin you.” She smacked her husband playfully on the chest.
“You can’t have any before our guests, Millie, hands off.”
“I did bring extra, as well as some cookies.”
“You did?” Carter made a beeline for the boxes, and I showed him which one held the extras. His wife beat him to it. Now, I’m no food snob, but this lady does not look like she’s a lover of desserts.
She went straight for the key lime-flavored one and took a bite. “Oh, you dirty dog, you did it again. I hate you.” She scolded her husband, who grinned and filched a praline cupcake before offering Estell to choose whichever one she liked. I liked them already, just for the way they treated their staff.
There was a loud booming voice coming from the front of the house. “Millie girl, where the hell are you?”
“Oh, it looks like your guests are starting to arrive. I can put these up for you if you’d like.”
“That’s no guest; that’s my father-in-law.” Millie rushed from the room with a whoop and a laugh.
“I’ll take you up on that offer of help. I have to get in there and make sure my Dad doesn’t try to steal my girl again.” He grinned and followed after his wife, and I turned to take care of the cupcakes. Estell thanked me for the cupcake and went back to work while I got lost in one of my other favorite things to do where baking is concerned. Organizing the cupcakes in some sort of pattern that catches the eye.
AMANDA
It took longer than anticipated to get the stands just right, but I was pleased with the results. Millie, as she’d asked me to call her, returned to take a look and declared it a masterpiece. The other cake was delivered, and the lady seemed a bit peeved that she hadn’t been asked to make the cupcakes as well. At least, that’s what I gathered from the way she turned her nose up at me after ascertaining that I was the culprit who had brought them.
I started to gather my stuff to make a hasty exit but was waylaid by Millie. “You’re not leaving already, are you? Why don’t you stick around? I know it’s a kid’s party, but these things are never just that. There’s wine, beer, and coolers; what’s your poison?”
“I, well, I don’t want to intrude on your time with your family.”
“Who’s intruding? Henry said you just moved here a year ago and didn’t have many friends in town. Come on; it’ll be fun. And besides, I have a feeling it's going to be good for business.”