SLAY PAIRS WITH ROSE (The Kelly's Deli Cozy Murder Mysteries Book 3) by Sophie Brent (phonics reading books .txt) 📕

“It’s not safety I am worried about Mr. Blake, it’s what’s inside. Those wedding cake boxes are made of white card. They’re not going to be much of a barrier to smoke and fumes.”

“Why don’t we find out?” he suggested and started walking over towards the fridge. Erin took another breath, which made her cough again, lifted her chin and slowly followed him across the grass.

It was even worse than she had imagined.

One of the fridge doors had swung open and she could see that some of the contents had spilled onto the grass. The smaller of the wedding cake boxes was lying on its side on the grass next to an overturned fruit bowl. The white box was dirty and crushed, and Erin could already see that the soft lemon cake inside had been completely ruined. The firefighters had been too busy getting the blaze under control to notice that they were trampling on her work.

Hardly daring to speak, she stepped closer and tugged open the other fridge door. Melted bags of salad leaves fell out onto the grass, but Erin’s attention was totally fixed on the scorched brown cake box which was still on the shelf where she had placed it. The back of the box had almost melted with the heat, and as she slowly lifted it out, great flakes of card fell away. It only took a moment to peek inside at what was left of her lovely cake. It stank of smoke and the icing had melted into a puddle of burnt sugar on top of a sooty blackened cake.

Lowering it onto the grass, Erin stood back and wrapped her arms around her middle. Despite the heat of the sun on her face, she felt chilled and sick. She could have cried.

All that work! Poor Fiona.

Mr. Blake’s voice faltered. “I’m sorry that we didn’t have a chance to save the contents. Most of us have been up all night trying to get the power back on and taking care of our guests. They were naturally very concerned when they saw the smoke.”

“Of course, the guests had to your priority,” Erin replied with a lump in her throat. “I’m sure that you did a great job.”

Then she took one final look at her ruined cakes, blinked and looked around. “Where are you serving breakfast this morning? I arranged to meet some of my friends who are staying here for the wedding.”

“Ah,” he smiled as though relieved to be able to tell her something positive. “That would the main bar. We have a small kitchen which is normally used for bar meals and snacks, but there is a full coffee and tea service.”

With a sigh, he reached out and shook Erin’s hand. “I appreciate your understanding, Miss Kelly. Please feel free to join the wedding party for breakfast and use any of the hotel facilities as our guest. It would be our pleasure to take care of you.”

“Thank you. A coffee would be very welcome right now.”

“Erin! We’re over here!”

Zoe waved to her from the other side of the large comfortable hotel bar, where tables and chairs had been arranged to create a temporary dining area. The bar served as a breakfast buffet table, already loaded with pastries, fruit, and cereals.

Erin could see that only a few hotel guests had ventured down to breakfast so early on a Saturday morning, but her gaze focused on one round table where four women were huddled together with beakers of steaming tea and coffee in front of them.

Fiona was wearing a pretty blue pattern summer dress and looked amazingly relaxed and happy for a woman who had probably enjoyed only a couple of hours sleep.

“Erin. It’s so good of you to come out at this time in the morning,” Fiona apologized and leaned forward to hug Erin, but reared back before she touched her. “Sorry, lovely, but you stink of smoke. You’ve obviously been outside,” she blinked and wafted her right hand from side to side in front of her face.

“I certainly have,” Erin sighed, then locked eyes on the bride, her heart in her throat. “Fiona. I am so sorry. Your wedding cake was destroyed in the fire.”

Then she held up both hands, palm forwards. “But don’t you dare worry for one moment about that.” Erin gushed. “I am heading back to the deli right now to make you another one. Bottom layer chocolate and Morello cherry. Top layer lemon and vanilla. I can’t promise you that the decoration will be as intricate, but I will try my best. I promise.”

“Erin. Slow down.” Fiona smiled and took hold of Erin’s arms. “Come and have some breakfast.  Then we’ll talk about cake. Okay? Good. Oh, where my manners? Anyone would think that I was getting married today or something. You probably don’t know any of my bridesmaids.”

Fiona gestured around the table, starting with a very slim woman with long blonde straight hair, then a girl in her late twenties with a sharp pixie cut. “Say hello to my best friend, Maya, and this is Ethan’s sister Kate. Ladies, this is Zoe’s friend Erin who stepped in at the last minute to make my fabulous wedding cake.”

Erin waved to both ladies, who smiled back at her. “I won’t sit down, thank you, Fiona. I’m far too smoky. But I’ll grab a coffee and be right back.”

“That’s a great idea,” Zoe said and slid out of her chair and stepped over to the buffet table with Erin.

“I don’t know what Fiona is taking, but can I have some?” Erin whispered to Zoe as she sliced a decent looking blueberry muffin in half and poured herself a strong coffee from a heated jug.

“The hotel manager has just been with some amazing news,” Zoe grinned. “I can’t quite believe it, but the