Death by Chocolate Sundae: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 2) by Constance Barker Page A

are you doing here so soon?” Stormi asked.
     
    Paige set her purse on the table. “Aren’t you happy to see me?”
     
    “Of course darling, but aren’t you the soccer mom that bustles around from here to there?” Stormi teased.
     
    “Not anymore,” Paige announced. “Daughter got her license. Of course now she wants to use my car to go everywhere. She’s working at the library a few days a week this summer so instead of me driving her, she’s driving me here and picking me up after she gets off this evening. I see another vehicle in our future as I’m not sure how much longer I can go without one.”
     
    “Wow, she is growing up so fast,” I exclaimed. “Seems like yesterday Sam was playing with her dolls.”
     
    “I know,” Paige answered. “Going a little too fast for this mom, but I’m just thankful she has a good head on her shoulders, unlike many of the kids in school.”
     
    “Well, that’s because of her parents I think,” I said as I got up to freshen my coffee. “You want a cup?”
     
    “Thanks for the compliment and no to the coffee,” Paige replied. “I’ve had four cups already today so I’ve met my quota.”
     
    Stormi walked over to freshen her coffee as well. “I was telling Tara about seeing Trixie at the bank today and how she’s beaming.”
     
    “That reminds me,” Paige said cutting in. “Mr. Jenkins filed a lawsuit against Parker Tractor Supply.”
     
    “What?” Stormi croaked. “He barely hurt himself! He and his permanent scowl can take a flying leap.”
     
    “That flying leap is what has the Parker’s in the hot seat,” Paige said.
     
    Three weeks ago, Mr. Jenkins, resident scowl master and he of balding head fame, took a tumble at Parker’s Tractor Supply. The store has everything from nuts and bolts, to lawn mowers and tractors for sale. They have as much product outside the store as inside, especially the mowers, ATVs and grills. As Mr. Jenkins strode through looking at the mowers, he tripped and fell over a toy tractor left there by a boy whose mother told him she wasn’t buying it. Unfortunately, Mr. Jenkins laid there for almost 30 minutes before someone found him. His back went out and he required x-rays and an MRI to ensure no permanent damage. The Parker’s insurance paid for the medical bills, but now Jenkins was suing the store for negligence. I’m sure Mr. J. would sue the kid if he could, that’s just the sort of man he was.
     
    “How can he sue the Parker’s for negligence?” I asked. “They didn’t know the boy left the toy tractor out there.”
     
    “Who knows,” Paige replied. “He’s sue happy. Remember when he sued for pain and suffering and emotional distress after he fell in Landry’s Department store? He was living in Atlanta then and I heard he got a huge settlement out of the deal.”
     
    “Yes but Parker’s isn’t a big chain like Landry’s. He could put them out of business,” I said. It made my blood boil to know people like Jenkins could get away with such things.
     
    At that moment, Stormi’s brother Brandon walked into the Shoppe. Brandon was Stormi’s younger brother by three years. He was divorced with no children, like me. When Stormi and I were in high school, he was the bothersome little brother who liked to pull pranks on us, such as squirting us with his water guns or throwing worms in our faces. Typical boy stuff. There were times I wanted to knock some sense into that kid, but he had grown into a respectable and rather handsome man.
     
    He married a woman from Atlanta who couldn’t settle into small town life. Eventually she got bored and cheated on Brandon. Their marriage lasted only two years. Brandon dated occasionally but not often. Stormi said he was very hurt by his ex and wasn’t in a hurry to be burned again. I couldn’t blame him. I was a divorcee as well and my marriage died a slow death. While he didn’t cheat or abuse me, the silence grew over powering and eventually