Sweet Revenge (Cocoa Narel Chocolate Shop Mysteries Book 1) by Morgana Best Page A

so at some point. Right now I have to order the shop fittings, organize supplies, and all the rest of it.”
    “Well, you know I’ll help with much as I can,” Carl said.
    I jumped up and gave him an impulsive hug. “You’re the best! I can never thank you enough for everything you’ve done for me.”
    Carl smirked at me. “Does that mean I get free chocolate?”
    “Yes, of course you get free chocolate.” I thought for a minute, and then added, “I suppose that depends on how much you eat. I’ll have to monitor the situation.”
    Carl pouted. “I was going to suggest that we both go to the store now and I’ll help you all afternoon. Plus I’m going to buy you a lovely Welcome Home gift this afternoon.”
    I sighed. “Okay, you win. Free chocolate.”
    This time Carl and I drove back to my store. It certainly was a help to have someone to hold the other end of the tape measure. Then I drew diagrams of all the display case placements. I showed Carl the images of the cabinets I had ordered online on my iPad.
    He was impressed. “Wow, Narel,” he said, “this is going to look amazing.”
    “I only hope I get enough customers to keep it afloat,” I said. “It will be my livelihood.”
    “Oh, but I thought you made enough to live off. I thought the settlement was big enough that you could live on it?”
    I shook my head. “No. I know it seems like a large sum of money, but my lawyer explained that I wouldn’t be able to live on it forever. I need an income from the business. I want to be independent of the settlement. Sure, I’m going to use it to set up the business, buy a house, perhaps even a car at some point, but I need to be making my own income.”
    Carl nodded. “That’s wise,” he said. “When do you order the chocolates?”
    I laughed. “Just before the store opens.”
    Carl looked crestfallen.
    “Well, I suppose I could order some samples for us to try.”
    Carl’s face lit up. “Narel, I’m happy to drive you around, but I think you’d feel better if you bought yourself a car,” he said. “I’ll keep driving you around until you get used to it.”
    “Thanks, Carl,” I said. “That’s kind of you. I know I have to get a car soon. It’s just that I’m really scared to drive again. “
    “How about you drive my car now and then first, to get used to it before you buy your own?”
    “Thanks Carl. You’re always so thoughtful.”
    “Well, can you give me a dating reference then?” Carl said sadly. Carl hadn’t had much luck in the dating department, and I had no idea why. He was as good looking as he was kindhearted, but it didn’t help that he worked from home and didn’t get out much. Plus, we lived in a small town and I think he was the only eligible gay bachelor within a large radius.
    “Sure. Anyway, guess who came into the store earlier when I was measuring?”
    “I hate guessing,” Carl said. “Just tell me.”
    “Lucinda Shaw-Smythe and Mandy Makim!” I announced.
    Carl pulled a face. “What did they want?”
    I shrugged my shoulders. “No idea! Just passing by, I suppose. Guess what; Mandy used to be married to Guy!”
    “Come to think of it, I thought I heard that some years ago. I think she married him right out of high school. I heard they divorced soon after.”
    I nodded. “Yes, that’s what they said. Anyway, they didn’t recognize me.”
    Carl laughed. “Oh, Narel, of course they didn’t recognize you! I wouldn’t have recognized you and I’m your best friend. The difference between how you look now and how used to look is just ridiculous!”
    “Okay, okay.” I was afraid he would go into great detail about how I used to look. “Anyway, they were really quite polite to me.”
    “That’s because they didn’t recognize you,” Carl pointed out. “You can bet your bottom dollar that they would’ve been their usual spiteful nasty selves if they had recognized you. Anyway, I don’t suppose they knew you were with Guy when he died?”
    I