Page 30 of A Whisker in the Night

Dibs on anything that hits the ground!Sherlock’s tail wags with half-starved anticipation. I can so relate.

You can have the Jell-O offerings,Jellybean generously offers.I prefer my food to stay still when I’m eating it.

“Ditto,” I say.

A small stage has been set up at one end of the field, complete with TV cameras and lights. That must be where Matilda’s cooking show will be filmed. Speaking of Matilda, I scan the growing crowd but don’t spot her signature silver-streaked locks anywhere.

Mom and Georgie waste no time rushing off to enter their culinary creations, leaving me to wonder if someone should warn the judges about what they’re in for.

The baby gives an emphatic kick, probably trying to remind me about our backup granola bars. But with all the chocolate floating around, who wants granola?

Ten dollars says your mother tries to bribe the judges,Fish meows as she watches them go.

Jellybean’s ear twitches.Twenty says Georgie’s Jell-O creation comes to life and eats every last one of us—just like in that movie with the giant green blob.

“Let’s hope not.”

In the distance I spot a small round dessert table and on it sits a three-tiered chocolate fountain. You can bet your britches I’ll be glugging down as much of that liquid heaven as I can fit in my body before I leave.

Georgie may have a sordid history with chocolate, but if my fantasies come true today, I’ll be putting her chocolate infamy to shame.

A woman carrying a bright blue Dutch oven walks by and the scent of something savory trails in her wake.

I smell bacon!Sherlock barks so loud you’d think it was starting to rain that heavenly breakfast food.I’d better make sure she doesn’t drop anything.

He darts off and both cats waste no time in leaping out of my tote bag and charging after him.

Sorry, Bizzy,Fish calls out.But I have to make sure he doesn’t hog all the crumbs for himself.

And I’ll show them where to get the best of the crumbs,Jellybean yowls as she races to keep up.

“Wonderful,” I mutter. “Well, at least they’ll be fed by the time we get home.” I give my belly a pat as I scan the festive grounds.

I’m plotting the best way to track down Matilda when I literally bump into Hammie Mae. She looks fresh-faced and adorable in a spring dress that makes her copper freckles pop, her strawberry blonde hair is pulled back into a ponytail looking as perky as can be, and her beach ball of a belly bumps into mine before any other part of us makes contact.

She’s not Matilda, but you know what they say—one Westoff in the hand is worth two in the bush.

Here goes nothing.

Chapter 19

“B

izzy!” Hammie Mae Westoff brightens at the sight of me, right here on the grounds of Westoff Farms. “It’s so great to see you. Are you entering the competition?” She riffles through the wicker Easter basket in her hand, brimming with pink plastic grass before handing me a miniature gold foil bunny no bigger than my index finger.

“Ooh, thank you. I’m in serious need of a fix,” I say, quickly unwrapping it. “I’m actually just here supporting Mom and Georgie,” I tell her. “And I promise to keep them far away from the barn. They’re still talking about their lifetime ban.”

Hammie Mae laughs, and a wheezing sound escapes her that makes her nose scrunch up. “I will never forget about the Great Chocolate Catastrophe. My staff is still finding sprinkles in their hair and on the ceiling.” She gives her belly a warm pat. “So how are you feeling?”

I gobble down the miniature chocolate bunny in three hasty bites and moan.

“Thank you, that was wonderful. And to answer your question, I guess you could say I’m feeling hungry,” I admit and we both laugh once again as she hands me another bunny. “Though I’m going to miss using pregnancy as an excuse for everything. Yesterday I told Jasper I couldn’t do dishes because the baby needed me to eat ice cream instead.”

True story. That tub of Rocky Road never stood a chance.

The baby gives a soft kick at the dreamy creamy memory.

“Ice cream for the win,” Hammie Mae says as if falling into a Rocky Road trance herself.

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