I see dead people.

Mostly I see those of the furry dearly departed variety, but on occasion I see a bona fide once upon a human. But unfortunately for me, I’m not looking into the eyes of some adorable little long-dead creature. I’m looking into the eyes of a very much alive human—Carlotta Sawyer, my biological mother.

“My mother?” My feet propel me forward, but only a few steps in this mystery woman’s direction. The closer I get, the more my adrenaline seems to spike to unsafe levels.

The attorney just finished reading Nell’s last will and testament where, apparently, she’s left almost half of Honey Hollow to little ol’ me, including Nell’s primary residence, her summer home in Nantucket, and her beloved Himalayan, Waffles, who happens to be the brother to my own Himalayan, Pancake. But it’s this bonus prize, if you can call her that, which has stolen all of my attention and that of everyone in the room.

Just as the reading of Nell’s last wishes concluded, a woman burst through the door and confessed to being Nell’s long-lost daughter and my very own mother.

Standing before me is my exact representation, a woman who bears an eerie resemblance to my every nuance, an aged version, with a slightly bitter disposition.

“Yes”—her lips pull tight as she meets her gaze with mine and holds it—“it’s me. The woman who bore you.”

Becca and William collapse over her with hard embraces, tears streaming down both of their faces. Becca is the mother of my best friend, Keelie, and William is her brother.

Keelie staggers up and wraps an arm around me. “I have an aunt.” She turns my way. “And that makes you my cousin. I always knew we were family.” Tears sparkle in her usually perky blue eyes. Keelie is a blonde bombshell, who is just as peppy as her name suggests, but at this moment, after the passing of the woman we both so dearly loved, we’re all a bit morose.

“We are family, Keelie,” I say, my chest pulsating like mad because I suddenly can’t seem to catch my breath. “But it’s not because of her.” I lift a finger toward the woman who suddenly wants to claim me.

Becca and William take a step back, loosening their hold on their long-lost sister. Becca looks just like Keelie, but she dyes her locks a dark shade of auburn. William looks like a male version of Becca and nothing like his long-lost sister.

My newly pronounced mother glares at me a moment as if she understood we were readying to have a showdown.

“Now, let’s not get testy.” Her bottom lip quivers the way mine has a propensity to do when I’m agitated. “That’s not what Nell would have wanted.”

“I don’t care what Nell would have wanted,” I say. “She’s not here.” Gasps go off behind me, and I can only guess it’s Keelie’s cousin and her twin sister Naomi. “You didn’t come back to Honey Hollow for me. You came for the money you’d get from Nell.”

“I showed up well before she was dead!” this older version of myself riots my way. “I came because it was time to make things right with the both of you.” Her voice softens a notch, but the muscles in her jaw are still quivering with anger. “I want to get to know you, Carlotta. I want you to get to know me—to know the reasons why I did the thing I did.”

“I know why you did it. You just said you were sixteen, a runaway having a baby. I get that. But plenty of time has passed. Keelie didn’t even know you existed. You left for twenty-six years.”

She takes a ragged breath and looks to both Becca and William for a brief second. “Nell adopted me when I was six months old. I was her younger sister’s daughter. My own mother left me for greener pastures. I guess the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” She blinks a short-lived smile. “But now that I’m back, I’m ready to do this right. I want to get to know you, Carlotta. I want to get to know all of you.” She looks past my shoulder and manufactures a smile for the attorney.

I shake my head without meaning to. “I don’t think I want to know you.” I burst past the three of them and make a dash for the stairwell.

Keelie chases me down and drives my car back to Honey Hollow for me.

I cry all the way there, wishing Nell Sawyer had never died to begin with.

It’s a snowy Saturday in February, which also happens to be Valentine’s Day, and you would think the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery would be bustling just trying to meet an astronomical number of orders as customers clamor inside in hopes to score a box of delectable treats to bring home to their sweethearts, but it’s far from it. We’re an hour from closing and have yet to sell half of what we normally do.

Keelie comes up beside me as we look across the street together.

“Maybe we need a neon sign, too? Especially the part that reads coffee, confections, and more?”

I take in a deep breath of the vanilla rich air. I’ve been baking and icing my red velvet cupcakes nonstop for tonight’s Hearts of Hope Charity Ball that the fire department is putting on down at the community center.

“I don’t see us as a neon sign kind of a place,” I say, ogling the hot pink neon sign across the street that reads The Coffee Cake Break, coffee, confections, and more! “Besides, people might think I actually stole their name.” It just so happens the Cutie Pie Bakery and Cakery has a small sign beneath it that reads coffee, confections, and more. But the trio of thieves that opened up that knockoff bakery across the street didn’t mind one bit stealing my slogan, along with my regular customers.

“Please, Lottie, you’re one of the richest women in all of Honey Hollow. You’ll never even need to think of stealing.” Keelie bucks with laughter at the thought as the front door opens and my sister Lainey strides in wearing a cherry red wool coat.

“Happy Valentine’s Day!” She pumps her fists as she dances her way over, only to have that smile on her face quickly dissipate. “What’s going on? It’s like a ghost town in here.”

“The copycats have opened up shop across the street,” I grunt. “And word has it, they’re giving everything away for free today.” It’s true. As soon as Lily Swanson, the traitor who works for me, filled me in on this tidbit, I was not only fuming mad at their below-the-belt strategy—okay, maybe not below the belt but decidedly foolish, but I was hurt to see almost all of my customers heading that way in a steady stream. FYI, Lily Swanson is the best friend of Naomi Turner, Keelie’s twin. Naomi has held a grudge against me since high school over a silly boy of all things. But when Lily was in desperate need of a job, and I was far more desperate for help at the bakery, I didn’t hesitate to hire her. It was Lily who trained the three girls who opened the bakery across the street, and she trained them using my equipment and recipes. Clearly, I have to rethink all of my life choices.

“A rival bakery across the street? That’s terrible!” Lainey stomps a black patent stiletto over the floor, and the sound reverberates throughout the empty café.

The Honey Pot Diner next door is bustling, seeing that it’s the busiest night of the year, and thanks to the giant hole in the wall connecting the two establishments, I can hear the cheery din of couples engaging in conversation, their laughter making me feel lonelier than ever.

Not that I’m alone as far as having a man in my life goes. No, actually, I’ve got a surplus of men at the moment. Both my boyfriend, Noah—Detective Noah Fox—and Judge Essex Everett Baxter will be at the Hearts of Hope fundraiser tonight, and even though Everett and I are just friends, I’ve promised to save a dance for him.

“It is terrible,” I echo, glancing knowingly to my sister. It seems an entire string of terrible things have occurred over the last month. Just before Nell died, she let me in on the fact that the gift we both share—if you can call it a gift—is something she referred to as transmundane and supersensual. She insisted that I must never claim one of those long-deceased pets as my own, and yet it was too late for that.

I’ve already taken a liking to Tanner Donovan’s Golden Retriever, Dutch, who has remained staunchly by my supernatural side ever since Tanner himself bit the big one back in December. He was dating Lainey and dating twelve other women at the very same time, so I have mixed feelings about his untimely demise.

But so far Dutch is the only spectral creature that hasn’t bothered to evaporate into thin air after the murder of his owner was solved. Usually that’s the last I see of those fantastic phantasms and long-departed people alike, but, for whatever reason, Dutch has taken a liking to me and I to him.

He bounds over from the back as if he knew he were on my mind and barks up a storm with those fiery coal eyes of his burning bright. Dutch is the first dearly departed creature I’ve been able to hear, and last month Eve Hollister’s pet black bear was the first to move things around—as in having an actual cause and effect in the material world. My mother’s B&B is still paying the price for that unhappy haunting that promptly occurred just before poor Eve keeled over, and to this day there are whispers that Eve Hollister’s ghost still lingers there.

Keelie growls like a black bear herself. “Heads-up, here comes Lily, the terrible trio, and one terribly good-looking judge from Ashford.” She chortles just as the front door opens, and an entire gaggle of girls led by Lily Swanson scuttle in dressed to the nines, Greer Giles, Nikki Spencer, and Tinsley Shields. And if that malfeasance isn’t bad enough, in strides the woman who bore me alongside her new BFF Miranda Lemon—the mother who raised me—along with Mayor Nash’s ex-wife, Chrissy, my mother’s stable rock in these tough times—and last but not least, Judge Everett Baxter himself. And no sooner does the door close than an entire herd of tiny, barking, biting, darn near rabid Chihuahuas hurry in after them.

My mouth falls open as I look at the miniaturized, nearly invisible phantasms prattling about, nipping at any and every ankle in the place.

Everett tries to make his way over to me but is quickly accosted by the brunette brigade as each of Lily’s old sorority sisters vies for his attention. Lily is too busy excavating baked goods from my suspiciously full shelves to appropriately shield him from the onslaught. Lily has sort of claimed Everett as her own.

Everett is tall, dark, and handsome in an otherworldly way. He’s slow to smile, has smoldering blue eyes that practically scream get in my bed, and enough testosterone to fuel an ovary explosion the world over. He’s commanding, and demanding, and incredibly loyal. Mostly to me. He has an entire string of exes that he exclusively allows to call him by his first name, Essex. A luxury not extended my way, but I’m more than fine with it.

I can’t imagine calling him anything but Everett at this point. He also happens to be a judge down at the Ashford Courthouse, and we met back in September after my old landlords took me to small claims court. Everett wisely sided with me, and we’ve been inseparable ever since. Sort of.

Greer accosts him, and he whispers something into her ear as he tries to circle around her.

She cackles so loud the windows rattle. “Oh, Essex, you’re so silly! Just wait until you see what I’m wearing for you tonight.”

Lily’s ear hikes up a notch as she glares past me. If I didn’t know better, I’d say there was dissension in the ranks.

A dark-haired woman strides on in and makes her way to the counter. She has amazing feline-shaped eyes that glow a rich shade of gray, and her gaze flits to the wicked trio cackling up a storm in our midst. She puts in an order for a Danish and a latte, and Lily tends to her quickly. My mother speeds over just as she collects her goodies.

“Lottie, I’d like you to meet Nicole Brand. She’s a boarder of mine at the B&B.”

“It’s very nice to meet you.” I extend a smile in lieu of a hand since both of hers are taken. “I hope my mother doesn’t cause too much trouble for you.”

She laughs loud and long, and I have a feeling I hit the nosy nail on the head. My mother has a propensity to get a little too deep into her boarders’ business. If you’re looking to stay a weekend, you’re more or less safe, but anyone staying longer risks my mother digging into their entire family history.

“She’s wonderful. She really is.” The woman takes her things and winks at my mother. “I’ll see you tonight.”

Mom waits until the bell jingles from her departure. “She came all the way from Bassett Ville hoping to make amends with her estranged daughter. I bought a ticket for her to attend the charity ball tonight. You never know who you might meet at those kinds of events. After all, love is in the air.”

“So it is.”

“And don’t forget to bid freely on the items set for auction tonight. All the proceeds go to the cardiac unit.” She touches her own heart because it just so happens to be near and dear to us. “Oh, and great news! Meg put in for an official sabbatical. It looks like she’ll be in Honey Hollow just in time for your birthday next month.”

“A sabbatical, really? I thought that was reserved for scholars and the clergy. For some reason, I just don’t associate it with female wrestlers on the Las Vegas circuit. But I don’t care what it’s called. I cannot wait to see my little sister. It’s been far too long.”

“I agree.” She rushes off and takes a seat with Carlotta and Lainey.

Those tiny see-through cuties prattle about, looking every bit like miniature reindeer. Chihuahuas have always reminded me of mini deer for some reason, and I can’t help but smile at the entire lot of them even if they are nipping at every heel they sink their tiny teeth into.

“Lottie!” Mom jumps, and her black faux fur-lined coat bounces open revealing a dark sequin gown underneath. “I’d swear something just bit me. Do we have no-see-ums this time of year?”

“Not in Honey Hollow.” Carlotta, the woman who looks strikingly like me, hops along next to her. My mother, Miranda, being the kind, congenial soul she is, has quickly befriended the woman who bore me, and you might even say has taken her under her wing. My mother has begged me to have a good old-fashioned sit-down with Carlotta, and I assured her I would when I felt the time was right. And suffice it to say, it hasn’t felt right, and I don’t foresee it feeling right any time in the future.

I quickly count the yipping specters hopping around the bakery like bouncing balls and come up with twelve. Who in their right mind had a dozen darling pooches? A breath gets locked in my throat as I quickly realize that whoever it is, he or she is not only in this room—but tonight might just be the final night of their life.

Lily zips behind the counter. “We sold out of all the food today. Can you believe it?” She lets out a congratulatory cheer as she gets straight to pouring each of her comrades in bakery crime a cup of coffee.

We? I shoot Keelie a look.

Keelie lets out a growl that rivals all of those angry animals tap-dancing over the floor with the clatter of their nails. “That’s because you gave it away for free.”

Lily quickly dispenses lattes and red velvet cupcakes to her old sorority sisters and furnishes Everett with a cupcake as well. I’m tempted to remind her that at the Cutie Pie we don’t give baked goods away for free, but I’ll let this one malfeasance fly. No need to let them in on my most successful business strategy of them all—making my customers cough up government issued currency in exchange for those butterballs I roll in sugar.

Greer Giles, the trio’s fearless leader and the queen of mean herself, lifts a wicked brow my way. “Free today but not tomorrow. I think we have a winner on our hands, girls!” She slaps them each an obnoxious high five.

Greer has perfect features, perfectly pouty lips, and unimaginably sparkling white teeth. Come to think of it, I’ve just described Nikki and Tinsley as well. They are all rather interchangeable with their dark glossy locks, their olive skin, and shimmering diamond eyes. Yes, all three are unfairly beautiful. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that Everett followed them in like one of these lost puppies bouncing off the walls.

Lainey joins Mom and Carlotta as the three of them spank their ankles silly. Lainey too has taken a liking to Carlotta. It turns out, Carlotta was named for her own birth mother, so I guess that makes me the third-generation slapped with that moniker. There was a tiny part of my own adoption story I never knew, like the fact that I came with a note saying that my name was Carlotta and to please keep it as so. My mother thought it was best to honor my birth mother’s wishes but quickly and wisely nicknamed me Lottie.

The angry ankle biters vibrate over the floor tiles in a riotous rage, and Dutch cowers in the corner, unsure of what to make of the minute menaces.

I lean in to Keelie. “If someone in this room were to once own a Chihuahua, who do you think that would be?”

“Ooh me!” Keelie lifts a hand. “Don’t you remember Ruby, Rosie, Snuggles, and, oh heck, I can’t even remember all their names.”

My mouth rounds out in horror. “My God, that’s right! Your mother always had a purse puppy while we were growing up.”

“I remember them, too,” Lily says without hesitating. “My mother was the one that bred them. We had more Chihuahuas than we knew what to do with.”

“Yes!” Mom chimes from across the way. “Oh, we had them, too, when I was girl. How I loved my babies. We must have had a dozen if I didn’t have three.”

Gah!

“Really?” Carlotta presses a hand to her chest. “I did, too! In fact, I had them in Arizona once I moved there. I credit them for aiding in the healing process.” Her eyes flit my way. “Abandoning your child can do a number on your psyche.”

“Am I supposed to feel sorry for her?” I mutter to Keelie, and my bestie is quick to kick my shoe. Keelie adores her new Auntie Carly. And as much as I want to, I can’t fault her for that.

“Aw!” Greer moans as she looks to her comrades in coffee shop crime. “Remember all those Chihuahua puppies we had back at Delta house? We must have had a dozen! They were so loving and sweet.” She snickers, and I can feel the zinger coming. “We actually trained them to attack our match-ups at Omega house. They were perfect little terrors when it came to anyone who didn’t live in the sorority.”

Nikki and Tinsley coo in concert.

Everett pipes up, “My mother had at least a dozen, herself.” That girl gang he’s surrounded himself with lets out an orgasmic squeal, and as much as I want to roll my eyes, my heart palpitates a mile a minute because I just so happen to know that those prattling poltergeists come with a deep, dark warning.

A breath gets locked in my throat. “So, everyone in this room has had at least a dozen Chihuahuas?”

A dull yes resounds as everyone gets back to their own conversations, and my mouth falls open once again.

Everett makes his way over despite the fact his unholy harem struggles to hold him back.

“Lemon.” He nods me to the side, and I follow. “Are you seeing one of those creatures again?”

I shake my head. “I’m seeing twelve.”

“Twelve?” His brows dip down like dark wings in flight, and he looks downright angry—and vexingly good-looking. It’s really not fair. “What does that mean? Are we looking at a Valentine’s Day massacre here?”

“God, I hope not.” A mean shiver runs through me when he says it.

Lily comes over and picks up Everett’s hand as if she owned him. “Come now, Essex, it’s time to load up the van.” She looks my way. “The Hearts of Hope committee asked The Coffee Cake Break to cater all the sweet treats and the coffee itself!”

“What?” I squawk so loud that both the living and dead alike freeze solid for a moment. “But I thought I was catering all the sweet treats?”

Lily shakes her head as she pulls Everett away. “You’re just bringing the red velvet cupcakes.”

“But that’s all they said they wanted.”

Lily nods. “From you.”

I suck in a quick breath. It feels as if all of Honey Hollow is turning on me today.

Those tiny terribly cute terrors bark up a storm as if agreeing with me, and I watch as Everett is hoisted to the door.

“Let’s head out, girls!” Lily shouts. “Essex volunteered to help load the goodies into the van.”

Greer grumbles with a dark laugh. “He can load my goodies any time he wants.” She looks to the two brunette bookends beside her. “And if I have my way, and I always do, he’ll be loading me full of his goodies tonight.”

Gross. I watch in horror as Everett is shuttled out the door by that flock of flakes—and half the spastic specters scuttle out right after them.

The other six perky puppies continue to nip and growl at the rest of the warm bodies in the room, and it has my every last nerve on edge. Could there really be a massacre at tonight’s Hearts of Hope Charity Ball?

Keelie wraps an arm around me. “So, what do you think about the competition?”

“I think after tonight there may not be any.”

Keelie shudders. “That sounds foreboding.”

I watch as another herd of tiny nearly invisible Chihuahuas prance proudly right through the glass door.

“It is.”

Mom, Chrissy, Lainey, and Carlotta head for the door.

“We’ll see you down at the community center!” Lainey calls out as she heads out into the snowy night.

Mom nods my way. “I told Brad I was on my way, but he insists on picking me up at my place.” She leans in as she waves it off. “I think he got a limo!”

Carlotta chortles. “Just like prom night!” She shoots me with her fingers. “And that’s when you were conceived.”

“Eww,” I say as Dutch comes up and taps his paw over Carlotta’s arm. It’s his sweet way of asking for a quick scratch between the ears, and Carlotta does just that before looking my way and shedding a sly wink.

“Prom night?” Mom shuttles Carlotta to the door, and they chortle up a storm on their way out.

Keelie sighs. “I guess it’s up to us to get these cupcakes to the community center. We’d better hurry if we want to get ready for tonight.”

“I’ll be right there.” I take a staggering step forward and watch as Carlotta piles into the car with my mother. “She saw them,” I whisper. “She’s just like me.”

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