Page 61 of Tanner
The girls leaned in closer, shoulders bumping, and a quiet fell over the group as everyone concentrated.
“What if we spray-painted a bad word on her car, like the ‘s’ word or the ‘b’ word?” suggested Joy, who seemed embarrassed that she had suggested using such forbidden words.
“You mean slut or bitch?” Kenzie asked, wide-eyed. “Are you trying to get us all killed? Do you know what my brothers would do to your rear ends, and mine, if they found out we did something like that? I think, at a minimum, we need to keep it legal. The last thing we need to do is end up in jail.”
“I do like that idea of it being public like that, but Kenzie is probably right about the legal part,” Tildi said, her hand reaching behind her to rub her backside.
“We need something like that but more… subtle,” Poppy said.
Junie’s heart beat faster, a thrilling mix of nerves and righteous fire warming her chest. “You know, girls, I think you may have given me an idea.”
An hour later, the girls were in full petty mode.
Junie stood at the big stainless worktable in her kitchen, cheeks warm from a growing spark of righteous anger. It was amazing how downright inspirational anger could be under the right circumstances. Instead of a fancy three-tiered cake, or a sign or even spray paint, they had decided on something even better… a huge, beautiful display platter piled high with golden chokecherry cream pies.
The filling was rich and vibrant, bursting with tart-sweet chokecherries, and each pie was topped with perfect swirls of whipped cream and a sprinkle of fresh berries that glistened like little jewels.
Poppy created a large display sign to stand behind the platter. In elegant pink lettering, she wrote the message Junie gave her:
Cherry Winter Cream Pies–Always Available, Cheap, and Easy.
The double entendre was unmistakable. The second they finished writing it, the kitchen erupted in giggles.
Kenzie wiped tears of laughter from her eyes. “Oh my gosh, she’s going todiewhen she sees this.”
“I hope so,” Junie said, her soft voice completely failing to hide her glee and satisfaction. For once, she wasn’t trying to be the nice girl who kept the peace. She was fighting back.
Tildi arranged the pies in a perfect fan on the big platter. “Should we add more little cherries on top with sad faces? Like lonely, desperate cherries?”
Joy’s grin was wicked as she dusted powdered sugar over everything. “Only if we make them look extra needy.”
Kip bounced on her toes, frosting on her nose. “We should put a second little sign that saysFresh Daily – Just Like Cherry Winters!”
“Now, now.” Junie addressed the group the way a college professor might address her students. “Remember… brevity is the soul of wit. Besides, we need at least a smidgen of plausible deniability.”She had a sneaking suspicion they were going to be in enough trouble as it was.
The kitchen filled with their laughter as they worked—frosting bags flying, sprinkles scattering across the counters, and playful smack talk bouncing off the walls. Poppy kept checking on Junie, bumping her shoulder gently. “You okay, sweetie? You’ve been quiet.”
Junie nodded, a small, determined smile tugging at her lips. “I’m mad. But I’m also kind of… excited? Is that bad?”
“Welcome to my world. It’s not bad at all,” Kenzie said, slinging an arm around her. “Cherry’s had this coming for years. We’re just helping the universe balance the scales with a little sugar and spite.”
They spent the next half hour perfecting every detail. They arranged the pies just so, adjusting the sign until the lettering was perfect. By the time they carried the big platter and sign to the front window and set it up for maximum visibility, Junie’s heart was racing.
She stepped back and looked at their creation. The beautiful pies glistened under the lights, the bold pink lettering… it all said exactly what they wanted it to say. Hell, it screamed it.
For the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel small or helpless. Power hummed under her skin, and a little spark of naughtiness curled in her belly.
And she liked it.
The meaning of their display was crystal clear. They placed it front and center in the bakery window where everyone walking by could see it.
Word spread like wildfire.
Late that afternoon, Cherry stormed into Bread & Batter with her entourage of friends trailing behind her, faces flushed with fury.
“You take that down,” Cherry demanded, pointing at the window. “Right now, you pathetic little?—”
“Oh, I’m sorry,” Junie said sweetly, coming around the counter. “Is there a problem with the display?”
