To Have and to Kill by Mary Jane Clark Read Free Book Online

petals and leaves from icing. Once she was old enough, Piper worked after school on Fridays and on the weekends and helped her mother in the bakery. By the time she went off to college, Piper was almost as good as her mother at decorating cakes.
    Piper considered her mother’s suggestion. Maybe it wasn’t so crazy. She had always liked decorating the cakes. Maybe it would be good for her to have something to keep her mind occupied. In a way, it was therapeutic to decorate a cake. It didn’t allow you to think of anything else. Not old boyfriends or a stalled career. Nothing but the cake.
    Piper had to admit that sounded pretty good right now.
    “Would you help me?” asked Piper.
    “I don’t think you’ll need much help,” said Terri as her fingers counted off cookies. “But, yes, I will.”
    “You’ll help me come up with the design?”
    “Um-hmm,” Terri answered. “But you need the bride’s input on that. I have a list of questions I always ask my brides. I’ll give it to you and you can ask Glenna.”
    Piper thought. “Man, I’ll have to start practicing soon.”
    “Fine,” said Terri. “There’s a sheet cake for the Pacheco Christmas party ready to be done on the counter over there. She wants angels and stars. Get to it.”

Chapter 11
    Thursday, December 9 . . . Fifteen days until the wedding
    T he Metropolitan School for Girls was housed in a Fifth Avenue mansion once owned by a prominent New York family. Built at the turn of the twentieth century, it was a five-story Beaux Arts masterpiece with a white marble facade, intricate carvings, and Ionic columns that flanked the entrance. Across the street, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and Central Park offered world-class opportunities to learn and play. There were some scholarship students, but most of the girls who attended the school were from families who were quite well-off financially.
    Entering the building, Piper gave her coat to an attendant, checked in at the desk, and made her way through the grand reception area. An oil painting of a rolling landscape hung over an elaborate fireplace that graced almost one entire wall. On the other side of the room, a sweeping marble staircase began an ascent, circling upward to the floors above. Carved moldings lined the ceiling, an exquisite crystal chandelier sparkled above, and a large Oriental carpet covered the floor. The expansive space was crowded with well-heeled guests, mingling and drinking.
    “Piper! There you are.”
    Glenna Brooks swept toward her, wearing a form-fitting green cocktail dress and carrying a champagne flute. Her hair was piled on top of her head and she wore dangling emerald earrings. She embraced Piper, who suddenly felt utterly unexciting in the black sheath she’d gotten at Loehmann’s.
    “I’m so glad you’re here,” said Glenna.
    “Thanks for inviting me,” said Piper. “This place is ah-mazing!”
    “I know,” said Glenna. “Won’t it be perfect for the wedding? Just the right amount of space for the people we are inviting. Not too big, not too small.” Glenna looked hopefully at Piper. “Did you ask your mother about making the cake?”
    “My mother says she really can’t, Glenna.”
    “Oh, no,” said Glenna, dragging out the short words, her face registering her disappointment.
    “I’m sorry, Glenna. But my mother had another idea and, if you’re into it, it could work.”
    “What?”
    “I could make the cake. My mother would be there to help with the design and keep me in check.”
    “You, Piper?” Glenna asked. “You know how to make a wedding cake?”
    “I actually do,” said Piper. “I’ve helped my mother lots of times. Don’t worry, Glenna. I wouldn’t offer if I didn’t think I could handle it.”
    Considering for just a moment, Glenna shrugged. “Okay, why not? I trust you. What do we have to lose?”
    “Oh, yay!” Piper exclaimed. “I’m so excited. When you and Casey have a few minutes, I have some questions to ask