Rosemary Cain was known for being the best baker in the county. She would always win the first prize ribbon in every contest. One evening, while Rosemary was getting ingredients for baking, she saw her husband Bennie flirting with Charlotte Berry.
How could Bennie cheat on her? Gripping the paper bag tightly against her chest, she went home. After entering the kitchen and dropping off the groceries, Rosemary returned to her garden.
She hummed to herself, plucking a skeletal poinsettia. ‘Just a few petals will do,’ Rosemary thought as she returned inside—the kitchen filled with the scent of cinnamon and oatmeal.
The door opened, letting the evening cool air into the unbearably hot kitchen as Bennie walked in. Rosemary pulled out a second batch of cookies out of the oven.
“Something smells divine,” he said.
“Not a single one, mister, this is for the bake-off,” Rosemary scolded.
“I did, however, bake a batch for Miss Charlotte if you don’t mind delivering them to her,” she said, packing the ones for the competition.
“Of course, I’ll make sure she gets them,” said Bennie, picking up the beautifully decorated box.
The following day, Rosemary went to the contest, which was being held in town, while her husband went to see his mistress. Yes, Miss Charlotte Berry was having an affair with Bennie Cain, and she wasn’t ashamed to let it be known.
Knocking on her door, he could hear a loud curse from behind it.
“Come in!” Charlotte yelled, placing the pan of burnt muffins onto a cooling rack.
Bennie walked in with the decorative box in his hands. “Good morning, Charlotte,” he smiled, crossing the threshold to the island counter.
“Hello, Bennie,” she greeted with her best smile.
She looked at the decorative box in his hands with curiosity.
“Rosemary wanted me to give these to you. It’s her prize-winning cookies,” he grinned, handing her the box.
Charlotte was flattered and placed a hand on her chest. “Well, I suppose it wouldn’t hurt to taste one.” She undid the ribbon and peered inside, inhaling the scent of cinnamon. Picking up two, she offered one to Bennie.
Both bit into the soft, gooey dessert, chewing. Once Charlotte and Bennie finished their treat, they began to cough.
“What’s in these?!” Bennie gasped, rubbing his throat as Charlotte went to the sink for water.
Charlotte gasped, her mouth on fire as she tried to fill an empty glass with water from the faucet.
Both were experiencing anaphylactic symptoms as their lips, mouth, and throat began to swell, cutting off their air supply, and they collapsed to the ground.
After the bake-off, Rosemary again won first prize and called the local police station to do a wellness check on Charlotte Berry and her husband, Bennie Cain. When the officers stepped inside after no one answered the door, they found the two adults’ lips blue and unmoving, with rashes on their faces and neck.
The deputy picked up a cookie, sniffed it, and shook his head. “It must have been the cinnamon.”