Confection is Good for the Soul: An Amish Cupcake Cozy Mystery

by Ruth Hartzler

  When I finished my meal, I thought perhaps I wouldn’t be able to eat the cheesecake after all. I was debating whether to have it when I heard a familiar voice. I looked up to see Damon.

  “May I join you?” he asked.

  I was glad I didn’t have a mouthful of steak. “Yes, please,” I said, and then silently berated myself for sounding so eager. I wondered if that made me sound like a desperate woman.

  “Are you all right?” he asked me.

  “Yes, I’m fine, thanks,” I said, but then added, “No, actually I’m not.”

  His face was filled with concern. “Has something happened?”

  I trembled.

  “Jane, you’re shaking. Are you cold?”

  Before I had a chance to respond, he took off his coat and put it over my shoulders. I snuggled into it. It smelled of him, of leather, wood smoke, and lime shaving soap.

  “Thank you,” I said in a small voice. “I’ve just come from my lawyer’s.”

  Damon interrupted me. “Trouble?”

  I shook my head. “Good news really. It’s just that I don’t know how to feel. I came out of the divorce with nothing. At least I thought I did. Ted came here recently to get me to sign papers to sign my rights away. My parents were killed in a buggy accident just after I married Ted.” I knew I had done a poor job of explaining.

  “I’m sorry to hear that,” Damon said.

  Just then the waiter came to take his order, and he ordered coffee. When the waiter left, I continued. “I put my inheritance money into the house. My lawyer said I will now get all that back and maybe even more.”

  “And you didn’t know that before?” Damon asked me.

  “You must think I’m a complete idiot,” I said. “You know, it never occurred to me. I was in such a hurry to get out of the marriage, but with Ted running off with a college student who was having his baby, I was too shocked about all that to think straight. I did see a lawyer who told me I wouldn’t get anything because of the pre-nup. Now I’m wondering if he was one of Ted’s friends.” I shook my head. “I know it sounds far-fetched that he was either crooked or incompetent. I just can’t believe I didn’t look into it more. I was just so keen to escape from Ted. There are more important things than money and I was able to go and stay with my sister.”

  Damon briefly reached across and patted my hand but then pulled back. Something akin to an electric current ran through me at his touch. I wondered if he had felt it too. “Jane, people could look at what you did and think you were foolish, but no one can say that unless they had been in the very same circumstances. It’s one thing to judge, but no one knows what someone is going through at a time like that.”

  “Thank you,” I said, but I still felt awfully foolish.

  “You were raised Amish, and the Amish never contest anything in a court of law,” he said.

  I couldn’t resist a chuckle. “You have learned about the Amish by now.”

  “I’ve looked into it a bit,” he said with a smile. “I don’t think you’re silly at all. You would have been in shock, given the circumstances.”

  “It was a terrible shock,” I said.

  “It is a shock to find out your spouse has been unfaithful to you.” Damon’s tone was despondent.

  I looked up at him in shock. “You too?”

  The waiter deposited his coffee in front of him. Silence hung heavily between us and I thought Damon would not continue.

  After an interval, he said, “Yes, I’m afraid so. I came home one day to find half the furniture missing. There was a note on the kitchen table telling me she was leaving me for a well-known football player. I think you call it soccer here,” he added absently. “Anyway, the next day his private plane crashed and they were both killed. I blame myself.”

  I was dumbfounded. “Why, why would you blame yourself?” I stammered.

  “If I had been a better husband, she wouldn’t have left me and she’d still be alive today. Not that I have feelings for her anymore, but it’s the guilt of being responsible for another’s death.” His voice trailed away. “I was always at work, you see, consumed by the job. I put in long hours, was rarely home.”

  I knew he was being too hard on himself, but I equally knew that nothing I could say would help.

  The two of us sat in silence until Detective Stirling appeared at our table.

  “Miss Delight,” he said in a bored fashion.

  I nodded to him.

  Damon stood up. “Goodbye, Jane. Stay safe.”

  I too stood, remembering I still had his jacket. He took it from me with a smile. With that, he was gone, leaving me to stare after his departing back.

  Chapter 17

  Rebecca had shut the shop for the day as we were all visiting the annual Amish school fundraising auction. This was open to the public and the proceeds were the main source of funding for the area Amish school. I had not been to one such sale since I had left the Amish. I had been up most of the night baking pies to donate.

  And so, bleary eyed, I staggered out of my bedroom in the morning, following the enticing aroma of coffee to the kitchen.

  “Jane, hurry! We’ll be late.”

  “I just need coffee,” I pleaded. Coffee in hand, I staggered into the living room and then let out a bloodcurdling scream. Eleanor and Matilda were at once at my side grabbing my arms.

  “What happened?” I squealed.

  I looked down to see Mr. Crumbles had run around my legs, wrapping the leash around them tightly. If it hadn’t been for the lightning fast reflexes of Matilda and Eleanor—and where did they get such reflexes? They were better than mine and I was half their age—I would have fallen flat on my face and spilled my coffee.

  “It’s all Eleanor’s fault,” Matilda said.

  “It isn’t!” Eleanor spat back as she bent down to disentangle Mr. Crumbles’ leash from my legs.

  “Has he taken a sudden dislike to me or something?” I said. “Is he trying to kill me?” I gingerly made my way over to the couch and sat down, happy that I hadn’t spilled a drop of my coffee.

  Eleanor hurried to reassure me. “No, silly. Mr. Crumbles is still used to going around in circles from the dancing pole.”

  “You mean the stripper’s pole,” Matilda said snarkily.

  “It was your idea to buy it in the first place!”

  Matilda crossed her arms over her chest. “Was not!”

  I held up one hand to forestall them. “Eleanor, I thought you’d stopped him running around people’s legs in circles?”

  “No, she hasn’t, because she gives him treats no matter what he does,” Matilda said. “It’s encouraging bad behavior.”

  Then it dawned on me. Mr. Crumbles was on a leash. “Have you just been taking him for a walk?” I said hopefully.

  “Of course not!” Eleanor said. “I’m taking him to the Amish school sale.”

  I was horrified. “Surely not? Is it safe?” When Eleanor shot me a blank look, I thought of the worst. “You’re not taking any goats, are you?”

  Eleanor and Matilda exchanged glances and both shrugged at each other. Matilda turned back to me. “Why on earth would we take goats to an Amish school sale?”

  “Yes, I was wondering the same thing,” I said, “but there isn’t a petting zoo. I don’t suppose you’re going to sell them?” I added hopefully. “They’re selling horses and pets.”

  Eleanor’s face lit up. “What sort of pets?”

  I handed her the brochure and she read aloud, “Ducks, chickens, rabbits and guinea pigs.”

  “Rebecca won’t want any more pets in the apartment,” I said, suddenly concerned.

  “Of course Eleanor won’t buy any pets. Will you, Eleanor?”

  “Of course not! What do you think I am?”

  I saw Matilda open her mouth to respond, so I thought I had better answer quickly. “And they have antiques.”

  “We don’t really like antiques,” Matilda said. “Anyway, do you like the quilt we made to donate?”


  I set my coffee down and looked over at the dining table at the quilt lying there. It was a beautiful Log Cabin quilt, resplendent in colors of vivid blues, russet reds, and vibrant greens.

  My mouth fell open. “You made this quilt?”

  Both of them looked pleased and nodded.

  “I didn’t know you knew how to quilt.”

  “There’s a lot you don’t know about us,” Eleanor said smugly, but Matilda shot her a warning look.

  “I haven’t seen you working on the quilt,” I continued.

  “You’re at work all day,” Matilda said. “Besides, we each have a sewing machine in our bedrooms.”

  I had never been in their bedrooms as they kept them locked at all times. Goodness knows what I would find in there if I looked. They were always so careful when they walked in and out of their bedroom doors and were quick to shut them behind them. My imagination ran wild, imagining all sorts of weapons or surveillance devices. Nothing would surprise me with Matilda and Eleanor.

  I had heard the sewing machines whirring away, but I had assumed the sisters were making their own clothes. “This is an amazing quilt,” I said, admiring the handiwork. If there was one thing the Amish knew about it was quilting. I myself had made my own quilts as a teenager. “It should bring a good price. That’s kind of you to do it.”

  “Maybe they sell herbs,” Eleanor said, stabbing her finger at the brochure. “It says they have shrubs. Oh look, Matilda, they’re selling a butter churn.”

  “Why would we need a butter churn?” Matilda said. “We don’t have a cow.”

  “And please don’t buy a cow,” I hurried to say, “because you have to milk them twice a day and I don’t think Rebecca would be happy to have another animal of yours on her farm.”

  Eleanor ignored me. “They’re selling horses, Jane. You said you’ve always wanted a horse.”

  “I would love a horse, but I’m not going to get a horse until I have my own land to put a horse,” I said.

  “Have you thought what you’ll do with the inheritance money?” Matilda asked me.

  “I don’t want to get too excited just in case something goes wrong,” I told her.

  She looked puzzled. “The lawyer said you would get that money for sure.”

  “Nothing’s a certainty until it happens,” I told her. “If I learned one thing when I was married to Ted, that was it.” I took my coffee cup back to the kitchen and refilled it. I walked back to the living room carefully in case Mr. Crumbles still wished to hogtie me.

  “We will be sad if you leave us, Jane,” Matilda continued.

  “But like I said before, if I get the money, I will buy a little house with some land somewhere near Rebecca. If that happens, I’d love you both to come and live with me.”

  “That’s very kind of you, Jane,” Eleanor said. “We could certainly be of help around the farm.”

  “I’m not having a farm!” I said. “I’d still work in Rebecca’s cupcake store.”

  Eleanor looked confused. “But you’d get a horse?”

  “I might have to get two horses,” I said. “Horses don’t like being on their own.”

  “What about the goats?” Eleanor said. “The goats would be good company for your horse.”

  I let out a long sigh of resignation. “If I do buy a little house with a few acres, then you’re most welcome to put your goats there.” I waved one finger at them. “But no more goats, right? No more other animals either!”

  “We can have chickens, can’t we?” Eleanor said.

  I sighed again. “All right, chickens. But no other animals!”

  “What about a guinea pig?” Eleanor said.

  “Gosh, I think will we will have to discuss that in the future,” I said, feeling like I was speaking to a demanding child. “We had better be on our way.”

  When we arrived at the Amish school sale, I said, “There’s Rebecca’s buggy. She’s already here.”

  “How can you tell it’s Rebecca’s buggy?” Matilda said. “All these buggies are gray and look the same to me.”

  “It’s her mare,” I said. “She’s a bay with three white stockings above the knees and a white blaze. That’s an unusual color.”

  “You’re right!” Eleanor exclaimed. “Jane, you really need to get a horse.” She waved the brochure at me. “It says there are a hundred and fifty horses for sale here today including Percherons, Clydesdales, Belgians, Quarter Horses, Standardbreds, Hackneys, and ponies.”

  “If I get a horse, it will be a rescue horse,” I said.

  “There are riding horses for sale too,” Eleanor added.

  I shook my head. “I don’t want a riding horse, just a pet, really, that’s all. I have no desire to ride off into the sunset. Not anymore.”

  Rebecca hurried over to us. “Jane! I was looking everywhere for you.”

  “Sorry I’m late,” I said.

  “It was Eleanor’s fault,” Matilda informed her. “Mr. Crumbles hogtied Jane.”

  “He didn’t exactly hogtie her,” Eleanor said. “That’s quite an exaggeration, Matilda.” To Rebecca she said, “And Matilda made me leave Mr. Crumbles at home.”

  Rebecca shot me a look of relief. “Come on Jane, I’ll show you where to take the pies. I’ll help you.”

  She took the top few pies from me, which was a relief as I was scared I would trip and splatter pies everywhere. After she took the cake, she spotted the quilt. “What a lovely quilt.”

  “Eleanor and Matilda made it,” I said.

  “They do make wonderful quilts,” she said.

  “You knew they could make quilts?”

  Rebecca shot me a look. “Of course. Didn’t you?”

  Without waiting for an answer, she hurried through the crowd with me hard on her heels. We finally found the cake stall and deposited our pies, much to the gratitude of the Amish ladies at the store. Wanda and Waneta were there. “Hiya,” I said.

  “Hiya,” Wanda said, while Waneta said, “Guten mayrie. Denki for the pies.”

  “You’re welcome,” I said. “Rebecca, do you know where Eleanor and Matilda should take the quilt?”

  “They donate one every year,” she said. “They know their way. Jane, there’s something I want to speak with you about.”

  She took me by the arm and led me away to the horse pens. I spotted a beautiful palomino mare and stared at her. I loved the scent of horses and alfalfa hay.

  Rebecca touched my arm. “Jane.”

  “I’m sorry, I was just looking at the horses,” I said. “I miss having a horse.”

  “I know you do. Look, Ephraim and I were talking about your inheritance money.”

  I bit my lip. “I don’t know if I’ll actually get it, although the lawyer seems confident.”

  “If it’s in God’s will, it will happen,” Rebecca said. The Amish believe that everything that happens to someone is ordained by God.

  I looked at her and waited for her to continue.

  “Jane, you know the field that the goats are in?”

  “I’m terribly sorry about those goats,” I said. “If I do get the inheritance money, I’ll buy a little house on some land, and I’ve told Matilda and Eleanor that the goats can come with me.”

  “That’s just what I want to talk with you about,” Rebecca said.

  I held my breath. I hoped Rebecca didn’t need the field and was going to make Matilda and Eleanor move those naughty goats. Where else could they put them? Wild goats weren’t exactly welcomed by anyone, least of all by hardworking Amish farmers.

  “You know how our farm doesn’t have a grossmammi haus?”

  I nodded. “Yes, the Amish family who built your house didn’t need a grossmammi haus for their parents and they wanted to accommodate their son and his family nearby.”

  “Which is they why built a grossmammi haus on the adjoining property,” Rebecca said.

  “But it’s much bigger than a grossmammi haus,” I said.

  Rebecca nodded. “Jah, I know, b
ut it serves the same purpose, you now, for housing familye. It has four bedrooms, but despite that it’s not as big as the usual Amish house.”

  I nodded, wondering where she was going with this.

  “It’s on five acres. As you know, the creek runs through it.”

  I nodded again.

  “Jane, Ephraim and I have been renting the house to an Englischer couple but the husband has been transferred to California and the place will soon become vacant.”

  “I see. So you want to rent out the house and the land?” I wondered whether Rebecca wanted me to rent it from her and put the goats there.

  Rebecca shook her head. “Nee. That house is on a separate title to the farm, and if you get your inheritance money back, then Ephraim and I would like to sell it to you.”

  I clutched the metal rail of the horse pen. As my knees buckled, I was concerned I would faint. This seemed too good to be true.

  “You don’t like the idea?” Rebecca said, sounding somewhat dismayed.

  “I love the idea!” I said. “It’s a wunderbar! I’m just not sure I will get the inheritance money back. How much are you asking for it?”

  When Rebecca named the price, I clutched the horse rail once more. “Nee, Rebecca, I would have to give you more than that. That’s under market value.”

  “But we’re familye, Jane,” she said.

  “I make you a deal,” I said. “If my money does come through, then I’ll have it appraised and I’ll pay you the market value, because it’s more than what you’re asking. Otherwise, I’d feel too bad.”

  “Ephraim and I don’t worry about such things as money,” Rebecca said. “We have our familye. Our kinner are all married with kinner of their own and they are all financially stable. It would be gut to have you living so close.”

  “I must warn you, I’ve already told Matilda and Eleanor that they can move in with me.”

  We both laughed. I added, “But Rebecca, please let me do this for you. I know you don’t care about money, but I’d be terribly upset if you wouldn’t let me pay the proper market value.”

  “All right,” Rebecca said with a smile. “We have a deal.”

  I would have hugged her, only the Amish aren’t given to public displays of affection, as I well knew from my childhood. Instead, I shot her a wide smile before taking her arm. “Now, let’s get back to the sale. I’m terrified Eleanor will buy a guinea pig.”