Gluten for Punishment

by Nancy J. Parra

  “Then you, Mr. Attorney, need glasses.”

  “What I need to do is give you your pain pill and let you get some sleep. Are you working Monday?”

  “Yes.”

  “Then get some rest.” He handed me a pain pill and my water glass. “And for goodness’ sake, stay away from criminals.”

  “I’ll try my best.”

  CHAPTER 37

  It seemed being beaten half to death was also profitable.

  Monday was busy. Lucky for me, there had been a surge in online orders. I did a lot of sitting while Meghan made up most of the batters. Time flies when you have a long list, and before I knew it, it was time to open the shop. I have to admit, I made Meghan check to ensure Rocky Rhode and his camera were nowhere in sight.

  He wasn’t. It seemed whatever Sam said to him had stuck. I didn’t know if I was happy or disappointed to no longer be caught by paparazzi.

  After we opened, we had a steady stream of curious customers come in, not as much for the food as to get a peek at my battered face. I had dabbed makeup on the worst of it, but my skin hurt too much to get it all. The men whistled at my black eyes, swollen cheek, and stitches on my temple. The women winced. The little boys gawked and the little girls looked away. I was a sight.

  Poor Meghan ran around in the back room like a chicken with its head cut off. She had to refill the display cabinet twice. I gave her a break when the crowd dispersed around ten A.M., and she was happy to sit in the back with her feet up on a step stool and a cup of coffee in her hand.

  The front doorbell jingled and I stepped out of the kitchen to see Ralph Kennedy come in. “Hi, how can I help you?” I kept it simple even though my heart rate sped up. This was Craig’s brother, after all. Would he be mad at me? I fingered the cell phone in my apron pocket.

  “Hi, Ms. Holmes.” Ralph came up to the front. “I’d like a coffee and a cinnamon roll, please.”

  His manner was quiet, gentle like all the other times I’d seen him. His eyes looked incredibly sad, a sea of brown despair. I handed him a cup and saucer. “The coffee carafes are over there. I’ll be right out with your roll if you want to grab a seat.”

  “Sure.”

  I put a big roll on a plate and watched him carefully as he made his coffee and then sat down in the far corner table with his back to the wall and facing the door. He didn’t look like he could hurt a soul, and I wasn’t going to label him like his brother. That wasn’t fair, was it? I mean, I hated it when people lumped me in with some of my brothers’ antics. Seriously, you are not your siblings. I took the roll over to him and put it on the table.

  “Can you sit with me?” he asked.

  “Well . . .”

  “I want to apologize for my brother.”

  “There’s no need.” I shrugged. “You weren’t there. You didn’t do it.”

  “He’s still my brother,” Ralph sighed and blew on his coffee and took a sip. “Please sit.”

  I glanced over at the kitchen door. There was no way Meghan could see me here, but I did have my cell phone in my pocket. I took the chair next to him and pulled it out. I had to sit slowly since it wasn’t only my face that had been badly bruised.

  “Look at you.” He shook his head. “I can’t believe Craig would do that. Our mama, God rest her soul, must be turning over in her grave knowing he hit a woman.”

  “Two women,” I pointed out. “He beat Tasha pretty bad, too.”

  “Craig has always had a flash temper and no sense.” Ralph sighed and sipped coffee. “It runs in the family.”

  A shiver went down my back and I glanced at the kitchen door a moment. “Really?”

  “Yes, I’m afraid, try as hard as she could, our mama couldn’t beat that out of us. One or the other of us was always doing something stupid. Craig was the one who got caught the most. It got so as I would do something and blame it on him. Ma expected him to be the bad one, and she never questioned me about it.” He paused and picked at the roll. “Poor Craig took a lot of heat. It’s why he’s only an adjunct, you know. He was bright enough and educated enough to be a full-time instructor, but his record with the police gave the committee pause. Not that they should have known about it. I mean, juvenile records are sealed, right?”

  “He hadn’t done anything since he was a kid?” That didn’t sound right to me.

  “He hadn’t gotten caught since he was a kid,” Ralph corrected. “Unfortunately, the hiring committee here had several people who knew of his juvenile record. In fact, I’m surprised you and Tasha didn’t know.”

  I hugged myself. “I’ve been gone for ten years and my memories of Oiltop are hazy on purpose. As for Tasha, she wasn’t the kind of kid to pass around rumors. Plus, her mom was always working. They were too busy trying to pay the rent and eat proper to know what the older kids in town did.”

  “That makes sense, I guess. I told Craig he should have moved away, but he didn’t want to be far from the homestead. He was close to Mama, you see, always looking to make her happy. Do you know what her dying words were to him?”

  “No.” I shook my head, but stopped quickly when pain rattled through my brain like lightning. The pain pills were wearing off.

  “‘Be a man and get married, make a family, make me happy,’” Ralph said. “I had my wife and boy, of course, but things went bad when my son was diagnosed with autism. Amelia left me to go live with her mother.” Ralph shrugged. “I get to see my son at least once a month. I send support money. I look for new treatments, but still I think she blames me somehow for how he turned out.”

  “Oh, that’s not right,” I said, leaning forward. “Asperger’s and autism have nothing to do with what a parent does or doesn’t do.”

  “I know that. She knows that, but still, a person can’t help but suspect and worry. Amelia didn’t want to have any more kids. My chance is over.”

  “I’m sorry, but I don’t understand how this has anything to do with what your brother did.” I leaned back and crossed my arms over my chest.

  “That’s what I’m trying to explain,” Ralph said. “You see, Craig killed Ed for his lady love, but he didn’t kill George.”

  “He didn’t kill George?” I tilted my head. “How do you know?”

  Ralph looked me calmly in the eyes, his expression as smooth as an undisturbed pond. “Because I killed George.”

  Before I realized what I was doing I was out of the chair and had my thumb on the speed dial button for the police. It was an impulse, really. Ralph didn’t act like a threat. Still, I’d been through too much not to react when I heard someone confess to murder. Meghan came running from the back at the sound of my chair falling over.

  “Now, you don’t have to do that,” Ralph said to me.

  “What’s the matter?” Meghan scurried around the counter. I stepped back and put a table between me and Ralph.

  Sarah was on the cell phone. “Nine-one-one, how can I help you?”

  “This is Toni Holmes,” I said.

  “Oh, honey, not again. Are you all right?”

  Three cop cars came screaming down Main Street and screeched to a halt in front of my store. Unfortunately, the policemen all ran toward the pharmacy.

  “I told you, you didn’t have to call them.” Ralph stood.

  “Stay away from me.” I put my hand out. “The cops are right outside.”

  “Ms. Holmes?” Meghan asked behind me.

  “Go to the kitchen,” I ordered.

  “I’m not leaving you alone.” She grabbed a broom and held it like a samurai ready to do battle.

  “Toni?” Sarah said from what sounded like a million miles away on my cell. “What is going on?”

  “Ralph Kennedy is in my bakery,” I said. “He just admitted to killing George Meister.”

  “Oh, crap,” Sarah muttered. “I mean, the guys are at the pharmacy now. I’ll send them over to you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Ralph took a step toward the windows and drew out a long breath. “Don’t w
orry, ladies, I’m going to give myself up. I’ve been meaning to do it for some time, but I had to take the time to get my affairs in order. You see, I couldn’t leave my boy and his mother without any income.” He turned away from the windows. “I knew it was only a matter of time before they came for me. You were right.” He gave me a sad smile. “I killed George with the bank bag.”

  “Why?” I trembled, my arm around Meghan. “Why would you do such a thing?”

  “It wasn’t planned.” His voice was quiet. “I was taking the deposit to the bank and saw George starting to spray paint on your building. I stopped him. That’s when he said it.”

  “Said what?”

  “He said your bakery was for genetic defects who were born with sin. He said no one who ate here would ever go to heaven.” Tears came to Ralph’s tired eyes. “He said my boy would go to hell for being born. I didn’t even think. I hit him with the bag. He went face-first into the trough and I left him there.”

  The front door burst open. Chief Blaylock came in with his gun drawn. “Put your hands up!” he shouted. Officer Emry pushed behind him, gun out, and stepped between the men and us. Two other officers entered. They had Ralph on the ground, his arms behind his back and cuffed. When they dragged him to his feet, Ralph had a look of acceptance on his face. “I’m sorry,” he said. “For all the trouble you’ve had.”

  “Ralph Kennedy, you are under arrest for the murder of George Meister,” the chief said. “Take him down to the station.”

  I clung to Meghan and she clung to me, the broom still in her hand. We watched them hustle Ralph out and into a squad car.

  “Did that really just happen?” Meghan asked.

  “Are you ladies all right?” Chief Blaylock asked.

  “Yes.” I nodded. “He didn’t touch us.”

  “Thank God for that,” I heard Sarah’s voice come out of my cell phone. I lifted the cell to my ear. “Thanks, Sarah, I think it’s over now.”

  “About darn time,” she said before she hung up.

  The commotion brought people downtown to take a look. Chief Blaylock called the ambulance even though I told him it wasn’t necessary. Then he took my statement while Meghan sold coffee and cupcakes.

  The shipping guy came in, picked up the online order boxes, and asked what all the excitement was about.

  “Just another day at the bakery.” Meghan winked at me. “There’s always something cooking at Baker’s Treat.”

  “Sounds like a cool place to work,” he said with a twinkle in his eye.

  “It is,” Meghan replied. “It is.”

  • • •

  We closed early after selling out everything in the store. I sat through an interview with Candy. She was pretty upset Grandma Ruth had gotten the first exclusive so we let her have the final report. Grandma Ruth came down to the bakery to see me home. Tim drove us both in the van, me in the passenger seat and Grandma strapped in next to her scooter.

  “Who knew mild-mannered Ralph would be capable of murder,” I said as we pulled up to the house.

  “Oh, kiddo, any person in the world could kill if their baby was threatened. It’s a law of nature,” Grandma Ruth said and winked. “You’d know that if you were to have any kids.”

  I shook my head and carefully climbed out of the van. Bill was there to take Grandma Ruth’s scooter out of the van. Tasha and Kip were on the front porch waiting for me. Tasha looked pretty beat-up as she swung on the porch swing, but she still wore a lovely blue dress and denim jacket. “We came over to help you eat all the food Lucy left.”

  I smiled. It hurt less. I don’t know if it was the pain pills the ambulance guys had poured down my throat or if I was healing. “We sold out today,” I said as I climbed the stairs. “I think the bakery is starting to really get a toehold in the community.”

  “You really should think about turning this house into an inn,” Tasha said as I unlocked the door and let everyone inside. “Whoever buys the Welcome Inn could use some stiff competition.”

  I studied her face. Her expression was serene and accepting. “You put the inn up for sale?”

  “Had to,” she said with a shrug. “Everything happens for a reason.” She took my arm in hers. “I think now is as good a time to admit this as any, but I never did ask Craig to follow you.”

  “You didn’t?” I drew my eyebrows into a confused frown. “But when I told you he followed me, you acted like you knew.”

  “The key word there is act.” Tasha took a deep breath. “At the time I thought if I told you I never asked him to do that, you’d worry or worse . . . you’d judge me.”

  “I’d worry, yes.” I squeezed her arm. “But you have to know I wouldn’t judge you.”

  “I do know. I saw a counselor today and she told me that my worry you were judging me was a natural reaction to Craig’s isolation. She told me to tell you the truth from now on.”

  “She is a smart woman.”

  “We have to look at the good and not dwell on the bad, right? Besides, I’ll have more time for Kip.”

  “What are you going to do for work?” I asked.

  “I talked to Don Becher over at the Ramada. He’s been looking for a general manager. If I take it, he’s promised me weekday hours and free time to run Kip where he needs to go.”

  “And where will you live?”

  She looked at me and I understood. “Welcome home.” I squeezed her until we both hurt. “You can have the fourth floor for as long as you need it.” There were two small bedrooms, a bath, and a small bonus room up there.

  “It should only be a few months before I’m back on my feet, depending on how the sale of the inn goes.” Tasha smiled. “Besides, I think we’ll be a lot safer now. I mean, we have solid reputations in taking down bad guys together.” She raised her arm and made a weak strong-man muscle. “Anyone would think twice about breaking and entering now.”

  I laughed until it hurt, which didn’t take much. “Plus, Tim is installing a security system. We’ll let the security company keep the police on speed dial. Anyone breaks in and the alarms will go off and the cops will be here before you can pick up your bat.”

  “Sounds good to me,” she said and put her arm around Kip and walked to the kitchen. “Come on, love, let’s see what Aunt Toni has to snack on.”

  Grandma Ruth walked with me into the den where we sank into the velvet wing chairs. “Gotta love a good mystery,” she said, her eyes twinkling. Bill turned on the gas and lit the fireplace.

  “I’d settle for a nice glass of wine and a good book,” I said. “Real life causes too much bruising.”

  Grandma Ruth chuckled. “It’s good to know you won’t be alone, kiddo.” She patted my knee. “With Tasha here, I won’t be popping over so much.”

  “You and Bill are welcome anytime.” He might be annoying and a freeloader, but it was pretty clear he loved my grandma and that would have to be good enough for me.

  “Got any of those scones you need to get rid of?” Bill sat down on the settee.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “And cookies?” he added.

  I laughed. “And cookies. Help yourself, they’re on the kitchen counter.”

  Bill got up without complaint and I could hear Tasha and Kip in the kitchen. For the first time since my mom had died, the house felt like home.

  BAKER’S TREAT RECIPES

  I know how difficult it is to bake gluten-free food—especially if one of your hobbies, like mine, is baking. The following recipes use some of my favorite gluten-free mixes. I recommend you start with a mix. Once you get used to baking gluten-free, you can experiment more with almond flour or creating your own all-purpose mix from a variety of your favorites.

  Enjoy!

  Kip’s Favorite Gluten-Free Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

  MAKES 6 MUFFINS

  1 1/4 cups preferred gluten-free baking mix (such as Pamela’s or Bisquick)

  1 teaspoon cinnamon

  1/4 cup water

  1 egg
<
br />   1/4 cup honey or sugar

  1 teaspoon gluten-free vanilla

  1/2 cup gluten-free canned pumpkin

  1/2 cup gluten-free chocolate chips or chocolate chunks made from your favorite gluten-free chocolate

  1/2 cup coconut (optional)

  1/4 cup pecans or walnuts (optional)

  Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease or line a muffin tin with paper liners and set aside.

  Mix first eight ingredients together. Fold in chocolate chips and optional ingredients. Using a 1/4-cup measure, spoon into prepared muffin tins, filling each two-thirds full. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes until tops bounce back when touched.

  *Note—Once baked, muffins can be frozen and reheated in microwave for 40 to 45 seconds for a fresh, hot muffin every morning.

  Toni’s Chamber of Commerce Gluten-Free Mini Salmon Quiches

  1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

  1/4 cup diced onion

  1/2 teaspoon salt

  1/8 teaspoon pepper

  4 ounces smoked salmon

  2 large eggs, or 1/2 cup egg substitute

  2⁄3 cup half-and-half

  3 ounce 1⁄3-less-fat cream cheese, cubed

  1 tablespoon dill

  Preheat oven to 400 F. Lightly coat a mini-muffin tin with cooking spray and set aside.

  Heat oil in a nonstick skillet over medium heat. Sauté onion for 2 to 3 minutes or until soft; add salt, pepper, and salmon. Remove from stovetop and set aside to cool.

  Combine the egg/egg substitute and half-and-half in a small bowl and set aside.

  Place two small cubes of cream cheese in each cup, followed by 1 tablespoon of salmon mixture. Pour egg mixture on top, until each cup is three-quarters filled (do not overfill). Top each cup with a sprinkle of dill.

  Bake quiches for 15 minutes at 400, then reduce heat to 350 F and bake 5 to 7 minutes more.

  Tasha’s Gluten-Free Mini Quiches

  MAKES 60 MINI QUICHES

  SHELLS

  6 ounce cream cheese, softened

  1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened