Icing on the Casket

by Catherine Bruns

  "I owe you another apology." Mike's lips were beside my ear.

  "For what?"

  Mike caressed my cheek with his finger. "I guess I've been feeling kind of neglected lately. It's silly, I know. With our hectic work schedules and the baby, we never have time for each other. I think that's important for a marriage. We should definitely do date nights once in a while, but I was thinking more about myself than you. The bakery, taking care of Cookie, and your father asking for help. It's a lot for anyone to deal with. I should have been more understanding."

  "You have a lot on your plate too."

  He leaned in to kiss me. "Yes, but if you'd turned down your father—well, that wouldn't have been you being you."

  I smiled. "He really didn't give me much choice."

  "That's not the point." His expression turned serious. "I don't want you to think I'm not supportive. Even though I may hate the dangerous situations you've been involved in, I'll always be there for you. I never want to let you down."

  "You won't," I insisted. "The past few months have been a big adjustment for both of us since we became parents. It's been wonderful, and I'm so thankful for our little girl. But it's also been tougher than I ever imagined. I look at people like Josie and am amazed at how she manages to do all that she does. I appreciate her even more now."

  "We simply have to work at making more time for ourselves. Especially if we plan to add on to our family." Mike winked.

  "I want that more than anything," I said softly. "This experience with Eddie and his family has taught me how lucky I am to have mine. All I want is to continue running my bakery with my best friend, be a good mom to Cookie, and have you by my side."

  He put an arm around my waist. "Come on. Let's go find the nurse and get out of here. Cookie's waiting to see her mommy and looking forward to her first Easter Sunday, with a big chocolate bunny to boot."

  "She can't have chocolate yet," I laughed. "Besides, she doesn't have any teeth."

  His eyes twinkled into mine. "I guess we'll have to take care of it for her, then. Sunday is a day to rejoice and be thankful. And I have a lot to be thankful for."

  "We both do," I said as he kissed me again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  "Look at this, baby girl," my father called over to me. "Cookie's got quite the grip on her. We might make a baseball player out of her yet."

  Gianna frowned at my father from her place on the living room floor. Next to her was Alex, who was holding a chocolate bunny in one hand and a toy basketball in the other. My father was on the couch next to my mother, with Cookie on her lap. Cookie had grabbed hold of my father's finger and was squealing in delight as he made comical faces at her. Johnny was seated in the dining room, talking quietly to his grandmother, while I helped Grandma Rosa set the table for an early dinner.

  Cookie's Easter basket was next to Alex's but filled with slightly different things. There was the traditional chocolate bunny I'd always received as a child, about a foot tall. I had no idea what we were going to do with it. There was also a sippy cup, more rattles, a new dress, and the books Pat the Bunny and Peter Rabbit. My little girl looked adorable in a floral white and pink dress, matching pink jacket, and bonnet. She also had on white tights and black patent leather shoes that complemented the outfit.

  We were all dressed in our Sunday finest and had just returned from morning mass. The church had been packed with standing room only, and we'd stayed for the Easter egg hunt afterwards. Although Cookie wasn't old enough to participate, Mike had carried her around the yard and picked out a couple of decorated eggs for her. Next year she would be walking on her own for the egg hunt, and I couldn't wait to see her in action.

  Mike and I hadn't attended church in over a year, and I planned to remedy that. I'd been dreadful about it ever since I left home to marry Colin. My parents and grandmother went faithfully every week. Mike had only been a handful of times during his life, but when I'd asked him about going today, he'd been surprisingly receptive. We'd even chatted with the priest about having Cookie baptized.

  While the others relaxed in the living room, I went back into the kitchen to see what else I could do to assist Grandma Rosa. She waved me away. "You go and enjoy yourself, cara mia. You have been through a lot this week and deserve some up time."

  "I think you mean downtime," I suggested.

  She nodded. "I like that too."

  My stomach growled as I helped her arrange the dishes on the dining room table. There was baked ham with cloves and her fabulous brown sugar glaze, but my favorite traditional Italian dishes were there as well, including braciole, pasta, and stuffed peppers. There were also mashed potatoes, antipasto, and a variety of desserts, such as tiramisu and cheesecake. I worried that if we didn't eat soon, I might start drooling.

  "Everything smells wonderful," I told her, but this was no surprise. My grandmother's food was always perfection. She cooked from the heart, which was why it seemed like she did it all with minimal effort. Even though she was in her late seventies, she showed no sign of slowing down, for which I was eternally grateful. She was the glue that held our family together or, more appropriately, the ricotta of our cheesecake.

  Grandma Rosa and I returned to the kitchen, where I filled a carafe with coffee. "We take you for granted," I told her.

  "Bah." She walked back into the dining room, and I followed. "I enjoy doing this. And it makes my heart sing to see the little ones. I hope that there will be many more."

  "We're working on it," Mike teased as he came up behind me and put his arms around my waist. "Rosa, why don't you let me carry the ham in?"

  She accepted his offer. After Mike went into the kitchen, she smiled fondly at me and set a bottle of red wine on the table next to her rose-patterned china. "Things are better between you two now, yes?"

  I stared at her in amazement. "How did you know?"

  "I know everything," Grandma Rosa said. "No, I am only kidding. But it has been easy to see how tired you both are, cara mia. It is not easy to have a baby and try to make time for each other, plus your jobs. You must work at it." She tapped the bottle. "A good marriage—what is the saying? It is like a fine wine. It only gets better with age."

  "Did someone say wine?" Gianna asked as she came into the room. She grabbed a glass and filled it with merlot. "Don't mind if I do." She put an arm around my shoulders and studied the bump on my forehead. "I can't believe you worked a full day yesterday," she scolded. "I told you I would have come in to help."

  "I wanted to do it. Besides, you have enough going on in your own life." I'd even brought Cookie in for a couple of hours, but my mother had come to get her after her hair appointment.

  Since my latest brush with death, I was looking at life through fresh, new eyes. Cookie had woken up twice last night, but instead of trying to pretend I was asleep, I'd gone right in to her, despite Mike offering. Sure, I was tired today, but I was more determined than ever to treasure those tender moments with my daughter—even at three o'clock in the morning. Things could have ended much differently the other day, and I was thankful to still be here.

  Gianna took a sip of the wine and pursed her lips. "I spoke to Roger this morning. He couldn't believe it when he heard about Linda. He's known Eddie for years and always thought they had a solid marriage. Roger said he never thought she was capable of such a thing."

  "Addiction changes people. Then again, maybe she was always devious like that. We'll never know for sure," I said. "Did Roger say what's happening with the funeral parlor?"

  Gianna shook her head. "He mentioned that Terry was flying out here in a couple of days. Since Terry hates the business, Roger's guessing he'll sell."

  "Yeah, it was pretty obvious that he wasn't interested when I spoke to him." My heart went out to Eddie. At least he'd gotten justice, but he'd been horribly deceived by two people he thought he could trust. It was a sad ending for Phibbins Mortuary.

  "Come along now," Grandma Rosa said. "Everything is ready."


  Gianna, Mike, and I started to help ourselves. I then took Cookie from my father and placed her in the bouncy seat next to me while Gianna strapped Alex into his high chair between herself and Johnny. We all chatted as we passed the dishes, laughing and in good spirits. I made sure to take a little of everything. Food tasted better than before. It was funny how I always appreciated the simple things in life more after mine had been threatened.

  Mike spooned cereal into Cookie's eager mouth from a bowl that Grandma Rosa had brought him. He smiled tenderly at me as I placed ham, mashed potatoes, and stuffed peppers on his plate. "All my favorites. You know just what I like, princess."

  Heat rose in my cheeks. Of course, he was referring to something else—the intimate moments we'd shared last night before Cookie had woken up. Things wouldn't change for a while, and we wouldn't have much time alone, but that was okay. We loved and appreciated each other, and it was more than enough.

  My mother handed an envelope to me and one to Gianna. "This is just a little something from your father and me for our wonderful daughters, who have given us such beautiful grandchildren." She beamed at my father, but he was already involved in an intimate relationship with his braciole.

  "Whatever you say, hot stuff," he said absently.

  "You didn't have to do anything." My jaw dropped when I saw what was inside. It was a certificate for dinner and an overnight stay at the Wallingford Hotel, an elite hotel and spa just outside of Colwestern. "Mom, Dad, this is fabulous!"

  Mom looked pleased with herself. "Your stay is for next Saturday night, Sal, and Gianna's the following weekend. Of course, we'll watch the babies while you lovebirds go off and enjoy yourselves. We thought you both needed a little getaway, especially with everything that's happened lately."

  Gianna looked misty-eyed and was speechless for a moment. She slid back her chair and went around the table to give our mother and father each a kiss. I did the same. "Thank you so much," she said. "This is very thoughtful."

  "It really is, Maria and Dom," Mike said as he wiped Cookie's mouth.

  Johnny grinned and raised a glass to them. "This is great. Thanks a million."

  My father squeezed my mother's hand. "Aw, shucks. We're happy to do it."

  Mom beamed. "Well, I'll be honest, girls. It's just part of my scheme to get more grandchildren."

  Alex squealed in response and banged his little fist on the high chair's tray. Mom rose from her seat to give him a kiss and then made her way over to Cookie on her tiny high heels. "The babies make me so happy."

  "I'm glad, Mom." I glanced sideways at Mike, who was grinning broadly. He put an arm around my shoulders and drew me close. "I hope Josie won't mind if I leave the bakery a little early that day."

  "Josie would never object," he said smoothly and kissed my cheek. "I won't let her."

  "Huh." Nicoletta snorted. She was seated at the foot of the table next to my grandmother. "How come no one ask me to babysit? I take better care of babies than Muccios. And I be right at Johnny's house."

  "You will be gone by then," Grandma Rosa said practically.

  Thank God. Gianna's lips mouthed the words silently. It didn't appear that anyone else had noticed besides me and my grandmother, who was smiling at her.

  My father's phone buzzed. He glanced down at the screen and stood quickly. "Whoops. Gotta take this one. It's important."

  "You always told us no cell phones at the table," Gianna reminded him.

  Dad gave her a sly wink. "I think you'll forgive me when you hear about this." He hurried into the kitchen with the phone, and the back door slammed. A second later my father could be heard shouting, "Yahoo!"

  "Yahoo? He check his email?" Nicoletta wanted to know.

  Gianna groaned and poured herself some more wine. "Please don't tell me that he's landed a publishing deal or made some bestseller list. I'm not sure that I can stand the embarrassment."

  "You should be used to it by now," Mike remarked as he dug into his potatoes.

  "What's it all about?" I asked my mother.

  Her delicate mouth formed a pout. "I have no idea. Can you believe that your father hasn't told me anything? He's been acting very strange since yesterday."

  "That because he is very strange," Nicoletta declared. "The man always been pazza." She shook her finger at me. "He probably order another coffin. Just don't wind up in this one, missy."

  "You always say the right thing, Gram," Johnny observed.

  My father came back into the dining room and sat down, a pleased look on his face. He picked up his fork and dug into his antipasto. "Well, Nicoletta, you're not far off about the coffin."

  We all stared at him, puzzled, and Mom sighed. "Really, dear. I'm happy to help you indulge your hobbies, but frankly, I think that one coffin in the house is enough. Plus, I want Alex and Cookie each to have their own rooms when they spend the night here."

  "Are you really buying another coffin?" Gianna asked.

  Dad filled his glass with wine and raised it in the air. "Better than that."

  Gianna looked over at me and rolled her eyes. My father always had some new scheme concocted up his sleeve. We tried to humor him because in some ways he would never grow up. A big baby, Nicoletta had once said. After a time, he'd become bored and go on to something else. But the look on his face and his mannerism told me that something was different this time.

  I pushed my plate away and folded my arms across my chest. "Come on, Dad. Let's hear it."

  He lowered his glass, and we watched as his expression sobered. "I can't stop thinking about Eddie. He was a good friend to me, and I'd love to be able to honor his memory."

  My mother patted his hand. 'That's so nice, sweetheart. What did you have in mind?"

  "Well…" My father grinned slyly as he whispered something in her ear.

  Mom gave a gasp and looked at him in delight. "That's wonderful!"

  Oh boy. My mother and father traveled in the same circle of weirdness, so now I was really concerned. "Don't keep us in suspense, Dad. What's going on, and what does it have to do with Eddie?"

  He kissed my mother's hand. "You do know that with Linda and Arthur going up the river, Terry's been left the funeral home, right?"

  "Yes, Gianna was just telling me. Terry's flying in to talk to Roger about it. We're fairly certain he's going to sell."

  "He already has." My father's face was glowing.

  Realization set in, and I stared across the table in shock at my sister, whose face had gone as white as a bedsheet. "Dad, you don't mean—"

  My father puffed out his chest in pride. "That's right, baby girl. You're looking at the new proprietor of Phibbins Mortuary, with one slight change. It's going to be called Muccio's Mortuary in the near future."

  We all gaped at him for several seconds. Gianna looked like she wanted to shoot someone. Mike only shook his head in disbelief and then resumed eating with relish. Cookie gurgled at me from her bouncy seat. Johnny glanced pityingly at both Gianna and me then turned his attention back to his food. Nicoletta mumbled something under her breath in Italian that sounded like "wacko," while my mother sat there looking at my father in adoration.

  It was my grandmother's reaction that surprised everyone. Grandma Rosa chuckled under her breath, and within a few seconds, she had started to roar with laughter. We all stared at her in surprise as she picked up Nicoletta's glass of wine and raised it to my father.

  "Salute, Domenic," she said with a broad smile. "It is true. There is a perfect job for everyone."

  * * * * *

  RECIPES

  Cappuccino Crinkle Cookies

  ⅓ cup butter

  1 cup packed brown sugar

  ⅔ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

  1 tablespoon instant coffee

  1 teaspoon baking soda

  1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  2 egg whites

  ½ cup vanilla yogurt

  1½ cups all-purpose flour

  ¼ cup granulated sugar

  Pr
eheat oven to 350℉. In a large bowl, beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, cocoa powder, coffee, baking soda, and cinnamon. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in egg whites and yogurt until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the electric mixer. Stir in any remaining flour with a wooden spoon. Place the granulated sugar in a small bowl. Roll heaping teaspoons of dough into balls and roll in sugar to coat. Place the balls 2 inches apart on parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 8–10 minutes or until edges are firm. Transfer the cookies to a wire rack and cool. Makes about 2½ dozen cookies.

  Spiced Apple Sugar Cookies (Coffin Cookies)

  1 cup unsalted butter, room temperature

  ½ cup brown sugar

  ½ cup granulated sugar

  1 egg, room temperature

  2 teaspoons vanilla extract

  3 (0.74 oz.) packets spiced apple cider mix (e.g. Alpine brand)

  3 cups all-purpose flour

  ½ teaspoon baking powder

  ½ teaspoon cinnamon

  ½ teaspoon salt

  With an electric mixer, cream together the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar until fluffy. Beat in the egg, and then mix in the vanilla and spiced apple cider packets.

  In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt. Gradually add to the sugar and butter mixture and mix until incorporated. Divide the dough in half and wrap each portion in plastic wrap. Refrigerate for 1 hour. Lightly sprinkle work surface with flour and roll out dough to about ¼-inch thickness. If dough is too hard, allow to sit at room temperature for 15 minutes. Cut out desired shapes, and place on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Refrigerate cut-out shapes while the oven preheats to 375℉. Bake cookies for 9–11 minutes, until the edges turn golden-brown. Allow the cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes then remove to a wire rack and cool completely before decorating.