by Pat Amsden
"Right!" She smiled brightly. It was hard not to like a girl with as much enthusiasm and zest for life as Julianna. Particularly with such a vote of confidence from her.
They left minutes later with Maxine sure she had a good idea of what Julianna wanted. Heath would have liked to stay longer.
"Give me a call at the office tomorrow," Rohan said. "I'll put you down for game testing."
"In the new year maybe," Maxine said hastily. "You're probably not going to have a lot of time until then."
Heath grinned. "I'll call. And don't worry boss, I won't let you down."
"You never do," Maxine said.
Grandma Ellie met her at the door. "I've got Chocolate Chai tea brewing. Come up and tell me all about it. So she did.
"Leave the decorating to me," Grandma Ellie said over tea. "I'll borrow paintings from friends and we'll put them around. Could Heath make a cupcake holder that looked like an artists' palate?"
"I'll check," Maxine said. Tiredness intermingled with excitement as she considered her Grandma's plans. Some of the work she and her artist friends produced was excellent and she had a flare for color. "What if something happens to the paintings?
Grandma Ellie wasn't worried. "Most of us do it for fun. And I'll make sure they know there's a chance something could happen so they won't put in any favorites. Also there's probably insurance and I won't be putting in any million dollar paintings."
"Are you sure..."
"I love doing things like this! Especially for family."
"If you're sure," Maxine said. She gave her Grandma a big hug as a gush of love filled her. She was, as she well knew, incredibly lucky to have Grandma Ellie in her life.
Chapter Four
Chapter Four
Christmas Eve was upon them. The weather had turned to more normal temperatures in the low sixties making it so that everything was melting with only the odd pile of dirty snow or half-melted snow to mark the event.
If it was possible her shop was busier than ever. She'd called in all her extra people, Ally, Jane and Marcus as well as a few new ones she'd gotten by calling the local cooking school and getting some recommendations from the head of the program.
With two big cakes to get out today as well as her mother flying into town she was busy. She hated the idea of anyone being unable to get chocolates for under their tree or in a stocking. So she and Heath had both come in early to make batches of truffles and salted caramels, lazy turtles and Chocolate Santa's along with Christmas bark and chocolate covered pretzels.
The new girls, Sara and Danielle had been put to work filling boxes and wrapping them while James would be helping Heath and Marcus with the cakes. Sara hadn't been happy about that.
"I'd much rather help with the cake," she'd said when she'd been directed to help in filling the chocolate boxes. "Anyone can do this."
"Then you should be able to do it with no trouble," Maxine had said sweetly. "Perhaps later in the week there'll be more cooking tasks but right now we just need to get things done as quickly as possible. And James will be a lot better when it comes to heavy lifting. Our cakes are heavy."
Sara had done as she was asked without further comment. Maxine knew she wasn't happy about it. Perhaps Au Chocolat was not the place for her or perhaps when she'd had a few days to get over not being asked to run the kitchens as she stepped through the doors everything would be all right.
Did Santa have these issues with his elves she wondered? Still with the smell of chocolate and Christmas baking in the air, along with the sound of Christmas music playing, she couldn't help but be filled with the spirit of Christmas.
The Chocolate brunch cake was three layers of her Devil's food cake decorated with silver bells and branches of pine with holly berries thrown in for good measure. On the top was a sleigh with a jolly Santa and presents. The insurance company throwing this party had made it a family party and wanted a traditional Santa.
And they were stuck in traffic now. The insurance offices were in the new Uptown area which normally was about a ten minute drive. Today they'd already been driving at a snail's pace for the last fifteen minutes. And in less than half an hour she was supposed to be out at the Victoria airport to pick up her mother.
She called her Grandma Ellie. "Traffic's a nightmare. I'll never make it back to James Bay to pick you up and out to the airport in time."
"You don't have to," her Grandma Ellie said. "I'm down in Mayfair picking up a last minute Christmas present. I can meet you there and we can take my car."
"I'll see you then."
Hopefully. She could see Uptown from where they sat in traffic. Which wasn't doing them a lot of good. She groaned in frustration. And then when she least expected it traffic started to move.
That still meant no time to get the cake unloaded and set up.
"You go. James and I can take it from here," Heath said.
"I promised I'd be there to get every-"
"And you have. I'll smooth things over with Mr. Stansky. It's Christmas Maxine! And it's your mom. Go!"
She grabbed her bag and said, "I won't forget this," before racing down two levels to meet up with Grandma Ellie.
With her huge, rhinestone encrusted glasses she drew attention even in the silver Rio. "Darling, I'm so glad to see you. I was beginning to think you'd never make it."
As Maxine hurriedly buckled up she took off. "Good thing I know how to avoid the traffic crush."
Ten minutes later she'd done an end run around Douglas street traffic and made in onto the Pat Bay highway.
Maxine didn't know how they were going to fit the luggage in though.
"You worry too much. Your mother has a habit of travelling light."
"Do you know if the plane is on schedule?"
"According to her latest text, yes. She should be arriving about the same time we do."
Her grandmother remained unruffled by any last minute concerns. She wished she could say the same for herself. Dressed in a red tunic and black yoga pants with ballet slippers she was dressed enough to meet with clients or work in the kitchen. She couldn't help wishing she'd taken more time to get ready now.
Her mother managed to look impeccably dressed on all occasions. A three hour plane trip from Calgary was hardly likely to slow her down. She wanted her mother to like Au Chocolat. Her business was doing well now. And so was she. Would her mother realize this, or would she still see her as someone needing help and protection, unable to stand on her own two feet?
Her mother knew what it was like to take a chance. She'd taken one going into the oil and gas industry. It had worked for her. She was now an oil executive in one of the largest oil and gas companies in the country. She hadn't done that by playing it safe.
And yet....
Maxine was left wondering if she would. If she, Maxine, would measure up. Which was stupid because she was a grown woman. Still...
As her grandmother pulled into the parking lot of the Victoria airport she looked in the mirror and added a little makeup, fixed her hair.
"You look fine," her Grandma Ellie said.
Minutes later they joined the crush of people coming and going during the busy holiday season. Her mother stood out in the crowd.
At five foot nine she managed to look more like a model than an oil company executive or mom. Blonde hair from her father was sleeked back into a chignon while a London Fog raincoat was draped around her shoulders. Beside her a man Maxine had never met seemed to be waiting with her.
Maxine looked at her grandmother. "Did she say anything about inviting someone?"
"Nothing I took seriously." They looked at each other and then they looked at the man.
"He's good looking," Grandma Ellie said.
"She could've said something," Maxine said. She put a smile on as they met up.
"Mom! It's so good to see you." They hugged. "And you brought a friend."
"It was a last minute decision," her mother said. "Walt has been wanting to see Victoria and, wel
l, I decided this would be a good time." Her smile had a hint of a plea in it, unusual for her mother.
"I don't want to put you out," she said turning towards her mother. "We can get a hotel room downtown if you'd like."
"Nonsense," Grandma Ellie said. "If my daughter likes you," she said, looking at Walt, "that's good enough for me."
"Are you sure?" Walt said. "We don't want to put you out."
Maxine stared into cobalt blue eyes and a face, handsome though worn like leather, with creases around the eyes and mouth. A face that showed lines from an easy smile and kindness in the eyes. She'd guess he was about the same height as her mother without her shoes on.
She gave a tentative smile. After all this was the first time she'd seen her mother with a man since she'd divorced Maxine's father all those many years ago. Maxine could barely remember him. The last time she'd seen her dad was well over ten years ago. Although he did send yearly Christmas and birthday cards.
"It's nice to meet you."
Her mother decided to spend the afternoon relaxing with Grandma Ellie and showing Walt around Victoria.
"I'd love to see your shop if I'm not in your way. I know how busy you must be," her mother said. "We'll drop in for hot chocolate later this afternoon. Don't worry about making sure you're there. We can look after ourselves. And after Christmas you can show me around your shop in more detail."
Exactly what Max wanted. So why did she feel so... let down? She was careful not to raise any objections. "It sounds wonderful. Hopefully I'll be there when you come in but if not I'll see you for dinner. And Walt, it's nice to meet you."
Fitting the luggage in was another matter. Apparently her mother was a changed woman in more ways than one. Or maybe it was Walt's luggage?" She opened the trunk and eye-balled the three large suitcases and carry-ons.
"It's OK," Walt said laughing. "I'll have it sent on and we'll pick it up downtown." He went off to make the arrangements.
"He's good looking," Grandma Ellie said.
"Who is he?" asked Maxine. "And why haven't you said anything about him before now? How long have you been going out? How- "
Her mother held up her hand shushing them both. "There'll be time enough for this later. I'll give you all the details." She looked at them more closely, seeming to consider. "Well, almost all the details, but not now." She smiled at them looking happier than Maxine could remember. "You'll like him. I'm sure you will."
Maxine found herself tearing up as she threw her arms around her mother. "I'm so happy for you...but if he hurts you, I'll kill him."
Her mother just laughed. "Now you know why I was so tough on all your boyfriends."
As Walt approached her mother pulled away and when Maxine turned towards him she found her attention drawn to woman on the other side of the airport. Julianna. To the man Julianna was greeting with such delight, throwing her arms around him. Now, who was this?
Whoever he was he certainly seemed happy to see Julianna. And judging by the way she hugged him back it was mutual. Whoever he was, Maxine certainly didn't recognize him from the wedding
She turned away, sure Julianna hadn't seen her or recognized her, in her joy at meeting – whoever this strange man was.
Chapter Five
The last cake had been delivered and set up. Only a couple of orders were left to be picked up and they were running low on chocolates. Heath, Marcus and Ally had already left along with Jane.
"You work hard enough the rest of the year," she'd declared sending them home early with a gift of chocolates to share with their families and a bonus for all the hard work they'd done that year. It was, as she knew, a large part of the reason her shop had been such a success this year.
Detective Patrick Shannon entered. "Is it too late to get a cup of coffee and some chocolates to go?"
"Never," she said serving his coffee up quickly. "We're a little low on chocolates but if you can tell me what you want, I'll see what I can do."
"Salted caramels," he said hopefully, "along with some of your truffles. I was talking to my sister and she was raving about them so..."
"So you decided you'd better pick some up. Let's see." It was lucky he'd asked for an assortment she realized. She couldn't have come up with a dozen of any one kind. With a couple of raspberry truffles, three coffee, an orange, four chai, a rum and an eggnog, she had an easy dozen. And fortunately she had a box of salted caramel as well.
"Will that do?" she asked arranging them with practiced ease in a chocolate box.
He grinned. "If that's all you've got. Any chance you could come up with another box as well?"
"I'm out of most of my truffles." She scanned her shop. "I've still got some rum and raisin, lemon drops and cinnamon delights, hazelnuts and peanut butter truffles along with lazy turtles and caramels."
"Sounds perfect," he said.
As she wrapped them quickly in Christmas paper and a bow it was clear she'd had a lot of practice this year.
"Looks like I'm not the only one who likes your chocolates."
"From your lips to Gods' ear," she said lightly. There had been more than once this year when she'd wondered if her dream would die before it ever got off the ground.
"I hear Julianna's throwing a New Year's bash and you're the caterer."
"You heard right," she said happily. Noting the shop was empty of all but two customers sitting by the window she asked casually. "Have the police found anything more about the – attack?"
"Such as?"
"Who did it?" she said lightly, "or why?"
Detective Shannon gave her a speculative look. "Do you know something?"
"First tell me what you've got."
His jaw tightened. "This isn't a game Maxine. A woman's life is in danger."
She drew back. "I was just hoping you'd caught the guilty party and we could all breathe a little easier."
"It would be easier if we could get a little cooperation," he said testily.
"Wouldn't Julianna and her family want the culprit caught?"
"You'd think so, wouldn't you," he growled. "Or at least be willing to cooperate with the police so we could keep her safe."
"Oh," she said, realization coming to her. "I know she left hospital before the hospital or her family really wanted. In all honesty she looked really healthy though."
"For how long? So far we've got nothing. She says she doesn't remember anything."
"You say that like you don't believe her."
"I say that like someone who thinks she could do more to cooperate. We've got twenty-four hour coverage on her from when she leaves her house in the morning to when she returns."
"But?"
"She won't let us in the house."
"So?"
"In case you haven't noticed her house is a little bigger than most. Sometimes it's more like Grand Central Station than a regular, everyday house. And that's when she's not throwing a huge party."
"They know who's coming in don't they?"
"And when we find out who was behind the attack it's probably going to be one of them."
She stood a little stiller. It made sense. Why would someone who'd never met her lure her away from her own wedding to...she shook her head. "Do you have any suspects, any idea of why?"
He shook his head angrily. "In the meantime both Julianna and her family insist on carrying on as if nothing has happened."
"Not exactly," she pointed out. "You've got round the clock surveillance on her-except when she's in her house-and they haven't stopped you investigating have they? And they've postponed the wedding."
"Somebody, somewhere knows something," his brows drawing together in anger. "And so far no one's come forward."
"So if you've got 24 hour surveillance on her do you know who she was meeting at the airport today," she said.
He looked at her. "That's what you were going to tell me."
"Well, I didn't know you were watching her around the clock."
"It was her brother," he said. "From Ne
w York. Apparently he decided to come home for Christmas."
"Not for his sisters' wedding though?"
"Yeah, that got me too." He spread his hands and shrugged. "What can I say? The rich are different."
"I guess," she agreed. Not that different she thought. Not from what she'd seen.
"Are you working Christmas?"
He shook his head. "It's going to be a family Christmas. And thanks to you I'll have done a better job on presents than I do most."
She laughed. "Merry Christmas Detective Shannon." She stood on tiptoes and gave him a light kiss on the cheeks.
He looked momentarily surprised and then he smiled as he rubbed his cheek. "Merry Christmas Maxine."
This year, she thought, was going to be the best Christmas ever.
***
As they shared hot chocolate and Christmas stories around Grandma Ellie's tree, the scent of pine trees and snowflakes filling the air, she couldn't help thinking she was incredibly lucky. She'd been worried about Walt, wanting her mother to be happy, while afraid she'd be hurt.
So far she liked everything about him. More importantly, it was clear her mother was smitten. In blue jeans and a casual sweater he looked relaxed and casual. So did her mother.
"You grew up in Alberta," Grandma Ellie was asking.
"I did. Spent thirty years ranching, now it's time for my son to take over."
"I didn't think people still did that," her grandmother exclaimed.
Walt just smiled a lazy smile. "I only had one boy. My wife died of cancer when he was young. He went to university for a couple of years ." Walt shrugged. "The only thing he really ever wanted to do was ranch."
"So you just handed it over?"
"I keep my hand in. And I still live on the ranch part-time. I spend a lot of the year in Calgary now." He smiled at Maxine's mom and squeezed her hand. "I wasn't sure I'd last in the city but I found things to keep me occupied."
"And I spent a week at the ranch this fall. I loved every minute of it."
Her mother had gone country? Maxine shook her head in surprise.
Grandma Ellie wasn't done questioning him yet. "You seem a little young to have retired. What do you do to keep yourself busy?"