Dead Men Don't Crochet
Page 26
“Where’s the rest of the crew?” Sheila asked as she joined us. She sighed. “I can’t believe how good it feels to know that Detective Gilmore isn’t going to pop out of the bushes with any more questions.”
“Do you think my stylist is right?” CeeCee turned, model fashion, to show off her sleek outfit. She’d given up trying to lose the five pounds once her stylist told her that the right clothes could make her look as though she had. We both gave her a thumbs-up, and CeeCee asked about dessert.
Dinah arrived breathless with E. Conner and Ashley-Angela in tow. “They’ll be good, I promise.” She threw me a hopeless look. “Jeremy called again with another stall, and the babysitter didn’t show.” Then she sighed. “I’m afraid he’s never going to pick up his kids.” I didn’t want to say anything, but I’d been thinking the same thing.
“Ladies,” Eduardo said, taking a place next to CeeCee. His long black hair was loose, and he’d dressed in slacks and a sport jacket. He had asked me several times why Adele was acting so strangely. He appeared to have no idea he’d done anything wrong because, I gathered, he’d only thought they were crochet partners. I covered by saying that was just Adele.
No one could accuse Adele of being subtle. She joined the group with a snap of her black cape, which she’d worn over a purple silk dress. She made a point of ignoring Eduardo as she said in an extra loud voice that her boyfriend William was picking her up.
Only I knew who William really was. After the episode with Eduardo, Adele had rethought her date with Koo Koo the Clown, aka William Bearly, and decided she liked him after all. He’d been thrilled when she called him, or at least that’s what she said. Adele threw me a panicked glance after she mentioned his name, apparently afraid I would give away his other identity. I said nothing. Her secret was safe with me.
“Why are you all standing out here?” Mrs. Shedd said. I’d invited her but didn’t know she was coming until she showed up. All she knew about Milton’s fiesta was that it was a huge success moneywise. Adele had conveniently forgotten she’d been afraid of Milton and had run off when she’d gotten upset over Eduardo. She took lots of credit for the horror author’s success and had convinced Mrs. Shedd she should work with me on any events that were kid related. I guessed I could live with that.
Mrs. Shedd took the lead, and we all followed her up the stairs into the store. Soft light glowed out from the windows and it looked inviting.
Benjamin Bradford was in the entrance hall acting as greeter. Actually he had come up with the idea for the shawl presentation and had Bradford Industries sponsor it. He had several motives. The Women’s Haven really was his pet charity—he’d spent time with his mother in a place like it and it was his way of saying thank you. He wanted to do something good to counteract all the problems his wife had caused. Well, soon to be ex-wife. He’d filed for divorce almost before they finished fingerprinting Patricia. She had been charged with two murders, and one attempted. Because of the charge, she wasn’t given bail and had plenty of time to crochet while she waited for her trial. And Benjamin still hoped to get elected and recognized the shawl event as a good publicity opportunity.
It was the first time I’d been in the store since the work was finished. Mr. Work Boots had done a good job and the place looked great. Kevin was rushing around making last-minute adjustments in the restaurant area.
“Come in, come in,” Kevin said as we approached the redone dining room. Several long tables had been set up, and a buffet had been arranged on a dark wood built-in sideboard. Overhead the wrought iron chandelier had been dimmed.
The women from the shelter arrived along with their director, and we intermingled as we found seats. Everybody wanted to sit next to Eduardo and he solved the problem by moving around. He really was so much more than a handsome face; he had that ability to make people feel good. He also invited everyone to come to his poetry reading at the bookstore.
Kevin knew his way around soup, and everyone had multiple bowls. He had added some salads and stuffed mushrooms to the buffet, too. He was no slouch in the bread department, either.
“I’m so glad you’re all here,” Benjamin said getting up to the front of the room when everyone was finished eating. I noticed a photographer and man with a video camera had come in and were capturing the moment. Benjamin finished his remarks by announcing it was time for the Tarzana Hookers to give out their handiwork.
We came up one by one and handed out the hugs of comfort shawls we had made. After each of us had wrapped a shawl around a recipient’s shoulders, we gave the women a real hug. The women from the shelter all said how much it meant to them—the physical feeling of being wrapped in something soft and warm and that someone had cared enough to make it for them.
By the end there wasn’t a dry eye.
Afterward, Kevin showed off the sales area. “Dorothy talked me into keeping it half restaurant and half store.” He took us into the living room and pointed to the alcove and room beyond that were devoted to consignment items and handicrafts. “I’m glad that Trina decided to come back to us,” he said as we admired the items. He pulled Sheila aside. “I just wanted to make sure that your check was for the right amount. I don’t want to take a chance losing your scarves and blankets. They are big sellers.”
“Blankets?” Adele said, getting into the middle of it.
“You haven’t seen them?” Kevin picked up a soft heathery red blanket off the arm of the rocker.
“But it’s knitted,” Adele sputtered, touching it like it was made of worms.
So Sheila was the one who’d been making the blankets all of us had admired. She was full of surprises, but not good ones, according to Adele, who was going on about how she couldn’t believe one of our own was a closet knitter. Koo Koo arrived just in time and collected her.
“Am I too late?” a soft voice said behind me. I turned as Morgan came toward me and hugged me. She was holding out a completed lavender shawl. The gauntness was gone from around her eyes and she looked happier. She pulled me aside and explained she’d come back a couple of days before. The time with her mother had helped, and she’d seen a professional.
“Thank you for letting me stay with you.” She sighed deeply. “I finally faced the real problem. It might not be the five pounds that’s kept me from getting the parts.” She said she wasn’t giving up, that she was just going to go to auditions with a new attitude. She still hoped she and Samuel could work things out.
She looked down at the shawl in her hands and at the empty dining room. The women from the shelter had already left in their van. “I don’t know what to do with it.”
I said I thought I knew someone who needed it. I looked toward Dinah. The kids were asleep on the floor in the Kids’ Korner. “Do you think we should give this to Patricia?” I asked her.
Dinah nodded. “She’s going to need all the comfort and hugs she can get.”
WHEN I GOT HOME BARRY AND JEFFREY WERE giving Cosmo a bath. Blondie came out and looked at me as if to say, “What’s going on?”
“Good question,” I answered out loud. No matter what I said about not wanting to make a commitment, Barry and Jeffrey had become a part of my life.
But what about Mason?
He was holding me to the dinner I owed him after saving me at the bookstore. He’d suggested a restaurant in San Francisco with a weekend around it. I’d countered with a beachfront eatery in Malibu, dinner only.
Mason wanted what I wanted—a casual relationship. Someone to go places and do things with, no strings, no pressure to make it permanent. That was appealing. And I liked Mason. I really did. He was funny, and yes, there was a spark when he touched my hand. The dinner was coming up the next weekend. But still, I hadn’t figured out what I was going to tell Barry.
Then I walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. All during the shawl ceremony I’d been thinking about doing something. I would never stop missing Charlie, but in my heart I knew it was time to let go. I took out the amber b
ottles of Hefeweizen and touched one of the cold bottles to my warm cheek. My eyes welled as I lowered it and flipped off the top. For a moment I hesitated. Then the yeasty smell filled the air as I began to pour the liquid down the drain. When the last one was empty, I dried my eyes and dropped the bottles in the recycle bag before I turned off the light.
Hugs of Comfort Shawl
EASY TO MAKE
Chain 53. Turn.
Row 1: Chain 1 and sc in each chain across. Turn work.
Row 2: Chain 1 and sc in each sc across. Turn work.
Row 3: Chain 1 and turn work; sc in each sc across. Turn work.
Row 4: Chain 4 (counts as first dc and chain 1), dc in third stitch from hook, *chain 1 skip stitch, and dc in next stitch,*. Repeat from * to * across. 27 dc and 26 spaces made.
Repeat Rows 1-4 approximately 47 times, until the shawl measures approximately 71 inches.
Repeat Rows 1-3 once.
Finish off.
Note: When making Row 1 the first time, single crochet stitches will be made in the chain stitches. When repeating Row 1, the single crochet stitches will be made in the double crochet and chain stitches in the preceding row.
Molly’s Cheesecake Cupcakes
MAKES 18
Crust
1¾ cups graham cracker crumbs
¼ cup sifted powdered sugar
¾ stick butter, melted
Line muffin tins with paper baking cups. Using a pastry blender, mix the graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar. Pour in melted butter and blend. Distribute in the paper-lined cups and press down firmly.
Filling
½ cup sugar
1 8-ounce package
cream cheese, softened
2 eggs, beaten
2 cups sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
Pinch of salt
Mix sugar and cream cheese until well blended. Add 2 beaten eggs and beat well. Mix in sour cream, vanilla and salt. Spoon into prepared crusts.
Bake at 350° for 25 minutes. Take out, spread on topping (see below) and bake 10 minutes more. Chill before serving.
Topping
1 cup sour cream
2 teaspoons vanilla
2 tablespoons sugar
Mix all three ingredients together.