by Linda West
I dusted my hands of soot and straightened from the fireplace. “Well, I invited Mia to the book club tomorrow –if she shows up we can find out for ourselves…
“Maybe I can get her to open up to me more in the casual setting of a small cozy group?”
Ethel nodded. “Good idea. I’ll make something special for your first book club tomorrow Kat.”
I smiled. I was looking forward to our very first meeting.
As if on cue, the buzzer rang on the stove, and Ethel pulled out the chocolate soufflés. She set them to the side, as she whipped up some fresh crème in a bowl. I watched the creamy white liquid, finally turn stiffen enough to be dolloped on the side of our soufflés.
I couldn’t get the new knowledge we had learned out of my thoughts. How innocent was the waiter Brice in all this? Why hadn’t he come forward right after the killing? Surely he had heard about the murder?
Maybe he didn’t make the connection with Jackson’s seal – but maybe he knew more than we thought. Who knew if he was even telling the truth? He was a stocky guy, he could have very well been the figure I saw that night. I considered all the evidence as I watched the flames grow a little higher, and added another small log. I dusted off my hands, and walked back over to the counter to take a bite of that delicious soufflé.
We’re getting there Aunty Carol, I thought. Don’t lose faith in us…
.
CHAPTER 34
The next morning without calling me, Ethel and Summer came in early to the Bakery and let themselves through the connecting door into the Enchanted Café.
Dodie was already in the bakery opening the restaurant and putting the newly baked goods in the front display window. They waved to her as they beelined straight through the connecting door, and into the new Café.
The equipment had been delivered and Ethel wanted to try it out before the official opening. At least that was their excuse. Ethel had Grandma’s Izzy’s recipe book under her arm, and a determined look on her face. Dodie never believed them for a minute.
Summer chewed on her lip and watched her mother, Ethel, exploring the new equipment in the back of the bakery the next day.
“Shouldn’t we call Kat? She’s in the middle of this whole thing as much as we are. Her life could be in danger if she really can identify the real killer.”
Ethel shook her head. “Some things are best left to family, dear.” She patted Summer’s small belly bump.
“You’ll learn someday, darling. Family is the only thing you have in the beginning, and in the end. We need to keep this between us – for now.”
Summer nodded.
“Did you bring the juniper leaf?” said Ethel.
Summer patted her stylish Gucci bag. “Yes – it’s the last I had, by the way.”
“We’ll forage more after we get Carol out.”
“Okay.”
“Did you grind it already?” said Ethel.
“Yes, Mom, of course.”
Ethel looked at her sternly. “Not coarse, we need fine.”
Summer laughed. “I know, Mom, settle down. I said of course I ground it fine. Extra fine.”
Ethel nodded her approval. She flipped opened Grandma Izzy’s recipe book.
“I haven’t made this recipe in years...” Ethel squinted at the pages. She flipped through the enormous tomes. “I wonder if it’s under appetizers, or T for Tea Sandwiches...”
“What about looking under brunch?” Summer offered.
“Here it is.” Ethel’s finger landed on the recipe title. She then ran that finger down the list of ingredients and instructions lovingly.
“These little sandwiches are delicious, actually; they have this pop of surprise in the aftertaste. The juniper leaf when it’s ground up has this wild, peppery-fresh accent to balance out the sweet red tomato and basil.”
Summer patted her tummy. She was getting hungry.
“Sounds wonderful. Have you ever made these for me?”
Ethel laughed. “No, honey. I’ve never needed to make this sandwich for you. Your nose twitching has given you away since you were a toddler – this is for the good liars.”
Summer raised both eyebrows.
“Now Carol and Amelia and I were a different story. Mom went round and round with us about that broken statue of Elvis she had in the corner. She was always incredibly intuitive, as you know, but she just couldn’t seem to find the culprit behind dear plaster Elvis’ beheading.
“Well, after one of these little sandwiches, the whole truth came out. Carol and I had been dancing, and Carol had swung me jitterbug style straight into the plaster Elvis in the corner, beheading him in one perfect twirl. When Elvis’s head fell off, we were in shock. You can imagine! Carol stuck it back on the body and Elvis’s head kind of leaned up against the wall, but other than that, he seemed good as new. Until Mom was vacuuming one day too close to Elvis, and his head rolled off and landed at her feet…
“Let’s just say the whole horrible truth of what really happened to poor plaster Elvis came out after she served us these little sandwiches as our afternoon snack at our Sunday Breakfast at Tiffany’s brunch.”
Summer’s head was tilted in surprise. “Not at the Breakfast at Tiffany’s Brunch?”
Ethel nodded. “I know. It was savage. We never saw it coming. Claimed it was a new recipe she was trying out – and of course us being offspring of the legendary Izzy, we fell for it. After a few of these, and Audrey dealing with her mean reds, Carol and I just blurted out the whole sad end of the plastic King of Rock. We got grounded for two weeks. Kind of harsh, I thought, since it was an accident. But Mom was overly attached to that Elvis. We did get it stuck on perfect with gorilla glue in the end, so why we got grounded I still don’t know!”
Summer narrowed one eye. “So it’s one of those recipes?”
Ethel winked. Summer finally comprehended. She came over and looked at the old recipe book with her mother.
“Truthful Tomato Caprese Tea Sandwiches…They make people tell the truth?” said Summer.
Ethel nodded. “Oh, yes. After eating one triangle of one of these sandwiches, the truth waterfall starts flowing. All people’s secrets just come blabbing out of them with no filter. It’s serious stuff. But then these are serious times.”
They looked at each other.
“Mom,” Summer said, “just who are we making these sandwiches for?”
Ethel grinned.
“I think I’m going to prepare a little appetizer for Kat’s book club meeting. Especially for Mia…”
Summer’s eyes lit up. Her mother never ceased to amaze her.
Ethel tied on her apron and inspected the new oven they had just put in the Enchanted Café and then set it to 350 degrees.
She whistled to herself as she pulled out some fresh basil from the new refrigerator and set it on the chopping block. The heavy recipe book was passed back and forth between mother and daughter as the ingredients showered from refrigerated bags into bowls.
“What kind of bread does the recipe call for, Summer?” Ethel queried.
Summer scanned the script print in the book. “No bread is specified.”
Ethel let out a humph.
Summer shrugged. “What shall we use?”
Ethel thought about it. “If no bread is specified, then it’s up to the creators’ discretion.”
When it came to Grandma Izzy’s recipes, most always you went by exactly what she had written. But sometimes, over the years, the Landers ladies had experimented with her recipes and added touches of their own, ultimately inventing new favorites that were added to the big book.
Summer laughed again. “You’re the blue ribbon queen, Mom! What kind of bread do you think would taste best with the Truthful Tomatoes Caprese Tea Sandwiches?”
Ethel tapped her chin. “We have fresh pumpernickel for the egg sandwich special today…but I think I prefer the lightness of potato bread.”
Summer nodded emphatically. “For sure.”
Sum
mer tied on her apron and took up the large sharp cutting knife and faced the basil.
“How do you want this, Mom?” she asked.
“Slivered,” Ethel said with finality.
CHAPTER 35
Ethel hustled back through the Bakery/Cafe connection door to grab some fresh tomatoes from the pantry. Dodie eyed her suspiciously. The Landers’ Bakery was stuffed full of the town regulars getting their coffee, sweets and breakfast sandwiches. The sandwiches had been Dodie’s idea, and actually spawned the need for the full menu café next door.
She, being a natural mother, had worried the skiers needed more sustenance than coffee and a scone to keep them skiing all day. She put together a fabulous breakfast sandwich that was tasty and healthy to keep them stay full of energy all day on the slopes.
The new Landers’ Breakfast Sensation consisted of Seven seed bread home baked that day (of course) topped with a very easy egg over, olive oil, kale, fresh mint, feta, fresh ground pepper and pink crystal sea salt, all topped off with a bit of aioli mayo. The breakfast crowd loved it, and ate it up in droves. Ethel and Carol finally named it after it’s inventor - Dodie’s Dreamy Day Sandwich.
Dodie and the Landers had come a long way together. Ethel thought of spilling the beans to her because she was practically family. It was that practically part. Some things are better kept secret. Magical tea sandwiches to trick the truth out of the other possible murder suspects and free Carol, was just not something you confessed to anyone.
Ethel grabbed some tomatoes out of the bakery kitchen refrigerator. The crew in the back all echoed hello to their boss. Ethel waved distractedly, and kept her attention on picking out the perfect tomatoes. She held each one thoughtfully, looking at the color, and weighing it, and giving each one the final test - a gentle squeeze to test the juice level.
Grandma Izzy’s recipe had called for tomatoes that were - “In the bloom of beauty and perfection…”
Ethel picked out twelve of the precious tomatoes, and put them in a big blue-checkered bowl. She murmured good morning to the crew as she wandered off back to the café with the goods. The kitchen crew stopped and looked at each other questioningly.
By the time Ethel joined her, Summer had a pile of beautiful thin cut basil sitting in a neat pile. Her mother nodded her approval as she set the bowl of tomatoes down on the counter next to it.
“What kind of bread does the recipe call for Summer?” Ethel queried.
Summer stood up and went over to Grandma Izzy’s recipe book. She read through the recipe ingredients and instructions.
Ethel let out a “Humph.”
Summer shrugged.
“What shall we use?”
Ethel thought about it. “If no bread is specified than it’s up to the creators’ discretion.”
When it came to Grandma Izzy’s recipe almost always you went by exactly as she had written. But often, over the years, the Landers ladies had experimented with her recipes, and added touches of their own. Ultimately inventing new favorites that were added to the big book.
Summer thought about it.
“You’re the blue ribbon Queen mom! What kind of bread do you think would taste best with the Truthful Tomatoes Caprese Tea Sandwiches?”
Ethel considered. “Hmmm we have fresh pumpernickel for the egg sandwich special today…But, I think I prefer the lightness of the potato bread.”
Summer nodded emphatically.
“For sure.”
“I just had Dodie teach the girls how to make bread. We have a bunch of the students homemade potato dough already made in the freezer…”
Summer patted her growing belly.
“Hmmm that sounds delicious. I’m ready to eat again.”
Ethel smiled lovingly. “Well we’re going to get you something right now little mother. ”
She rubbed Summer’s stomach affectionately.
“I’ll grab you some cauliflower and tarragon soup the girls are making in the back for today’s special. How about that and a heaping side of some fresh baked potato bread with some creamy butter?”
Summer smiled. “I’ll start slicing the tomatoes.”
Ethel ran back quickly again through the bright red connecting door, and grabbed the dough out of the back bakery freezer. This time she wasn’t getting by the manager.
Dodie had been taking in all the comings and goings of Ethel through the connecting door, and she knew for sure Ethel and Summer weren’t at the cafe just inspecting the equipment. They were cooking without her!
Dodie stopped Ethel in midstride as she strode through the kitchen. A line was forming at the front counter waiting to order food and buy sweets, but Dodie needed to talk to Ethel and she wasn’t letting her off until she did.
“Ethel what’s going on over there with you two?”
Ethel hurried by. “Oh hello dear. Just getting some soup for Summer and…”
Dodie was not being put off.
She demanded, “What are you doing with the bread dough? Is something wrong?”
Ethel patted Dodie’s hands affectionately. Dodie really was so sweet. “No, no dear. Everything is fine- other than my sisters in jail for a crime she didn’t commit. Summer and I are just…well…”
She floundered looking for a suitable fib that Dodie would believe. Dodie knew her pretty darn well.
Dodie put her hands on her hips. “I know you’re cooking over there Ethel! I saw the bowl of tomatoes you tried to smuggle by me! Good try.”
Ethel was caught red tomato handed.
“Okay it’s true! We are, but we’re just surprising Kat, and putting together a little appetizer for her first book club meeting tonight. She is so excited about the first meeting and we just wanted to make something special for her to share.”
Dodie smiled and looked at the door to the café curiously.
“Oh okay. That’s real nice of you Ethel.”
Ethel faked humility.
“Well I try.”
With that ,the feisty senior turned and bee lined through the bright connecting door to the café before Dodie could ask her any more questions.
CHAPTER 36
In no time, six fresh loafs of potato bread baked in the oven. Summer had finished her first cup of soup for lunch and wanted another.
“I’m eating for two,” she explained. Ethel waved her into a seat.
“Hush – I’ll get you another cup of soup. The first loaves are almost done!”
After another cup of cauliflower soup and three pieces of fresh potato bread, the Landers were ready to get down to serious gourmet business.
Ethel drizzled the sliced tomatoes with a red vinegar reduction and then popped them into the roasting oven to broil for exactly two minutes. Just a little heat to pop and bring out their sweetness, she said, but not too much so as to lose the fresh tang.
The potato bread was sliced thin, so as to not overpower the flavors between them. The authentic Italian caprese cheese had been torn by hand – as per the recipe’s order. Everything was almost ready for assembly. The oven rang, indicating the tomatoes were done, and Ethel popped the tray of bursting beauties out of the oven.
“Oooh, that color red with the tinge of blood garnet! It’s scintillatingly superb! Summer,” Ethel cooed, “did you know that color –”
“– and presentation is 80% of the joy of eating food,” Summer recited.
They both laughed.
Ethel took out a spatula and tenderly scooped up each tomato from the rack, then put them on a silver platter. She brought them over to the counter and set them down.
“I think we’re ready…” Ethel turned to Summer with a gleam in her eyes. “Now where is that ground juniper leaf?”
Summer withdrew a velvet pouch from her purse.
“You wanted the juniper leaf collected on the Harvest full moon, right?”
Ethel nodded.
“Right.”
CHAPTER 37
The Cozy Book Club met once a month on the full moon. It seem
ed a fitting time for a club meeting at the new Enchanted Cozy Café, but since it wasn’t yet open, the bakery would do.
Tonight was just the first organization meeting to plan out objectives. I was thrilled to be the group’s leader, elected because I was a writer, and, frankly, the most excited about it.
Ethel had promised to make us some delicious secret appetizer for our first meeting.
My best friend, Elle, came early to help set up. She was elated to get a night off from the lodge to spend with me. I put the CLOSED sign up on the bakery and locked the door until the other members would arrive.
Elle and I popped some beers and sat down at the new counter. I pocketed the caps in my back jeans left hip pocket, as usual.
“Feels good in here,” Elle said with a grin.
Tonight Elle dressed her flaming red hair up in two side ponytails. She didn’t look old enough to be allowed to drink that beer.
“Yeah,” I agreed, looking around the place. “I can’t wait until this horrible mess is settled so we can open up and get back to normal.”
Elle raised an eyebrow over one emerald green eye. “Speaking of normal, how are you doing, Kat? Is your heart still in there, or did you throw it off into the Seine before you got on the plane to come back home?”
I smiled. Elle knew me better than anyone.
“It’s been tough. But I think I’m getting over him. Jerk.”
Elle shook her head. “What was he thinking?”