04 Cold Case and Cupcakes
Page 10
“Uh-huh.” Meg took the bottle and two big gulps before kissing her mom on the cheek. “Good night, Mama.” She turned to Dan and did the same. “Good night, Dad.”
“Good night, honey,” Dan replied, his eyes moist with tears of affection.
“What did you say, honey?” Amelia asked softly, knowing exactly what she had heard.
“I just said ‘Good night, Dan.’” The muzzy teenager shuffled back to the steps, heading back up to her mother’s bed.
Amelia sat down next to Dan again.
“I think the kids would appreciate it if you stayed the night. I know I’d feel better tonight if you did.”
Dan slipped his arm around Amelia’s waist and pulled her close to him.
“I’d feel better if I did, too.”
Chapter Fourteen
It took some time for the tire to be repaired on The Pink Cupcake. Thankfully, after a little research on Lila’s part, they found out the flat tire being done through a suspected act of vandalism was not only covered under her insurance policy, but paid out double.
“So that isn’t too bad.” Lila polished her nails on her shirt, giving Amelia a wink and a bump with her hip as she scooted past her to take up her station at the order window.
“I’m not going to complain. I actually must have needed that week off. I slept in every day. I let the kids stay home one day, but as soon as they found out they were on the news in regard to the suicide of Tim Casey, they were ready to face the many questions of their peers.”
“I don’t mean to be morbid, but if the kids can get a little joy out of what that monster did, I say let them. When you’re dealt lemons…”
“Speaking of which! Taste these.”
Amelia had perfected her newest creation inspired by the words of her boyfriend over lunch and crime scene photos just nine short days ago.
“I call them Lemon Drops,” Amelia boasted. “So anyone can have lemon cupcakes, but I dropped in just a pinch of almond and squeezed fresh lemon juice into the frosting. So there is a real zing to it. The candy lemon drops on top were Meg’s idea.”
“You know who will love these? Teenagers. They love sour candy for some reason.” Lila took a bite, getting a tiny dollop of frosting on her nose. Her eyes practically rolled to the back in her head. “It’s like a slice of lemonade,” she gushed. “Second best after PB and J cupcakes.”
“I concur.” Amelia helped herself to a bite of the cupcake in Lila’s hand.
“Dare I ask what John had to say about it?” Lila quickly took another huge bite.
Amelia took a drink of water from a bottle she had on the table and shrugged.
“He said everything except that he thought the kids were better off with him. He loves the idea of parenting from a distance and being up close Friday night through Sunday morning.” She took a napkin and wiped her mouth. “I had to hang up on him a few times.”
“Have you ever mentioned it to Dan?”
“No. It’s none of John’s business that I am seeing Dan, and Dan is too good of a guy for me to get him involved with John’s neurosis.”
From outside the truck, Gavin yelled his hellos without stopping to chat.
“What did you do to that poor guy?” Lila looked angrily at Amelia. “You may not have found his advances charming, but I was enjoying the view. Now I have to catch it on the fly when he’s giving out samples or picking up litter from around his truck.”
“I think showing up at my house with enough cops to be in a Macy’s parade scared him off.”
“I don’t know.” Lila took another bite. “He still strains his neck to watch you if you are outside. I’ve seen him do it.”
“Whatever.” Amelia shook her hips. “Girl can’t help it.”
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Recipe 1: “Lemon Drops” Cupcakes
Makes 12
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup milk
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1/2 cup butter, room temperature
• 2 eggs, room temperature
• 2 teaspoons lemon extract
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 5 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
Frosting:
• 1 cup icing sugar
• 3 tbsp butter, softened
• 2 tsp lemon extract
• 1 tsp milk
• 5 drops yellow food coloring (optional)
• lemon drops
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line muffin tin. Beat white sugar, butter, eggs, and lemon extract until smooth and creamy. In another bowl, sift flour, baking powder, and salt. Add flour mixture to butter mixture, along with milk.
Add food coloring (optional).
Divide batter among muffin cups. Bake for 15-20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into cupcake comes out clean.
For frosting: Beat butter, lemon extract, and milk together until smooth. Add food coloring (optional). Beat icing sugar into mixture.
Pipe frosting onto cooled cupcakes. Top with lemon drops.
Recipe 2: Chili Cornbread Muffin
Makes 12
• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup cornmeal
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 3 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1/2 cup skim milk
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil
• 1 large egg, lightly beaten
• 4 ounces canned green chilies, chopped
Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line muffin cups in tin.
Whisk flour, cornmeal, sugars, baking powder, and salt in a bowl.
In another bowl, mix together the rest of the ingredients. Add to dry ingredients, stirring until blended.
Pour batter into muffin cups. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until top springs back when pushed. Let cool in pan before serving.
All Books by Harper Lin
The Pink Cupcake Mysteries
Sweets and a Stabbing: Book 1
A Deadly Bridal Shower: Book 2
Food Festival and a Funeral: Book 3
The Cape Bay Cafe Mysteries
Cappuccinos, Cupcakes, and a Corpse: Book 1
Tea, Tiramisu, and Tough Guys: Book 2
Margaritas, Marzipan, and Murder: Book 3
Lattes, Ladyfingers, and Lies: Book 4
Americanos, Apple Pies and Art Thieves: Book 5
The Emma Wild 4-book Holiday Series
4-Book Holiday Series
Killer Christmas: Book 1
New Year’s Slay: Book 2
Death of a Snowman: Book 3
Valentine’s Victim: Book 4
Complete 4-Book Box Set
The Patisserie Mysteries
Macaron Murder: Book 1
Éclair Murder: Book 2
Baguette Murder: Book 3
Crêpe Murder: Book 4
Croissant Murder: Book 5
Crème Brûlée Murder: Book 6
Madeleine Murder: Book 7
Opera Cake Murder: Book 8
Chocolat Chaud Murder: Book 9
Box Set Volume I: Books 1-4
Box Set Volume II: Books 5-8
The Wonder Cats Mysteries
A Hiss-tory of Magic: Book 1
Pawsitively Dead: Book 2
Cat-atrophic Spells: Book 3
The Scariest Tail: Book 4
Purr-fect Getaway: Book 5
Box Set Volume I: Books 1-3
A Note From Harper
Thank you so much for reading my books. If you were entertained by this Pink Cupcake mystery, please recommend it to friends and family who would enjoy it too. I would also really appreciate it if you could write a book review to help spread the word.
While you wait for book 5 to come out, you might also enjoy my other dessert mystery series:
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• The Cape Bay Cafe Mysteries: about an amateur sleuth/ owner of an Italian family cafe in a charming beach town.
• The Patisserie Mysteries: a culinary cozy series set in Paris featuring French dessert recipes.
• The Emma Wild Mysteries: a 4-Book holiday cozy series about a famous singer returning to her small Canadian town.
If you want to be the first to hear about new book releases and early bird specials, sign up for my mailing list.
I’m also on Facebook, where I’ll be holding giveaways, sharing recipes, and posting about what I’m reading at the moment.
Follow my Pinterest boards to see the locations, fashions, and inspirations behind each book.
You can also connect with me on Goodreads.
If you’d like to get in touch with me directly, you can email me at harperlinauthor@outlook.com. I would love to hear what you think about the books. Do also drop me a note if you happen to catch any mistakes. While each book is edited and proofread by professionals, errors can still slip through sometimes. As an indie writer, I want to provide readers with the smoothest read possible.
Last but not least, visit my website for the latest news and my blog.
Thanks and much love,
Harper
About the Author
Harper Lin is the USA TODAY bestselling author of 5 cozy mystery series including The Patisserie Mysteries and The Cape Bay Cafe Mysteries.
When she's not reading or writing mysteries, she loves going to yoga classes, hiking, and hanging out with her family and friends.
www.HarperLin.com