MJ opened her door and slid out, too. She didn’t have to move too fast to catch up.
“Hey, Tammie,” MJ said.
Tammie looked up and cringed. Next to her bright pink lipstick, her skin was drab, and her too-loose yoga pants hung off her like elephant skin. Hair poked out from under her fabulous silk scarf, but not much.
“I need to speak to you,” MJ continued.
Tammie’s shoulders slumped lower.
“I’m sure you do, but I really don’t have the energy for it today. Can we get into it another time?”
“No, that’s not it.”
Tammie looked confused.
“Chris mentioned you’re going through some tough stuff, so . . . if you need help picking up your daughter or anything, let me know.”
“You’re offering to help me. Really?”
“I’ve realized we all need some help from time to time.” MJ smiled and meant it. “Chris and I have been through some shit, but you were the least of it.”
Tammie stood a little taller.
“I appreciate the offer. Some days it’s tough to get here.”
“Then send me a text, and I’ll pick her up. You need to keep up your strength. I’ll have Chris make you some meals, too. You need to eat more.” Tammie raised her scrawny eyebrows. MJ smiled. “Trust me—you don’t want my cooking.”
“You’re the first person in this whole town to offer any help.”
“Well, you haven’t made it easy to like you, but let’s see if we can change that. My friends Lisa and Ariana agreed to help, too, and they are also much better cooks than I am.”
Kids started streaming out of the school, like ants fleeing from a flooded anthill. They swarmed around the two women and escaped into waiting vehicles. Tammie’s eyes followed the passing students; she was trying to hide the welling tears. She nodded, lips tight in a line. MJ pulled her into a hug and felt the tears free themselves and dampen her shirt.
“It’s not too late. We’re both different than we were in college.”
Some horns started honking in the pickup lane, angry moms venting their own frustration at the world. MJ smiled and waved. Last fall she was there, fighting against the drop-off lane, fighting for something more, not realizing it was all right here. Tammie’s daughter joined them, looking confused at her mom embracing someone.
“Mom?”
“Hey, baby, let’s go.” She turned toward her vehicle.
“Tammie, plan on me bringing her home until I hear otherwise from you, okay?”
Tammie smiled with gratitude and nodded, tears still hanging in her lashes. Tommy and Kate joined MJ as she returned to her car; the horns started honking again as she climbed behind the wheel with a big smile on her face, no longer annoyed with the routine in her tiny corner of the world. She loved every bit of it.
The crowd bustled around MJ and Chris as they stood in front of a stall, her first time at this farmers market. A quartet of teenagers sawed away at the Brandenburg Concertos, an empty violin case collecting spare change and wrinkled dollar bills. There was a stall for anything—fruits and veggies, syrup, meat and cheese—but not so many that a trip here would eat up the whole morning. They’d left the kids at home. Tommy was in the middle of his baseball season and Kate was helping Ariana at her office for the summer, payment for the strings she and Kyle yanked to get her into UW-Madison. In front of them was a stand owned by the restaurant where they might have reconciled if MJ hadn’t lost track of time, A Simple Twist. They sold locally grown produce and amazing desserts, especially a coconut cake to die for. Just looking at it made her mouth water.
“So, what’s for dinner?” MJ asked. Chris grinned at her joke.
This was their solution, the plan they came up with. Each weekend they’d hit the farmers market and make dinner together. He would teach MJ how to cook a new dish, then they’d head out for a night at the theater, or the latest superhero movie, or even the casino for an evening of casual poker—only if they could play at the same table. MJ loved the sight of Chris standing alongside her at the cutting board, dicing vegetables and sautéing something delicious. Sometimes the kids would eat dinner with them; sometimes it was just the two of them. But they were together.
“What do you want?” He slipped his arm around her back and pulled her in close, so they were standing hip to hip, admiring the cacophony of color before them. He nuzzled her ear, sending shivers down her spine despite the warm summer air. She could feel his weekend scruff brushing her cheek.
“I don’t really care, as long as we have that cake for dessert.”
She pointed at the huge, frosted delicacy, sprinkled liberally with toasted coconut. A giant man, complete with tattoos, beard, and a bandana, stopped in front of her. He wore a sleeveless chef’s jacket with the name Harley stitched onto it, and despite his imposing appearance, his eyes crinkled with kindness.
“Do you want me to wrap one up for you?” he asked.
“Yes, please,” MJ said. As Harley boxed up a cake for her, Chris picked up a bunch of asparagus and looked at her. “How about grilled lamb chops and asparagus? Maybe you can make baked potatoes to go with it.”
MJ rolled her eyes. She could manage a decent baked potato now, most of the time.
He kissed her softly on the lips, trying to keep it brief, but MJ wrapped her arms around his neck, the produce selections still cradled in his arms, and pulled him in for more.
“Ahem.” Harley cleared his throat, holding out the cake box to them. “It’s nice to see a couple so in love, but you’re holding up the line.”
MJ tried to blush but couldn’t muster it. She was too happy and too in love. She handed over the money for the cake and vegetables and stepped away from the table, admiring Chris as he maneuvered their purchases into the tote bags they brought with them. Rediscovering Chris’s passion for food gave her another reason to adore him, a whole new side of him to love.
How many people were lucky enough to keep falling in love with the same person over and over? So much luck in her life, MJ thought . . . not to mention love and lemon pie.
Anniversary Pie
By Chris Boudreaux
Back in college, I made a simpler version of this pie—a plain crust, filling, and canned whipped cream. Over the years I’ve amped up the lemon flavors. A good recipe, like a good marriage, is always improving—and I can honestly say it’s better than ever before. Pie up!
Crust
The crust is the hardest part of this recipe—not because crust is hard to make but because the rest of the recipe is so simple. If you prefer, feel free to use your favorite piecrust recipe for a single crust—or even a store-bought one. This is my favorite because I’ve added in a little extra lemon flavor. I like to use a food processor, but you can use a mixer or do it by hand with a pastry blender.
11/4 c unbleached all-purpose flour
1/4 tsp table salt
2 tbsp sugar
2 tbsp lemon zest
6 tbsp unsalted butter, chilled and cut into 1/2-inch slices
4 tbsp lard, chilled and cut into 2 pieces
2 tbsp lemon vodka, chilled
2 tbsp water, chilled
In a food processor, mix the flour, salt, sugar, and lemon zest together, about 3 to 4 pulses. Add in the butter and lard. Pulse until the butter and lard are broken down into pea-size pieces or smaller, 10 to 15 pulses.
Dump the flour mixture into a separate bowl and sprinkle with the vodka and water. Using a fork, mix until it comes together. Using your hands, form it into a 4-inch disk, wrap in plastic wrap, and chill for at least 30 minutes.
Flour the counter and roll out the dough into a 12-inch circle. Loosely roll the dough around the rolling pin, then unroll it into the pie plate, forming the dough to the pie plate. Trim overhang to a 1/2 inch and tuck under, pinching or using the tines of a fork to form an edge. Chill for another 20 minutes.
Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line the crust with foil and fill with pie weights (I use a poun
d of dried beans). Bake for 15 minutes. Remove the foil and weights, then bake another 5 to 10 minutes, until crust is golden and crispy.
Filling
1 14-ounce can sweetened condensed milk
4 egg yolks
1/3 c heavy cream
2 tbsp lemon zest
1/2 c fresh lemon juice
pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, whisk all the ingredients together until fully combined.
Set pie plate on a baking sheet (this makes it easy to take in and out of the oven) and pour the filling into the baked piecrust. The piecrust doesn’t need to be cooled.
Bake pie until the filling edges are set but it still wobbles in the middle, about 15 to 17 minutes.
Cool completely on a wire rack, then refrigerate for at least four hours before topping with the whipped cream.
Lemon Syrup
This is the kick in your pants that makes this pie extra delicious. Trust me.
1/4 c fresh lemon juice
1/4 c sugar
Combine juice and sugar in a small saucepan and bring to a boil for 2 minutes. Cool.
Brush 1/2 of the syrup on the cooled crust of the lemon pie. Reserve at least 2 tbsp for the whipped cream.
Whipped Cream
1 c heavy cream
2 tbsp lemon syrup
Using a mixer, whip the cream and syrup together on medium until combined, then raise the speed to high until stiff peaks form.
Spread onto to the chilled pie filling and serve.
Acknowledgments
Rachel Ekstrom, you are my agent extraordinaire, always ready to answer my random questions and provide much needed wisdom. Most importantly, thank you for introducing me to the mouth-watering strawberry hotcakes at Pamela’s Diner!
Kate Dresser, my other half! This book wouldn’t be here without your spot-on feedback and much-needed enthusiasm—especially in those moments when I stared into the inky depths in the Pit of Despair. You knew what I wanted this book to be before I did, and you’re almost always right, except about my geeky shout-outs—then you’re wrong.
Kristin Dwyer, not only are you a brilliant publicist who works her ass off for my books, but you are my DVR soul mate.
Thank you to the fantastic team at Gallery, including but not limited to: Louise Burke, Jennifer Bergstrom, Ciara Robinson (who catches all the embarrassing mistakes I make), Becky Prager, Susan Rella, Liz Psaltis, Melanie Mitzman, Diana Velasquez, Mackenzie Hickey, Davina Mock—I’m so honored to be a part of the Gallery family!
Merci to Baror International, Inc., who does such an exceptional job with foreign rights.
To all my writing friends whom I can count on to beta read, talk me off a ledge, and share a celebratory cider—Sarah Henning, Sarah Cannon, Carla Cullen (especially for our long car rides to hash out story ideas), all my Debs (Karma Brown, Colleen Oakley, Sona Charaipotra, and Shelly King) for sharing our exciting debut year together, all my wise Tall Poppies (there are too many to list), and lastly, Mark Benson and Melissa Marino—you see the good, bad, and ugly, and still respond to my texts.
Thank you to Stephen Amell—for inventing and sharing the word “sinceriously,” and inspiring my characters to invent their own words.
Thank you, Joan Folvag, for your unending support of Cake and letting me borrow the name of your wonderful coffee shop. You really do make the best scones!
Courtney and Jim Marschalek for letting me shamelessly steal your adorable meet-cute and Anniversary Pie tradition for MJ and Chris. I owe you some baked goods.
My family and friends for being so supportive and not too judgmental that my house is a mess all the time because I’m “working,” even when working looks a lot like playing on the Internet.
A special shout-out to my mom, Mary Guertin, who inspired Barbara’s independent, will-do attitude. There is nothing you can’t do!
My kiddos, Ainsley and Sam—thank you for being just as excited as I am that I make up stories for a living, and understanding that when my office door is shut, you need to figure out who has control of the TV on your own.
John, my one and only, you are my first reader, and for L3, you were also my poker expert, letting me know when I got it all wrong. I can count on you to call my bullshit, make me laugh when I’m too stressed, and give me time when I need to work. You’re always willing to read my latest revision on a moment’s notice, and your feedback always makes my stories stronger. Without you, none of this would be possible.
Check out Amy E. Reichert's previous novel, THE COINCIDENCE OF COCONUT CAKE!
YOU'VE GOT MAIL meets HOW TO EAT A CUPCAKE in this delightful novel about a talented chef and the food critic who brings down her restaurant—whose chance meeting turns into a delectable romance of mistaken identities.
The Coincidence of Coconut Cake
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ORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!
GALLERY READER’S GROUP GUIDE
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AMY E. REICHERT
This reading group guide for Luck, Love & Lemon Pie includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. The suggested questions are intended to help your reading group find new and interesting angles and topics for your discussion. We hope that these ideas will enrich your conversation and increase your enjoyment of the book.
Introduction
Sometimes, you have to risk it all to reap the ultimate reward.
Milwaukee-area wife and mother MJ Boudreaux is becoming increasingly frustrated with the state of her marriage. But, rather than feel angry with her husband, Chris, she is more concerned about how she isn’t that upset by his lack of attention.
In an attempt to make more of an effort in her marriage and reignite their love, MJ picks up Chris’s favorite hobby, poker, so that they can spend more time together. But when MJ discovers that she is quite a talented poker player, her show of good faith only causes more strife. Tumult arises in her marriage when MJ chooses to spend more time on the felt top of the poker table than at home with her family.
After picking up a tournament win, MJ finds herself in Las Vegas, where she attracts the attention of poker’s most notorious, and handsome, bad boy. MJ must make the riskiest bet of all—follow her new exciting lifestyle or go home to her family—and her decision just might cost her everything.
Topics & Questions for Discussion
1. At the start of the novel, MJ acknowledges that she and Chris have not been on the same page. Rather than expressing her concerns to her husband, MJ proposes, “It’s easier if I just fix it myself. I just need a plan of attack.” Is MJ’s idea irresponsible? Immature? What do you think of her strategy to “fix it”? If you were her, how would you approach the situation?
2. While contemplating her marital issues, MJ asserts, “Perhaps love was like any other habit, practice it enough and it becomes a part of you.” Do you agree? Does love need to be practiced, or should it just come naturally? Is a relationship doomed if it requires so much work?
3. Lemon custard pie is a symbol of the love and commitment MJ and Chris share. Do you have a favorite culinary dish that is associated with wonderful memories? How has this dish become so special to you or your family? Why do you think people oftentimes commemorate special moments or celebrations with food?
4. MJ’s family has their own motto—Boudreaux’s Do It Ourselves (B-DIO)—that they recite in times of encouragement and decision-making. Do you and your family have your own family motto? What does it mean? Does it continue to influence you today?
5. Communication, or lack thereof, is a major source of contention amongst the characters in the novel. Discuss the paranoia and distrust that percolates within MJ and Chris’s marriage because they avoid their issues. How could some of their problems been resolved if they had talked about their feelings? How has lack of communication also affected MJ’s relationship with her daughter, Kate? Is there someone in your life that you fail to communicate properly with? Why do you
think that is? How do you overcome it?
6. Since MJ had an absent father, her mother taught her from a young age about the value of independence. How do you think her mother’s values influenced MJ’s mentality on love? Is her self-reliant approach clouding her ability to reconnect with Chris?
7. Luck, Love & Lemon Pie offers a wealth of knowledge and insight into the world of poker. Have you ever played poker? What have you learned about the game while reading the novel? Would you risk your odds at the poker table?
8. While playing poker, MJ feels engaged and attentive. She says, “Her body settled into a zone, muffling the ambient sounds to a low hum. She matched her play to the even and controlled breaths she took. If she were a yogi, she might wonder if she’d achieved nirvana. This was bliss.” Is MJ romanticizing poker, or do you think she really is that connected to the game? In what ways is poker an escape for her? Can you relate to MJ’s sense of connection to an activity or sport?
9. Discuss Doyle’s motivation in pursuing MJ. Why is he so intrigued by her? Can he be trusted? Does MJ ever cross the line when spending time with him? In what ways is her new friendship with Doyle a coping mechanism for her circumstances at home?
10. Denial, silence, and jealousy plague MJ and Chris’s marriage throughout the novel. Were you sympathetic to their struggles, or do you think the downfall of their marriage is their own fault? Is it normal for such hardships to exist in any long-standing relationship? How can a couple overcome these issues?
11. Jerry shared with MJ that he, too, had marital problems with his wife, but they persevered. He said, “When the love is real, even when you can’t find it under mountains of hurt feelings and shuttered emotions, it’s not really gone. All it takes is finding one new reason to fall in love. Just one, and all the other reasons become clear again.” Do you agree? Do MJ and Chris find one new reason to fall in love, or is it too late?
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