by Julie Allan
“I can’t believe you think I could commit murder! I don’t care if Sweet Pea was around for the Civil War. Mrs. McGantry will never forgive me.”
Lizzie’s distress was so palpable that Bennett pulled her to him and hugged her, kissing the top of her head. “I don’t think it will be as dramatic as all that. I think I have one thing we can do that will help.”
He released her and made a call to one of their old high school classmates, who was now a vet in his father’s practice. After a short conversation, Bennett got a towel from his truck and carefully wrapped Sweet Pea in it. He placed the cat in the bed of his truck.
“Michael will examine Sweet Pea and determine the cause of death. He can store the body until we find out if Mrs. McGantry wants Sweet Pea buried or cremated. Come on, Lizzie, lock up and I will follow you back to the house. We can go see Michael together. Tomorrow, I will wait here with you to meet Mrs. McGantry when she gets home.”
“Why are you so good to me?” Lizzie mumbled half to herself.
“Has it ever occurred to you I might still care about you?” Bennett blurted. Then he backtracked. “Your Uncle George would expect no less from me. Come on, let’s go.
We shouldn’t keep Michael waiting. He’s coming into the clinic just for us.”
Lizzie sighed, locked the door and drove back to park her car before getting into Bennett’s truck. It was going to be a long night.
Chapter Thirteen
Lizzie and Bennett sat in silence on the steps in front of Mrs. McGantry’s door. Both looked at each other in surprise as Mr. Lee’s car pulled up with Mrs. McGantry in the passenger seat. Mr. Lee and Mrs. McGantry exchanged a hand caught in the cookie jar kind of look as Mrs. McGantry said, “I wasn’t expecting a welcoming party ... um ... Mr. Lee and I met up at the baggage claim and he graciously offered me a ride home.”
“I am not sure how to tell you this,” Lizzie began. Before she could continue, Bennett jumped in.
Taking Mrs. McGantry’s hands in his own, he gently led her into the house and sat her down in a chair. Still holding on to her hands he knelt down to be at eye level with her. “I regret we have to tell you, Sweet Pea has gone to heaven. Dr. Brown, Jr. examined her and told us it was her time. There was nothing Lizzie could have done to prevent her passing. Her record showed she was twenty-two years old,” he gently explained to her.
McGantry’s eyes misted over. “My poor Sweet Pea! Dr. Brown, Sr. did tell me she had outlived her life span and it was common for cats to go away or wait for me to go away to pass on,” she said.
She is taking this better than I thought she would. Thank goodness Bennett is here to handle this.
Mr. Lee sat beside Mrs. McGantry and placed his hand on her back. “I’m sorry, Marie. I know how much you loved that cat,” he said.
Mrs. McGantry smiled at him, “I really did, but everything has its season.” She glanced back and forth from Lizzie to Bennett. “Nice to see you two as a team,” she added.
Lizzie blushed and Bennett suddenly developed an interest in studying the pattern on the living room rug.
Mr. Lee said, “I’ll stay with Marie. You kids run on.”
Out on the sidewalk, Lizzie turned to Bennett. “Thanks Bennett. You really had a gentle touch with her. I know that made all the difference.”
“You’re welcome. You know Lizzie, no matter what, I’ll always have your back. All you have to do is call.” “Good to know,” she replied. “That goes both ways, you know.”
“Good night Lizzie. See you around.” Lizzie watched as Bennett got in his truck and drove away before she headed home. If she could only be brave enough to tell Bennett she wanted much more than back up.
She could not wait to email Aunt Dorothy and tell her all about the cat calamity.
The next few weeks were fairly routine with the exception of her twenty-ninth birthday and a surprise delivery from France from Aunt Dorothy.
“I can’t believe she sent me authentic French baking molds!” she exclaimed to M.A., who had arrived at The Biscuit Box with a cupcake, complete with a lit candle to make a wish. Lizzie closed her eyes, thought of Bennett, wished with all her might and blew.
“So ... what did you wish for? That was a pretty intense expression you had on your face,” M.A. observed. “You know better than to ask. If I tell you, my wish won’t come true,” Lizzie sassed.
The door jangled. Lizzie looked toward it ready to greet her customer, but was surprised to find herself face-to-face with Bennett. “Hey, Bennett.” She tried to keep her voice casual while her heart pounded up into her ears. Had M.A. rigged that cupcake with a magic candle?
“Hey Lizzie ... M.A. I need a coffee and a half dozen of your pecan tassies to go please,” he said, reaching for his wallet.
“Coming right up,” Lizzie answered reaching for a bag for the tassies.
“Oh, and Amy asked me to invite you for Thanksgiving. She said she won’t take no for an answer. She has collected Mr. Lee and Mrs. McGantry too. You won’t be the only holiday orphan at the table. Oh, and happy birthday,” he added.
“Okay, I guess I’m coming for Thanksgiving. Tell Amy I will call to see what I can bring.” She handed Bennett his change, tassies and coffee.
M.A. had stood there observing the exchange and when Bennett had departed, she turned to Lizzie and said, “I don’t have to ask what you wished for. I think it just came true!” She gave Lizzie a quick kiss on the cheek and waltzed out before Lizzie could protest.
The two weeks that led up to Thanksgiving were slammed with extra orders for biscuit boxes, side dishes and casseroles with the majority of the pickups being the afternoon before Thanksgiving and Lizzie found herself back to twelve hour days. She had found time to touch base with Amy and get her assignment for the Thanksgiving feast, an oyster dressing for the dinner and spiced pecans for the cocktail hour. She had also told Lizzie to bring Lucky and Ella, as all family should be together on the holiday. So Lizzie had stayed up late Thanksgiving eve to make the pecans and prep for the dressing so she could lounge in her pajamas and take in the Macy’s Parade.
She was over the moon when the phone rang and Aunt Dorothy was on the other end. “I can’t believe you are calling all the way from Greece!” she exclaimed.
“Child, Thanksgiving is a day for family and I am missing you so much! But I will tell you we are continuing to have a grand time, Maggie even tried the grappa. I am so glad you will be with Bennett today,” Aunt Dorothy said.
“Well, it’s not with Bennett. He will be there, but it’s at Amy’s house.” Lizzie tried to sound nonchalant.
“It sounds like you’re splitting hairs, child. Be thankful for this opportunity to rebuild the bridge between you. And I don’t want to hear you’re not interested, or he isn’t. I think I know the two of you better than that. Listen, got to run. We are catching a boat to see some of the islands. Love you to the moon and back,” Aunt Dorothy declared.
“Love you too! Send more pictures,” Lizzie replied, and hung up the phone feeling so thankful to have the best aunt in the world.
Lizzie finished preparing the oyster dressing and donned a gray tropic weight wool pencil skirt and an emerald green silk blouse. She put on what was becoming her signature emerald jewelry and took extra care with her makeup and hair. Then stowing the dressing in a cooler to keep curious canine noses out of it, loaded the food and the dogs in the car and headed for Amy’s house.
The afternoon was pleasantly passed with appetizers, cocktails and preparations for the main meal. Lizzie helped in the kitchen as naturally as if she were a member of the family. It was so nice to spend some time with Bennett’s mom and Memaw.
“I hear you make a shrimp salad to rival mine,” Memaw said.
“Yes, ma’am ... I mean no ma’am, not unless you believe your grandson is a qualified food critic,” Lizzie stammered, not wanting to p
resume her cooking could truly be superior to that of a woman who had been cooking longer than Lizzie had been on this earth.
Memaw reached over and patted Lizzie’s hand. “I take no offense. My family has been bringing me samples of your delectable creations for months now and I wholeheartedly agree with my grandson’s assessment. You, Lizzie Long, are a gifted cook.”
Lizzie flushed with pleasure. “Thank you ma’am. That means more to me than you could possibly know,” Lizzie answered. Memaw was renowned for her culinary skills much like Aunt Dorothy.
“Well, we know you can out cook me,” chimed in Mrs. Wilson. They all laughed. It was no secret the cooking gene had skipped a generation with Bennett’s mom. She was known for burnt offerings that frequently set off the smoke detector.
“That’s okay Mama. No one can smock as adorable a dress as you,” Amy reassured her mother.
“Thank you darlin’. At least I mastered some of the domestic arts,” Mrs. Wilson replied. The four women put the finishing touches on the feast and called the men folk and the children to eat.
Amy had a dining room table that accommodated most of her guests but she also had a second table set up in the formal living room. She had place cards at each place and had conspired to place Bennett and Lizzie at the secondary table along with the kids. After they had gathered around the main table to hold hands and say the blessing, Bennett and Lizzie helped the children get situated with their plates.
At first Lizzie felt a little self-conscious, but soon Bennett had her in stitches as he told tall tales and made puppets out of the napkins to entertain his nephews and niece. Jeremy, Bennett’s mini-me nephew, got particularly wound up and in an impulsive moment. He flicked a spoon of mashed potatoes at his big brother Charlie, who promptly responded with a spoon of his own, Charlie’s aim was poor and he hit Bennett instead, who gleefully joined in flinging potatoes across the table hitting Jeremy square in the nose. They were all laughing now and Jeremy reached his hand into the bowl of potatoes on the table, scooping a fist full just as Bennett stood up to move around the table and gain some control over the situation before Amy could blow her cool.
She was already hollering from the dining room, “What’s going on?” As Bennett moved behind Lizzie’s chair, Jeremy launched his potato volley and it landed on Lizzie’s forehead and slid down her face and onto her blouse just as Amy and Scott stuck their heads in the door to see what all the noise was about.
Lizzie turned multiple shades of red and began to shake, Bennett looked at her, waiting for the explosion of anger, but instead she swiped her face with her finger and licked it, declaring, “Tasty!” Then she burst out laughing. The rest of the table began to giggle uncontrollably and Amy and Scott joined in, unable to keep stern faces. Although they did decide to make Jeremy apologize to Lizzie and removed the tempting bowl back to the sideboard.
Lizzie took a quick shower and borrowed some clothes from Amy. This seemed to be the norm for a visit to the Hutchins’ house. She rejoined the group in time to gather in the den to eat dessert and enjoy some coffee. It was wonderful to feel part of the family. It felt great to not be worried about her image, as she had been on all the Thanksgivings she had spent with Mark, not with family but as guests at the homes of potential political backers.
She sat back and watched as Bennett alternately rubbed Lucky and Ella’s belly, as Scott and Amy were affectionately interacting with their kids and Mrs. McGantry was laughing at some story Mr. Lee was regaling her with. This is what a holiday should be. It wasn’t Norman Rockwell; it was better. It was genuine and she wished with all her heart the Thanksgivings in her future would be no less than today.
The day after Thanksgiving launched a holiday season like no other Lizzie had experienced. She was swamped with orders and had to hire a few seasonal workers to get through the crunch. On a Tuesday in the middle of the holiday whirl, she had just finished a marathon session of gift basket assembly in the afternoon lull and looked up when she heard the customer door jingle and found herself looking directly at Mark.
Immediately she felt her shoulders tense and her temple begin to throb. Mark did not speak at first but with an assessor’s eye took in the shop and then a long appraising look at Lizzie herself. “What brings you to town?” Lizzie heard herself saying, marveling at the control she heard in her voice.
“Darlin, I thought I ought to check in and see how you’re doing,” Mark replied. Lizzie found it hard to resist the urge to gag.
He was laying it on thick. He must want something, Red Alert, Red Alert flashed across her brain. “As you can see, I am just fine. Did you want to make a purchase or are you just browsing?” She struggled to keep the sarcasm out of her voice.
“Lizzie ... I think I was a little hasty to not give our marriage a fighting chance. You see, you really are the girl for me. Besides, now that you have access to some funds, we can go all the way to the governor’s mansion ... what do you say baby, you can’t possibly want to waste your time in this little shop for the rest of your life?” Mark said, ignoring her question.
“I can’t even believe you have the gall to say that to me, let alone show your face here! Are you really that arrogant, Mark? Did you really think now that I have some money—which by the way is all mine since we are legally separated—that you could get your grubby paws on it? Why would I choose to come back to you?” Lizzie ranted incredulously.
“Darlin’, you can’t do any better than me. Without me you will amount to nothing. I see you still have not mastered the art of self-control ...”
Mark suddenly went quiet. Lizzie felt a strong hand wrap around and rest on her shoulder. She looked up to see Bennett quietly staring Mark down. He did not speak to Mark, but asked Lizzie, “Everything alright here? I wouldn’t want to upset our little bun in the oven.”
Lizzie’s eyes grew wide. She looked from Bennett to Mark. Mark sneered and said, “Not surprised you would get yourself knocked up. I can see I am wasting my time here. I knew you weren’t first lady material, but I’ll admit your inheritance was motivation to try and make a go of it.” Mark sneered as his fake charm faded, revealing the cold and calculating man he truly was.
“I can see a quick divorce is the only option we have left.” And with not so much as a “have a great life” or a “sorry for messing up your life,” Mark turned on his heel and strode out of The Biscuit Box. Lizzie blinked back tears, not for losing Mark, but for the years he had stolen from her.
Bennett gently kissed her on the top of the head, “Told you, I will always have your back.”
“A bun in the oven ... That’s how you have my back? Though the look on Mark’s face was priceless. How did he know about my inheritance?” Lizzie said.
“I’m sure it came out in prep for the divorce, and when he realized the only way he could get his hands on it was if you reconciled, he felt compelled to give it a go.”
“Well I can’t wait until the ink is dried on those divorce papers and I can officially be Lizzie Long again.”
“You will always be Lizzie Long to me,” Bennett murmured, and slipped back through the kitchen door.
Lizzie stood still for a moment grateful the shop was empty. She turned to go after Bennett. Entering the kitchen, she called, “Wait ... why are you here?”
Zoe looked up from the pot she was stirring on the stove. “He just left, but he left you an official looking envelope over on the desk.”
Lizzie walked over and picked up the thick legal-sized envelope and carefully opened it. Inside she found documents for a sales contract for the building The Biscuit Box was occupying. Her name was listed as the purchaser, and he was giving her the opportunity to be her own landlord.
Lizzie held the papers close to her heart. It was overwhelming to know he believed in her with no strings ... or was he cutting the strings of their landlord-tenant relationship with her because he didn’t want to have any
obligations to her? I sure wish Aunt Dorothy was here, she thought. Am I over thinking this? Before she could contemplate any further the shop door jangled and she plastered on a smile and stepped out to greet her customer.
Chapter Fourteen
The weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas had been a whirlwind, Lizzie had even hired three seasonal helpers just to keep up with the gift basket orders and two more to help between the kitchen and the storefront. So when Christmas Eve arrived and she closed the shop two hours early, she indulged in an afternoon nap. Lizzie was careful to set the alarm. She was afraid that once her head hit the pillow she would not wake up until Christmas was over.
When the alarm went off she groaned, regretting for a moment that she had promised M.A. she would spend the night over at her house. It took a great deal of effort to haul herself to an upright state. She took a quick shower and dressed for the midnight service they would attend at church. Then she packed up some festive pajamas, along with a set of clothes for the next day. Once she had gathered her toiletries, she packed up bowls and food for Lucky and Ella and loaded them and all the stuff in the car.
She was grateful that M.A. had not asked her to cook or bake anything, but she knew she would help out in the kitchen once she was there. She was excited that she would be present to watch the kids open their gifts. She especially wanted to see the reaction of her godchild, Elizabeth, to the children’s cookbook and adorable apron set she had found.
Now that M.A. and Jim had moved into their new house, they announced they would host the holidays and if the grandparents wanted to see the grandchildren they would come there. The days of running between and eating two dinners for every holiday were over. M.A. and Jim had laid the law down and were amazed at how easily the two sets of grandparents had agreed. At least it would work until their respective siblings got married and had children. Lizzie arrived to find the house in the throes of cookie baking for Santa.