by Joanne Fluke
Hannah was silent, but she squeezed her friend’s hand. Sometimes it was best to be silent and let the other person speak.
“Tom gets a phone call and he leaves. He already has a bag packed in the closet and he adds a couple of things and goes to the airport. He doesn’t even ask me to take him there like I used to do. He just puts his car in long-term parking and gets on a plane. And sometimes . . .” Lynne stopped speaking and cleared her throat. “He doesn’t even tell me where he’s going. All he says is that he’ll be back in a couple of days, but there have been times when it’s a week or longer. He calls me every once in a while, but usually he can’t talk long. I know it has something to do with his work, but I’m not entirely sure exactly where he is or what he’s doing there.”
Hannah sighed. “That must be very difficult for you, especially since you have your own career to think of. I knew that Tom was a successful businessman, but I don’t think I ever knew exactly what he did for a living.”
“He’s an investment counselor, but on a higher level than most investment counselors. Tom works with big corporations and he brings them investment opportunities. He knows everyone who’s on the boards of corporations and he keeps his ears open for any rumors about mergers and takeovers and things like that. When he hears something he thinks is viable, he alerts his corporate clients that there may be an opportunity for them to invest.”
“But he also does something with theater and movies, doesn’t he?”
“Yes, and he’s very good at that. Tom’s corporate clients have made a bundle investing in Broadway plays, pilots for television, and independent films. He has a real knack for it. He doesn’t get burned very often and every one of his corporate clients knows that. And that means they usually take a chance on anything Tom brings them.”
“Here’s your wine, ladies,” Dot said as she opened the curtain and delivered the white wine that Lynne had chosen. “Shall I pour for you?”
“That would be nice,” Lynne said with a smile.
Dot poured a small bit of wine in one wineglass and handed it to Lynne. “Would you please taste this and see if it’s to your liking?”
“Of course.” Lynne took a sip and nodded. “That’s lovely. Thanks for your recommendation, Dot. It’ll be perfect with our entrées.”
“And it’ll be perfect with Rusty’s Cheese and Garlic Stuffed Mushrooms,” Sally said, appearing behind Dot and placing a platter on the table between Lynne and Hannah. “They’re a little hot, so please let them cool a bit before you taste them.”
“How long?” Hannah asked.
“Three minutes or so should do it.” Sally smiled at Hannah. “Do you think it’s possible for you to wait that long?”
“It’ll be hard, but I can do it,” Hannah declared, reaching out to touch one of the mushrooms and drawing her finger back quickly. “You’re right, Sally. I’ll wait.”
“It’s that or you won’t taste anything else for the rest of the night.” Sally reached for the wine bucket to fill Lynne’s wineglass all the way and pour a glass for Hannah. “Just sip a little wine and keep on talking. It’ll distract you.”
“How can we be distracted when those mushrooms smell so wonderful?” Lynne asked her.
“I don’t know, but I do know that it’s a good thing I’m not that hungry,” Sally replied. “If I hadn’t had lunch earlier, I would have burned my mouth when I took them out of the oven.”
RUSTY’S CHEESE AND GARLIC STUFFED MUSHROOMS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position.
8 ounces white mushrooms
¼ cup Panko bread crumbs
¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese
4 ounces Pepper Jack cheese
1 Tablespoon salted butter
½ teaspoon minced garlic
salt, fresh ground pepper, and smoked paprika (to taste)
Prepare a standard-size cookie sheet by spraying it with Pam or another nonstick cooking spray.
Clean the mushrooms with a soft brush or damp paper towel.
Remove and discard the mushroom stems.
Mix the Panko bread crumbs and the grated Parmesan cheese in a medium-size bowl and set it aside on the counter.
Dice the Pepper Jack cheese into 1-inch squares and set them aside in another bowl.
Melt the salted butter in a 9-inch or larger saucepan on the stovetop over MEDIUM heat.
Add the garlic.
Stir everything together and cook until the contents turn a light golden brown. This will take about 2 minutes.
Add the cleaned mushroom caps on top of the garlic and butter with the cavity facing up.
Cook the mushrooms for 2 minutes.
Turn the mushrooms over and sprinkle them with salt and freshly ground black pepper.
Cook the mushrooms for 1 minute.
Remove the mushrooms from the pan while still firm and slightly browned, and place them on your prepared cookie sheet with the cavity facing up.
Insert the Pepper Jack cheese squares into the cavity of each mushroom.
Lift one mushroom at a time with tongs, dip into the Panko mixture, and return them to the cookie sheet with the Pepper Jack center facing upward.
Use a Tablespoon to generously top each mushroom with the remaining Panko and Parmesan mixture, covering the Pepper Jack center. Finish with a sprinkle of smoked paprika.
Place the cookie sheet in the preheated oven.
Bake for 8 to 9 minutes.
Remove the cookie sheet from the oven and let stand on a cold stovetop burner or a wire rack on the counter for several minutes before serving.
Rusty’s Note: You can prepare these mushrooms for baking in advance. Simply stop before baking the mushrooms, cover the cookie sheet with plastic wrap, and leave it out on the kitchen counter. Then preheat your oven when your company comes and bake them. If you do this, it will be 15 minutes before you can serve them to your guests.
Rusty’s 2nd Note: As an alternative to Pepper Jack cheese, use your favorite cheeses to stuff the mushrooms. I have tried goat cheese, Dilled Havarti, Smoked Gouda, Cambozola, and Brie with rave reviews.
Hannah’s Note: These appetizers are simply yummy. When I tried them, both Norman and Mike raved about them. Michelle and I decided that we’re going to double the recipe, get two plastic-covered cookie sheets to get them ready to go in the oven, and take them over to Mother and Doc’s penthouse so that the whole family can taste them.
Yield: Enough delicious appetizers to serve 6 people.
Chapter Nine
“I’m really sorry that things aren’t good with Tom,” Hannah said, once Sally and Dot had left. “I can understand why you came here early to try to work things out.”
“It didn’t exactly turn out the way I planned, though. We can’t work on our marriage if Tom is nowhere around.”
“That’s true. Have you thought about what you’ll do if it doesn’t work out with Tom?”
Lynne gave a little shrug that was intended to be casual, but Hannah had known Lynne all through college and she could tell that her friend was deeply upset.
“I guess if things don’t get better, I’ll have to . . .” Lynne stopped speaking and blinked away a tear. “I’ll have to give Tom the divorce he wants.”
“He’s asked you for a divorce?” Hannah tried not to look as surprised as she felt. She hadn’t realized that things between Lynne and Tom were this bad.
“Yes. That was the last thing he said to me before he left this morning. Maybe Tom’s right and we should divorce. I just don’t know. The only thing I know for sure is that we can’t go on this way.”
“I’m really sorry, Lynne.” Hannah reached out to pat Lynne’s hand.
“So am I. It was so good at the beginning. Then we were always together. But now I don’t see Tom for weeks at a time. He says it’s business, but . . .” Lynne stopped speaking and an expression of fear and pain crossed her face. “I’m not sure that’s it.”
“Do you think it could be .
. .” Hannah paused, wondering how to phrase her question, but she knew that even if she found the perfect words, it wouldn’t be easy for Lynne to hear. “Do you think it could be another woman?”
“I don’t think so,” Lynne replied immediately. “I really don’t, Hannah. It’s something else, and he won’t tell me what.”
“Do you think it has anything to do with his business?”
“He told me it doesn’t.” Lynne drew a deep breath. “The logical conclusion is that Tom found another woman that he cares for more than he cares for me. But . . . I don’t think that’s it, either.”
“Maybe you’ll learn more when he comes back,” Hannah suggested, hoping that it would be true. “Just hang in there, Lynne, and I’m here if you need me. You don’t have to go through this alone. And even if you and Tom divorce, you can always come back here to Lake Eden. Everyone here really likes you.”
“Thanks. That means a lot to me, Hannah. Maybe it’s time for me to do something different and stop being subsidized by Tom. L.A. is brutal, Hannah. There are a ton of good actresses, and it’s depressing to go on hundreds of auditions without getting a good part. I’ve done a few commercials, but holding a bottle of household cleaner and convincing people that it’s better than any other product isn’t what I want to do with my life.”
“What do you want to do with your life?” Hannah asked her.
“I’m not sure, but I don’t have to be an actress. I have fallback positions and I can always earn my own living in another way.” Lynne reached for one of the stuffed mushrooms. “Have one, Hannah.”
It was clear that Lynne didn’t want to talk about her problems any longer and Hannah reached for a mushroom. She popped it into her mouth, chewed, swallowed, and smiled. “They’re really good!”
“They’re excellent,” Lynne agreed, taking a sip of wine.
“I remember a question that Michelle asked me once,” Hannah said as an old memory surfaced. “It was right after I came home from college and decided not to go back. Michelle and I were talking and she said, If you could do anything you wanted to do, what would it be? And I told her that I’d like to open a bakery and coffee shop and call it The Cookie Jar.”
Lynne looked interested. “How old was Michelle when she asked you that?”
“I think she was sixteen. I know that she was a junior in high school.”
“That’s a great question.”
“I know. If you could do anything you wanted to do, what would it be, Lynne?”
“I’m not completely sure, but I think I might like to teach acting. I finished my degree in theater arts and I do have a teaching certificate, but I’d rather give private lessons to both adults and students. I wonder if there’s a market for something like that in Lake Eden.”
Hannah began to smile. “There is!” she said quickly. “Mayor Bascomb’s sister was giving private acting lessons in her condo.”
“Was?” Lynne picked up on the tense that Hannah had used. “Did she get another position?”
“Not exactly.” Hannah gave a little sigh. “She was murdered.”
“Good heavens!” Lynne gave a little shudder. “I hope they caught whoever did it.”
“Yes,” Hannah answered, not mentioning that she had been the one to catch Tori Bascomb’s killer.
Just then Dot pushed aside the privacy curtain and delivered their entrées. “I see you liked the stuffed mushrooms,” she said, handing the empty plate to her busboy.
“They were delicious,” Lynne said as Dot delivered her entrée. Hannah’s entrée was next and once she had refilled their wineglasses, Dot told them to enjoy their dinner and left.
Hannah was amazed to discover that she was ravenous and Sally’s Cornish game hen was every bit as good as it always was. She especially liked the apricot glaze, but she vowed that the next time she ordered it, she’d try the raspberry glaze.
Lynne seemed to enjoy her entrée too, and Hannah was pleased to see that their discussion about Tom and about Lynne’s future plans hadn’t affected her friend’s appetite. Hannah hoped for the best with Lynne’s marriage, but if push came to shove, she hoped that Lynne would move to Lake Eden, where everyone liked her and she could have a fresh start.
Once they’d finished their entrées, Dot cleared their table and delivered after-dinner coffee for them. The two friends sat there talking for a moment and then they heard a summons from outside the booth.
“Knock, knock,” a female voice called out, and Sally pushed back the privacy curtain. “Am I interrupting?”
“Not at all,” Lynne assured her. “Hannah and I were just talking about Lake Eden. Come in and join us, Sally.”
“Me too?” another, deeper voice inquired.
“You too, Norman.” Hannah motioned for him to come in and patted the booth beside her.
“Dot’s bringing more fresh coffee and our dessert,” Sally told them, and then she turned to Lynne. “If Tom is coming back tonight I’ll cut a slice of cake for him and you can take it back to the room.”
Lynne shook her head. “Thanks, Sally, but I don’t expect him. He hasn’t called and that usually means he’s tied up with business. I think he’ll probably decide to stay in Minneapolis overnight.”
“Then I’ll put a slice in the cooler for him and he can have it tomorrow,” Sally decided. “I wonder where Dot’s busboy is with . . .” She stopped and began to smile as the curtain was pulled aside and the busboy came in with a large carafe of coffee, cups, cream and sugar, silverware, and dessert plates.
“Oh, my!” Hannah gasped as Dot arrived with a beautiful cake on a silver platter. “Is that chocolate?”
“Yes,” Sally answered. “It’s chocolate and butterscotch. This is my Ultimate Chocolate Butterscotch Bundt Cake. I got the idea from you, Hannah. I combined my two favorite ultimate cake flavors, the Ultimate Fudgy Chocolate Bundt Cake and the Ultimate Butterscotch Bundt Cake and made them all in one.” Sally stopped and looked slightly worried. “I hope you don’t mind, Hannah.”
“I don’t mind at all!” Hannah reassured her. “It looks lovely, Sally. I love how you frosted it with butterscotch icing and drizzled chocolate down from the top.”
“That’s so my waiters will know exactly what kind of cake it is by simply looking at the frosting. If I’d just used the butterscotch frosting, they might have thought that it was Ultimate Butterscotch Bundt Cake and not Ultimate Chocolate Butterscotch Bundt Cake. This way they can tell the difference between them.”
“Makes sense,” Norman commented. “It looks absolutely delicious, Sally.”
“Hannah’s recipes are always delicious,” Sally told Lynne as she reached out for the carafe of coffee and poured cups for Norman and herself. Then she topped off Hannah and Lynne’s cups and picked up the knife to cut the cake.
“There’s something wonderful about a cake in a Bundt pan,” Hannah said.
“It’s a great design and it makes any cake look special,” Lynne agreed.
Hannah began to smile. “Sometimes Andrea uses a Bundt pan for one of her Jell-O molds. She says it’s a little harder to get out because the pan is thicker and doesn’t warm up as fast as a regular Jell-O mold, but whenever she goes out to a potluck dinner, she puts the Bundt pan in the back of her car with a platter over the top. By the time she drives to wherever she’s going, the Jell-O has jiggled its way loose and it’s ready to unmold.”
Sally laughed. “Andrea’s nothing if not resourceful. Most Minnesotans are. One time I made a big platter of Jell-O in a turkey roaster.”
“How did that turn out?” Norman asked her.
“It was harder to unmold, but once it was on the platter, it looked great. I used it at one of my Sunday brunches right here in the dining room, and Betty Jackson told me she’d never seen so much Jell-O in one place before.”
Sally passed the cream and the sugar, and then she pulled the cake platter toward her. “Let’s taste this cake and then you can tell me if you think it should go on the dessert me
nu.”
Hannah watched as Sally sliced the cake and plated it. She thought again of the Minnesota man who’d invented the Bundt pan. Hannah wondered whether his wife had been insulted because he’d told everyone that he’d devised the ridged cake pan because her cake slices were different sizes.
“Ready?” Sally asked after she’d passed them the dessert plates.
“Ready,” Hannah said as they all picked up their dessert forks.
For the space of several seconds, no one said a word. They were too busy tasting, swallowing, and cutting off a second bite. It took several more seconds before Lynne put her fork down on her plate and gave Sally a thumbs-up. “Wonderful!” she said, reaching for her coffee cup to take a sip. “It’s delicious and it’s really rich. And it’s great with strong coffee.”
“Agreed,” Hannah echoed. “It’s a wonderful cake and I’m glad we have a lot of coffee, Sally.”
Sally nodded and gestured toward the intercom. “And we can always call Dot for more if we run out.”
Once they’d finished their slices of Ultimate Chocolate Butterscotch Bundt Cake, Sally removed the silver lid from another dessert platter and uncovered Lisa’s Pink Grapefruit Cake. “I hope you saved room for another taste trial.”
“I did,” Norman said quickly. “That’s pretty, Sally. What is it?”