by Cleo Coyle
That was why I saved the good sergeant a very big piece of Janelle’s cake. Joy would be taking it to him this evening—along with my heartfelt thanks.
My own shield-toting boyfriend was already back in DC, patient as ever with our situation. How long that would last, I had no idea, which was why it surprised me to hear my employer say—
“When I saw you in that hospital bed, dear, that’s when I made up my mind.”
“About what?”
“Your future . . .”
Madame reached into her purse and placed a plastic bag on the table between us. Inside was an espresso cup—the very demitasse I’d drunk from that night in Central Park.
“I saved it, Clare. And I insist you look at it now.”
We trepidation, I read the grinds. They foretold difficulties, danger, a secret enemy, travel, and a big change.
“While you were sleeping, I had a dream,” Madame confessed. “I saw you locked in a dungeon, my dungeon. Gardner was in a cell, too. And all you wanted was a key to be released. My dear, today, Matt and I are giving that key to you.”
“What are you talking about?!”
“Your devotion and loyalty to me and my son and this wonderful coffeehouse have kept you from the man you truly love—”
Travel and a big change. “You want me to leave you?”
“No, and that’s the beauty of it, you won’t be leaving us at all.” She smiled. “Remember how Babka taunted me at our lunch? Well, I’ve decided she was right, and we’re going to start expanding our business. I’d like you to help Gardner Evans open a second Village Blend shop in Washington, DC.”
“But I thought he was opening a jazz club with his cousin in Baltimore?”
Madame waved Matt over. “My boy and I had a long talk with Gardner. It seems his cousin was content to let Gardner shoulder all the management duties—food, beverage, staffing, bookings. And Gardner realized that if he went into business with his cousin, it would give him no time to devote to his music.”
“That’s right,” Matt said. “We talked it over, and agreed that our partnership was better for him . . .” As Matt explained it, I would co-manage the DC coffeehouse with Gardner. I would also be roasting the beans in New York and transporting them down to DC. It would be a reverse commute with me living down there as long as I wanted.
“Matt will take care of the shop in New York for the time being.”
“Seven months tops,” he warned. “Then you’ll have to come back or hire a new manager.”
“What about the location?” I asked.
“Gardner’s found a few places we can lease in Georgetown, one near Blues Alley,” Matt said. “He wants the Village Blend, DC, to host live jazz in the evenings and serve a light dinner menu. But he needs your help getting the place up and running—like you did in the Hamptons a few years back for David Mintzer. So what do you say, Clare, are you up for it?”
Overwhelmed, I brushed away a tear. “You two need to turn around.”
Matt and his mother shared confused glances. “Why?”
“I want to see your fairy godmother wings.” They both laughed, but it wasn’t funny to me. “While I was sleeping, you made my dream come true.”
* * *
OF course, Quinn was over the moon when I told him. And I was excited, too. But I hadn’t forgotten Wilson’s cryptic warning—
“The next time Mike Quinn speaks with you about moving down to Washington, listen a little harder, okay? Men like him don’t often admit to needing personal backup.”
In Wilson’s view, Mike was in some kind of trouble—trouble he either refused to talk about or didn’t fully understand. Oh, I’d find out more soon enough. But whatever was wrong, I knew one thing. Mike had taken big risks to be in my corner. Now it was my turn to be in his.
This wouldn’t be easy. But then neither were fairy tales. Forests could be perilous; mirrors treacherous; and candy-coated houses built to burn you. In the end, life and its choices were hard, and no matter where we stood on this fast-spinning planet, nightfall would routinely blacken our bluest skies.
But then I considered the heart of a young cop like Franco; the devotion of a boy like Boris; the kindness of strangers like Eldar; even my own deep affection for a blue knight, hardened and weary yet still guided by chivalry; and the words of Esther’s favorite Russian poet came back to me—
Blackness was not the whole of it.
“There are bright points of light—so many!—between the dark places. This is what’s important. This is where life is.”
When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself, and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featur’d like him, like him with friends possess’d,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth, sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remember’d such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
—WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, SONNET 29
(TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL RUSSIAN)
RECIPES & TIPS FROM THE VILLAGE BLEND
Visit Cleo Coyle’s virtual Village Blend at CoffeehouseMystery.com for even more recipes, including:
* “Poisoned” Apple Sharlotka (Spiked Russian Apple Cake)
* Fairy Bread and Fairy Bread Cookies
* Chocolate Babka
* BBQ Chipped Ham Sandwich
* Glacéed Strawberry Cupcakes with Strawberry Syrup Shots
* Chocolate Ricotta Muffins
* Twinkie Baba Rum
* Clare’s “Welcome Back!” Iced Coffee Cake
* Gingered Ale and more . . .
MADAME TESLA’S GUIDE TO COFFEE TASSEOGRAPHY
Coffee tasseography is the art of seeing the future through coffee grinds, and a serious art it is. The ritual was born in the culture of Turkish coffee drinking, which reaches back to the sixteenth century. In the seventeenth century, the ritual arrived in Europe and became fashionable in Paris. No, I didn’t learn it then—I’m not that old, my dears! I was taught by my Turkish friend Yasmina, just as Clare learned the art from her beloved Italian nonna in Western Pennsylvania.
Coffee reading is an oral tradition, you see, and not something you’ll learn about in books. That said, I have set down this quick guide to help budding seers, using the techniques and interpretations I learned.
Your Coffee Reading: To start, you must brew coffee. Coffee readers have traditionally used a Turkish-style method of brewing. The Bosnian method also works well, and you’ll find recipes for both following my little guide.
Why must you make the coffee this way? Because these very old brewing methods will leave grinds at the bottom of your cup. It is these grinds that you will use to read fortunes.
Although there are different styles of reading coffee grinds, all require the beverage to be consumed by the person seeking his or her fortune. As the reader, you should provide a relaxing, cordial atmosphere while the seeker imbibes. When the cup is nearly drained, the reading begins.
Ask the seeker to slowly turn the cup in his or her hands for a few moments while contemplating a question or problem. When the seeker is finished, he or she should cover the cup with the saucer and turn them both upside down. With this method, the coffee grinds spread and move, leaving symbols on the walls and bottom of the cup. Allow the grounds to cool and dry for a few minutes before turning the cup over and beginning the read
ing.
How to Read the Cup: Visually divide the cup into horizontal halves, top and bottom. The symbols seen on the bottom half are messages regarding the past. The symbols near the top are messages about the future. This would be the immediate future. Like Tarot, a coffee reading cannot predict events beyond forty days. The reader must also divide the cup into vertical halves—right and left. This division helps the reader determine positive or negative answers or outcomes. Right is positive, or “yes.” Left is negative, or “no.”
For Example: You may see the shape of an airplane in the coffee grinds, which predicts a journey:
* If the plane is on the top half of the cup, this journey is in the future.
* If the plane is on the top right side of the cup, this future journey will have a positive outcome. However, if the plane is on the top left side of the cup, this future journey will have a negative outcome.
* If the plane is on the bottom half of the cup, this journey was in the past.
* If the plane is on the bottom right side of the cup, the events from this past journey will have a positive influence on the future. However, if the plane is on the bottom left side of the cup, the events from this past journey will have a negative impact on the future.
Your Mental Powers: As the reader, gazing into the cup, let your imagination run free. Coffee reading is not unlike cloud gazing. One must discern the shapes by using both imagination and intuition.
A Quick Guide to Symbols: There are literally hundreds of symbols found in coffee grinds. While there is not enough space here to cover every possible symbol, I have listed a hundred of the most common, along with widely held interpretations. Please note that these are not the only interpretations. As I mentioned, this is an oral tradition that will vary among readers. With time and practice, you will hone your skills and arrive at your own interpretations.
The Magic and Power of Story: Remember that the coffee reader must tell the seeker a story to help make sense of the symbols seen and interpreted. And telling stories is a magical thing. For when you engage imagination and intuition, you awaken the very mental powers that have shaped our world—and hold the power to reshape your own.
—Madame Tesla,
New York City
THE SYMBOLS
Acorn—Success. Financial success if found at the top of the cup. Good health if found at the bottom.
Airplane—A journey. A broken wing indicates an interrupted trip or an accident.
Anchor—Success in business or romance. A blurry anchor means problems.
Angel—Good news.
Arch—A wedding.
Arrow—Sudden bad news.
Axe—Troubles that will be overcome by great effort.
Bag—If open, a trap you can escape. If closed, you will be trapped.
Barrel—A party, feast, or celebration.
Basket—An empty basket implies financial woes. A full basket promises a gift.
Bat—False or untrustworthy friends.
Bee—Social success, or praise at work.
Beehive—Prosperity or riches. The sweet life.
Beetle—A difficult undertaking.
Bell—Surprising news. On the right of the cup, good news. On the left, sad tidings. More than one bell indicates a wedding.
Bird—Freedom from worry.
Birdcage—Quarrels.
Bird’s nest—A loving home.
Boat—A visit from a distant friend or relative, safe refuge.
Branch—With leaves is a birth or new prospects. Without leaves is a setback.
Bridge—An opportunity.
Butterfly—Frivolity.
Car—Luck or good fortune.
Cherry—A love affair.
Claw—Hidden enemies who seek to do you harm.
Clouds—A storm brewing, trouble ahead.
Clover—Prosperity.
Coffin—Very bad news.
Comet—An unexpected visitor or sudden opportunity, not without risk.
Crescent—A pleasant journey.
Cross—Sacrifice, ill health. Conversely, two crosses predict a long life. Three crosses signify longevity and a great achievement.
Dagger—Impetuous actions that lead to danger.
Daisy—Romantic love and happiness.
Dancer—Shame or disappointment.
Door—Strange or mysterious occurrences.
Dove—Peace, tranquility, good fortune.
Dragon—Unpredictable changes, trouble.
Drum—Scandal, gossip.
Duck—Money is coming.
Egg—Prosperity, success—the more eggs the better.
Eye—Vigilance needed to overcome difficulties.
Fairy—Joy, enchantment.
Fan—Inappropriate flirtation, indiscretion.
Feather—Lack of concentration.
Feet—An important decision must soon be made.
Finger—This symbol emphasizes the symbol it points to.
Fish—Good fortune in all things.
Fist—Argument.
Fruit—Prosperity, fertility.
Gun—Trouble, quarrels, danger.
Hammer—Overcoming obstacles, hard, unpleasant work.
Hand—Friendship. If fingers are missing, selfish or deceitful friends.
Hat—New job or home, a change.
Hawk—Jealousy.
Horn—Generosity, abundance.
Horse—A galloping horse indicates good news from a lover. A horse head means romance.
Horseshoe—Good luck.
Hourglass—Quick action is required. Time is running out.
Iceberg—Hidden hazards ahead.
Kettle—Minor accident or illness.
Key—Unlocking new success. Two keys means a robbery.
Ladder—A job promotion.
Lightning bolt—Swift resolution to a vexing problem.
Mouse or Rat—A theft.
Mushroom—Growth after setbacks.
Musical note—Celebration of good fortune.
Nail—Physical pain.
Number—Time, usually the number of days before an event.
Oak leaf—Good fortune.
Oar—Help in difficulties.
Owl—Scandal, failure.
Pitchfork—Quarrels.
Pyramid—Success in all stages of life.
Question mark—Doubt, hesitancy, overcaution.
Ring—Closure, completion. A broken ring could indicate the end of a romance or marriage. Two rings mean plans are working out.
Rose—Approval, popularity, fame.
Saw—Outside interference.
Scales—A lawsuit. Balanced scales suggest justice. Unbalanced scales hint at an injustice.
Scissors—Domestic strife, separation.
Shamrock—Wishes granted.
Sheep—Fortune.
Skeleton—Loss of money, ill health.
Skull—Death.
Spoon—Generosity to others.
Square—Protection, peace.
Star—Health and happiness.
Sun—Status, power.
Toad—Distrust all flattery.
Torch—Turn for the better in business.
Tree—Ambition fulfilled.
Turtle—Harsh criticism.
Umbrella—Need for safety or safe shelter.
Unicorn—Secret romance or wedding.
Whale—Career or business success.
Wheel—A complete wheel means earned success. A broken wheel means toil without reward.
Wolf—Beware a jealous or selfish person.
Woman—Sensual pleasure.
Worm—Scandal. The more worms, the worse the scandal will become.
MADAME TESLA’S TURKISH COFFEE
/> Turkish coffee is one of the oldest of all brewing methods. Coffee is so significant in Turkish culture that their word for breakfast (kahvaltı), literally means “before coffee.” The ritual of coffee drinking is endowed with friendship, affection, and sharing—an idea beautifully illustrated in the meaning of their famous proverb: “A single cup of coffee can create a friendship that lasts forty years.”
Because Turkish coffee refers to the process of coffee making, almost any good-quality beans can be used to make it. What’s tricky to get right is the grind. Turkish coffee must be made with coffee that is very finely ground, so fine that it’s close to a powder. When you press your finger into it, you should be able leave a fingerprint mark. (Clare’s friends from the Sixth Precinct are especially fond of that description.)
Traditionally, coffee beans were pounded down in a mortar. In our modern kitchens, home “burr grinders” are the best choice for properly grinding our daily coffee; but most electric grinders cannot grind coffee fine enough to be called Turkish; and (unfortunately) the friction and heat produced by the blade of a typical spice grinder will burn the coffee before the proper texture is achieved. The best remedy is to either purchase a Turkish hand grinder or buy coffee that is preground for the Turkish method. (See suggestions at the end of this section.)
Once you have the proper grind of coffee, you can move to the stage of making it. Turkish coffee is boiled in a long-handled pot (cezve) made specifically for coffee brewing. The pot is traditionally made of copper or brass. Its narrow neck and wide bottom are designed to hold back most of the grounds when the coffee is poured. Sizes of these Turkish coffeepots range from extra-small (6-ounce capacity) for making 1 to 2 servings to larger sizes: 7-, 10-, 12-, 14-, 16-, and even 24-ounce capacities.
Madame Tesla’s instructions for brewing coffee in the Turkish manner are outlined in the following steps:
Step 1—Prep the pot. Into your cezve, measure about 1 heaping teaspoon of Turkish coffee per serving (5 to 7 grams). Add 1 teaspoon of sugar per serving—this is considered “medium sweet,” but you can adjust to taste or leave out entirely. Add the water, roughly 3 ounces (about 6 tablespoons) of water per demitasse serving. Stir well to dissolve the coffee and sugar—a fork works well for this; just pretend you’re beating an egg. Place the pot over low heat. The low heat is important to infuse the water slowly.