Gingerbread to Die For

by Valerie Tate

  “I bet she slipped her collar and took off,” Alicia said.

  “It happens.” The vet hesitated and then went on, “But it wouldn’t be the first time someone has stopped at the side of the road, dumped a dog and driven off, leaving it running frantically after the car, trying to get back with its family.”

  Alicia could feel tears forming. “I wish she could talk.”

  “I wish that all the time” Dr. Sue said fervently. She ran a caressing hand along the dog’s back and her tail thumped on the table.

  “What do you think she is, breed-wise?” Alicia asked.

  Dr. Sue cocked her head to one side and considered. The dog cocked her head in a mirror image and looked like she was considering, too.

  “Well, there’s definitely some German Shepherd in her and I think some Labrador and possibly even a little Border Collie. Whatever she is, she’s very pretty, aren’t you my girl.”

  A big smile lit up the dog’s face and the fringed tail thumped enthusiastically.

  Getting back to business, Dr. Sue said briskly, “I’ll have the techs give her a bath and then we’ll treat those paws. But let’s check for a microchip first.”

  She got out the wand and ran it over the dog’s neck and shoulder area.

  “Nothing.” She sighed in frustration. “I do wish people would get their pets microchipped. It can save a lot of heartache. I’ll call the Animal Protection Society and tell them you’ll bring her there after we’ve finished with her.”

  Alicia had already decided what she’d do if there wasn’t a microchip. “No, don’t do that. I’ll go there and tell them what’s happened and see if anyone has been looking for her but, if no one has, then I’m going to take her home with me. Chris and I can put signs up around town and hopefully someone will recognize her.”

  “How do you think Charlie will feel about that?” Sue sounded a little concerned at the idea. Charlie was one of the vet’s favourite patients but she knew he was used to being an only dog and receiving all the attention.

  “I don’t know,” Alicia replied, looking thoughtful. “He’s good with other dogs. He and Melanie’s black lab are best friends.”

  “A good friend in the park is not the same as an unknown dog in his house,” Sue warned. “Just make sure you introduce them on neutral territory. And let me know if I can help in any way.”

  “Thanks, Sue, for the help and the advice. We’ll bring a flyer to put up in the waiting room, if that’s okay.”

  “Of course it is. And I hope that you find her family soon. In the mean time, what are you going to call her?”

  Alicia looked into the big trusting eyes and said, “Molly. I think she looks like a Molly.”

  The vet tech came to take Molly for her bath and, having arranged to pick her up at the end of the day, Alicia hurried to the community centre.

  “Thank goodness you’re here!” Saanvi cried out as Alicia rushed past a long line of people holding gingerbread baking and into the lobby, waving her badge at the security guard and full of apologies for being late. “They were lined up outside at ten o’clock and they haven’t heard that patience is a virtue.”

  Alicia sat down beside Saanvi at the table and the single line of exhibitors quickly became two.

  “Has my mom arrived?” Alicia asked, while she checked off a name and handed over a badge and package of information to an excited woman holding a serving tray of cookies. She then showed the woman where there were large signs with arrows and room locations for the different types of entries. There had been so many that it had been necessary to place the cookie and cake competitors in separate rooms further down the hall, leaving the rotunda for the gingerbread houses. Just in case, they had high school volunteers to round up any that got lost and take them to their correct locations.

  “She was one of the first in line,” Saanvi replied, when she’d sent the next competitor on her way.

  Leaning over towards Saanvi, Alicia asked eagerly, trying to control her excitement, “Did you see her gingerbread house?”

  “No, it was in a large cardboard box. Your dad was carrying it. It looked pretty heavy.”

  “I can’t wait to see it. Mom wouldn’t let me get a look at it while she was making it,” Alicia explained. “She said it would be more impressive seeing it when it was completed.”

  With the two of them checking-in the contestants, it wasn’t long before the line was gone and they could relax a little.

  “How is the poor dog?” Saanvi asked. “Did she have a microchip?”

  “No, but the vet says that she’s in pretty good condition, just a little thin, and her paws are raw from running on the road.”

  “Poor thing!” Then, looking worried, Saanvi asked, “What is going to happen to her?”

  “I’m picking her up from the vet when we’ve finished here and taking her home. We’ll keep her at the farm until we can locate her family. But first, I’m going to call in at the APS shelter and let them know, just in case someone has gone there looking for her.”

  “You’re a good person, Alicia Mallory,” Saanvi said, giving her hand an approving pat.

  Alicia grinned. “Dunbar-Mallory.”

  The rotunda was buzzing like a hive that had been disturbed by honey seekers when Alicia and Saanvi walked in. The contestants had all found their assigned numbers that designated their spots on the many tables around the room and were busy setting out their houses. One long table in front of the large Christmas tree was left empty. The three winners from each category would be displayed there following the judging.

  Alicia saw her mom waving at her from her spot by the wall. She looked stunning, as always, Alicia thought proudly. Although well into middle-age, her skin was still firm and her lips and jawline unlined. Her striking blue eyes were artfully made-up to enhance their bright colour and her naturally blond hair was swept back in a stylish creation that told Alicia it hadn’t been done at the salon in town. Her mother must have gone to Waterloo or London or even Toronto to have it styled and had obviously done some clothes shopping there, as well, because her dress was a lovely royal blue number with three-quarter length sleeves and a cowl neckline. It hugged her still taut body, emphasizing the curves that, despite her age, still drew appreciative looks when she walked down King Street. Alice may have been her mother, but there was nothing matronly about her.

  Her mom and dad were a handsome couple, Alicia thought, looking at them standing together. Her dad’s black hair, now liberally threaded with grey, contrasted with her mom’s fair looks. His golfer’s tan hadn’t completely faded which emphasized the laugh lines at the corners of his brown eyes. His body was still trim and athletic-looking in navy pants and a turtle-neck sweater.

  Every girl thought her dad was special and she was no different. His obvious pride in her mom’s achievement was evident on his face and the fact that he had never stopped loving her, even during the difficult years that were thankfully now behind them, showed the strength of his character and his commitment to his family. If every girl looks for a man like her father, she was glad she had had such a high standard to match.

  Ignoring the other entries, Alicia hurried over to get a first look at her mom’s creation. One glance and she stopped abruptly, feeling both shock and awe.

  She could barely get the words out. “It’s…it’s…just…superb!”

  And it was. Standing about two feet high, the three storeys of the Dunbar’s Victorian era mansion had been recreated, complete with decorative scrollwork and a wrap-around verandah. She had even managed the bay window and the square, Italianate tower and widow’s walk. ‘Tiles’ made of sliced jellies adorned the roof and ultra-thin, golden-coloured butterscotch filled the windows. There were even gingerbread fir trees in the front yard and a nest filled with small, iced gingerbread doves lay on the ground in front of one of the trees. The entire display was surrounded by a black licorice fence with a gate at the front.

  “It is simply amazing, Mom!” Alicia told her b
eaming mother. “I don’t know how you did it. You are truly the Queen of Gingerbread.”

  The other competitors must have been thinking that, too. A lot of unhappy, sidelong glances were being sent her way and there were several behind-the-hand whispered conversations going on. Alice took it as a measure of the worth of her art and nodded in a friendly fashion to all and sundry. She would be gracious in victory.

  “Does it taste as good as it looks?” Alicia asked a little worriedly. “You know that’s part of the judging.”

  “I know and it does. I can’t let you have any of the little dove cookies, even though your father keeps trying to steal one.” She looked indulgently at James who was trying to appear innocent of the charge, not blaming him for wanting to sample her toothsome concoctions. “But I have some more of the doves at home, just in case something happens to these. If you want to stop by later, I’ll send a few home with you.”

  “I’ll try but there’s something I have to do when I leave here.”

  She explained about rescuing the dog.

  “Poor thing. I’m glad you stopped and picked her up,” her mom said, while her dad nodded agreement. They had a cat at home that had once been the victim of a ‘catnapping’ and they knew the upset of having a missing pet.

  “Me, too. She’s a very sweet dog. I just hope Charlie sees her that way.”

  Alicia and Saanvi fielded questions and admired entries for the rest of the morning. There were cookies, cakes and houses of all descriptions. Among them were Betty Campbell’s scrumptious-looking cookies which had the added facet of being strung with ribbon to hang on the Christmas tree. Carol Drake, who gave the tours at the historic lighthouse down by the harbour, had made a mouth-watering gingerbread cake in the shape of a Christmas tree. She would bring a bowl of whipped cream to serve it with just before the judging the next day. And the Fire Chief, Don Patterson, had made the fire house and the town’s fire truck in beautifully decorated gingerbread. Dunbarton’s bakers had done themselves proud.

  Finally, with everything under control, the contestants were sent home, the rotunda, display rooms and kitchen were locked up and they were free to leave.

  Once she’d picked up Molly from the vet’s, the dog looking much better following her bath, with her paws wrapped in red stretch bandage to protect them while they healed, Alicia drove first to the pet shop. She picked up a collar, leash, food and stainless steel bowls, a bed and a large, stuffed dinosaur and then added a large, yellow duck for Charlie to avoid jealous feelings. The next stop was at the Animal Protection Society shelter but no one had called or come by looking for a shepherd-cross. They took Molly’s picture and posted it on the bulletin board under Found Pets and promised to call if anyone came looking for her. The last stop before home was Dunbar House to pick up some of her mom’s cookies. She would have liked to stay for a while and spend some time with Marmalade, their orange and white cat, who had inherited the Dunbar fortune when Alicia’s grandmother had died, but with Molly in the car it had to be a flying visit.

  Before she set off again, she called Chris and explained about Molly. He agreed to put Charlie on a leash and meet her at the foot of the farm drive to introduce the dogs to each other.

  They were waiting there when Alicia pulled up in the truck.

  “Hi, honey, thanks for meeting me down here. Molly was very well-behaved at the vet’s and I don’t think she has any issues with other dogs but I’m a bit worried that Charlie might feel a little territorial about the house, so I thought it was better if they met here first.”

  “No problem, I think you’re right to play it safe.”

  Molly was peering out the window at Charlie and jumped out excitedly when Alicia opened the door and took hold of the leash. Charlie seemed just as excited to meet Molly and there was a lot of sniffing and tail-wagging as they greeted each other.

  With introductions out of the way, Alicia said, “Let’s walk them up to the barn. I’ll come back for the truck later.”

  The dogs walked happily together and Alicia was pleased to note how well-behaved Molly was on the leash. She was a big dog, just under eighty pounds Dr. Sue had said, and it wouldn’t be easy to hold her if she decided to take off.

  When they reached the barn, they took the dogs inside, closed up all of the doors and then let Charlie and Molly off their leads. They immediately started playing chase, barking happily.

  “I’ll go and bring up the truck while you watch them,” Chris offered.

  “Thanks, honey. There are a couple of bags of stuff in the back – bowls and a bed and more food. And there are two toys, one for Molly and one for Charlie so he won’t be resentful.”

  “Good idea.”

  Once Chris had brought all of Molly’s new things and put them the kitchen, he joined Alicia at the barn and they took the dogs on leashes into the house. Charlie looked a little unsure of the situation when he realized Molly wasn’t just a casual visitor. He quickly made it clear that she was to stay away from his food bowl and then took his favourite chew bone and hid it under a chair in the conservatory. Molly didn’t take offence. After giving the kitchen a thorough sniff, she lay down on the floor with a sigh. Alicia got out her new bowls and put them down at the other end of the kitchen from Charlie’s and then both dogs were given food and water. Charlie seemed to get the idea that Molly wouldn’t be after his food and ate happily. Molly wolfed her food as she had at the vet’s and Alicia wondered how long it had been since she’d eaten regularly.

  Later that evening, with both dogs lying contentedly in their beds with their new toys, Alicia and Chris snuggled on the couch in the living room before a crackling fire.

  Looking at Molly, curled up in her new bed, Chris asked, “Do you remember that old television show, ‘The Littlest Hobo’?”

  “Of course, I do. I loved it when I was a kid.”

  “Well, Molly looks a little like the dog who played Hobo.”

  Alicia looked over and studied Molly for a moment, thinking back to the dog from the old show. “You’re right, she does, except Hobo’s ears were pricked up. Everyone loved Hobo.” She smiled, remembering. “Of course, it was reruns when I watched it, but it didn’t matter. In every show, Hobo would show up just when there was someone who needed him and then at the end, he always left and headed out on the road again.” Alicia looked fondly at the sleeping dog. She was already becoming attached to her. Would it be terrible to hope that her owners didn’t come to claim her? “I don’t want Molly running away, so she’ll have to be on a leash when she’s outside, until we find her family.”

  “And if we don’t find them?” Chris asked even though, seeing the way Alicia was looking at Molly, he already knew the answer.

  “Well, then Molly will learn to love us and she won’t want to leave.”

  Realizing that she hadn’t discussed that possibility with Chris, she looked at him hopefully.

  He smiled and nodded. “We have room for Molly in our lives.”

  Alicia threw her arms around Chris and kissed him. He really was the best!

  They headed up to bed as soon as Alicia had finished night check in the barn. The next day was judging day and it would be a long one.

  Chapter 6

  Alicia couldn’t believe how nervous she felt. When she tried to pinpoint the reason, she discovered it was a combination of anxiety about everything going off without a hitch at the community centre and butterflies about her mom’s entry in the competition. Her mom would be crushed if her gingerbread house didn’t win. The only other time Alicia could remember feeling like this was at her first horse show when she had thought she was going to throw up in the warm-up ring. She really hoped that didn’t happen today!

  The competitors were already waiting at the door when she pulled into the community centre parking lot at eight a.m. Just as she was getting out of her truck, the security guard opened the door and they flooded in. Saanvi was waiting for her inside, looking as jittery as she felt.

  “So far, so
good,” Saanvi said. “Everyone’s house is still standing. Davina is due here any minute. The camera crew is ready and waiting to film the judging.”

  “Are they filming all of it?” Alicia asked, sounding alarmed.

  “Yes, Eric Braxton said they will then choose which parts to use on the show,” Saanvi explained.

  “That’s a relief, in case anyone doesn’t like what Davina has to say about their baking and creates a scene.”

  Saanvi shook her head. “I said that to Eric and he told me that they love it when people react badly – it makes for exciting television. Go figure.”

  “Well let’s hope there isn’t any ‘exciting television’ today.” The butterflies in her stomach had just morphed into B-52 Bombers.

  “My thoughts exactly,” Saanvi concurred.

  There was a sudden flurry of excitement and the cameramen, who had been lounging around, sprang into action and rushed out into the parking lot. Alicia could see Eric Braxton talking into his headset as he followed them out the door. Davina Dove had arrived.

  She was making a grand entrance wearing a full-length, hooded cape. (Alicia’s inner music app immediately started playing Lara’s Theme from Doctor Zhivago.) Her heart-shaped face was perfection ˗ skin like porcelain and eyes that seemed to gaze into your soul ˗ already made up for the camera. She seemed to float along the ground as she covered the distance from her car to the entrance, the cape flowing out dramatically behind her revealing a blood red wool dress that hugged her body and contrasted dramatically with her fair skin and black hair. Tall leather boots completed the romantic heroine look.

  Once inside, the cameras stopped rolling and the Divine Miss Dove came down to earth, removing her cape and throwing it to her P.A., Fiona James, who was already looking harassed.

  “Okay, let’s get this show on the road,” Davina said brusquely. “We’ll start with the cookies and cakes and leave the houses for last.”

  Alicia had to hand it to Davina. She took her job as judge very seriously. She tasted every cookie, giving praise and encouragement to the amateur bakers and even offering helpful hints from her personal experience for improvement. The bakers were starry-eyed and aglow with her comments, until she got to the last competitor in the cookie division, Betty Campbell.