Sprinkles of Suspicion

by Kim Davis

  “Tillie?” Lars asked. “I thought you were caring for Mrs. Skyler.”

  “She likes people to call her Tillie.”

  Mother and Lars exchanged a glance, and his eyebrows arched into his forehead.

  “What? What was that look for?”

  “Nothing. I’m glad you’re getting along with her so well.” She took another sip of coffee. “How are your living arrangements? Does the pool house have a cot for you, or will you have to make do with a pile of towels?”

  I had the good grace to blush. “No, it’s quite beautiful.”

  They returned to the business section of the newspaper, carefully hiding the front section from my view. I mixed batter for muffins then gently stirred in frozen blueberries, divided the batter between the muffin cups, and popped them into the oven. I sat down at the table.

  “Okay, what gives? What is going on with Mrs. Skyler?” My new-and-improved self wouldn’t be put off so easily. Tillie was my friend, and I had been hired to care for her, so to speak.

  My mother sighed and glanced at Lars again. He gave a small nod.

  “David is concerned she’s suffering from dementia. She refuses any tests to check for signs of Alzheimer’s and gets angry when he brings it up.” My mother twisted her coffee cup around in her hands. “She’s changed her name from Matilda to Tillie. You’ve seen what she did with her cast. It looks tattooed! And wearing aqua nail polish? What eighty-something-year-old does that? What really concerns him is she takes off for Vegas without telling him. Who knows what kind of trouble she might get into?”

  I knew exactly what kind of trouble she could get in. “I spent a lot of time talking with Tillie yesterday, and I’m pretty sure she doesn’t have dementia. She’s realizing she only has a few years left in her life and wants to live every single minute to its fullest.”

  “I hope you’re right. It’s tearing David apart.” My mother looked back down at her now-empty cup. “He wants you to report on everything Tillie does and who she sees. If she’s doing something inappropriate for her age and her position in society, he wants a phone call right away.”

  My mouth dropped open. I wouldn’t betray my new friend like that. If I thought she was a danger to herself or to others, it would be appropriate to say something to Mr. Skyler. But everything I had seen and talked about with her indicated she was simply enjoying life. I snapped my mouth shut and decided I wouldn’t put my mother in the middle of this.

  “If Mr. Skyler would like to discuss his job requirements with me, that’s his prerogative. But I will let Tillie know what his requirements are.” I was enjoying the new me.

  This time it was my mother who had her mouth hanging open, but she quickly recovered. “Good for you, darling.”

  I wrapped up four warm muffins and headed to Tillie’s house. She buzzed me in when I rang the gate bell and met me at the front door. Piper bounded out and greeted me with yips and kisses. I handed the muffins to Tillie and gathered Piper in my arms to hug her.

  “I’ve got coffee on. Come in and tell me all about your near-death experience last night.” Tillie’s eyes were bright with excitement. “The gals at bridge will be so jealous you’re living here!”

  Three cups of coffee, two muffins, and one hour later, I took my leave to head home and collect my personal toiletries and some clean clothes. I didn’t want to spend another single night in my condo, so Tillie agreed I should move to the pool house right away. She no longer drove so the garage was empty, which left it free for the boxes and furniture the moving company would deliver. That’d give me a chance to go through them and decide what I needed to keep and what I could donate to charity.

  Halfway home, my cell phone rang.

  It was Randall. “I heard about your excitement last night. Are you okay?”

  “A little shaky, but I’ll be fine.”

  “My flight leaves for Tampa this afternoon. I wanted to say goodbye before I left. Can we meet for coffee?”

  I’d had more coffee than my jittery nerves could handle, but I was sure Randall needed closure over what had happened to his brother because of Tori, Stan, and Steve. “Sure. Where would you like to meet?”

  He named a place close to the John Wayne Airport in Santa Ana, so I took the next exit and returned the way I had just come.

  Randall was sitting at a sidewalk table. He jumped up and hugged me before asking what I wanted to drink. When I said water, he raised his eyebrows.

  “I just had three cups of coffee with an eighty-something-year-old lady. Water is all I need.”

  “Hang on and I’ll grab you some, and then you can tell me about it.”

  As he strode into the shop, I watched his jean-clad backside, which I could have watched all day long. I shook my head and reminded myself I was finished with men, at least for a while. Once Randall came back, he made me tell him every single thing that happened with Stan and Steve, and when I had exhausted all those details, he asked me about my new friend.

  He laughed when I described her antics, but his laughter wasn’t condescending. “I hope I’m that full of life and adventure when I get old.”

  We sat and chatted another few minutes before Randall looked at his watch and stood up. “If I want to make my flight, I’d better get to the airport.”

  Following his lead, I stood, unsure if I should shake his hand. “I’m glad you were able to find out who killed your brother, and I hope you find closure.”

  “It helps, and it’s all thanks to you.” Randall cleared his throat. “I’ve been giving it a lot of thought, and I’m going to leave Tampa for good. I’ve had a job offer in Irvine, so I’ll be moving back in a month or as soon as I can wrap up my business in Florida.”

  “Oh, I thought since you had a band, you were already here permanently.” I wasn’t sure why he was telling me this news. I was just a random chubby person that Tori had thrown at him, unless he felt a connection because I had inadvertently discovered his brother’s killers.

  “Naw. I was a band fill-in when I was available. I’ve been floating around the last couple of years hunting down Tori but kept a home base back in Tampa.”

  “That’s a big move, so good luck.” Those words sounded lame, even to my ears, but I didn’t know what else to say.

  “When I come back, I’d like to take you to dinner.” He met my gaze. “Like on a real date.”

  What? Did I hear right? Why would this gorgeous guy want to date me? My face warmed, and then I reminded myself I was finished with men. “Uh, yeah, here’s the thing. I’m not going to date for a long time. I need to get over Philip and find out what I want.”

  Randall stepped toward me, put his arms around my waist, and pulled me close. He leaned his lips into mine and gave me a sizzling kiss that made my toes curl.

  He stepped away, smiling. “You were drugged the last time we kissed, so I thought you should experience it properly. I’ll call you when I’m back in town.”

  With that, he strode toward his car while I admired the view.

  Chapter 37

  Once I got settled into the pool house, Tillie suggested we throw an end-of-summer party. Together we pored over my recipe books and settled on an Italian-themed dinner. I wanted to make tiramisu cupcakes for dessert, but in the end, Tillie convinced me to make her new favorite: gimlet cupcakes. Since my family hadn’t sampled them yet, I capitulated, and I had to admit, I had developed a taste for Tillie’s favorite cocktail. The golden cupcakes with specks of lime zest were moist and refreshing from the citrus flavors. Perfect for a warm summer evening.

  Since my nieces were coming to our dinner party, I made a batch of citrus-flavored sugar cookies and cut them into summer cookie-cutter shapes. Beach balls, flip-flops, ice cream cones, and surfboards. Once the baked cookies cooled, I frosted the tops with white royal icing and allowed them to dry until hardened. After dinner, the girls could use edible markers to decorate their cookies before eating. I made plenty of extras in case other guests wanted to join in the artistic f
un by coloring cookies.

  The night of the party arrived, and my entire family came. The pool house captivated Sophie and Kaylee’s imagination, and they wanted to spend the night. I promised to schedule a sleepover for the following weekend, since I would be kept up late tonight cleaning up after the party and couldn’t keep my eye on them. Brad came alone, and my mother and Lars brought Tillie a beautiful bouquet of roses. They never said another word about dementia, and Mr. Skyler never brought it up either. I still hadn’t quizzed my mother about her friendship with David.

  Tillie’s two dearest friends, Lucy and Sarah, attended, and they were busy hatching another plan to head to Vegas the following weekend. They argued amongst themselves about which strip clubs to visit, while I pretended not to listen. I was pleased to see that the three women all had an equal zest for living and Sarah had even dyed her hair a fashionable pink ombre. I squirmed a little when she tried to convince Tillie to dye her hair a shade of aqua and Sarah a shade of purple for their trip. I knew that idea wouldn’t go over well with Tillie’s son, but I bit my tongue and decided to cross that bridge later if the event happened.

  I had been in heaven the previous week, working in Tillie’s kitchen. She had drummed up enough cupcake business among her friends to keep me baking several batches every day. The gimlet cupcakes she took to her bridge club had clinched the deal for me. Her friends tried to stretch my creativity with their unique cocktail cupcake requests, and I wondered if a few of them used Pinterest to hunt for obscure drinks to test me. I enjoyed every minute, though, and so far, I had delivered all the requested cupcakes on time.

  Carrie was green with envy, not from morning sickness, when she saw my kitchen. She gave me a hug. “I’ve missed you! Now that this kid isn’t making me so sick, we need to spend time together.”

  I readily agreed, and she helped me carry out the platters of food to the long table set up in the courtyard. Soon the wine flowed… okay, it had been flowing for quite some time, but we passed around more wine with the food. Soon nothing but the strains of classical music and the clinking of silverware and glasses sounded as my family and friends ate platefuls of manicotti, Italian chopped salad, and homemade sourdough rolls. Tillie caught my eye and raised her glass, and I raised my glass to her. This was what life was all about: friends and family. I was right where I belonged.

  Recipes

  Potluck Rootin’ Tootin’ Beans

  This recipe is adapted from a very good friend’s recipe. Thank you, Janet Clause, for all the wonderful gatherings spent in your home and for sharing your recipes with me!

  Ingredients

  1 pound lean ground beef (you can substitute ground turkey)

  1 medium-sized onion, chopped

  2 cloves garlic, minced

  1 (3-pound) can pork & beans

  1 (15-ounce) can chili beans, drained

  1 (15-ounce) can butter beans, drained

  1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, rinsed and drained

  1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

  1 cup ketchup

  3 tablespoons white vinegar

  1/4 cup brown sugar

  1 tablespoon liquid smoke

  1 teaspoon freshly ground pepper

  Salt to taste

  Garnish Suggestions:

  Cooked and crumbled bacon

  Chopped red or green onions

  Grated cheddar cheese

  Sour cream

  Pickled jalapeño slices

  Sliced black olives

  Instructions

  In a large soup pot or Dutch oven, cook the ground beef (or turkey) with the chopped onion over medium-high heat, until the meat is no longer pink. Drain off any grease.

  Add the remaining ingredients, except salt, and stir until thoroughly combined. Bring to a simmer then turn to low and cover the pot. Cook an additional 30 minutes, stirring often.

  Remove from heat and season with salt before serving, if desired. Allow guests to garnish their bowls of beans with a variety of choices.

  Cowgirl Cookies

  Ingredients

  1-1/4 cups (6.25 ounces) all-purpose flour

  1 teaspoon baking powder

  1/4 teaspoon baking soda

  1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

  1/2 teaspoon salt

  1-1/2 cups (10.5 ounces) packed brown sugar

  3/4 cup butter, melted

  2 eggs

  1 teaspoon vanilla extract

  1-1/4 cups (3.75 ounces) old-fashioned rolled oats

  1 cup (4.4 ounces) walnuts, chopped

  1 cup (3 ounces) sweetened shredded coconut

  1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

  1 cup (2 ounces) mini marshmallows

  Instructions

  In a medium-sized bowl, whisk together and set aside the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.

  In a large bowl, combine the sugar, melted butter, eggs, and vanilla. Mix in the flour mixture and, once it is fully incorporated, stir in the oats, walnuts, coconut, marshmallows, and chocolate chips.

  Refrigerate for 1 hour.

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees (F).

  Portion the dough into 2 tablespoon-sized scoops and place on parchment-lined baking sheets. Make sure there is at least 2 inches between cookies to allow room to spread.

  Bake cookies, one sheet at a time, 12-15 minutes, until edges start to turn golden brown. The centers should remain slightly undercooked. Rotate the baking sheet halfway through baking.

  Remove from oven and allow cookies to cool on baking sheet for 5 minutes then place on a wire rack to cool completely.

  Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.

  Cowgirl Caviar

  Ingredients

  Salad:

  1 (15-ounce) can black beans, rinsed and drained

  1 cup fresh yellow corn kernels (or substitute frozen)

  1/2 cup bell peppers, chopped (you can use a mixture of red, yellow, and green if desired)

  1 jalapeño, seeded and finely chopped

  2 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped

  1/4 cup cilantro, chopped fine

  1/2 large avocado (or 1 small avocado)

  2 small tomatoes, seeded and chopped

  Vinaigrette:

  4 tablespoons olive oil

  4 tablespoons lime juice

  1 clove garlic, minced

  1 teaspoon sugar

  1 teaspoon salt

  1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  1/2 teaspoon cumin

  Pinch of cayenne pepper (or more to taste)

  Instructions

  Cook the corn kernels over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Once the kernels exhibit some char marks, remove from heat and place in a large serving bowl.

  Add the beans, bell pepper, cilantro, jalapeño, red onion, and tomatoes to the corn.

  Whisk the vinaigrette ingredients together in a small bowl and pour over the bean mixture.

  Toss all the ingredients together then refrigerate for 2 hours before serving.

  Right before serving, chop and fold the avocado into the bean mixture.

  Season to taste with additional salt and cayenne pepper if desired.

  Serve with tortilla chips and/or pita chips. This also makes an excellent topping for grilled chicken or fish.

  Baked Jalapeño Poppers

  Ingredients

  12 jalapeños, halved and seeded with membranes removed

  4 ounces cream cheese, room temperature

  1 cup cheddar cheese, finely grated

  1 cup Monterey Jack cheese, finely grated

  3 scallions, green part only, finely diced

  1 tablespoon cilantro, finely chopped

  1 egg yolk

  1 teaspoon ground cumin

  4 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs

  2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese

  1/4 teaspoon paprika

  Sliced limes and cilantro for garnish

  Instructions


  Preheat oven to 500 degrees (F).

  Place a wire rack in a rimmed baking sheet that has been lined with aluminum foil. Place halved jalapeños cut side down on wire rack and bake 5 minutes, just until they begin to soften. Remove from oven and cool while preparing the remaining ingredients.

  Reduce oven temperature to 400 degrees (F).

  In a shallow bowl, mix together 4 tablespoons panko breadcrumbs, Parmesan cheese, and paprika. Set aside.

  In a mixing bowl, stir together the cream cheese, cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, cilantro, green onions, egg yolk, and cumin until thoroughly combined.

  Portion the cream cheese mixture between the jalapeño halves.

  Working with 1 half jalapeño at a time, turn upside down and place cheese mixture in the panko breadcrumb mixture. Press down to adhere breadcrumbs.

  Place the coated jalapeño onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Repeat with remaining jalapeños.

  Bake 7-9 minutes, just until cheese begins to bubble.

  Switch the oven to the broil setting and broil for 1-2 minutes, until the breadcrumb coating turns golden brown. Watch the jalapeños carefully and don’t allow the crumb topping to burn.

  Remove baking sheet from the oven and cool for 5 minutes before placing jalapeños onto a serving platter. Garnish with cilantro and serve with sliced limes.

  Mama’s Cornbread Muffins with Honey Butter

  Ingredients

  Muffins:

  1 cup (4.8 ounces) all-purpose flour

  1 cup (4.5 ounces) cornmeal, fine ground

  4 teaspoons baking powder

  1/3 cup (2.5 ounces) sugar

  1 teaspoon salt

  Pinch of cayenne pepper

  2 large eggs

  1 cup milk, whole or 2%

  1/4 cup vegetable oil

  Honey Butter:

  1/2 cup butter, room temperature

  1/2 cup honey