Small Town Scary (Cozy Mystery Collection) Page 12
Chapter 10
Crepe colored loveseats were adorned with enough throw pillows to stack to the peak of Mt. Everest. Gliding over to the fireplace, I smiled, knowing that I was creating a cozy environment that most men would find hard to resist. As I tossed a few logs into the fireplace, I reflected on how seduction had never really been my art. But that night would be different. Even though it was June, I ignited a splintering blaze in the fireplace and set two mugs of cold milk and a plate of hot cookies on the mantel. The cookie flavors for the evening were Homestyle Molasses and Pumpkin Buttermilk, recipes that I usually reservedfor autumn. But I wanted to welcome Chad into my home for the first time with comfort food cookies that would warm him even more than the stoked fireplace.
I could finally breathe with Mikaila in jail and the detectives eagerly pouncing on Henrietta Nubrick of Just Cookies. Late last night, the investigators had confiscated Nubrick’s computer and other electronic devices. Frightened and fully cooperative, the bakery owner claimed that she hadn’t scanned or digitally distributed my recipes. But I wouldn’t know for sure until a technology forensics team had combed through every time stamp and email on her computer. For now, she had turned over all of my original laminated recipes to the police, who in turn gave them back to me. With the recipes tucked away safe and sound in my home, I could focus on my long awaited second date with Chad. Sweeping a feather duster over the coffee table, I glanced at my reflection in the hallway mirror. Etched into my face was evidence of stress, not just of the past few days but also from my intense work schedule. Looking away from the mirror, I played with the arrangement of the throw pillows and lay a white lace cloth over the dining room table.
Entertaining Chad in my home allowed me a rare opportunity to indulge one of my other passions: decorating. If I didn’t own a cookie shop, I would have been an interior designer. Very few things in life could make me happier than picking a new shade to paint a room or hammering framed artwork into the walls. As I fluffed a pillow on the sofa, I hoped that Chad would fall under the spell of the romantic atmosphere. Then, I dismissed that potion notion, acknowledging that the man already liked me and I didn’t need to stir up any magic to command his affections. The doorbell chimed as I let the magic books I had loved to read as a child fade into the mist.
“Hello. Welcome,” I greeted sweetly as he stood in the doorway with a bouquet of daffodils. “Ooh, thank you.”
“It’s good to see you again,” Chad said, kissing my cheek and walking inside. “Beautiful home.”
“Thank you. I know you wanted to go out to dinner, but I thought we could have some dessert first,” I suggested as his eyebrows raised. “I mean milk and cookies! By the fireplace!”
“Oh, that sounds great.” He laughed softly and followed me to the fireplace where two red velvet cushions were poised for reclining. “Listen, I just want to get something cleared up right off the bat, okay? I don’t want you to think anything is going on between Maggie and me. Our relationship is strictly professional and always has been.”
Gratified, I said softly, “You don’t have to explain to me.”
“But I want to,” Chad asserted. “How can I say it? Maggie has sort of a, I don’t know, a gregarious personality.”
“That’s a nice way to say it,” I smirked, thinking how “gregarious” must be synonymous with cackling, calculating, and conniving.
“Anyway, enough about that. How’s everything going with the search for Mikaila?” He asked, accepting a mug of milk from me and selecting a molasses cookie.
“You wouldn’t believe it if I told you,” I said humorously. “But I’m not going to tell you right now. It’s too complicated. Let’s just say the case is solved, and I don’t have to worry about it anymore.”
“Does that mean that you can take some time off from work?”
“What does that have to do with anything?” I laughed.
“Nothing, really. I just keep thinking about how you told me you work 7 days a week. So I’m assuming you’ll be at the bakery bright and early tomorrow morning, right?”
“Right. It’s what I do,” I stated simply.
“Well maybe you just need a good reason to take time off from work,” he said mysteriously.
“Can you give me a good reason?” I challenged, taking a sip of milk.
“Yes, if you can give me some time,” he replied, finally taking a bite of cookie. “These are phenomenal. What are they, ginger?”
“Molasses. I baked them fresh about an hour ago,” I said proudly.
“Yes, I can taste that. Wow.” Chad’s eyes glittered in the firelight as he made a series of loud yummy noises gobbling up the cookie.
As he reached over to clasp my hand in his, I thought how I just might have found a good reason to ease up on my work schedule. A very good reason. A heartbeat later, he leaned over to kiss me as the warmth of his touch and the fire swirled all around us. Make that an excellent reason.
***
Epilogue
2 Months Later
Ritz Carlton Hotel
Chicago, Illinois
“Should we order room service again?” I asked dreamily.
“We could. If it’s dinnertime. Do you know what time it is?” Chad asked, yawning and stretching in the king size bed.
“I don’t even know what planet it is!” I purred, unable to recall ever feeling so incredibly relaxed.
Two full months of dating and Chad had finally managed to convince me to take a little vacation. Opting to close down the bakery for a few days, I had reluctantly taken the road trip with Chad to Chicago. The moment we arrived in the Windy City, however, and started our romantic getaway with a tour of the Art Institute of Chicago, I had been breathing pixie dust.
“I’m so happy we’re here,” Chad whispered, pulling away just a few inches to reach for the room service menu on the nightstand. “Maybe we’ll need a passport for our next trip,” he hinted slyly.
“What do you have in mind? A Caribbean island?” I asked languorously.
“Maybe. But actually, I was thinking of Germany. So you could see where all your recipes came from. And I could get a few wine and cheese ideas too.”
“That would be amazing,” I said softly.
Ever since the whole Mikaila “missing person” debacle had concluded, I had kept an even tighter rein on my recipes. The treasures were no longer stored in the bakery but in a lockbox in my basement at home, buried under mountains of sheets and blankets. Mikaila had been extradited to Montana where she pled guilty to fraud charges and had begun to serve a 5 year sentence. Following that sentence, she would be carted back to North Dakota and then Wisconsin to serve time for further fraud charges along with several counts of theft. I still had a hard time believing that someone I had considered a friend and confidante was capable of such underhanded deception. But slowly, with Chad’s help, I was relegating the experience to my past---where it belonged.
As for Just Cookies, the place was just history. The business had folded immediately after the stolen recipe scandal came to light. To top it off, Henrietta, the owner of the crumbled bakery, was being prosecuted and had entered a plea of not guilty despite the fact that Mikaila had agreed to testify against her. It was a sticky mess with Henrietta likely to be serving a heaping amount of years behind bars for conspiring with Mikaila. Fortunately, though, the technology team had determined that Henrietta hadn’t digitally reproduced any of my recipes.
“So what do you say about winter in Germany? We could go right after New Year’s when things slow down at the cheese shop and your bakery,” Chad suggested, leisurely perusing the menu.
“You’re really serious about this?” I asked, unaccustomed to a man making long-range plans with me.
“Very serious. But not just about the trip to Germany, Cathleen. About us.” He leaned over and kissed my neck.
“I’ll apply for a passport as soon as we get back to Wisconsin,” I murmured as his stubble tickled my skin.
; “You mean you don’t have a passport?” He asked in disbelief.
“No. I’ve never been out of the country. Chad, I don’t even take vacations. You know that. This long weekend is the first time I’ve been away in years.” I sighed, finally ready to ease up on my work-a-holic lifestyle and live a little.
“Well that seals it. I’m booking the trip as soon as we get home,” Chad decided firmly.
“Good. Because I want to see some real castles. And my grandmother told me that Germany has tons of them. Perfectly preserved. Little gems of history.”
“I’ll take you to all the castles,” Chad promised, pointing to a succulent entrée of white wine scallops on the menu as I nodded fervently.
“I feel like we’re in a castle right now,” I whispered as Chad picked up the phone to place our dinner order.
Fairy tale castles on the edge of the Black Forest spun through my imagination, but the sweetest thought I had was that my relationship with Chad was no fairy tale. And anyplace we went together could feel like a castle, whether a fortress in Germany, a 5 star hotel in Chicago, my bakery, his cheese shop…or my cozy living room enjoying milk and cookies by the fireplace.
***
*BONUS SECTION*
10 COOKIE RECIPES
FROM THE KITCHEN OF
CATHLEEN’S COOKIE CASTLE…
Recipe #1
Golden Pecan Shortbread Cookies
1 c. flour
1/2 c. confectioners' sugar
1/2 c. cornstarch
1 1/2 sticks butter
1 c. finely chopped pecans
In a mixing bowl, sift flour and confectioners' sugar. Stir in cornstarch. Blend in butter, then add pecans. Roll dough into balls and place on ungreased cookie sheet. Press flat with fork. Bake at 300 degrees oven for 20 minutes. Let cool on baking sheet for a few minutes before removing. Cool completely before eating…preferably with a mug of your favorite coffee!
Recipe #2
Sour Cream Droplets
COOKIES
1/2 c. shortening
1 1/2 c. brown sugar
2 1/2 c. flour
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 c. walnuts
2 eggs (organic, cage-free)
1 c. sour cream
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
GLAZE
6 tbsp. butter
1 1/2 c. confectioners sugar
Hot water (enough to make glaze smooth)
1 tbsp maple syrup (optional)
Mix together all cookie ingredients; place in small droplets on cookie sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool. For glaze, cook butter until brown, then add confectioners sugar, hot water, and optional maple syrup. Spread glaze on cookies and have a bite!
Recipe #3
Homestyle Molasses Cookies
3 c. flour
Juice & rind of 2 oranges
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 c. molasses
Mix cookie ingredients and knead into a dough. Roll out dough and cut into any shape you wish. Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes. Serve with a strong cup of coffee to complement the potency of the molasses.
Recipe #4
Spiced Apple Sauce Cookies
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
1 egg (organic, cage-free)
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
Cream together the shortening and sugar. Add egg; mix. Sift flour, then measure. Sift measured flour with salt, baking soda, baking powder, and spices. Add dry ingredients to creamed shortening, sugar and applesauce until combined. Drop onto lightly greased cookie sheets and bake in a preheated 375°F oven for 10 minutes. For an extra apple-licious kick, serve with a hot cup of apple cider (especially in the autumn and winter months!)
Recipe #5
Chocolate Oatmeal Raisin Cookies
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/4 cup sugar
1 egg (organic, cage-free)
1 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cloves
1/2 tsp. allspice
1/2 tsp. ginger
1/8 tsp. baking powder
1/4 cup raisins
1/4 cup walnuts, chopped
1 tsp. vanilla
Cream butter and sugar. Sift dry ingredients together. Beat in egg, oats and dry ingredients. Stir in raisins, walnuts and vanilla. Drop onto a greased or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake for 10minutes at 350°F.These cookies taste delicious with a hot cup of chai tea!
Recipe #6
Pumpkin Buttermilk Cookies
2 cups sugar
1 cup butter
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 eggs (organic, cage-free)
1 tablespoon vanilla
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup buttermilk
4-5 cups flour
1 cup canned pumpkin
2 tablespoons cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350. Combine first 5 ingredients, add pumpkin and set aside. Mix dry ingredients together and then combine the creamy and the dry ingredients together. Add buttermilk and mix. Batter should be firm. Drop by spoonfuls and bake on cookie sheet for 14 minutes. Enjoy with a tall glass of milk!
Recipe #7
Mint Surprise Cookies
COOKIES
1 3/4 c. flour
1/3 c. unsweetened cocoa
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/8 tsp. cinnamon
1/3 c. butter
3/4 c. sugar
1 egg (organic, cage-free)
1 tbsp. milk
1 tsp. vanilla
TOPPING
4 c. confectioners sugar
6 tbsp. corn syrup
6 tbsp. butter, melted
1 tbsp. peppermint extract
Mix dry ingredients. Beat the rest, add to dry mixture. Divide dough in half. Cover and chill for 3 hours. Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Roll dough, cut into circles. Bake for 8 minutes. Mix topping ingredients. Knead into small balls. Pinch off 1 teaspoon, press onto cookie. Spread melted chocolate on top. Refrigerate. Then serve with refreshing peppermint lattes!
Recipe #8
Date-Stuffed Cookies
FILLING
2 c. dates, chopped
3/4 c. sugar
3/4 c. water
1/2 c. chopped walnuts
COOKIE DOUGH
3/4 c. butter
2 c. brown sugar
2 eggs (organic, cage-free)
3 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 c. buttermilk
Boil first 3 ingredients over low heat, stir often, then add nuts and cool.
Sift dry ingredients together, add to creamed butter, sugar and eggs. Add buttermilk. Drop by teaspoon on greased cookie sheet. Put teaspoon of filling on and then cover with 1/2 teaspoon of dough. Bake for 15 minutes in 375 degree oven. Remove from pan and cool. These Mediterranean style cookies go well with a classic cup of black tea such as Earl Grey.
Recipe #9
Brownie Chocolate Chip Cookies
3 1/3 c. sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
6squares baker’s chocolate, melted
1 1/2 c. chopped nuts
2/3 c. butter
1 1/2 c. sugar
2/3 c. light corn syrup
2 eggs (organic, cage-free)
1 tsp. vanilla
½ c. chocolate chips (optional)
Sift first 3 ingredients. Mix butter, sugar, syrup and eggs and blend together. Blend in flour mixture. Stir in remaining ingredient
s. Mix in chocolate chips if desired for an extra rich cookie. Drop by tablespoons onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 12 minutes. Be a real choco-holic and enjoy with a glass of chocolate milk!
Recipe #10
Whoopie Pie Cookies
1/2 c. butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg (organic, cage-free)
1 tsp. vanilla
1 c. milk