Cut out cookie, p.22
Cut Out Cookie, page 22
The doorbell at the back door rang. Erin tripped over Orange Blossom as she hurried out of the pantry to answer it. Vic and Willie had a key and codes to the alarm, so she wasn’t sure why either one of them would need to be let in. It flashed through her mind that maybe it was the police, needing to look at something else they had failed to investigate before or hoping to arrest Willie for Theresa’s murder. But Beaver had assured her that the investigation would fade out and no arrests would be made.
She unlocked and opened the door for Vic, who was holding a casserole dish covered with tinfoil, her hands protected with oven mitts and steam swirling out from under the foil covering.
“Careful, it’s hot!” she warned as she sidled in through the door. She glanced back over her shoulder. “Willie is coming. He’s just being slow.”
She marched into the kitchen and set the casserole dish down on top of the stove.
Erin sniffed the air. “That smells really good!”
“Ham and noodle casserole. Ma’s recipe. Tastes like a little bit of heaven!”
Erin felt a warm rush of appreciation. “You didn’t have to do that! Will you stay and have some with us?”
“Sure, of course. We already went to Easter service while it was cooking, so we have plenty of time.”
Erin saw Willie coming down the steps from the loft apartment and opened the door for him, keeping her foot across the door to prevent Orange Blossom from leaving. Blossom snorted and went back into the kitchen, rubbing against Vic and standing up on his hind legs to better smell the casserole and beg for some.
Willie displayed a couple of bottles of wine and entered.
“This is great!” Erin told him. She rapidly revised her plans for dinner. Maybe a couple of vegetable side dishes to go with the ham casserole centerpiece…
There was a knock at the front door. “Oh! Just a minute…” Erin told her company, hurrying to get it.
It was Brandy, one of the cooks from the family restaurant. She handed Erin a take-out bag, the savory smells of potatoes and cream with herbs wafting up from it. “Your scalloped potatoes,” she told Erin. “Happy Easter!”
She gave a little wave, then turned around to go back to her car. Beaver and Jeremy were coming up the sidewalk. They waved to Brandy, then approached Erin. It was Jeremy who was carrying a covered dish, not Beaver. He grinned his wide, easy grin and tossed his head to flip his long hair over his shoulder. “Green bean casserole. Actually, it’s cheddar-pecan green bean casserole.”
Erin’s mouth watered just at the words, even before the smells of the cheese and pecans hit her. “This is…” she shook her head and tried to prevent the tears welling up in her eyes from overwhelming her. “This is so nice! When did you guys plan all of this?”
Beaver chewed her gum, smiling comfortably at Erin. “Mostly yesterday. Though talk started a few days ago. Everybody knew how much time you were putting in at Auntie Clem’s and… on other things. Vic happened to have occasional access to your planner and knew you weren’t getting your own Easter preparations done.”
Erin turned back toward the kitchen and shook her head at Vic. “A spy in my own bakery!”
Vic nodded, laughing. “Guilty as charged.”
Terry emerged from the bedroom dressed in freshly laundered chinos and a light blue shirt, smelling of soap from his late-morning shower. K9, watching all of the action from beside the couch, got up to sniff and greet Terry.
“What’s all the ruckus?” he asked, the dimple appearing in his cheek.
Disturbed by K9 getting up, Marshmallow hopped around in a wide circle and stopped at Erin’s feet to nibble at her toes.
Erin held up the bag from the family restaurant. “Is this your doing?”
“You didn’t expect me to make them myself, did you?”
She laughed. “Well, let’s get everything set out in the kitchen. We can serve ourselves buffet-style.”
Adele came in quietly through the back door as Erin set things out, displaying her own offering. “Corn pudding casserole.”
“You didn’t have to do that! Are you going to join us?” Erin knew that Adele didn’t like crowds. She didn’t always stick around when they had a large gathering.
“For a bit.” Adele glanced around at the other guests. She was still uncomfortable around Vic after what her husband had done. She forced a smile. “And can I assume that… everything is working out?”
“Yes. Yes, everything is good.” Erin looked at Beaver. “Or so I’m told.”
Adele nodded. “Good.”
Another knock on the front door sent Erin hurrying back across the house to answer it. Joshua stood there with a casserole bowl, held between mittened hands. He was a little pink and smiled at Erin, then looked back over his shoulder at the car that had brought him to the house.
“Loaded cauliflower casserole. From Mom,” he said unnecessarily.
“Tell her thank you so much,” Erin told him. “You can bring it into the kitchen.”
She obviously couldn’t take it from him with bare hands.
“Did Cam make it home for Easter?” she asked.
“Yes. And Dad.” Joshua’s eyes shone. It had been a long time since the family had all been together.
“Oh, that’s good news. I read your article in the paper Thursday. It was really good.”
“Thanks! There will be another one next week. About the shoot-out. Can I come by later and talk to you about it?”
“Oh, it didn’t have anything to do with me. You should talk to Terry.”
“I want to talk to you.”
“Hmm.” Erin didn’t give him a firm answer, thinking about Mary Lou and how she would feel about it. She didn’t like Erin encouraging Joshua in his investigative journalism, worried that it might lead him into trouble. Still, they had both seen how having a story to write changed his whole demeanor. It was what he lived for. Mary Lou wasn’t going to keep him away from it.
“Got room for one more person?” Jack Ward was coming up the sidewalk carrying a couple of bottles of soda.
Erin shook her head. “Why aren’t you back in Moose River?”
“Still following up on some details with the feds. No point in going home just to turn around and come back again.”
Erin had never asked him about his family situation, but guessed that he must be unattached. If he had a wife or girlfriend back in Moose River, then he would go home for Easter, even if he had to turn around and return to Bald Eagle Falls the next day.
“Of course you’re welcome to join us. The more, the merrier.” Erin touched Joshua’s shoulder before he could return to the car. “Tell Mary Lou thanks. It was so kind of her to think of me.”
“Casseroles.” He shrugged. “It’s what they do.”
“Well, we are going to have a king’s feast, thanks to your mom and the others. I hope you all have a very happy Easter.”
“We will,” Joshua agreed. He nodded and walked back to the car where Mary Lou or Cam was waiting to drive him home. Erin lifted a hand to wave, even though she couldn’t see whether the occupant waved back at her.
Erin ushered Jack into the house, then looked up and down the street to see if that was everyone. She looked at the house next door to hers. Mrs. Peach. She shut the door to prevent any animal escapes and tiptoed down the sidewalk to the city sidewalk, over one house, and up Mrs. Peach’s sidewalk. She knocked on the door. It took a few minutes for Mrs. Peach to make it there on her walker.
“Erin. Happy Easter. What can I do for you?”
“Well… I’ve ended up with a big feast over here, and there is going to be way too much for us to eat. I was wondering if you could come over, help us to put a dent in it. I hate to interrupt your Easter plans, but…” Erin trailed off. She didn’t hear any voices inside Mrs. Peach’s house or smell a ham dinner.
“Oh no, I couldn’t,” Mrs. Peach demurred.
“Please? You would be doing me a huge favor.”
“Well…” Mrs. Peach patted her hair and looked down at her dress. “I’m not really dressed for visiting…”
“Oh, you’ll put the rest of us to shame. No one else is dressed up.” Erin gestured to her own black slacks and t-shirt. “It’s casual. So can you?”
“I suppose,” Mrs. Peach said. “If you need my help, it wouldn’t be neighborly to turn you away.”
“Thank you so much! Can I give you a hand?” Erin offered her arm to the older woman.
“Just down the steps. I really am fine. I only use the walker for longer distances.”
Mrs. Peach took Erin’s arm for stability and carefully stepped down the concrete stairs. At the bottom, she let go and walked along behind Erin.
“You go on. You don’t need to wait for a tired old lady. I’ll be there in a minute.”
“It’s such a beautiful day. I want to enjoy the weather,” Erin told her. She took in a long breath of fresh air and looked around at the beautiful green trees, lawns, and flower gardens. “Isn’t spring just the best time of year?”
“It is lovely,” Mrs. Peach agreed.
Erin walked with her up her sidewalk and helped her up the steps. They walked into the house, buzzing with people with smiles on their faces and redolent with the smells of the donated casseroles all lined up on the counter. Terry had seen to getting out glasses, plates, and cutlery, and they were all ready to begin.
“Thank you so much, everyone,” Erin told the group. “This is the best surprise. I don’t know how… just thank you.”
“Let’s eat!” Willie declared.
And they did.
Erin was halfway into a food coma when her phone rang. She sleepily pulled it out of her pocket to look at the screen.
Reg. Twice in a week. Erin yawned and answered it. “Reg. Hi. How are you?”
“Everything is fine,” Reg said, in a tone that suggested that Erin had accused her of being in trouble. “All back to normal.”
“Back to normal… after your games? Did you enjoy watching them?”
“Oh, they were really cool,” Reg declared. “You wouldn’t believe the things that some people can do.”
Erin nodded. “I always think that when I watch the Olympics. You never really know what a body is capable of until you watch something like that. We really don’t use the abilities that we have, rarely explore them to see what we are really capable of.”
“You’re telling me! I saw some pretty unbelievable stuff.”
“So, are you having a good Easter?”
“Most of the folks around here celebrate Ostara rather than Easter, so we’ve already had our celebrations. Is that what you’re doing today? Easter?”
“Yes. Today is Easter Sunday.”
“Well, if some lady with sparkles shows up and claims to be the goddess Eostre, don’t believe her.”
“Um… okay. I won’t.” Erin shook her head in disbelief. “Are you taking care of yourself, Reg? Everything okay?”
“Yes. Yes, everything is going to be fine now.”
Erin hoped that it was true.
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PREVIEW OF ON THE SLAB PIE
The pie crust is tender, but the case is tough!
* * *
It all starts with a body.
* * *
Erin thought she’d seen and heard it all. In Bald Eagle Falls, everyone seemed not only to know everyone else’s business, but to discuss it at length. Yet she had always assumed that her neighbor Mrs. Peach, who had no man in her life, was widowed.
* * *
Mr. Peach’s unexpected reappearance, a prison breaking, and a body in the woods combine to form the toughest case yet for the gluten-free baker to solve!
* * *
Like baking mysteries? Cats, dogs, and other pets? Award-winning and USA Today Bestselling Author P.D. Workman brings readers back to small town Bald Eagle Falls for another culinary cozy mystery to be solved by gluten-free baker Erin Price and her friends.
* * *
Have your gluten-free cake and eat it too. Sink your teeth into this sweet treat now!
CHAPTER 1
“I’ve never even heard of a slab pie before.” Erin studied the materials that her best friend and assistant Vic had assembled for her. “It must be a Southern thing, is it?”
“Suppose so.” Vic shrugged. “I’ve never lived anywhere else, so I couldn’t tell you. I guess if you never heard of it in Maine…”
Erin shook her head again. “In the North, the only pies I ever saw were round pies made in pie tins.”
“Well, if you have a whole crew to feed, it’s a lot less trouble to roll your pastry out onto a cookie sheet, add the filling and a top crust if you’re doing one, and pop it in the oven. Then you just cut it into squares to serve. A lot less fuss and bother than cutting and filling half a dozen round pies.”
“And people do double-crusted too?”
“Most of the ones you see now are dessert, and they just do a single crust. But you can make meat and potato pies, and then you do a double crust, so you can pick it up and eat it for lunch.”
“Like an individual-size meat pie.”
Vic nodded. “But a lot less bother. It would be pretty fussy to make individual meat pies for your whole field crew or mining shift. Or for a mom with a dozen kids, putting them in everyone’s lunchbox.”
“I never even thought of such a thing. But it’s very practical.”
“And good for a picnic or fair.” Vic grinned widely. “You can get really fancy, laying out your fruit in a pattern or picture. Looks good, tastes even better, and it’s quick and easy to serve.”
“Okay,” Erin agreed with a nod. “I’m convinced. That’s what we’ll do for the Statehood Day picnic.”
“Great. We can do a run-through now, and I’ll look up some recipe ideas tonight so you have something to start with. Then we can come up with something traditional but unique.”
Erin wasn’t sure she would be able to repeat the success they’d had with the mile-high stack cake at the Fall Fair, but she and Vic would come up with something good. She had perfected several gluten-free pastry recipes in the time since she had first opened Auntie Clem’s Bakery, so that part would not be difficult. She was sure that it would cook up just as well in the large cookie sheet as in a pie pan. Though it might need to be a little stronger to make sure that the pieces in the middle were substantial enough to remove from the pan without crumbling, even if they would be eating them with a plate and fork rather than out of hand. They would come up with something that would work with a tweak or two.
After they had closed shop and gone home, Erin had a light dinner by herself—Terry was on an evening shift with the police department, and Vic was having dinner with her boyfriend, Willie—and debated going out for a walk.
It was a beautiful day, and she knew that she should take advantage of the cooling evening. She and Vic had vowed to spend more time watching the sunrises and sunsets and enjoying the natural beauty around them. What was the point in working all day indoors and never getting out to enjoy the beauty around them? Not only was Bald Eagle Falls a paradise in the midst of some of the most gorgeous scenery Erin had seen, but she literally had the woods in her backyard. Or separated from her backyard by a fence. And the woods were hers, inherited from her aunt Clementine along with the house and the storefront that had been the original Auntie Clem’s Bakery, the only gluten-free and allergy-friendly bakery in driving distance.
She could take a short walk through the woods, enjoying the lowering light shining through the dappled leaves of the brilliantly green trees, return to the yard for her tai chi practice, and then head to bed for a few minutes of reading and, hopefully, quickly drop off to sleep.
It was always harder falling sleep without Terry there. Unless, of course, Terry was also having trouble sleeping, and then they just kept each other awake tossing and turning and kicking each other. But Orange Blossom, the cat rubbing against her legs and complaining that his kibble bowl was already empty, would snuggle with her in bed, and he was never too restless. He didn’t seem to have any kitty worries or trauma that kept him awake at night.
“You don’t need any more to eat,” Erin chided him. “You’re getting too fat. You want Doc Edmunds to put you on a diet?”
Blossom yowled more loudly. He had the loudest voice of any cat Erin had ever heard. The windows were open and she didn’t want any of the neighbors complaining that he was disrupting their evening.
“Shh. You don’t need anything else. You need to be quiet now.”
But he wasn’t quieting, and Erin eventually broke down and added a little more dry kibble to his bowl, hoping that would satisfy him. Marshmallow, the brown and white rabbit, had quietly eaten his dinner and lolloped off to the living room to sleep it off without any complaints. But then, he never complained. Orange Blossom more than compensated for Marshmallow's silence.
She decided to make her escape while he was occupied with his second course. Then at least if he started howling for more, she wouldn’t be close enough to hear him and he would eventually get the message and have a nap.
