Death of the Family Recipe (A Scotti Fitzgerald Murder Mystery Book 3) (28 page)

When it was done, I snapped the mini cake into a carrier and handed it to Ginny. She giggled and said, "You’re going to turn my girls into little pastry chefs too."

Chelsea and Katy hugged my legs. "It’s the most beautifulest cake ever Aunt Scotti. Thank you!"

We had a little hug-fest, and then Ginny and the girls left with the cake and a couple of tins of cookies.

Matt stood back and admired the three Christmas cakes. "Man, these are like art."

I clapped his back. "Then that must make us artists, little bro."

He grinned and nodded. "Yeah, guess it does."

I snapped the cake carrier lid on one of the cakes. "This one is for Zelda, so we’ll take it with us." Then I snapped the lids on the other two cakes then locked them in the pantry to keep them away from Ted’s greedy mitts. There were stlll plenty of Christmas cookies to deliver, and Matt volunteered to be my helper. "Ready?"

Matt had his hand in the cookie jar. "Ah yeah. Thought I’d get some fuel for the road."

I tossed him a plastic container. "No crumbs in the new ride."

We were taking my car, but Matt insisted on driving. Despite my ever-expanding belly, I was capable of driving a car, but it was easier to go along than argue the point for twenty minutes. I buckled my seatbelt, and Matt switched on the engine. He put his hand on my belly and said, "Okay, little dudes ready for the drive?"

Since the babies started kicking, everybody in the family was compelled to maul my belly and carry on conversations with them. "What are you doing?"

Matt stared at my belly. "Waiting for the high five."

Ted had bragged that every time he talked to the babies they responded with a one-two, so everyone expected the same response. I pushed Matt’s hand away. "Drive the car."

The early afternoon sun was bright, and the sky a clear winter blue — perfect driving weather. We did our best to skirt holiday traffic, but no matter what route we took, the roads were clogged. I turned up the radio, and we sang along to Christmas carols — if you can’t beat them, join them. Eventually, we made it to Zelda’s, and I was glad to get out of the car. We carried the cake and gifts inside and left them in the kitchen for her. I stood in my former kitchen, a little weepy. I loved my home with Ted, but I still missed the little cottage sometimes.

Matt squeezed my shoulder. "How’s Zee? Having a good time?"

I nodded. "She’s having a blast." I frowned at the quiet. "She said she’ll be home for Christmas, but once Zee starts having fun, she forgets everything else."

Matt put his arm around my shoulder. "She’ll be back soon."

I nodded and got weepy again thinking about how much I missed her. I had so much to tell her. And it was Christmas — the one time of the year that Zelda allowed herself to be sentimental. I nudged Matt toward the door and chuckled. "Hormones, right?"

Our next stop was at Franky the Copy King’s. I made Matt stay in the car because I didn’t want him to see what I was picking up. Franky was his usual cheerful self. "Such delicious cookies you make. My wife, she wants your recipe."

I shook my head. "Sorry Franky, trade secret." Putting a couple of tins on the counter, I said, "But here’s a few more for Christmas." I looked behind him. "Is it ready?"

Franky beamed and pulled out a large framed photo from under the counter. He held it up for me to examine. "How do you like?"

I giggled with joy. "It’s exactly what I wanted. Let’s wrap that puppy up." Franky had it wrapped in less than a minute. I got up on tip toes and peered over the counter. "Are the others ready too?"

Franky nodded and lifted a large box to the counter. "All ready."

"Perfect."

Franky put everything on a push cart and rolled it out to my car. Matt watched in the rearview mirror curious about my secret purchases from a copy store. I closed the hatch and locked it, then got into the passenger seat. "Okay little bro, let’s roll."

Matt continued to stare in the rearview mirror. "You’re not going to tell me?"

"Hell no."

He sighed and munched on a Christmas tree butter cookie. "Christmas man, too many secrets."

We ran a few errands and dropped off cookies on our way, edging toward home by taking Glenoaks. When we passed Hollywood Way, I thought of Rose in the cemetery a mile down the road. A few more blocks and we’d pass Jennifer’s street. I read the street signs as we passed. "Do you mind if we make a quick stop?"

"Sure, where?"

I pointed. "The next street after the light, turn left." Matt obliged and turned onto Brighton. I directed him down the street and told him to park when we reached Jennifer’s blue house. "Right here." Matt questioned me with his eyes. I smiled and pinched his cheek. "Christmas cookie delivery. Wait in the car?"

Matt switched off the engine. "Sure."

Armed with two tins of Christmas cookies, I went to Jennifer’s front door, hoping she wouldn’t slam it in my face. I wasn’t even sure she’d open the door, but it was Christmas, and she was my family — maybe we could find some common ground. Before I had a chance to ring the bell, Jennifer opened the door. "Hello."

I held out the cookie tins. "Merry Christmas."

Jennifer gave me a curious smile. "For me?"

I sighed. "I’m sorry about the other day. I just thought…."

Jennifer unlocked the screen door and held it open for me. "Come in."

I turned toward the car and held up five fingers to Matt. He nodded and I went inside. Again we stood in the entryway, but I hadn’t expected even that so I surged with the smallest of hopes. We stood looking at each other like two teenagers at their first dance. Finally, I said, "Don’t you like cookies?" Jennifer laughed, and I laughed too. "What am I saying, everybody likes cookies, right?"

She accepted the tins and held them closely. A wistful smile flitted across her face. "Rose used to make Christmas cookies too. I looked forward to them all year long." Shyly she said, "Thank you, Scotti. This was very thoughtful of you." She swept her arm toward the living room. "Why don’t you come in? I’ll make a pot of tea and we can enjoy these together."

My small patch of hope grew a little larger. "I’d love to, but I can’t." I jerked my thumb toward the door. "My brother-in-law is waiting, and we have more cookie deliveries to make." I gave her my card. "Rain check?"

Jennifer accepted the card. "All right. Perhaps I’ll call you — after the holidays?"

I nodded and opened the door. "Merry Christmas."

When I got back into the car, Matt gave me a questioning look, but I pretended not to notice. "Okay, little bro, we’ve got lots more cookies to deliver.

He started the car and nosed it toward Glenoaks. Looking in the rearview mirror he said, "Who was that?"

I looked out the window. "Just one of my many Christmas cookie recipients."

Matt didn’t push it, but I knew he didn’t believe me. By about seven, we’d delivered the rest of the cookies and headed for home. We drove in silence for a while, then Matt said, "Scotti?"

I turned to him. "Yeah?"

"Who was that lady really?"

Tears clogged my throat. "Nobody." I looked out the window. "Nothing for you to worry about it."

"Then why are you so bummed?"

I leaned my head against the window and said nothing. We drove in silence the rest of the way home. When Matt pulled into the drive I said, "She’s someone from my past. That’s all. It’s no big deal."

Matt twisted his lips. "Then why are you so freaked?"

I saw the lights on inside —Ted was home. "I’m not freaked."

Matt sighed. "Yeah man, you are." He held up his hands. "But that’s cool, you don’t want to tell me, I understand. But you should tell Ted."

"Why? There’s nothing to tell."

"You know why, Scotti."

I watched the front door, expecting Ted to come out any second. "The thing about your big brother is that he tries to fix everything. And this isn’t something he can fix."

"But he’s got eyes."

I turned back to him. "So?"

"So, you hurt, he hurts. Doesn’t matter if you tell him, Scotti. He knows."

And as though on cue, the door opened and Ted bounded out of the house. "Please don’t say anything to him, Matt. I’ll tell him, but I decide when. Okay?"

Matt nodded. "Okay."

Ted opened my door and leaned in to kiss me. "Hi baby. Look, we’re both home at the same time." He helped me out of the car. "You have packages?"

I put my hands on his chest and gave him a gentle shove. "Oh no, you stay away from those packages."

Ted looked over my head at the back of the car. "Something for me?"

I pushed him toward the house. "You’ll just have to wait 'til Christmas morning little boy."

Matt gave me my keys and a quick hug. "See you tomorrow." I nodded, but he took my hand and held onto it. "Tell him, okay?"

"See you tomorrow, Matt."

Ted and I settled on a blanket by the fire — nibbling from a tray of brisket sandwiches, potato salad, cheese and fruit. A sort of Christmas picnic. Both content just to be in the same room at the same time and conscious. I fed him an apple slice topped with Irish cheddar. "How’s work, Mr. Busy?"

He grabbed a sandwich from the tray. "Work is done until Monday."

I clapped my hands, then raised my wine glass of club soda. "Here’s to Christmas vacations." I kissed him, and he tasted like brisket. "And by the way, you’re all mine until Monday."

He tugged on a lock of my hair gently. "Except for the Christmas Eve shebang at Mom’s tomorrow."

I rolled my eyes. "I can’t believe we have to drag everything over there so we can all open our presents together. We’ll be opening presents until New Year’s."

Ted looked into my eyes. "So what happened today?"

I shrugged. "Nothing. I baked cakes with Matt, Ginny and the girls. Then Matt and I delivered the rest of the cookies and then we came home."

He studied my face. "Nothing else?"

I rearranged the cheese slices on the tray, wondering if Matt had called him and told him about our stop at Jennifer’s. "Like what?"

"I don’t know, you tell me."

I gathered the dirty dishes onto the tray. "Nothing to tell, honey." I smiled at him and said, "Or is this your way of tricking me into telling what I got you for Christmas?"

He slid the tray aside and took my hands. "I’m your husband."

I kissed him. "Yes, I know."

"And I’m pretty good at reading you."

I reached for the tray again. "What am I, a book?"

Gently, he pulled me into his arms. "You’re upset."

I made a face and shook my head. "Why would I be upset?"

He kissed the top of my head. "That’s what I’m trying to find out."

I sighed. "Fine. If you must know I think Ingrid is out there."

He looked toward the door. "Out where?"

I flapped my hands. "Watching me. Whenever you’re not around, I just feel her. Out there, somewhere, watching me."

Ted held me tight. "I promise you honey, she’s not."

I wriggled out of his arms. "And this is why I didn’t say anything. You don’t believe me, or you think it’s my hormones." I twirled my finger. "All in my head, right?"

He took my hand. "No honey, I believe you feel that way. And I get why. She made you feel unsafe in your own home. That would mess with anybody’s head."

I sulked. "But?"

He pulled me back into his arms. "You’re safe, I promise."

It wasn’t exactly a lie. I did feel Ingrid was out there watching me. But it wasn’t exactly the truth either. I’d tell him about Jennifer. But later. After Christmas. After I knew who and what I was dealing with and what I was going to do about it.

<<>>

On Christmas morning, Ted woke me wearing only a Santa hat. "Ho, ho, ho."

I laughed and pushed him away. "Sorry Santa, my husband gets jealous when I sleep with other men." I squinted at the clock, then rolled out of bed. "Put on your pants. It’s time for hot chocolate, cookies and stockings."

While Ted finished getting ready, I set out our cookies, hot chocolate and stockings on the coffee table. Then quickly slid his special gift under the tree.

Ted, still wearing his Santa hat but also a pair of green pajama bottoms, caught me as I turned away from the tree. He slid his arms around my disappearing waist and whispered, "What have you got there, little girl? Something nice for Santa?"

I ducked out of his arms and went to the sofa. Patting the place next to me, I said, "Come sit with me, honey." Ted sat next to me but was fixated on the tree. I slid the plate of cookies in front of him. "Oatmeal raisin, your favorite." He didn’t even look at the cookies, which was a first. I threw up my hands and jumped off the sofa. "Okay, straight to the presents it is." I pulled his gift from under the tree and held it out to him. "Merry Christmas husband."

Ted grinned, reached over the side of the sofa and pulled out a surprise gift of his own. He held it out to me. "Merry Christmas wife."