by Mary Maxwell
He laughed. “Gallant?”
“Same thing as valiant or chivalrous,” I said.
“I know what it means, Katie. I just think it’s funny to hear you say something so erudite.”
I laughed. “Erudite?”
“Hey, I know how to talk pretty, too.” Trent sipped his beer and waved back at a redhead in a slinky dress.
“Who’s that?” I asked.
“Penelope Something,” he said. “People call her Penny.”
“Is she new in town? I don’t think I’ve seen her around before.”
He explained that she was a location scout for a big time Hollywood director. The guy was thinking about shooting exterior scenes for his new movie in Crescent Creek. Penny was in town to get a feel for how our little Xanadu would look on film.
“And don’t get your hopes up,” he added. “All of the major roles have been cast.”
I had more of my wine and watched as Zack came out of the kitchen with a fresh beer only to be waylaid by Penelope Something.
“Is she scouting a location at the moment?” I asked.
Trent shook his head. “I do believe that’s what you call flirting,” he said. “Why? Are you jealous?”
“Not yet,” I said with a wink. “But the night is young.”
We stood quietly watching the room. Blanche moved from one small group to the next, smiling and laughing and making everyone feel welcome. She could be a tough cookie when she wanted, but I could tell that her true calling was to be warm, friendly and thoughtful.
“You’ve had quite a week,” Trent said, raising his beer. “I’d like to make a toast to Crescent Creek’s busiest retired PI.”
I touched my glass of chardonnay to the side of his bottle.
“Adam Caldwell told me all about the thing with Lois Jordan and Jake Breen,” Trent continued. “You should be proud of yourself.”
I sipped my wine. “For what?” I asked. “Being busy?”
“Being a good friend to Viveca,” he answered. “And for your steadfast pursuit of justice.”
I smiled. “Thanks for the kind words,” I said, holding up my empty glass. “And if you will excuse me, I think now would be a good time for the steadfast pursuit of more vino.”
After making my way to the kitchen and refilling my glass, I decided to step outside and admire the flowers in the garden behind Blanche’s bungalow. A cool breeze was coming in from the north and wisps of clouds brushed with red and gold drifted by in the distance. I made my way down a narrow path and sat at one end of a wide stone bench surrounded by a neatly-trimmed hedge. As I felt myself relaxing and took a sip of wine, I heard a voice from somewhere behind me.
“Mind if I join you?”
I’d been so engrossed in the simple beauty of the garden that I hadn’t heard Zack Hutton approaching.
“That was pretty awkward in there with Blanche,” he said, joining me on the bench.
I smiled, but didn’t say anything.
“If I’d known what she was up to, I probably would’ve declined the invitation.”
“That makes two of us,” I said.
He winced slightly. “Can I be completely honest?”
“Always,” I said.
“I’d planned to ask you out to dinner,” he told me. “But after tonight, it might seem kind of awkward.”
“How so?”
He blinked. “Um. Well. I guess because…” On some men the stammering would’ve been forced and unnatural; on Zack, it was endearing and genuine.
I was staring at him, waiting to hear what he would say next, when Mrs. Swift suddenly walked out of the house and into the garden. She paused briefly and smiled at Zack and me like a proud teacher watching over a couple of pupils finally achieving a long-desired goal.
“Isn’t this lovely?” she said. “The two most eligible singletons in all of Crescent Creek, enjoying a quiet moment together in the garden!”
I felt a shudder deep inside, like a cauldron of nerves unexpectedly boiling over. “Mrs. Swift!” I said anxiously. “Are you enjoying the party?”
She made her way to where we were sitting and indicated with one hand that she wanted the space between us. Then she slowly lowered herself onto the bench.
“Yes, indeed,” she said. “It’s been a lovely evening so far.” She smiled at Zack and then glanced back at me. “And what about you two? How does it feel to be thrust into the spotlight without warning by our dear friend Blanche?”
I frowned. “The term ‘bamboozled and hoodwinked’ comes to mind.”
Mrs. Swift nodded and smiled. “Blanche is actually completely harmless,” she said. “And she really does mean well.”
I let the pronouncement sink in for a few moments before I suddenly remembered my conversation with Mrs. Swift at Sky High Pies.
“You still owe me the rest of your story,” I said.
“That’s right,” she said. “I’m touched that you remembered, Kate.”
“Well, it isn’t everyday that someone says they’re going to tell me the secret of a long and happy life!”
Zack leaned forward. “What was that?”
“Mrs. Swift was going to tell me her secret the other day,” I explained.
“But we were interrupted,” the old woman said, her eyes twinkling with delight. “Should I finish the rest of it now?”
“Absolutely!” Zack cheered. “Is it okay if I listen, too?”
Mrs. Swift nodded, cleared her throat delicately and smiled at the two of us. “When I met my dear husband,” she began, “he asked me if I knew how to be truly happy and fulfilled in life. I was young then, young and naïve. I thought happiness would come from material possessions and wealth and status. But during the decades that we were together, my darling taught me that the true secret to a long and happy life is contained in three simple words.”
When she paused, I felt my heart swell. Between the gentle sound of her voice, the beautiful garden setting and the handsome man sitting on the bench beside Mrs. Swift, the moment seemed like something straight out of a Hollywood movie.
“Can either of you guess what they are?” she asked.
Zack smiled. “I love you?”
Mrs. Swift shook her head. “Those are lovely words,” she said. “But my husband’s advice involved an entirely different phrase.”
“Take more naps?” I suggested. “Is that what he told you?”
The old woman laughed. “No, but that’s always a good idea,” she said. “The three words that my husband proposed as the secret to a long and happy life are really quite simple, my dears. And they are: Let it go.”
I felt a chill along my spine as Mrs. Swift shared her late husband’s words of wisdom.
“He was talking about everything from petty arguments and small regrets to mistakes that you’ve made,” she said warmly. “Let go of sadness. Let go of anger. Let go of disappointment and bitterness and jealousy.”
As she continued to talk about her husband and their many years of marriage, I glanced at Zack.
He winked.
I smiled.
And in that moment, with the stars overhead, a cool breeze rustling the leaves and joyful laughter spilling out through the open door, I suspected that an entirely new adventure had just begun for me in the small garden behind a tidy bungalow on a late summer night.
Nana Reed’s Sky High Recipes
Buttery Pecan Brownie Bites
Ingredients
1/2 cup peanut butter
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
2/3 cup white sugar
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup chocolate chunks
1 cup chopped pecans
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C ).
2. Grease 9 x 9 inch baking pan.
3. Cream peanut butter and butter before adding white and brown sugars, vanilla and eggs.
4. Sift together flour, salt and baking powder.
5. Slowly blend dry ingredients into peanut butter mixture.
6. Pour into baking pan and top with chocolate chunks and chopped pecans.
7. Bake for 30 to 35 minutes.
8. Cool thoroughly and cut into bite-sized squares.
Cocoa Loco Cupcakes
Ingredients
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 teaspoon chili powder
2 eggs
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup milk
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. Line muffin tins with paper liners.
3. Sift together flour, baking powder, cocoa, baking soda and salt.
4. Combine butter and sugar until fluffy.
5. Add eggs and beat well before adding vanilla.
6. Add flour mixture and milk (alternating dry and wet ingredients) before beating well.
7. Fill muffin liners 3/4 full.
8. Bake for 15 to 17 minutes.
9. When cool, decorate with Creamy Loco Frosting and crushed tortilla chips.
Creamy Loco Frosting
Ingredients
2 sticks butter, softened
1 pound cream cheese, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon chili powder
4 cups sifted confectioners’ sugar
1 cup crushed tortilla chips
Directions
1. Combine butter, cream cheese and vanilla until smooth.
2. Slowly add confectioners’ sugar and blend thoroughly.
3. Frost cupcakes and garnish with crushed tortilla chips.
Coco’s Chocolate Coconut Cookies
Ingredients
3 cups finely ground graham crackers
1/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup unsalted butter, melted
1 cup diced walnuts
1/2 cup semisweet chocolate chunks
1/2 cup white chocolate chunks
1 14 ounce can sweetened condensed milk
2 cups sweetened shredded coconut
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).
2. Dampen 10 x 15 rimmed baking sheet with water before covering with parchment paper.
3. Mix graham cracker crumbs, butter and sugar. Press into bottom and sides of baking sheet.
4. Bake until firm, approximately 10 to 12 minutes.
5. Cool crust on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes.
6. Spread walnuts and chocolate chunks evenly on crust.
7. Cover walnut/chocolate mixture with condensed milk before adding coconut on top.
8. Bake 10 to 15 minutes or until coconut is toasted.
9. Cool on wire rack before cutting into bite-sized squares.
