Renee polished off her carefully selected strawberry and then started another search. “I pulled it up on the computer between rescues today. It was painful to watch. I mean, not only did the Hollywood Hag neglect to mention she has a daughter, she made it sound as if the very notion of children is something almost beneath her.”
“Because it is.” Jay reached around Winnie for a strawberry and, when Winnie waved his find away from her mouth, he popped it in his own. “In hindsight, everything Didi did with Caroline when we were there happened behind the scenes where no one could see—they ate in private dining rooms, did in-home manicures, watched movies in Didi’s house, shopped from selections Didi had delivered to the hotel, et cetera, et cetera. All tucked away where no one would see. I should have realized what was going on and I should have called her out on it right then and there.”
“Then you would have been the bad guy,” Renee said. “This way, as painful as it was—and likely still is—for Caroline, it’s all on Didi. Where it belongs.”
Winnie glanced back at the couch and the even wider smile that was now on Caroline’s face. “I really love that man, you know? He’s got a light that has a way of touching everyone.”
“Sounds like someone else I know.”
“If only that were true,” she whispered.
“Caroline asked if she could come with me tonight.” Jay kissed her on the temple and then released his hold on Winnie. “Maybe Mr. Nelson is right. Maybe she will come around in time.”
Winnie took a moment to steady her breath and then lifted the platter of donuts off the table.
“You want me to record this?” he asked.
She started to say no but stopped herself. As much as she enjoyed living in the moment and cherishing it for what it was, there was going to come a time when memories were all she had of some of the most important people in her life. “Sure. Thanks.”
As they approached the couch, Ty, who was seated on Caroline’s other side, popped his head up and smiled at Winnie. She winked back at him and stopped in front of Mr. Nelson. “Mr. Nelson? Last night I made a special treat to coincide with your magic show. Unfortunately, things didn’t go quite the way I’d planned. So . . . I made a new batch this afternoon. For us to eat after your second magic show.”
“Second magic show?” Mr. Nelson asked.
“The one we”—she guided his eyes around the room with her chin—“want you to put on for all of us, this evening. Assuming, of course, you wouldn’t mind.”
“Mind?” With loving, gentle hands, he scooped Lovey off his lap and deposited her onto Caroline’s. Then, grabbing hold of his cane, he scooted forward on the couch. “Why, I think I can pull together a show if Ty, here, is willing to help . . .”
“Yes! Yes!” Ty jumped off the couch and headed for the door.
Mr. Nelson followed at a slightly slower, but no less determined clip. When he got to the door, however, he turned and retraced his steps all the way back to his starting point.
“So what are you calling these, Winnie Girl?” he asked, helping himself to a handful of donuts.
“Now You See ’Em, Now You Don-uts.”
Recipes
Your Jokes Make Me Snicker-Doodle (Cookies)
1 cup shortening
1½ cups sugar
2 eggs
2 ¾ cups sifted flour (all-purpose)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
½ teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Grease cookie pans.
In a medium-sized bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar. Add each egg, mixing after each one.
In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Stir into creamed mixture.
In a smaller bowl, stir together the 2 tablespoons of sugar with the cinnamon.
Roll the dough into balls, then roll in bowl with sugar mixture.
Place cookies on prepared cookie pan, about 2 inches apart.
Bake for 8–10 minutes. Cool on wire racks.
Now You See ’Em, Now You Don-Uts (Maple Glazed)
For donuts:
2 cups all-purpose baking mix
¼ cup sugar
⅔ cup milk
1 egg (beat lightly)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
For maple glaze:
¼ cup butter
½ cup brown sugar
3 tablespoons milk
1 tablespoon corn syrup
2 teaspoons maple extract
2 cups powdered sugar
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Spray mini donut pan with nonstick cooking spray.
Mix all donut (not glaze) ingredients in medium bowl until well blended. Spoon approximately 1 tablespoon of batter for each donut into prepared pan.
Bake 10–12 minutes.
Meanwhile, it’s time to make your maple glaze. In a small pan, combine butter and brown sugar. Whisk in milk and cook for about 5 minutes (medium heat). Continue stirring until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved.
Remove from heat and add in corn syrup and maple extract. Add in powdered sugar a little at a time—whisking smooth after each addition. You can add another teaspoon or two of milk if needed. Once all powdered sugar has been added, keep the glaze warm on the stove (whisk on occasion).
When donuts are done (toothpick inserted in center should come out clean), remove from pan and immediately coat in glaze. Let cool on a wire rack. Be aware the glazed donuts may drip as they cool, so place rack on a sheet of waxed paper to minimize mess.
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Dial M for Mousse Page 25
