by Anne Canadeo
As for my future plans, I have no idea what will become of Prestige Properties. No telling until the dust has settled. My heart goes out to Harry and Claire Prentiss for all they’re dealing with right now.
But this unexpected turn has given me the bug to finally pursue a broker’s license and open a real estate office of my own. A goal I’ve put off while my children were growing. How does Cavanaugh Realty sound?
In the meantime, my advice is, think twice before you speak. (Three times is better in my case.) And celebrate whenever and wherever possible. You can’t go wrong with that philosophy.
Love & hugs,
Suzanne
SUZANNE’S CELEBRATION CHOCOLATE CAKE—WITH COCONUT ICING
Ingredients for the cake:
1¾ cups all purpose flour
1¾ cups granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons baking soda
1½ teaspoons baking powder
3/4 cup unsweetened, Dutch Processed Cocoa
1 rounded teaspoon instant espresso powder (optional)
2 eggs
1 cup milk
½ cup vegetable oil
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 cup boiling water
Have all ingredients at room temperature.
Heat oven to 350 degrees.
Prepare two 9-inch round cake pans, greased and floured, with wax paper or parchment paper on the bottom.
In a large bowl, sift together dry ingredients: flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder. Mix in cocoa (and espresso powder, if desired).
In a medium size bowl, beat eggs, mix in milk, oil and vanilla. Gradually pour into dry ingredients with mixer on medium speed. Mix for about two minutes until ingredients are blended. (Not too much longer or cake will be tough.)
Stir in boiling water. Pour the batter, which will be thin, into the cake pans.
Bake 30 to 35 minutes, until a thin knife blade or toothpick inserted in the middle of the cake comes out clean and the edges spring back if touched.
Cool the cakes in pans 10 minutes and then carefully remove them from the pans and cool on a cake rack, with paper peeled off.
Cool cakes completely before frosting.
CELEBRATION COCONUT FROSTING
Ingredients:
1 cup granulated sugar
3 cups shredded, sweetened coconut
3 cups frozen, whipped topping—thawed
1 pint (16 ounces) sour cream
In a medium sized bowl, combine the sugar, sour cream and 2–2½ cups coconut.
(Reserve ½ cup or more to sprinkle on top and sides of the cake.)
Fold in the whipped topping.
Fill and cover a two layer cake.
Sprinkle the remaining coconut on the top and sides of the cake.
If you enjoyed PURLS AND POISON,
Be sure not to miss
KNIT TO KILL,
A BLACK SHEEP & COMPANY MYSTERY
by
Anne Canadeo
in
September 2018
And available at your favorite bookstore or e-retailer!
Turn the page, and get a sneak peek at
KNIT TO KILL
Chapter 1
“Your last weekend as a free woman, Lucy. How do you feel?” Phoebe stood behind the counter of the Black Sheep Knitting Shop. She stared up at Lucy, her dark eyes shining. “Maybe you should make a bucket list.”
Lucy laughed. “Seriously? A bucket list?”
Maggie shook her head. “For goodness sakes, Phoebe. She’s walking down the aisle with the man she adores. Not marching to the gallows.”
“Sorry. I didn’t mean that marrying Matt is some horrible fate. But it is sort of final. Till death do you part and all that? Aren’t there a few wild and crazy things you want to do this weekend, that you can’t do after you’re married?”
Lucy had never considered their prewedding, girls’ getaway from a “wild and crazy” angle and didn’t know how to answer Maggie’s twenty-something assistant.
As usual, Maggie did. “What exactly are you thinking, Phoebe? Are we about to film ‘Knitting Group Gone Wild’?”
“That could be an interesting project,” Phoebe mused. “But not very likely with this group.”
“Thank goodness,” Lucy replied. “But I do know what you mean. It is my last weekend of singlehood. And the big day is near. But I don’t have anything wilder or crazier in mind than a long bike ride around the island and a few of Suzanne’s crazy cocktails.”
“That’s what you say now. Think about it.” Phoebe’s tone was quite knowing for her tender age. “We’ve hit the ten-day countdown, in case you didn’t notice. Ten, nine, eight . . .”
“Phoebe, please,” Maggie interrupted again. “Let’s not make the poor bride any more anxious than she already is.”
“I’m not anxious. Not one bit. Not about marrying Matt. Though throwing a big party like this is a bit daunting,” Lucy admitted.
“Of course it is. If there’s anything we can do to help, please let us know. Let’s talk it over this weekend, while we’re all relaxing. Did you pack the bridal book we gave you?” Maggie looked up from the carton of yarn she was packing.
“I did . . . something like that.” Her friends had thoughtfully given her a bridal book with a white satin cover and pages for to-do lists and reminders. But Lucy preferred yellow legal pads and a bulging, messy folder. It got the job done.
Despite Phoebe’s concern, she definitely didn’t have cold feet. Not even a cold toe. She and Matt had been living together for over two years, and she had no qualms about joining her life and fate with his. He was definitely “the one.” She doubted married life would be much different for them than their life was now.
But Phoebe was right; it was a big step. A till-death-do-you-part deal. Or it should be. She and Matt had both been down this path before, and they knew that married life wasn’t always easy. But she felt sure this time would be the charm for both of them.
Maggie glanced at Phoebe. “Suzanne will be here any minute. Why don’t we straighten up the shop? I don’t want to come back to a mess on Monday. And you are the newly crowned assistant manager.”
“That I am.” Phoebe snapped her computer shut and set to work.
Phoebe’s title had recently been bumped up along with a generous bump in salary. Maggie had also given her a cozy niche to display her original and uniquely designed knitwear. The promotion and perks were well deserved, but Maggie had her own agenda. Phoebe had graduated about a month ago, and Maggie didn’t want to lose her.
Armed with a degree in fine art and design, Phoebe had already launched her own business, selling her original creations—socks, bathing suits, hats, head bands, and other hip-looking apparel—online, at street fairs, and at the farmers’ market held on the village green every weekend. She’d even had some patterns published in knitting magazines. But she was also Maggie’s right hand and seemed happy to continue working and learning from Maggie. The shop just wouldn’t be the same without Phoebe.
Lucy didn’t notice much amiss, but Phoebe was scurrying about, arranging bins and baskets of colorful yarn and displays of knitting needles and other necessaries.
Maggie was very particular. She loved her shop, which was lovely, inside and out, reflecting her warmth and artistic sensibility.
The Victorian building, once a private home, had been neglected and run-down when Maggie had bought it years ago. But, as usual, Maggie’s artistic eye had spotted the possibilities. She left her position as an art teacher at Plum Harbor High School to follow her bliss and turn her passion for needlework into a full-time career. Maggie had recently lost her husband and this radical change helped pull her from a well of grief.
Using her retirement nest egg, she bought the building and set up her business on the first floor: a knitting shop with cubbies of yarn and welcoming couches in the front room, and a large farm table and teaching space in the back. All and all, it was as cozy and inviting as her home.
Maggie was devoted to her business, though she was far less of a workaholic in the last year or so, since her romance with Detective Charles Mossbacher had begun.
Still, she rarely took a day off or closed early, even when she was sick. But when the prewedding girls’ weekend was proposed by their knitting group, Maggie didn’t make a fuss about closing for four full days. Lucy had felt honored. Even more so now, as she watched her friend arrange a rack of pattern books with a military precision that screamed separation anxiety.
“Hard to leave your cozy nest?” Lucy wasn’t one to tease much, but Maggie had fiddled with the rack three times.
Maggie looked as if she wanted to smile, but was holding back. “I love to travel. It broadens the mind and refreshes the spirit. It’s the leaving that’s the hard part,” she admitted. “If Osprey Shores is half as fabulous as Suzanne claims, it will be well worth closing up for a few days. You know me, as long as I have some yarn and needles handy, I’m comfortable anywhere.”
There would doubtlessly be plenty of knitting, along with all the other activities they planned to pack in while away. And of course, there would be plenty of downtime to do absolutely nothing. Maybe Phoebe’s idea about making a list wasn’t such a bad one after all.
A car horn sounded in the drive. Maggie peeked out the front window. “Suzanne’s here. Finally.”
“I need to run upstairs and grab my stuff. Be down in a jiff.” Phoebe set down the basket of yarns she’d been organizing and headed for the staircase in the storeroom, which led to her apartment. “You can lock the front door, Mag. I’ll come out the side.”
“Good plan.” Maggie was behind the counter, tugging out a big duffel and several tote bags filled with needles and yarn. Then, flinging the straps over her shoulders and looking a lot like a curly headed little packhorse, she was ready.
“Let me help you. I left my things on the porch.” Lucy unburdened her friend of a few bags, and they headed to the front door.
“I know it looks as if I’m taking half the shop, but Suzanne’s friend, Amy, has a knitting group, too. They’re meeting tonight, and I thought we could get together, and I can do a little thing on summer yarns and start them off on an easy project.”
“That’s very nice of you, but this is supposed to be a vacation. For all of us. I don’t like to see you working.”
“Oh, it’s not work. Not really. I wanted to return Amy’s favor. Considering how the Cutlers were so generous to loan us the cottage for free. According to Suzanne, the place would be out of our price range otherwise.”
From Suzanne’s wide-eyed description, the resort community of Osprey Shores did sound luxurious—and out of their league. A quick glance at the website had confirmed it. But it was still generous of Maggie to give her time and energy this way. Lucy could see she wouldn’t be talked out of it.
Maggie locked the door and checked it twice. “Besides, you know me. ‘Johnny Appleseed with knitting needles,’ some wisecracking friend once called me.” Maggie caught her glance, then slipped on her sunglasses.
Lucy smiled, the wisecracker in question. “I guess it stuck because it’s true.”
“Hey guys! Sorry I’m late.” Suzanne hopped up the brick path and quickly grabbed a few bags from Lucy and Maggie.
The vivacious brunette was in full vacation mode, wearing a stylish black romper, black wedge sandals, and huge sunglasses. A fresh mani-pedi in scarlet red accented the outfit perfectly.
Lucy glanced down at her own sorry toes, hidden by her leather espadrilles—luckily. She’d been rushing all week to meet a work deadline, and had barely made time to pack and take a shower. But Suzanne had said there was a day spa on the resort grounds. A few hours of beautifying would be the perfect treat on their weekend. Add that to the list.
“Hop in. We’ll definitely make up time on the highway,” Suzanne promised.
“I had a feeling you’d say that,” Maggie mumbled.
Dana sat in the front seat and called out the window. “Don’t worry, Mag. I’ll keep my eye on the speedometer.”
“Ladies, please. I always get you where you need to go in comfort, style, and safety. Don’t I?”
Lucy tossed her luggage and knitting bag in the back. “Mostly. I’m still glad Dana’s in charge of cruise control.”
Peering inside the cargo area, Lucy was not surprised to see two large coolers and several bags of groceries. They were spending the weekend together in a cottage that had a state-of-the-art kitchen, but would surely be out for most of their meals. Still, Suzanne liked to travel with ample provisions and had probably even stowed a few favorite appliances back there.
Lucy had also brought her bicycle, and she clamped it to the bike rack on the back of the SUV once Suzanne closed the hatch.
“I hope you weren’t waiting too long. I had a late afternoon closing, and Dana had patients,” Suzanne explained.
“I thought Thursday was the new Friday?” Lucy said, slipping on her seat belt.
Suzanne shrugged. “I did, too. But my boss didn’t get the memo.” She started the engine. “Hey . . . aren’t we forgetting something?”
“I think you mean someone.” Dana pointed to the shop.
“I’m coming . . . hey, don’t leave without me, guys!” Phoebe trotted down the driveway, one hand holding a big sun hat on her head, the other a hot pink rolling bag that bumped along behind like a faithful pet.
In a skimpy yellow sundress and high-wedge sandals, she looked like a long-legged bird—the type they would soon see skittering up the rocky shoreline on Osprey Island. The floppy brim of her hat hid most of her face and all of her dark, color-streaked hair. On the other hand, the sundress hid few of her tattoos.
“We wouldn’t dream of leaving you, Phoebe. Don’t be silly,” Lucy called out.
“I’m holding back on takeoff. Don’t worry,” Suzanne said.
Phoebe paused in the middle of the driveway, took a deep breath, and adjusted her load. In addition to the suitcase, she also carried a black knapsack, a knitting bag, a pair of binoculars and a camera slung around her neck.
Suzanne got out again and stowed Phoebe’s bags in the trunk while Phoebe squeezed into the backseat with the knitting bag, finding her spot between Lucy and Maggie.
Suzanne jumped into the driver’s seat again. “Buckle up everyone. Off we go.” She hit the gas and zoomed out of the driveway.
“Spoon Harbor Lobster Pound, for the best lobster rolls in New England,” she announced, sounding a lot like a tour bus driver. “Do we need to take a vote?”
“Lobster rolls? That’s on my list. Let’s check it off right away,” Phoebe replied
“I’m all for it. As long as we get to the island in time for Amy’s knitting group,” Maggie said.
“Got it timed perfectly. No worries,” Suzanne promised. “We may hit a little traffic on the thruway, but I’ll make up time on the local roads.”
Dana caught Lucy’s gaze and rolled her eyes.
“I’ve always wanted to try that place in Spoon Harbor. It’s written up in all the guidebooks,” Maggie said.
“And for good reason,” Suzanne promised. “I thought we should kick off our weekend with a treat. We have a lot to celebrate.”
“A long list,” Dana said. “Phoebe’s graduation and promotion. . . and somebody’s getting married.”
Lucy squirmed under the spotlight. “Yes, poor old somebody. We thought the old spinster would never find anyone who’d have her.”
“You know what they say, ‘Every pot has a lid. Even the bent one,’ ” Maggie offered.
“Very true,” Dana agreed. “Not that you’re a bent pot lid, Lucy,” she quickly added.
“Um, gee . . . thanks. I think. Bent or not, I a
m looking forward to one last fling with my pals. In fact, lobster rolls are on my bucket list, too.”
“Your bucket list?” Dana gave her a curious smile.
“Phoebe thinks Lucy should make a list of wild and crazy things she wants to do this weekend, before she gets married. As if she’s going to be locked away in a dungeon after she says, ‘I do,’ ” Maggie explained.
“Which I hardly think is necessary,” Lucy said. “I am looking forward to relaxing, riding my bike, and having fun with all of you. Maybe a little skydiving or bungee jumping? A hot air balloon ride?”
“You’re kidding, right?” Suzanne met Lucy’s gaze in the rearview mirror.
“I’m not one to hang on a rope and jump off a cliff, but I’ve always wanted to try a balloon ride,” Dana confessed. “Do you think we can find a place to do that up there?”
“I’ll stick to knitting,” Maggie said quickly.
“I bet it’s awesome. But I’m not big on heights. The ladder in the stockroom is about my limit,” Phoebe said. She already had her needles and yarn out to stitch away the long car ride. Lucky girl. Lucy always felt a little motion sick when she tried to knit in a car.
“I’ll look into it. But, balloon rides or not, I don’t think married life will be any different than just living together. I mean, not much different.”
“Probably not. Until you have a baby,” Suzanne said in a matter-of-fact tone. “But enough stress for one summer. We’ll start working on you about that once you and Matt have settled in.”
“Gee . . . thanks for the break.” Lucy laughed. But she knew Suzanne, who had needled her to push Matt to pop the question all last summer, and didn’t doubt that her dear friend would soon be moving on to the next life goal.
