Evil Eclairs (19 page)

I couldn’t help laughing at the thought of my mother teetering on the edge of her bed trying to cut up her chicken without sending the plate spilling to the floor. “If you do, I’m eating in my room, too. You could always make up a doggy bag for Jake, but I don’t know where he’s going to eat his meal.”

“I thought I’d offer.”

Nine minutes later, the doorbell rang.

I threw the front door open, and saw Jake standing there with a bouquet of flowers. “For me? They’re beautiful.”

“They are,” he agreed, but made no move to deliver them to me. “They’re also not for you.”

“I’m not sure I like you bringing another woman flowers,” I said.

“That’s an excellent point. Next time I’ll bring two,” he replied.

“I suppose that will have to do. She’s going to love them.”

Momma called out from the kitchen, “Suzanne, are you going to let him inside?”

“You need to come out here,” I said to her.

My mother poked her head out. “Why is that? I’m putting the finishing touches on this gravy.”

“He brought you flowers,” I said.

“The gravy can wait, then,” she answered as she came out.

Jake presented them to her, and then said, “Thanks for inviting me, Dorothy.”

“Very good. You didn’t even stutter that time. You’re always welcome.” She handed the flowers to me and said, “Suzanne, put these in water.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I said, taking them from her. It was awfully thoughtful of him, and I knew he was scoring big points with my mother. I just hoped he didn’t forget to score a few with me, as well.

“That smells wonderful,” he said.

“Let’s go enjoy it, shall we?” Momma answered.

We went into the dining room and sat at the table. The feast was laid out, and Momma said, “You two sit, and I’ll be right back.”

Once she was gone, Jake looked at the spread and asked, “Who else is coming? This is enough to feed an army.”

“Don’t worry, what we don’t eat, we’ll freeze. Some of my momma’s best meals are leftovers.”

“I can believe that.”

While we had a few minutes, I asked, “What kept you, anyway?”

He glanced at his watch. “Hey, I promised ten minutes, and I made it in nine. I can’t do much better than that.”

“Did you get a break in the case?”

“I can’t talk about that, and you shouldn’t ask.”

His voice was flat, his words devoid of emotion. I’d crossed the line we’d agreed to respect.

“I’m sorry,” I said immediately. “I was out of line. Can we forget it happened?”

Jake seemed to think about it, and then said, “If you forgive me for not bringing you flowers, too, we can call it even.”

I stuck my hand out to him. “Deal.”

He stood, leaned over, and kissed me. A second later, he said, “I’d rather seal it that way myself.”

“I hope you don’t do that with all of your agreements,” I said. As I looked up, I saw Momma standing in the doorway. Was that a smile on her face? How much of what had happened had she witnessed?

“Is everyone ready to eat?” she asked.

“More than ready,” Jake answered.

As we enjoyed her fine food, I did my best to be charming, even coming close to matching Momma’s natural social graces. I’d pushed Jake for information when I had no right, and I was bound and determined to make up for it by being as pleasant as I could be.

After the meal, Momma said, “It’s a beautiful night. Why don’t you two take a stroll in the park? When you come back, I’ll have pie for you.”

“What kind did you make?” Jake asked.

I laughed and nudged him gently. “Could you honestly eat another bite? You were a marvel the way you tore through that dinner.”

“Suzanne,” my mother said, employing her motherly voice again.

“It’s fine, ma’am,” Jake said. “She’s right, but I’ve had your pie before, remember? I think if I took a walk around the park, I might be able to handle a slice.” He turned to me and asked, “What do you think? Are you game?”

“I am if you are,” I said. “Why don’t you go ahead? I want to help with the dishes.”

Momma wasn’t hearing any of that, though. “Nonsense. Go on, both of you.”

There was no use arguing with her, and I knew it. “Let’s go, Jake. We can’t win this one. Trust me, I’ve got years of experience.”

“We’ll see you soon, then,” Jake said.

As we walked out onto the porch, he said to me, “Suzanne, I need to do more for your mother than give her flowers. She’s a real treasure.”

“What can I say? Like mother, like daughter.”

“I’m serious. Is there anything I can do to repay her for the kindness she continually shows me?”

“Take good care of her daughter,” I said in all seriousness.

“I already do that, don’t I?”

I kissed him, and then pulled away, smiling. “Okay, I’ll give you that one. I’ll think about it and get back to you.”

“I’m serious about this.”

“So am I. Now let’s take that walk so you can get your pie.”

As we walked around the park, past my favorite hiding place, my thinking place, and the Patriot’s Tree, I marveled about how good Jake’s hand felt holding mine. I was glad we’d forgone a dinner out and had stayed home. Being with him there was what I’d missed most about having someone in my life. Even Max had satisfied some of that need to belong, to be comfortable in my own skin, and to be content. It was a lot to ask of anyone, but Jake gave it to me willingly, and I was determined to do my best to return it in kind.

PINEAPPLE DROP DONUTS

One day I was playing around in the kitchen and found a can of crushed pineapple. Why not include it in a donut? I’ve been happy with the results, so I thought I’d add it to my stable of donut recipes!

INGREDIENTS

• 1 egg, beaten

• 1 can crushed pineapple (8.5 oz.)

• 1 cup all purpose flour

• ½ teaspoon baking soda

• ½ teaspoon baking powder

• Dash of salt

• 2½ tablespoons sugar (white)

• ¼ teaspoon nutmeg

DIRECTIONS

Heat canola oil to 360 degrees while you mix the batter. Put the pineapple in a large mixing bowl, then add the beaten egg and the sugar. Sift the dry ingredients, then add them slowly to the mix. Add the dry ingredients to the wet, and then fold in the extras, until the batter is smooth.

When the ingredients are incorporated, take a teaspoon of batter and rake it into the fryer with another spoon. If the dough doesn’t rise soon, gently nudge it with a chopstick, being careful not to splatter oil. After two minutes, check, and then flip, frying for another minute on the other side. These times may vary given too many factors to count, so keep a close eye on the donuts.

Makes around eighteen small donuts.

CHAPTER 14

As we approached the house, I saw Momma standing on the porch waiting for us.

“There you are,” she said as we joined her. “I’m afraid there’s an emergency phone call for Jake.”

He frowned and put his hand in his pocket. “Why didn’t they call me on my … hey, where’s my phone?”

She held it up. “It must have fallen out of your pocket when you sat down to eat dinner.”

Jake took it from her and said, “Excuse me. I’d better see what this is about.” He stepped off the porch, and as he left us, Momma said, “I’m so sorry, Suzanne. I hated to interrupt your date.”

“We were just out taking a walk,” I said. “It’s no big deal.”

“Holding hands and walking through the park is a very big deal in most people’s minds,” she said. “I know it was for your father and me.”

“You still miss him, don’t you?” I was just beginning to grasp the depth of love my mother had experienced with my father. I knew that was making it harder for her to get on with her life, but it also told me that someone who loved that deeply and completely, someone who was so clearly good at being in love, shouldn’t turn her back on it again. If she could find love in her life, why shouldn’t she at least try?

“I do miss him, that’s a fact. Some days are worse than others, though.”

“Wouldn’t you like to experience that again, then?”

She looked at me with tears in her eyes. “How could I ever have that again, when most people don’t get to experience it even once?”

“There’s no limit to the number of times you can fall in love,” I said. “And even if there is, shouldn’t you be sure before you give up once and for all?”

She was about to answer when Jake rushed up onto the porch. The look on his face told me that his news was not good.

“What happened?” I asked. “Do you have to go?”

“Yes, and you need to come with me.”

I felt my heart suddenly drop to my feet. “Jake, you’re scaring me. Did something happen to Grace?”

“It’s not Grace,” he said. “I’m afraid it’s George. He’s been in an accident.”

*   *   *

“Is he okay?” I kept replaying my friend’s last words in my mind. I’d sent him off on an investigation, and something very bad appeared to have happened because of it.

“It doesn’t sound like it,” Jake said. “He’s in the hospital. That’s all I know. Before he lost consciousness, he said your name twice, and that he had to talk to you. Grab your jacket and let’s go.”

I kissed Momma good-bye, and then followed Jake to his car. As we drove to the county hospital, neither of us said a word. I knew I needed to tell Jake what George had told me, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Finally, just as we entered the parking lot, I knew I didn’t have any choice.

“Jake, George was working on something for me connected to Lester Moorefield’s murder. I’m the reason he’s in there.” I looked up at the brick hospital and shuddered. Nearly everyone I had ever known who’d gone in there hadn’t made it back out alive. I just hoped that George wasn’t going to be added to the list.

“What was he doing?” Jake asked.

“I don’t know,” I said, fighting back the tears. “He called before you came and said he’d found a new angle that could blow the case open, but when I pressed him for details, he wouldn’t say anything except that it was dangerous.”

I expected a scolding, but Jake didn’t say a word, and I was glad for that.

As we walked into the building, Jake took my hand and finally said, “We can talk about this later, but all that matters right now is George.”

We walked to the front desk and Jake said, “We’re here to see George Morris.”

The woman stationed there checked her computer, and then said, “I’m sorry, but he’s not allowed to have visitors.”

Jake flashed his badge. “It’s important.”

She nodded solemnly, and then said, “I understand that, Officer, but he’s still in surgery.”

“What exactly happened to him?” I blurted out.

“He was in some kind of accident.”

“Do you happen to know what kind?” Jake asked.

“It doesn’t say. You can wait over there if you’d like, and I’ll let you know as soon as I hear anything.”

Jake and I took a bench seat by a window. It looked out onto a tranquil garden, and I wondered how many people had sought solace there over the years for the people they’d just lost.

Jake sat silently for nearly two minutes, and then he jumped up. “Somebody’s got to know what’s going on around here.”

I started to get up when he waved me back down. “Why don’t you stay here and wait in case someone comes out to tell us what happened. That way we won’t miss anything.”

“I hate just sitting here helplessly.”

“Suzanne, there’s nothing we can do. As soon as I find out anything I’ll come back and tell you. If you hear something before I do, call me.”

“Okay,” I said.

I was still sitting there five minutes later when I heard a familiar voice say, “Suzanne, is something wrong with your mother?”

I looked up to see Penny Parsons, an ER nurse who loved donuts, standing over me. I stood as well. “No, I’m here for George Morris.”

She nodded. “I heard he had an accident.”

“What exactly happened?”

“He was crossing the street, and someone ran him down. They didn’t even stay at the accident scene. If an ambulance hadn’t just finished responding to a false alarm in the area, he wouldn’t have made it.”

“Is it that bad?”

She frowned as she considered her next words. “From what I’ve heard, it’s not good. He was in surgery the last time I checked.”

“Could you ask again?”

Penny nodded. “I know you two are close. Hang on a second.” She went to the woman at the front, had a brief conversation with her, then tapped a few keys on the computer keyboard. Her face never changed its expression as she read whatever was written there, and I knew at that moment that I’d never play poker with her. I had no idea if the news was good or bad when she walked back to me.

“It’s touch and go right now,” she said without preamble. “The next forty-eight hours will be critical. At least he’s coming out of surgery.”

“Can I see him?”

“Suzanne, he wouldn’t know you from Betsy Ross right now. He’s in rough shape. Give me your cell number, and I’ll keep you posted with updates. There’s no reason you need to hang around here. Unless I miss my guess, you’re going to have to get up in a handful of hours anyway.”

“I’ll close the shop,” I said. I had never done that before, but I didn’t know how I’d be able to work with George upstairs fighting for his life.

“You could do that,” Penny said, “but it might be a better idea if you kept busy. If you really want to help George, flood the nursing station with donuts.” Penny was smiling to show that she was kidding, but I realized it wasn’t a bad idea. I knew that the hospital staff was full of professionals who took care of all of their patients as best they could, but if a donut or two or ten dozen would make George’s life the slightest bit easier, I’d do it.

“Okay, you’ve got a deal.”

She looked surprised that I’d taken her seriously. “Hey, I was just kidding. Trying to lighten the mood, you know?”

“I know, but you’re right. I need to keep busy. Sitting around here is driving me crazy, so I might as well be productive.”

Jake spotted me talking to Penny, and he rushed up to us. “Has there been any change in him?”

“She’ll bring you up to date,” Penny said as she disappeared through a set of nearby doors.