For Better or Worsted (23 page)

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A
T LAST EVERYTHING WAS PEACEFUL AGAIN.
LEONORA
went home and Adele went back to her wild outfits. It turned out that all her playacting at being prim had backfired. Leonora told her son that Adele was too bland for her taste and recommended he break up with her and find someone with more personality. When Adele heard, she immediately started making plans for them all to spend Thanksgiving together as a do-over. I could only imagine what that would be like.

My house was peaceful, too. Thursday moved out and into a sweet little guesthouse with a yard. She’d become attached to Hamlet the pig and took him with her. I wished I could have been a fly on the wall when her mother and the film crew came over to see Thursday’s place for the first time. Did I mention Jaimee didn’t know anything about the mini pig her daughter was fostering until his owner could take care of him again?

I didn’t have the whole story, but it seemed Thursday and Ben were trying to work things out. Another surprise for her mother.

And remember how Dinah and I told Ben he should do the right thing and all that, and we thought maybe he was going to confess? There might have been a bit of miscommunication there. His idea of facing up to things was to turn in the Pinocchio nose and costume and become Mr. Darcy from
Pride and Prejudice
. Now anyone from his writers’ group who came into the Storybook Cabaret would know it was him. Though it looked like his days of working there were numbered. After the first of the year, he was going to be a writer on a Web-only continuing series about a bunch of people working at a bowling alley.

Even though Paxton Cline was off the hook, he didn’t like the fact that nobody bought his alibi, so he managed to get a copy of a sports news broadcast that showed someone catching a foul ball. And Paxton was clearly in the seat next to him.

I was glad that everything was smoothed over because I loved his company’s yarn, and he offered to be my contact.

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T
HE SANTA ANAS HAD KICKED UP AGAIN AND DIED
down, and for now, my yard was the picture of peace. I made myself a fragrant cup of rose tea and took it outside. Evening was coming faster now, and all that was left of the afternoon was a blush of apricot toward the west.

I heard the clank of my back gate followed by footsteps, and then Barry came into view. I couldn’t see his expression in the semidarkness and was about to offer him a cup of tea, but he spoke before I could.

“I have to talk to you.” He blew out his breath, a sure sign he was having a hard time with whatever he was about to say.

I asked him to sit, but he wanted to stand, which made me even more uneasy. A mourning dove landed in the grass and began to look over the ground for dinner.

“I’ve been thinking. It isn’t right to keep vying with Mason for your attention. We all know this just-friends thing is a sham.” I could see Barry’s expression now, and he didn’t look happy.

“Mason is good for you. He’s dependable and he doesn’t have issues. Even his daughter said how good you were for each other. I’ve been trying so hard to act like I work nine to five. But my job is more than a job. It’s a calling. I’m the one who speaks for the dead and gets them justice. I follow up on leads no matter what time it is. But that means part of me is always thinking about my job and ready to be called away at a moment’s notice. You deserve more than that.” He blew out his breath again.

“So, I’m stepping away.” He didn’t wait for me to say anything. A moment later, I heard the clank of the gate and then the sound of the Tahoe’s engine. He was gone.

What was that story about King Solomon and the two women fighting over the baby? The one who loved it the most was the one who was willing to give up her claim.

Now what?

I sat there thinking for a long time. The sky had turned midnight blue, and the fragrant tea had grown cold. All along I’d said I wanted to be on my own, seeing what it was like to fly solo. I picked up the teacup and prepared to go in. Is that what I still wanted? Maybe it was time to make a change.

Party Scarf

Easy to Make

Supplies:

K-10 ½ (6.5mm) hook

1 skein Ruby Red Lion Brand Vanna Glamour, 202 yards (185 meters) fine weight, 96% acrylic, 4% polyester metallic

1 skein Red Lion Brand Fun Fur (in the same color), 64 yards (58 meters)

Tapestry needle

Stitches:

Chain stitch, single crochet

Finished Size:

Approximately 68 inches long

Gauge is not important for this project.

Chain 180 with the Ruby Red Vanna Glamour

Row 1: Make a single crochet in the second chain from hook. Make a single crochet in each of the chains. Chain 1 and turn work.

Row 2: Make 2 single crochets in each of the stitches in the previous row. Chain 1 and turn work. The stitches will begin to ruffle in this row.

Row 3: Make 2 single crochets in each of the stitches in the previous row. Attach the Red Fun Fur to the last stitch. Chain 1 using both yarns and turn work.

Row 4: Using both yarns together make a single crochet in each stitch across. Fasten off and weave in ends using the tapestry needle.

Dr. Wheel’s Meditation Washcloth

Easy to Make

Supplies:

G-6 (4.00 mm) hook

1 skein of Lion Brand Nature’s Choice Organic Cotton yarn, 100% organically grown cotton, 103 yards (94 meters)

Tapestry needle

Stitches:

Chain stitch, half double crochet, single crochet, slip stitch

Finished Size:

Approximately 7 inches x 7 ½ inches

Gauge is not important to this project.

Chain 21

Row 1: Make a half double crochet in the third chain from hook and in each of the chains across. Chain 2 (does not count as first stitch in the next row) and turn work. 19 stitches made.

Row 2: Make a half double crochet in first stitch and across. Chain 2 (does not count as first stitch in next row) and turn work. 19 stitches made.

Row 3–13: Repeat row 2. On last row do not chain 2 and turn. Do not fasten off.

Edging:

Round 1: Chain 1 and make 3 single crochets all in the same stitch (it’s a corner). Then loosely make single crochets around, making 3 single crochets in each of the corner stitches. Join to the first stitch with a slip stitch.

Round 2: Chain 1 (do not turn work) and make 3 single crochets in the back loop of the same stitch (it’s a corner). Make a single crochet in the back loop of each stitch, making three single crochets in each corner. Join to first stitch with a slip stitch. Finish off and weave in ends using the tapestry needle.

CeeCee’s Pet Mat

Pet mats are quick to make and a good way to use up remnants of washable yarn. CeeCee made hers for a small dog or cat, but by starting with more chain stitches and making more rows, one can be made for larger dogs.

Supplies
:

Q-19 (15.75 mm) hook

3 lengths of washable yarn approximately 170 yards each

Tapestry needle

Stitches: Chain stitch, single crochet

Finished Size:

Approximately 18 inches x 20 inches

Gauge is not important to this project.

Chain 31 with all 3 strands of yarn together.

Row 1: Make a single crochet in the second chain from the hook and across. Chain 1 and turn work.

Row 2: Make a single crochet in each stitch across. Chain 1 and turn work.

Repeat Row 2 28 times, fasten off and weave in ends with tapestry needle.

Tea Sandwiches

Take a square loaf of egg bread, sliced thin, or good-quality sandwich bread of your choice. Cut off the crusts. Spread fillings on one slice, cover with another slice of bread. Cut across diagonally and then diagonally the other way, so that you have four triangles. Arrange on a platter in a pinwheel fashion. Garnish with parsley.

POSSIBLE FILLINGS:

Finely chopped egg salad

Cream cheese with finely sliced hothouse cucumbers

Butter with watercress

Cream cheese with julienned, seasoned sun-dried tomatoes

Cream cheese mixed with chopped walnuts and raisins

Peanut butter with thinly sliced bananas

Hummus with chopped olives

Bob’s Birthday Chocolate Cake Cookie Bars

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour a 10 inch x 15 inch pan.

¾ cup butter melted and cooled

2 eggs

1½ cups sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1½ cups milk

Melt the butter and let it cool. With an electric mixer, beat the eggs, sugar and vanilla until yellow and thick. In a separate bowl, mix the flour and baking powder. Sift the cocoa powder over the dry mixture and stir to blend. Add the dry ingredients, alternating with the milk and melted butter to the egg and sugar mixture. Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake for approximately 20 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool before frosting. Makes about 30 bars, depending on how they’re cut.

VANILLA BUTTERCREAM FROSTING

6 tablespoons butter

1½ cups powdered sugar

1–2 tablespoons milk

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

Chocolate chips for decoration

Cream the butter and powdered sugar. Beat in the milk and vanilla. Spread on cooled cake. Decorate with chocolate chips.