A Crafty Killing (35 page)

Andy looked puzzled. “Wednesday?” He thought about it. “Oh, Wednesday. Yeah. Tracy had just paid me a visit. I suppose I was glaring at her shop.”

“What for?”

“She came over, wanting to talk. About us getting back together. I asked her to leave.”

“She’s the one who suggested we let you join the Merchants Association.”

“And don’t think she didn’t call to let me know it.”

Katie smiled. “Well, I haven’t said thank you for showing up like you did tonight.”

“What’re friends for?” he said, reaching for her hand.

“Besides, you didn’t need me. You had everything under control.”

“I hate to think what might have happened if you hadn’t come by.” She squeezed his warm fingers. “It’s been a heck of a day. I don’t think I’ll ever get to sleep tonight.”

“Then why don’t I bring over a pizza later?”

“Oh,” Katie said, surprised. “That would be nice.”

Suddenly Andy leaned forward, planted a brief kiss on her lips. He pulled back. “I’m glad you’re safe.”

They stared at each other for a long moment, and then Andy dropped her purse to take her face in his hands. He caressed her cheeks and then, unlike Seth, gave her a kiss that was anything but brotherly.

Twinkling white lights brightened the buildings surrounding Victoria Square, complementing the glow of the newly refurbished gaslights. A dusting of snow had transformed the Square into a winter fairyland. Katie pulled the heavy wool shawl tighter around her shoulders, grateful for the full-length skirt and warm petticoats beneath it.

Nearly the whole village, as well as tourists and shoppers from Rochester, had turned out for the grand opening of the first annual Victoria Square Dickens Festival.

“Hurry up, Katie,” Rose Nash encouraged, almost giggling as she tied the ruby red ribbon beneath her chin. She’d traded her plastic rain bonnet for an old-fashioned black felt hat decorated in period style. Edie Silver had hot-glued silk flowers and sewn on fancy colorful ribbons to an array of plain-looking headgear, outfitting all Artisans Alley’s female artists and the Square’s shopkeepers, adding millinery to her long list of creative talents. All the men sported rented top hats.

Katie and Rose started across the Square, heading for the large Norway spruce that had been put up at the end of the parking lot in front of the old Webster mansion. By next year, it would be a bed-and-breakfast. Katie allowed herself a wistful sigh. She’d made her choice to quit a dead-end job and manage Artisans Alley, and it had been a good one, but somehow she knew she’d always mourn what could have been had she had a chance to open the English Ivy Inn.

Katie paused, deeply inhaling the crisp, cold air. “Can you smell those roasted chestnuts?”

Rose nodded, pointing ahead. “Look at the kids in their choir robes. Aren’t they adorable?” She closed her eyes, listening. “‘Silent Night’ has always been my favorite carol.”

Vance and Janey Ingram stepped out of Gilda’s Gourmet Baskets. Janey had traded her usual Dolly look-alike outfit for a hooped skirt and bustle, her blond hair hanging in tight ringlets beneath her pink satin hat.

“Are you ready to throw the switch, Katie?” Vance asked.

“It’s quite an honor,” she said, giving him a smile. Despite her protests, the other merchants had insisted that Katie and her enthusiasm were responsible for the rebirth of Victoria Square.

“Stand aside, stand aside,” Vance bellowed cheerfully, clearing a path for Katie and Rose.

Katie took her place on the podium, gazing over the assembled crowd. Gilda Ringwald stood next to Conrad Stratton, owner of The Perfect Grape wine store, her arm entwined around his. He looked dapper in his stovepipe hat and tails. Gilda’s smile was turned up to at least a thousand watts. Nona Fiske stood off to one side, her thin lips drawn into a straight line. She’d adopted the look of a fussy schoolmarm rather than a Victorian lady.

Naturally, Mary Elliott was among the missing. After Tracy’s arrest, she’d closed Tea and Tasties. Fred Cunningham had erected a FOR SALE sign only days later. Already an offer had been made and accepted on the property. However, it looked like Tracy’s legal bills would soon eat up whatever capital Mary could raise. Mary, too, faced legal problems, as she’d lied to give Tracy an alibi the night Ezra Hilton died. Seth predicted she’d only receive probation, as she’d never been in trouble with the law before.

Mary had rebuffed all Katie’s—and the rest of the Victoria Square merchants’—offers of sympathy. The entire situation left a bad taste in all their mouths.

Edie Silver joined Rose in front of the podium, the formal lines of her tailored costume lending her an air of maternal grace—something modern clothes had never done. The look of pride in her eyes at the sight of Victoria Square outfitted for the season brought a lump to Katie’s throat. Edie and Rose deserved most of the credit for planning the celebration.

Scanning the crowd, Katie caught Gerald Hilton’s wave. His shoulder must have healed completely, for the sling was gone and on his arm was his seventeen-year-old daughter, Miranda. Though still in therapy, she was doing well. Hilton and his wife, who also flanked the girl, were hopeful their daughter would fully recover.

Seth, too, stood in the crowd, giving her a triumphant victory sign. If Rose was aware that Seth was her biological child, she hadn’t let on. But Katie noticed that when Seth came to visit Artisans Alley, he made a special point to speak to Rose.

At last, Katie saw Andy making his way through the crowd. Although he still wore a modern jacket over his T-shirt and jeans, he’d donned a bowler hat and scarf and, as promised, had left his pizza ovens long enough to witness the lighting of the great tree.

Vance twisted the knobs of the makeshift sound system, then shoved the microphone in front of Katie. She tapped it and a squeal of feedback made her jump. Frowning, Vance played with the dials once more, then gave her a thumbs-up.

“Thank you all for coming to Victoria Square’s first annual Dickens Festival. I won’t bore you with a long speech—”

“Hooray!” came a voice from the crowd, followed by a ripple of laughter.

“But I’d like to thank all of Victoria Square’s merchants, and Artisans Alley’s vendors, for making this celebration possible. And I’d like to invite the architects of this gala to help me light this magnificent Christmas tree. Edie Silver and Rose Nash, please step up to the podium.”

Even in the dim light, Katie saw the ladies blush as they bustled through the crowd to join her. Vance helped them up the steps to stand beside Katie. Placing their hands on top of Katie’s, all three pressed the oversized button. The Christmas tree blazed with more than a thousand sparkling colored lights, and high atop the tree, a gold star blinked.

The crowd erupted in cheers and applause, and Katie swallowed back a pang of regret. Despite Nona’s earlier protests, Katie knew Ezra would have loved the festival. Chad would have, too. The memory of those missing made it a bittersweet moment, yet seeing the smiling faces of her new friends—and the warmth in Andy’s eyes—Katie knew she was ready to embrace the future.

She smiled, whispering to herself, “‘God bless us, every one.’”

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a small bowl. Cream the butter, sugars, and vanilla in a large mixer bowl. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition; gradually beat in the flour mixture. Stir in the chocolate chips and nuts. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased, foil-lined baking sheets.

Bake for 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Let stand for a couple of minutes, and then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

 

MAKES ABOUT FIVE DOZEN COOKIES.

Preheat oven to 325°F.

Sift together the flour and salt. In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and sugar together until they look almost white. Slowly add the flour mixture, mixing well. Press into an 8 x 8 x 2-inch pan until level and smooth. Using a fork, prick the entire surface. Bake for 30 minutes or until just starting to get golden brown. While still warm, cut into 2-inch pieces.

 

MAKES 16 BARS.

Preheat oven to 350°F.

Sift the dry ingredients together. Using a pastry blender or two knives, cut the butter into the dry ingredients until the mixture resembles crumbs.

Beat the milk and whole egg together. Pour into the dry ingredients and stir until well blended. Add the raisins, stirring until well mixed.

Sprinkle the flour over a flat surface. The dough will be rather wet and will absorb the flour. Briefly knead the dough (once or twice) and pat down until the dough is 3/4-inch thick. Cut out the scones with a biscuit cutter and place on a greased cookie sheet.

Beat the egg yolk with the cold water. Brush glaze over the scones. Bake for 25-30 minutes or until golden brown.

Serve hot or cold with butter or clotted cream and jam.

 

MAKES 10-12 SCONES.

Preheat oven to 375°F.

In large bowl, cream together the butter and sugars until smooth. Beat in the eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Stir together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, allspice, and salt. Gradually beat into the butter mixture. Stir in oats, raisins, and walnuts. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets.

Bake 10-12 minutes or until golden brown. Cool slightly, and then remove from sheet to wire rack. Cool completely.

 

MAKES 4 DOZEN COOKIES.