A Cherry Sinister Murder: A Culinary Cozy Mystery (Slice of Paradise Cozy Mysteries Book 1) by Nancy McGovern & Cyra Bruce

Author:Nancy McGovern & Cyra Bruce [McGovern, Nancy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Cozy Mystery, cozy mysteries, cosy mysteries, cosy mystery women sleuth, cosy mystery
Publisher: McGovern Books
Published: 2017-03-08T05:00:00+00:00

*****

Chapter 12

Faith drank in the atmosphere of their brand new Slice of Paradise as she sat at one of the newly-painted tables, hand sewing the floral material she’d brought with her from Minnesota into special cotton napkins.

“Every single thing has to be… I don’t know exactly the word,” she’d said to Laura, “but everything has to have care put into it. So when people come here, everything they use is beautiful, everything was considered. Everything deliberate, so they feel really… cared for, I guess.” That had always been a big thing for her. Even when making gluten free vegan cupcakes for her mom, she’d always taken the time to make perfect frosting peaks and stick tiny little edible stars or other decorations on. Then she’d pick one of her favorite patterned plates to serve them on. She’d nodded firmly at Laura – it was something she felt really strong about. “Attention to detail really shows people you care.”

Paradise Point had only been closed for a day, but Faith had missed it sorely. She didn’t realize quite how much until she was sitting, needle in hand, at a window seat, feeling the tropical breeze dance between the open shutters and onto her skin. It was a very hot day, the sky that deep deep blue that let everyone know it was going to be lovely all day, but with her billowing yellow sundress and the breeze to keep her cool, she was quite comfortable.

Lula was out on her knees with goggles and power tools, finishing off the veranda framing. Laura had just popped a new cake in the oven and had changed into scruffy overalls to head out and paint some termite protection onto the underside of the porch. That needed to be done fast, as it was easier to do before Lula would put the actual veranda floor down. Nathan was kneeling among the tropical bushes he’d planted, spreading gravel with his palms around the roots. Faith just loved that sound.

Faith almost felt a real sense of contentment, like a warm glow was surrounding her. But she couldn’t keep anxious thoughts out of her mind. She kept replaying what Deputy Valdez had said over and over in her head. Would she really be accused? And why had there been a half-eaten cherry on one of the cupcakes she’d taken over, anyways? She rarely ever used cherries, and when she did it was only for bakewell tarts.

That was another English dessert her mom had introduced her to, one of her favorites, in fact. It was quite an intricate recipe, with a shortcrust pastry shell topped with layers of cherry jam, frangipane – which she always made from scratch by mixing almond paste with butter and sugar and eggs – and almond-infused fondant. A single glacé cherry sat on the top, pushed into the sweet, creamy fondant. Apart from in that recipe, the taste of cherries wasn’t as subtle as the flavors she usually opted for.

As soon as she began thinking about cherries and the case, her pulse started to race and her breath shortened.

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