An Amish Gift by Cynthia Keller

Author:Cynthia Keller [Keller, Cynthia]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
ISBN: 978-0-345-53814-7
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Published: 2012-10-30T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

For the next several days, Jennie did little else besides making peanut brittle. Every morning, she waited for her husband and children to go their respective ways, then dashed into the kitchen to assemble the ingredients and start experimenting. There were so many variations, and she wanted to find a second tempting version to sell along with the regular peanut brittle. She tried coconut brittle, brittle dipped in chocolate, brittle with almonds and walnuts, and a slew of other combinations. The Fisher family had a steady supply, and realizing that Jennie took their reviews seriously, they made an effort to give her detailed impressions. In the end, she decided the winner was brittle with cashews. She would start by selling that along with the basic peanut brittle and see what developed.

Miraculously, it seemed to Jennie, Mattie’s uncle gave his permission to add her candy to his stand. Now all she had to do was come up with a way to package it. She had picked up some small cellophane bags, but they weren’t too exciting. Tins would preserve it longer, though preservation wasn’t necessary if it was being sold in small quantities that would probably be eaten quickly. She was mulling over the situation as she poured out the contents of a fresh batch, knowing she could start selling it the next day if she could decide on the display.

The front door opened, and her daughter called out to see if anyone was home. Jennie froze. She had lost track of the time, and Willa was back from school. When she entered the kitchen, she regarded the scene with puzzlement. Her mother stood over three baking sheets full of candy, surrounded by dirty dishes and pots, stacks of colorful tins, and assorted utensils.

“It smells so good. What’s going on?” Willa came closer. “Is it peanut brittle again? Wow, you sure made a lot.”

Even though she had planned on waiting until things were a lot further under way, Jennie decided it couldn’t hurt to tell Willa now. Setting down the pot on the stove, she started to explain. Her daughter stared at her in amazement.

“I’m hoping to start the actual selling tomorrow,” Jennie concluded, “but I don’t have a good idea for packaging. I need a way to display it that will attract some attention.”

Willa sat down in a chair, taking everything in. “I can’t believe you, Mom. You’re starting a business, like, for real.”

She laughed. “Well, I’m trying. We could use the money, as you might have guessed.”

Willa gave her a look. “Scout has probably guessed. Really, Mom, we’re not total idiots.”

Jennie felt foolish, realizing that she treated her children as if they were small and innocent. They knew everything going on around them. She had, too, when she was their age. So why did she assume they were any different?

“Okay.” She sat down across from her daughter. “Then let’s work together. Help me come up with a way to make my stuff call out, ‘Buy me immediately!’ ”

Willa closed her eyes, thinking aloud.

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