Christmas Cookies by CL Mustafic

Author:CL Mustafic [Mustafic, CL]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: NineStar Press, LGBT, contemporary, gay, bisexual, grief, family
Publisher: NineStar Press, LLC
Published: 2017-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

THURSDAY NIGHT BAKING class started off in the usual fashion, with Amos lecturing the class about the importance of baking temperatures and how just a few degrees could spell disaster for certain recipes, but then it took an unexpected turn.

“Tonight we’re going to do something a little different. I’ve printed out some new recipes for this evening, and that means everyone will be baking something different,” Amos said as he handed out the printouts to everyone. Amos winked at Russ when he handed him his recipe and went back to the front of the classroom. “I’ll be helping Russ tonight again since his partner is home with her newborn. I will still be walking through to check on your progress, and of course, if you need me, feel free to holler.” Amos donned an apron and joined Russ at his station.

Russ recognized his recipe right away – it was the pecan tassies that he and Amos hadn’t made the evening he’d been at Russ’s house. “So we’re making one of David’s recipes?” he asked as he put the butter and cream cheese into the stand mixer.

“I’m trying to help you make the things you wanted to bake.”

“Why?”

“Because I feel bad about misjudging you, okay? This is my way of making it up to you.” Amos took out a big bowl and a whisk so he could mix together the filling that consisted of melted butter, an egg, brown sugar, vanilla, and salt.

“But I feel bad that all these people are getting shunted to the side while I’m basically getting a private lesson,” Russ said.

“Everyone is baking something, and that’s what this class is about. I made sure to give them each a recipe that played to their strengths, so they shouldn’t need much supervision.”

Russ wasn’t going to argue with Amos about how he ran his class. Instead, he concentrated on not fucking up the dough for the tassies. The class went quickly because Russ had lots of busy work to do, pressing little dough balls into a mini muffin tin before spooning a tiny amount of filling into them and then topping them off with a pecan. He made sure to set the timer after putting the first pan in and returning to make the second pan. By the end of the class, he had four dozen perfect pecan tassies, and Amos had only mixed the filling so Russ was feeling pretty proud of himself when he packed up his goodies in the container to take them home.

Since there had been no flub-ups, just one slightly overdone pan of cookies, Amos hadn’t taken the class to the front to point out any mistakes. Russ was the only one remaining since Amos had deserted him, leaving him to do his own cleanup while he said his goodbyes to the class. Just as the last student left, Russ put his coat on and picked up his containers. He had argued with himself over asking Amos out, but after Amos had admitted that he felt bad for him, he’d decided to can that plan.

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