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ORGANIZING PIZZA DELIVERY
There are some things you learn from experience—for the rest, there’s usually an app for that. In the case of pizza delivery, ordering two mediums instead of a large usually offers more pizza for about the same money. If you don’t want to figure the pie area to make the comparison yourself, there’s a handy online tool to use instead at https://www.omnicalculator.com/other/pizza-comparison And if there are any leftover to eat the next day, don’t heat the pizza slices in the oven or microwave. Reheat in a covered pan on the stovetop using low heat, and the crust will be crisp and the cheese will be awesome. In the McKenzie house, we’ve found a saucepan works best for this particular task, but a covered skillet can reheat more pieces at the same time.
* * *
“I WOULD NOT HAVE PICKED Travis out of a crowd as Stacy’s brother,” Meg said, as they drove back to Hazelton. “Even without the extras, he doesn’t look anything like his sister.”
“He’s so soft-spoken too,” Kate said, chuckling. “As if his look is so loud he offsets it by talking quietly.”
“And sparingly. I think his longest sentence was when he said he couldn’t find an ink pen.”
“Oh, darn. Can you grab my purse for me?” Kate asked.
“Sure.” Meg took it down from the round loop that kept it in hanging on the driver’s seat headrest. “Do you want me to look for something?”
“A silver pen. It’s in the front pocket. I need to leave it here in the cup holder or someplace I’ll see it. I picked it up in the barn the other night and I need to give it to Liz to give to Bren’s family.”
“How do you know it’s Bren’s and not the murderer’s?”
Kate explained the marks she discovered on the scrap from the feed bag. “So it has to be what Bren used to open the bag. Then she apparently dropped it when she got the food.”
“Too bad it wasn’t the one Travis couldn’t find,” Meg said. “It would be nice to be able to do something to direct the police at someone besides Liz.”
“The kids who helped bring in the stray horses that night were all questioned. Even Stacy, who hadn’t been at the farm, but exchanged words with Bren in the market. And when the police arrived this afternoon to question Liz again, they let Travis leave without any further questions. He had to have been irritated by Bren letting out the horses. Stacy implied as much when she confronted Bren in the store. But the police don’t seem to be looking as hard at him as a suspect as they are Liz, so he must have gone somewhere in Josh’s truck after the roundup and established an alibi.”
“Yeah, but the officer who came today had Liz on his agenda. Letting Travis leave may not have meant anything,” Meg mused. “Travis had to catch a ride with Josh to get home, and came today in Stacy’s truck after Josh asked him to deliver the troughs. Since we’ve only known him to drive other people’s trucks, I wonder if Travis has a vehicle of his own.”
Kate shrugged. “He could have a car that isn’t big enough to haul the trough he brought out today. Or maybe he rides a motorcycle.” She slowed down to make a turn onto the highway and continued thinking about the vehicle trading that went on Monday night. “I wonder why Travis kept Josh’s truck the other night, and Josh picked up Stacy’s from the garage after the new tires were mounted. Why didn’t Josh just leave Travis at the garage and keep his own truck?”
“I suspect there’s something going on between Josh and Stacy,” Meg replied, grinning. “Or at least he wants there to be. My guess is that Josh had plans for the evening with Stacy—if the police hadn’t arrived and interfered.”
“For Stacy’s sake, I still think it’s good that Josh arrived when he did,” Kate said. “Though I don’t believe it’s necessarily good for Josh. I’m really concerned he’s manufacturing an alibi for her, thinking he’s helping, without realizing how much trouble he’ll get into if he’s caught.”
When they arrived home, their four children were playing two-on-two basketball in the McKenzie driveway, so Kate pulled up to the curb. “Want to come with me to check Keith’s progress on the deck?”
“Sure.” Meg climbed out of the van and crossed the yard with her. They skirted the playing area, where Mark was attempting a shot and Suze was doing a great job of guarding. “Poor Mark doesn’t think he’s ever going to grow taller,” Meg whispered. “All the girls in his class are taller than he is, and even your daughters are nearly as tall and they’re two years younger. He just doesn’t appreciate that boys start their growth spurts later.”
“Patience is tough. But he has to take some consolation in the fact both you and Gil are so tall. Mark will tower over everyone else before too long.”
“Not soon enough for him.”
They opened the gate and found Keith cutting boards to fit a space. The open area in the frame had been substantially filled in. He wouldn’t finish tonight, but Kate could tell he should have the work completed the next day.
“Wow, Keith, this looks great,” Meg said. “When Kate asked if I wanted to come see how much you had done, I hadn’t realized you’d nearly completed the deck. You’ve done a great job on these cuts, too.” She pointed to several pieces he’d previously sawed into shape and installed.”
“He’s getting so good at this, I’m thinking it could be a sideline,” Kate said, grinning when her husband’s face turned from pleased to shock.
“I think saving money doing our deck was a good idea,” he replied, moving away from the saw and miter. “But I don’t have any plans to expand my building options. Besides, my dad needs his tools back soon. My mom can’t go a week without thinking up something he can work on in their house.”
A herd of running steps sounded behind them, signaling the end of the basketball game. “Hey, Mom,” Mark called. “Since Dad’s not going to be home for dinner, can we go get pizza?”
“Yeah, pizza,” his little brother Ben seconded.
“Can we do that too, Mom?” Sam asked.
“Please, Mommy,” Suze pushed.
“The ball’s in your court, Meg,” Kate said, but she flashed her I’m good with anything look.
Meg assumed her Wonder Woman pose, with fists on hips, and addressed the children. “We mothers have put in a full day’s work today, so the idea of no cooking sounds great. But going to a pizza place and listening to all the noise inside isn’t as appealing. We’ll go for having Hazey Pie deliver, then you kids can continue your video game battles afterward if you’d like. However, delivery is the only option.”
“Yay!” all four kids chorused.
“Now go out and play another game of basketball and keep working up your appetites.”
The kids nearly collided when they all hit the gate opening at the same time.
Turning toward Kate and Keith, Meg said, “My work is done. Except for ordering the pizzas, naturally. Can we order you the handyman special, Keith?”
He grinned. “Sounds primo. Do I have time to go up and shower?”
“Please do,” the women chorused.
They followed Keith through the back door. When they were alone in the kitchen, Kate made each of them a glass of water with lemon and motioned for Meg to take a seat at the table. “So, are you okay with Gil not making it home on time tonight?”
“I’m telling myself to appreciate baby steps. He’s promised to work out a better schedule with his boss, but you and I both know the scheduling squabble is with Gil, himself. He simply can’t do anything halfway when it comes to writing. But I think he’s got the idea now that parenting and marriage can’t be halfway either. So, we wait and see.”
“I like your attitude,” Kate said, taking a sip of water. “Patience isn’t always my forte.”
Meg laughed. “You know it isn’t my favorite thing either. I’m learning, though. It took both of us to let him get into the workaholic he is today. I should have put my foot down earlier, but it was easier to just let him slide and deal with the boys myself. Easier, but not better.”
“We probably should place our order before the dinner rush begins,” Kate said, rising to grab the phone. “Should we have it delivered here? Or your house?”
“Oh, let me call on my cell. They have me logged into their system with that number already, and we’ll have it delivered to my house and contain all the mess in one place.” Meg pulled out her cell and dialed. “The usual order?”
“No one has complained lately, so sure.”
“I’d think my crew was sick if anyone complained about pizza,” Meg said, waiting for the customer line to get picked up. “Oh, hello, this is Meg Berman, and I’d like to order a delivery. You have my address in your system already.”