The Diva Says Cheesecake!

My husband and I love cheesecake. But really, there’s only so much cheesecake two people can eat. Can I freeze cheesecake?

Cheesecake Fan in Baker, Florida

Dear Cheesecake Fan,

You most certainly can freeze cheesecake. Place it on a freezer-safe dish or disposable cardboard cake base and freeze about one hour. When firm, wrap it in plastic wrap. Then wrap it again, this time in aluminum foil. It should be good for about one month. After that the texture will likely change.

Nina and I ran into the kitchen. One of the EMTs had just broken a vial under the nose of a woman in her forties. She sputtered as she came around. Curly dark hair framed her face. She had used a light hand with makeup and wore a navy-blue skirt. Blue polka-dots decorated her white blouse that tied in a bow at the neck.

She sucked in air and tried to sit up. “What . . . what?” Her eyes widened. “Tate!” she screamed.

Bobbie Sue had followed us and now wedged between Nina and me. I thought she was going to help the woman stand but instead, she collapsed to the floor, tears streaming down her face. The two of them embraced and sat there, sobbing.

After a few moments, Nina and I helped them to their feet.

Sniffling, Bobbie Sue introduced us to Marsha Bathurst. “Marsha is the assistant manager of the restaurant. Tate’s right-hand woman, for sure.”

“I can’t believe he’s gone!” Marsha wailed. “Oh gosh, it just shows how unpredictable life can be. Just yesterday, he was fine and walking around the restaurant greeting diners.” Her jaw quivered. “Did he have a heart attack?” She clapped a hand over her mouth in horror. “He must have been down there when we closed last night.”

For the first time since the discovery of Tate’s body, Bobbie Sue stopped crying. She stared at Marsha.

I suspected she was trying to get a grip on exactly what had happened, because I was having thoughts of that sort myself. If Tate went to the cellar to retrieve a bottle, wouldn’t the server or customer who was waiting for it have wondered what was taking so long?

“He could have been alive. He might have lived if someone had gotten help sooner,” Bobbie Sue said.

Marsha sobbed even harder. She gasped for air and said, “I thought he went out. I didn’t know he was here.”

Just behind them, EMTs carried Tate’s body out to the ambulance. I was glad Bobbie Sue and Marsha had their backs to the door and didn’t see what was transpiring. Wolf emerged from the cellar but instead of going outside, he approached Bobbie Sue.

“I’m very sorry about your loss, Mrs. Bodoin. Your husband is being transferred to the medical examiner’s office. That’s required by law in Virginia when someone dies who isn’t currently in the care of a physician because of a terminal illness. Due to the irregularity of Mr. Bodoin’s death, we’ll be sealing the restaurant off for a day or two, pending the medical examiner’s investigation. I imagine you’ll be closing the restaurant for a few days in any event, so that shouldn’t present a hardship. Now, if I could escort you ladies out?”

Bobbie Sue retrieved her purse, and we all filed out the back way, into the alley. The ambulance had left, which I thought was probably for the best. Bobbie Sue and Marsha didn’t need to be confronted with Tate’s shape in a body bag.

When Bobbie Sue locked the back door and handed the key to Wolf, he asked if there was an alarm system.

“This is a pretty safe area. Anyone breaking in the front would probably be seen. Tate put up a camera in the back”—she pointed at a tree—“but it was constantly being triggered by cars driving through the alley, bicyclists, even birds, so he turned it off. He said the mere presence of a camera would still help deter crime. Someone scouting the place with intentions of breaking in wouldn’t know if it was working or not.”

Wolf thanked her and took her aside to make private inquiries.

When they returned, Marsha asked if there was anything she could do.

Bobbie Sue shook her head in the negative. But then her eyes widened. “What am I thinking? Marsha, would you notify the employees of the restaurant? That would be such a help to me. I don’t have a list or contact numbers. Tell them we’ll be closed at least two days if not longer.”

Marsha nodded. “Don’t give the restaurant another thought. I’ll post a sign on the front door, too. Consider it done.”

Bobbie Sue forced a smile. “Thank you, Marsha. I know how much Tate relied on you.”

Marsha took off, sniffling and wiping her eyes.

“I need breakfast. How about a back booth at Biscuits & Gravy?” asked Nina. “Would you like to come, Bobbie Sue?”

“Hmm?” Bobbie Sue stared at Nina blankly. “Um, no thanks. There’s a lot to do. I don’t know how I’ll tell the children.”

We offered to walk Bobbie Sue home, but she declined, saying she wanted to be alone. I couldn’t blame her. She needed time to grieve.

Nina and I headed to her new favorite diner. Biscuits & Gravy was as down-home as the name implied. The lady servers wore pink uniforms with 1950s-style circle skirts and aprons. The gentlemen servers wore white shirts with matching pink trim on the short sleeves and breast pockets. The walls had been painted a soft turquoise, and the atmosphere was pure happy retro. But it was the food that brought people in, from authentic gumbo to banana pudding, and old-fashioned chocolate sundaes that had been an instant hit. Nina passed the long counter and led the way to a booth. The benches were covered in turquoise vinyl just a shade darker than the walls.

The diner had a cheery vibe. I was fairly certain that Nina was craving ham biscuits for breakfast, but after the grisly discovery of Tate’s body, the comforting diner was a good choice.

We placed our orders and were quietly relaxing with coffee when Bobbie Sue dashed in with all the fury of a tornado.