Despite her plans to finish the gardening today and mow the lawn, Allison spent the day hiding inside, finding one project after another that needed her attention. She was avoiding her new neighbor, who was once again outside sawing wood. At least this time, he waited for a civilized hour to begin. She caught herself peeking at him out the window several times and blushed over her antics. “Really, Allison, you’re thirty-two years old. He’s just a man. An attractive one, but still just a man.”
The oven timer beeped as she padded barefoot down the hall. The unmistakable aroma of freshly baked dessert filled the kitchen. She took a deep breath. It’d been a long time since her nose had been treated to the delicious scent of baking. Too long.
She shut off the timer and opened the oven door to check on the chocolate Bundt cake she’d made for her dinner with Karen and Charlie. The slim metal cake tester she slid into the middle came out clean, so she grabbed a pair of oven mitts and set it on a rack on the counter to cool. Steam wafted from the shiny, delicate, crack-free crust.
After shutting off the oven, she loaded the dirty dishes into the dishwasher. Baking had always been a form of therapy for her. When she’d had a bad day at school, her mother would open the cabinets and stack ingredients on the counter, all while listening to her grumble about whatever travesty had befallen her this time. They would mix or knead shoulder to shoulder, and by the time whatever they made was popped into the oven, she would be smiling and laughing.
When had she stopped letting the miracle of sugar, flour, and eggs work their magic?
No, the question wasn’t when, but why?
God knows she needed the therapy now more than ever.
Allison removed the cake from the pan to finish cooling and admired the turns and swells fanning the dark chocolate confection. Not bad to look at, and hopefully, it would taste even better. She glanced at the time. It was getting late. She washed her hands and went upstairs to get ready for the visit.
After much deliberation, Allison settled on black pants and a royal blue silk blouse. They were about a size too big, so the material sagged and hung on her frame. She hadn’t stepped on a scale in a long time, but clearly, she’d lost weight. Maybe she’d stumbled on a new diet—stress, grief, and sleep deprivation. Not sure anyone would want to sign up, however.
She frowned at her long hair and pulled it back with a silver barrette. Any style it once had was long gone, so maybe she should take Karen up on the offer to visit her salon. She bit her lip and pawed through the only drawer of cosmetics she owned. It had been years since she’d worn any. Everything must be expired. Sighing, she shut the drawer and left the bathroom.
Downstairs, she added a simple sugar glaze to the cooled cake and unearthed a cake container from the cabinet over the fridge to transport the dessert.
She stood at the counter drumming her fingers on either side of the cake container. Why did she agree to dinner?
Oh yeah, because she was sick to death of eating unpalatable meals alone. And she needed to get out of the house before she became a hermit.
It’s just dinner.
Balancing the container in one hand, she stuffed her phone and keys in her purse on the foyer table and then slipped the strap over her shoulder. After shutting the front door with her foot, she gripped the cake with both hands and marched down the steps.
She breathed a sigh of relief when no one was outside the Pannelli’s colonial or Jim’s Victorian. There were four other houses between hers and Karen’s, two on each side of the road. A young couple lived in the sunny yellow ranch, a family of four or five lived in the gray cape, an older woman with two adult children lived in the white colonial, and the last house had school-age kids. Were they Charlie’s age? There had been a for sale sign in front of the tan colonial last year, but it was gone now. Had someone new moved in, or had they changed their minds?
She was out of touch with her neighbors. Everyone, really.
Karen’s house was less than a half-mile down the road, but by the time she reached the driveway, Allison felt like she’d traversed a mountain. Maybe she should add some exercise to her growing to-do list. A daily walk would probably do her some good on many levels—fresh air, cardio, and getting out of the house.
Her gaze flickered over the small, brown ranch. Neatly trimmed bushes flanked a bright orange front door, a breezeway connected the house to a single bay garage, and a child’s green bike leaned against the side.
Allison took a deep breath and held it for a count of five before she approached the front door and rang the bell. The door swung open, and Karen stood in the opening wearing a black jumpsuit and heels. Gold hoops swung from her ears, and her hair was piled on top of her head with loose tendrils artfully framing her beautiful face.
Okay, a makeover from this woman was definitely on the top of her to-do list.
“Hi. Don’t you look lovely? Come in, come in. I can’t wait to see what’s in that cake box!” Karen grasped Allison’s elbow and ushered her inside during her chatter.
She only got a vague impression of the light blue furniture in the living room as Karen escorted her to the kitchen at the back of the house. Charlie looked up with a shy smile and pushed his glasses back up his nose. He sat on the floor in the corner next to his cat and the kittens. They were all comfortably ensconced on a bright red, plush pet bed. Mouser cleaned one of her kittens while they all dozed, cuddled up to her side.
“Hi, Charlie. How are Mouser and her little additions?”
“Great!”
“Get washed up, kiddo, and set the table. Dinner is almost ready.” Karen took the cake from Allison and set it on the white-tiled countertop.
“Can I get you something to drink? Would you like a glass of wine?”
“Thank you, no, I’m fine. Is there something I can do to help?”
“Nope. I’ve got everything under control. We’re having my specialty, chicken parmigiana. It’s one of the very few dishes my mother managed to teach me to prepare.” Karen glanced over her shoulder as she opened the oven to check on dinner. “My mother is a terrific cook. Unfortunately, I didn’t inherit her abilities. But don’t worry, this dish is foolproof.”
“It smells wonderful.” The savory scents of tomato sauce and melting cheese melded together. The kitchen had a homey, country vibe with white painted cabinets, yellow walls, and scattered pictures of farm animals. There were tiles of roosters, cows, and geese over the stove. The dishtowels and potholders depicted little piglets cavorting in mud. A laugh escaped her and caught Karen’s attention.
“Cute, aren’t they? I couldn’t resist when I saw them in the store. They make people smile to look at them, so to my line of thinking, they’ve fulfilled their purpose.”
Karen set the food on the table. “Charlie, grab the salad out of the fridge, please. Have a seat, Allison.”
Silence settled as everyone sat and was served. Charlie dug into his meal with gusto. She took a small bite of the dinner and savored the thick, flavorful sauce and moist chicken. It had been a while since her taste buds were treated to a home-cooked meal.
“This is delicious. Thank you very much for inviting me.”
“Our pleasure. It’s nice to get to know our neighbors. So, have you lived here a long time?”
Allison lifted her napkin over her mouth while she finished chewing. “About ten years. What made you decide to move to Arlington?”
“I wanted a small town, and when I found the retail space for my salon, it seemed like a perfect fit. It’s worked out well for us, hasn’t it, kiddo?”
Charlie nodded but didn’t pause in his chewing. He kept glancing over to the kittens, now awake and climbing all over their mother.
The cloying smell of smoke invaded her nose and throat. She choked.
Oh God, was she hallucinating?
“Mom!”
Charlie jumped up from the table and pointed to the stove.
“Damn it!” Karen sprang up and rushed across the kitchen.
Smoke billowed from the oven.
Karen shut off the oven and jammed her hands into a pair of oven mitts. When she opened the door, thick gray plumes surged out.
The smoke alarm screeched.
She clutched a pan with charred lumps on it as she slammed the oven door closed with the heel of her foot and raced to the sliding glass doors.
Charlie had the door open and ready. She ran out onto the deck and threw the burned mess, pan and all, over the railing.
Karen pulled off the oven mitts as she hurried back inside and grabbed a dishtowel. She waved it underneath the smoke alarm in the hallway, but it continued to shriek.
She tossed the towel on the counter and grabbed a chair from the table to stand on. Karen twisted and yanked the alarm from the ceiling so it dangled by a cord then took out the battery. The screeching ended.
Stepping down from the chair, she wiped the back of her hand across her forehead. “There, that’s over. So much for having garlic bread with dinner.” She carried the chair back to the table. “Charlie, leave the door open so the rest of the smoke clears out.”
Karen smiled and glanced at Allison as Charlie sat.
Her smile faded.
“Oh sweetie, are you okay? It’s perfectly safe, I promise. Are you allergic to smoke? Do you have asthma?”
Allison dropped her gaze to the table. She clenched her knife and fork in her fists. One by one, she released her fingers, laid the utensils down, and clasped her hands in her lap.
“I’m fine.”
“Are you sure? Do you want to go on the deck? We could finish eating out there?”
“No, really, I’m fine.”
Karen sat. “Sorry about that. I wish I could say it’s never happened before, but…” She shrugged and resumed eating.
“It’s pretty routine around here. We call the smoke alarm the steak alarm, but Mom can pretty much burn anything.”
“Watch it, kiddo, or you’ll be taking over the cooking.”
Charlie laughed. “You’ll have to increase my allowance.”
“That actually could be discussed.” Karen pointed her fork full of chicken in his direction.
Allison shifted in her seat and concentrated on breathing slowly. Perspiration caused her blouse to stick to her back, and her hands ached from clutching the utensils too tight.
Once she was certain her hands wouldn’t tremble, Allison picked up her fork and pushed the chicken around on her plate. If she tried to swallow a bite, she would surely choke.
Charlie and Karen continued their mother and son banter.
The smoke cleared from the room, but the suffocating smell lingered.
Allison took a healthy swallow of water. She needed to say something, anything to divert attention from her reaction to the smoke.
“Tell me about your salon. You said it’s called Guilty Pleasures?”
Karen grinned. “My favorite subject, other than Charlie.”
Charlie rolled his eyes.
“It’s in this fabulous old building in town. I do hair, nails, and makeup on the first floor. The second floor is for the spa and massage offerings.”
“I’ll have to stop by. I could use a makeover.”
Karen’s eyes lit up. “Just put yourself in my hands. I’ll be gentle, I promise.”
Allison smiled and took a bite of chicken. It went down without a hitch.
Her eyes only glazed a little when Karen described possible cuts and styles before moving on to colors.
They finished eating, and Allison insisted on helping Charlie fill the dishwasher as Karen set out the dessert. “Oh Allison, this looks scrumptious!”
“Awesome! Chocolate!” Charlie hopped in a chair and reached for the piece his mother cut.
Karen laughed and served Allison and herself. “As you can see, Charlie inherited my love for dessert. I’m afraid he’s a chocoholic.” She took a bite and closed her eyes. “Mmm…this is so good.”
Allison shrugged. “It’s a simple recipe. I’ll give it to you if you like.”
“Oh, yes, please.”
Charlie finished and returned to his cats.
“Time to hit the books, kiddo.”
“Mom, it’s Friday.”
“Yes, but you have that project due on Monday, and you are nowhere near done. Get to it.” Karen nodded to the hall. Allison assumed it led to the bedrooms.
Charlie trudged down the hall as Karen cleared the table.
“Would you like some coffee? We can take it in the living room to chat.”
While the coffee brewed, Allison wandered over to the kittens. The black and white balls of fur with tiny pink noses and big gold eyes surrounded their mother. A crackly meow whispered out of one as it climbed in between its siblings.
“Cream, sugar?” Karen held out a blue mug.
Allison shook her head and stepped forward to take the coffee.
She followed Karen into the living room and looked around at the eclectic selection of furniture and knickknacks. A large assortment of photos decorated the room. “Do you come from a large family?”
Karen followed Allison’s gaze and chuckled. “Four brothers, all older.”
“Wow, that must be interesting. Are you close?”
“Very. It’s been a little difficult moving farther away from them, but we still see each other as often as we can. Of course, there are family dinners when we can all manage it. How about you? Any siblings?”
“Um, no. I was an only child.” Allison perched on the sofa and sipped her hot coffee while Karen leaned back and tucked her feet beneath her.
The last thing she needed was caffeine at night. She wasn’t a coffee drinker, but she’d accepted the offer while her mind had still been fixated on the stale smell of smoke. It would have been rude to refuse it once Karen had already made it and probably just as rude to waste it. She sighed and tried not to grimace over the bitter taste.
“There were times I wished I was an only child, but never for long. My brothers tormented me, but they also doted on me.” She gestured towards Allison with her cup. “Do your parents live nearby?”
Allison swallowed hard and shook her head. “They both passed several years ago.”
“Oh, I’m so sorry.”
Forcing a slight smile to her lips, Allison cast her gaze around the room, searching for a way to change the subject. A picture of Charlie standing next to a man holding a fishing rod sat on the shelf.
“Is that one of your brothers with Charlie?”
Karen glanced over at the picture. “No, that’s Charlie’s father, my ex-husband.”
Way to go, Allison. Bring up the ex-husband, always a comfortable topic between practical strangers—not.
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’m not.” Karen waved her hand. “He’s not going to win any awards for father of the year, but he is still a presence in Charlie’s life. We divorced a couple of years ago, but it was never a good fit.”
“It must be hard being a single parent, especially if he doesn’t help much.”
“It is, and it isn’t. Being a parent is hard work, but honestly, Charlie is a dream kid, and I have a very involved family to help. Being a single parent is all I’ve ever really known since his father was never around all that much even when we were married.”
“I used to wonder what it would be like being part of a large family.”
Karen grinned. “Loud.” She tilted her from side to side. “But wonderful, too. I can’t imagine anything else. My brothers are all married with kids. I have more nieces and nephews than I can keep track of. Holidays are chaotic, but I wouldn’t change a thing.”
Allison stared at the dark liquid in the cup cradled in her hands. Holidays were just another day on the calendar for her. She took a healthy swallow of the coffee until the mug was half empty. It burned her throat all the way down.
“I really should be going.” She stood. “Thank you for a wonderful meal.”
“Even with the minor emergency?”
“Yes.” Allison over her shoulder at the dangling smoke alarm. “I think you can reconnect that now. All the smoke has cleared.”
“With the number of times I’ve had to disconnect it, I should probably leave it that way.”
“Oh no, don’t do that. It could save your life someday. In fact, you should get a fire extinguisher to keep in the kitchen.”
Karen placed a hand on Allison’s arm. “I was kidding. The fire extinguisher is a good idea, though.”
“Oh, sorry.”
“No apology necessary.” Karen walked Allison to the door. “Listen, I’m going to be waiting for you to make an appointment at the salon. Don’t disappoint me.”
“I won’t. Tell Charlie goodbye for me.”
Dusk had fallen and darkness was fast on its heels. Allison increased her pace as she walked home. She wasn’t a fan of the dark.
Bad things always happened at night.