her home all to herself again. She and Alex could go back to their normal routine. Gertie would take care of most of the work at the kennel, allowing them the evenings together. But something continued to raise the hair on the back of her neck. Ominous and menacing feelings destroyed her composure.
She shook her head to clear her negative thoughts.
This is stupid, she told herself. She wandered back to the kitchen, where she felt most comfortable. Wanting to take her mind off the girls, Kate decided to work on one of the dishes sheâd been thinking about for the restaurant. The Ladies Club was having their monthly luncheon next week. She wanted to try something different, and they would be the perfect group. Kate always gave them her recipes to try out at home. Not once had Kate heard a complaint. A few of them had even called her at home for ideas on what to make for their husbandsâ dinner parties, kidsâ birthdays, and even a bar mitzvah. She loved sharing her knowledge of food with others.
Kate took all the ingredients she needed from the fridge. She sliced a lime and squeezed the juice into a bowl. A dollop of horseradish, fresh garlic, and olive oil followed. She whipped the mixture with a fork, then dabbed her finger in the bowl and licked it. âNot bad.â A little ground black pepper and another touch of olive oil should do the trick. She knew most members of the Ladies Club were always watching their figures, so instead of the traditional fat-laden mayonnaise dressing used in Crab Louis, she wanted something light, with just a hint of citrus flavor. As she tasted, she made notes in a spiral notebook. Later, she would write out the exact measurements, but for now she simply listed the ingredients.
Half an hour later, Kate finished in the kitchen. Feeling depressed, she went in search of Alex and Gertie. Theyâd all go out for dinner and celebrate. What, she didnât know. What she did know was that she needed to be around friends and family to distract her from her dark thoughts.
Deciding they truly wanted to celebrate, Kate, Alex, and Gertie took the extra time to drive to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. With three different restaurants to choose from, they selected the Sunset Terrace, noted for the best views in town of the Blue Ridge mountains.
They ordered twelve-ounce filets, topped with a Cognac-mushroom sauce. Roasted fingerling potatoes with rosemary butter and a sun-dried tomato Caesar salad completed their meals. After finishing their dinner, Kate felt more relaxed than she had in two weeks.
âIâm glad I donât eat like this often. I wouldnât be able to move,â Alex observed.
âAre you saying I donât feed you enough?â Kate asked teasingly.
âMore than enough. These portions are enough to feed a family of four,â Alex replied.
âI donât think so. Look at Sara. Why, I never saw a girl eat so much,â Gertie added.
Kateâs stomach flip-flopped. She didnât even want to think about Sara, let alone discuss her eating habits. She couldnât say this to Gertie or Alex without revealing why, so she said nothing, waiting for Alex to comment. When he didnât, Gertie continued, âThereâs something about that child that isnât right. I donât know what it is, but I bet sheâs gonna be trouble when sheâs older.â
If she only knew , Kate thought.
âSheâs young. Don told me she was jealous of Emily. I think sheâll grow out of whateverâs bothering her soon enough. Sheâs at a tough stage. I think she just wants Debbieâs attention,â Alex said to Gertie.
âYou could be right, but I think itâs more than that.â
Kate perked up. âWhat do you mean?â Did Gertie know something more about Saraâs behavior that she hadnât told her?
âSomething I canât put a finger on. Sheâs a schemer, that much I do know. Iâd
She shook her head to clear her negative thoughts.
This is stupid, she told herself. She wandered back to the kitchen, where she felt most comfortable. Wanting to take her mind off the girls, Kate decided to work on one of the dishes sheâd been thinking about for the restaurant. The Ladies Club was having their monthly luncheon next week. She wanted to try something different, and they would be the perfect group. Kate always gave them her recipes to try out at home. Not once had Kate heard a complaint. A few of them had even called her at home for ideas on what to make for their husbandsâ dinner parties, kidsâ birthdays, and even a bar mitzvah. She loved sharing her knowledge of food with others.
Kate took all the ingredients she needed from the fridge. She sliced a lime and squeezed the juice into a bowl. A dollop of horseradish, fresh garlic, and olive oil followed. She whipped the mixture with a fork, then dabbed her finger in the bowl and licked it. âNot bad.â A little ground black pepper and another touch of olive oil should do the trick. She knew most members of the Ladies Club were always watching their figures, so instead of the traditional fat-laden mayonnaise dressing used in Crab Louis, she wanted something light, with just a hint of citrus flavor. As she tasted, she made notes in a spiral notebook. Later, she would write out the exact measurements, but for now she simply listed the ingredients.
Half an hour later, Kate finished in the kitchen. Feeling depressed, she went in search of Alex and Gertie. Theyâd all go out for dinner and celebrate. What, she didnât know. What she did know was that she needed to be around friends and family to distract her from her dark thoughts.
Deciding they truly wanted to celebrate, Kate, Alex, and Gertie took the extra time to drive to the Grove Park Inn in Asheville. With three different restaurants to choose from, they selected the Sunset Terrace, noted for the best views in town of the Blue Ridge mountains.
They ordered twelve-ounce filets, topped with a Cognac-mushroom sauce. Roasted fingerling potatoes with rosemary butter and a sun-dried tomato Caesar salad completed their meals. After finishing their dinner, Kate felt more relaxed than she had in two weeks.
âIâm glad I donât eat like this often. I wouldnât be able to move,â Alex observed.
âAre you saying I donât feed you enough?â Kate asked teasingly.
âMore than enough. These portions are enough to feed a family of four,â Alex replied.
âI donât think so. Look at Sara. Why, I never saw a girl eat so much,â Gertie added.
Kateâs stomach flip-flopped. She didnât even want to think about Sara, let alone discuss her eating habits. She couldnât say this to Gertie or Alex without revealing why, so she said nothing, waiting for Alex to comment. When he didnât, Gertie continued, âThereâs something about that child that isnât right. I donât know what it is, but I bet sheâs gonna be trouble when sheâs older.â
If she only knew , Kate thought.
âSheâs young. Don told me she was jealous of Emily. I think sheâll grow out of whateverâs bothering her soon enough. Sheâs at a tough stage. I think she just wants Debbieâs attention,â Alex said to Gertie.
âYou could be right, but I think itâs more than that.â
Kate perked up. âWhat do you mean?â Did Gertie know something more about Saraâs behavior that she hadnât told her?
âSomething I canât put a finger on. Sheâs a schemer, that much I do know. Iâd
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