This wasn’t a good start. If Gran had her heart set on the business and the apartment, then one week would never be enough to talk her into something else. Clearly it couldn’t be the retirement community if even the thought of it made her miserable.
A germ of an idea took hold, and Maddie grasped it with both hands. The shops had been there for decades, and the one Gran was talking about looked truly awful from the outside. The inside had to be as bad. Probably worse. Maybe if they took a look at it and Gran saw how much they’d have to do to get it up and running, she would change her mind.
Pleased with that idea and hopeful that they could find a nice place for Gran afterwards, she smiled. “On second thought, if you think it’s worth our time, let’s go see this place. After all, a look can’t hurt, can it?”
Gran’s face lit up once more. “Really? Now?”
Maddie raised an eyebrow. “Maybe I could finish my tea and pie?”
Gran leaned back with an air of satisfaction. “Take as long as you like. I’ll give the agent a call in a minute. Should I say to meet her there in half an hour?”
Maddie spluttered her mouthful of tea over the pristine white tablecloth. She had the feeling that she’d just been played, but she couldn’t think of anything to say in the face of such eagerness. She dabbed at the mess with a napkin while Gran brought the phone to the table.
She’d never made Maddie feel anything but wanted and loved, and doing anything to make Gran happy had never been an issue. Unfortunately, this felt like a step too far.
As soon as her plate was empty, Gran dialed the number and it was then that Maddie realized whom she was calling. They both knew the owner of the local real estate business, and the thought of seeing Virginia Bolton, let alone discussing business with her, was enough to make Maddie’s insides turn to jelly.
What a morning, and it wasn’t done yet.
Need more? Pick up Apple Pie and Arsenic here!
Recipes
These recipes are ones I use all the time and have come down the generations from my mum, grandmother, and some I have adapted from other recipes.
Also, I am now in possession of my husband’s grandmother’s recipe book. Exciting! I’ll be bringing some of them to life very soon.
Just a wee reminder that I am a New Zealander. Occasionally, I may have missed converting into ounces and pounds for my American readers.
My apologies for that, and please let me know if you do try them, how they turn out.
Keep well.
Cheryl x
Fudge
Ingredients
500g /1.1lb caster sugar (refined white sugar)
375ml / 1 1/2cups evaporated milk
200g / 7oz dark chocolate
50g / 3 1/2 tblsp butter
Instructions
1 Line the base of a square cake tin with baking paper.
2 Place sugar and milk in a saucepan over a low heat. Stir until sugar dissolves.
4 Stir often for 20 minutes until the mixture forms a soft ball when dropped into cold water. Test with a teaspoon full.
5 Add chocolate and butter - stir together until melted.
6 Transfer mixture to a bowl and beat for 5 minutes until it becomes creamy.
7 Pour into cake tin and cool.
8 Place in fridge to set overnight.
9 Remove from pan, leaving on baking paper.
10 Cut into squares and enjoy!
Tip: for a less sweet taste sprinkle with sea salt.
Coconut Ice
Ingredients
100g / 7 tbsp butter
1 cup milk
6 cups of confectioners sugar
1 tsp salt
1 cup desiccated coconut
2tsp coconut essence
Instructions
1 Place butter, milk, salt, and confectioners’ sugar in a large saucepan - heat gently until sugar dissolves.
2 Bring mixture to the boil and keep on a gentle boil stirring occasionally until the mixture forms a soft ball.
3 Add coconut and coconut essence, stir then remove from heat.
4 Cool for 10 minutes then beat until the mixture thickens.
5 Split into two pieces, pour one half into a greased square tin and place in fridge.
6 Mix red food coloring to second half of mixture. Spread on top of white mixture.
7 Allow to cool completely before cutting into squares.
Also by C. A. Phipps
The Cozy Café Mysteries
Candy Corruption
Mocha Mayhem - pre-order now!
The Maple Lane Cozy Mysteries
Apple Pie and Arsenic
Bagels and Blackmail
Cookies and Chaos
Doughnuts and Disaster
Eclairs and Extortion
Fudge and Frenemies - coming later this year
The Celebrity Corgi Romances
Charming the Chef
Don’t forget to subscribe to her Cozy and Sweet Romance newsletter.
There’s a free recipe book waiting for you. ;-)
Books by Cheryl Phipps
Prossers Bay Series - Set in New Zealand
Prossers Bay Boxed Set – Books 1-4
Doc’s Town
Finding Liam
Seducing Megan
Saving Stephanie
Emily’s Wish
Billionaire Knights Series
Billionaire Knights Books 1-5
Restless Billionaire
Ruthless Billionaire
Reluctant Billionaire
Resident Billionaire
Millionaire - Family Ties Series
The Millionaire Next Door
The Millionaire’s Proposal
The Millionaire’s Seduction
High Seas Weddings
Against the Tide
Waves of Passion
Kisses on the Sand - Out later this year
Sycamore Springs Series
Jack and Gill
Adam and Eve
Samson and Delilah - Coming soon!
About the Author
C. A. Phipps is a USA Today Bestselling Author.
‘Life is a mystery.’
Cheryl loves a good mystery filled with feisty heroines and wonderful small towns with heart-warming tales of strong family ties mixed in with a little romance and humor.
She lives in a quiet suburb of New Zealand’s largest city, Auckland, with her wonderful husband, who she married the moment she left school (yes, they were high school sweethearts).
A lover of animals, with a few children, and even more grandchildren, who keep her young, she loves family times, dining out, and travel, in that order.
www.caphipps.com
cherylphippsbooks@gmail.com