Oven Baked Secrets (Eugeena Patterson Mysteries Book 2) Read Online Free Page B

hours. The past and all of its secrets weren’t going anywhere.
    I went downstairs and stepped into the kitchen. I already had some chicken thawing in the fridge. I did a lot of oven baked recipes since the fall weather had arrived. Something about a toasty kitchen from the oven made the house cozy and reminiscent of the days when it was full of family. Plus, it didn’t hurt to use the oven with my new healthier eating habits.
    As I seasoned the chicken, I looked over at Leesa who was bouncing Tyric on her knee. A few months back she hadn’t adjusted too well to the newborn. Part of the reason for her moving closer to me was so she could go see a therapist about her postpartum depression.  As a teenager, Leesa suffered from depression, and I had always felt I should have been more vigilant about seeking help for her. Sometimes you need to place pride to the side and do what is best for a loved one’s mental state.
    I covered the chicken with aluminum foil and placed the glass pan inside the oven. I pulled out a chair at the table and sat down to finish chopping up the vegetables. Since I’ve been retired, I’ve started to use social media a bit more. I loved using Pinterest to find lesson plans and activities my last few years in the classroom, but lately I’ve been pinning oven baked or roasted recipes.
The Wednesday Chef
had a great recipe for roasted vegetables that I have tried at least three times. I can’t say I was ever into zucchini and eggplant before, but I like them alongside the carrots and potatoes. Instead of onions I decided to substitute one of my favorite vegetables, squash.
    While I chopped, I thought it was a good time to check on my daughter’s on and off again boyfriend. Chris Black was Tyric’s father.  On my first meeting with Chris the large, intimidating man and police officer didn’t meet my approval at all.  When Kisha mentioned Chris had hit her, I had questions about the man’s temperament and if he was really a good fit to be around my daughter and her children. I have seen him several times since our first meeting. He seemed to be trying. “Has Chris come down to visit you and the children lately?”
    Leesa smiled. “Chris came to visit yesterday and we took the kids to the South Carolina Aquarium.”
    “Oh well, that was nice. Sounds like you two are acting like a family.”
    Leesa eyed me. “We working through some things, but Chris does love me and the kids.”
    I wasn’t encouraging Leesa to do any more than make sure Chris was a part of his son’s life. I didn’t like when a man was irresponsible. I wasn’t one to encourage a woman to marry a man if there were signs of immaturity. Marriage is simply not taken seriously these days. Divorce is too easy and quick to choose. I responded. “I just want to see you happy and married to the
right
man for you and the children.” I stood from the chair and grabbed the pan for the vegetables.
    “Well, what about you, Mama?”
    I looked at Leesa. I knew what she was trying to ask me, but ignored her until I mixed all the vegetables into the pan. I placed the pan down and gave my attention back to my daughter’s face. “What? What about me?”
    Leesa raised her eyebrow. “You sure me and the kids aren’t interfering with your Sunday dinner with Mr. Amos?”
    “Who said I was cooking just for Amos? I have to eat too.” I covered the vegetables and turned my back to check on the chicken. I thought I was the mother and interrogating was my job.
    Leesa laughed. “I’m just teasing you, Mama, but Cedric said we should give you some time with Amos.”
    I shook my head and then reached for the pan of vegetables. “Your brother needs to tend to his own business. I still don’t see why he asked Carmen to move in with him. What happened to proposing, getting engaged, married and then move in together?” I placed the pan of vegetables on the rack above the chicken.
    Leesa responded. “Geez, Mama! People like to do a trial