Sweets Forgotten (Samantha Sweet Mysteries Book 10) Read Online Free Page B

make
pansies and asters as well.
    “Jane, you were really good with
those chocolate molds,” Becky said. “Want to pitch in on these flowers?”
    Jane looked a little unsure but
said she would give it a try. She washed her hands and stood beside Becky as
the experienced decorator showed the simple technique for a pansy.
    “The secret is to roll the sugar
dough really thin. Then you cut each petal shape individually. Once you have
five of them, you gently roll the edges with this tool to give them a pretty
little shape, then pinch the five petals together at the center to form the flower.
We’ll add the shading and details with food color later.” She handed Jane the
tool and a sheet of the thinly rolled dough, moving her own work to a new spot
at the table.
    Jane handled the gum paste well
enough but her finished petals didn’t have the right shape.
    “Try again. You can reroll the
dough another time or two if necessary.”
    The second effort wasn’t a whole
lot better.
    “I guess I don’t have any past
experience with this,” Jane said a little hopelessly.
    “That’s okay,” Sam said. She had
finished the lava cakes and placed the order on a tray to be delivered to the
bookshop next door. “I’ve got a little time before I have to finish the baby
shower cake for Carla Simms.”
    Jane continued to fumble about with
the flowers but her long nails got in the way and she couldn’t seem to master
the small finger movements needed to deftly pinch and shape the dough. It
wasn’t long before she moved aside and perched herself on a stool out of the
way while Sam and Becky moved into double-time with the flower petals.
    Once Sam got into the rhythm of
forming the tiny scooped chrysanthemum petals, she found her mind zipping to
other subjects: Had Beau made any progress at all in learning Jane’s identity?
And who was this new guy Kelly was seeing?
    Before she knew it, Jen was
peeking through the curtain divider to ask if anyone wanted her to order them a
sandwich for lunch.
    Noon already. Sam straightened
her shoulders, rotating them to work out the stiffness. It was another reason
she desperately missed the magic box. In the past, when she had an overwhelming
amount of work, she’d relied on it—okay, maybe a little too much at times—to
give her the energy and stamina to complete an amazing amount of work in a
short time. Of course, that was fraught with dangers too. It was impossible for
the others in the bakery not to notice how much work she accomplished and
comment on it. She massaged her right shoulder. No, it was better that she just
move at the pace that fit her fifty-four years and be content with that.
    “Let’s take a break,” she
announced. “Jen, yes, sandwiches are a great idea. I’m just going to step out
back.”
    She pulled her phone from her
pocket, noting that Becky kept forming flower petals as if her hands wouldn’t
stop the repetitive movements, even though her stomach said she was hungry.
    Outside, it was a perfect fall
day with a deep blue sky, abundant sunshine and a crisp tang to the air. She
tapped Beau’s number and waited while it rang three times. Just as she was certain
she would have to leave a message, he answered.
    “Sorry, darlin’, I don’t have
anything on your Jane Doe yet. I’ve been tracking down next of kin for that
Albuquerque case. I’m at Greenlee Manor right now, waiting while they track
down a couple who lives here. I’ll have to get back to you.”
    “Sure. No problem.” She felt a
little letdown that he hadn’t had time to get Jane taken care of. Not that the
woman was posing a problem here at the shop but it was just strange having an
extra person looking on.
    Okay, don’t be this way, Sam. Jane did save your ass when the chocolate
was about to burn. And it’s not as if she’s really under foot.
    “I can put in a quick call to
social services if you want me to,” he was saying.
    “No, that’s okay. She’s not
causing any trouble here at