Page 45 of Statler

“Oh, really? For anything special?” Statler asked. He responded like he was settling in for a long chat.

Which was okay with Eliza.

“Nope. I always visit her on Sundays, so it was a normal day.” Eliza explained. “She’s been feeling her age lately, especially with winter coming on, so I’ve been helping her clean up in and around the house.”

She wouldn’t tell him that they also discussed the questionable things going on at the factory while they tidied.

“Why do I get the feeling there’s something else you’re doing when that’s finished?” he asked astutely.

Eliza almost gasped before she realized he wasn’t talking about the intelligence gathering she’d been doing. She relaxed and smiled at the phone.

“You’re right. Every week Granny and I pick out a new dessert recipe and taste-test it to see if she wants to add it to her available pick-up menu.”

“That sounds like it could be either really good, or really bad if it flops,” he chuckled. “What did you attempt today?”

This afternoon they’d had success.

“Something called Apple Slice,” Eliza told him. “I got the recipe from a Facebook friend. It’s a butter cake with coconut, apples, sour cream, cinnamon and sugar.”

“Was it a hit?” Statler asked.

Eliza licked her lips, remembering. “It was delicious.”

She actually giggled. “Granny and I ate half of the darned thing before we forced ourselves to stop.”

“Which I guess means she’ll be adding it to her selections for sale.”

“She most certainly will, while also giving credit to the woman who posted it, Jane Alison Birbeck.”

“I hope you let the lady know her dish was a hit.”

Eliza grinned. “I’ve already told her she’ll be credited with the featured dessert in Liminal this month. And it’s perfect timing, with it being apple season.”

“Speaking of which,” Statler interjected, “is there a place nearby where there’s a U-Pick-It? I wouldn’t mind harvesting a few apples, while also grabbing some of those cider donuts the farms always have.”

Eliza hadn’t gone apple picking since her mother passed, but she quickly pushed her melancholia down, and named two spots that were within twenty-miles.

“Great. I don’t suppose…?” he began, then trailed off.

“What?” Eliza asked.

Clearly, he was going to ask her if she wanted to go, but she was curious as to his hesitation.

Maybe she was wrong. Perhaps what he really wanted was for her to bake him a few pies, or maybe ask Granny to concoct something for him?

She heard Statler suck in a breath.

“Would you like to go apple picking with me next weekend?”

Eliza’s heart soared, then sank.

Dammit. She couldn’t give up her Saturdays.

Winter would be arriving soon, and there weren’t many weekends left before she was stuck inside again, without her favorite pastime to bring light to those long, dark days.

Eliza bristled.

She hated not being able to paint in her own home.