Cookies with a Side of Danger Read online

  It ended up being a tall task. In fact, no matter what I did, I couldn’t find a way to shake off the idea of Jessica becoming a police detective one day.

  That evening, when David returned home from work, I greeted him with a big hug. But as he looked into my eyes, he could tell that I was wrestling hard with my thoughts.

  “Crazy day, huh?” he asked.

  “You can say that again,” I replied.

  “That mysterious guy you spotted earlier really has you rattled, huh?”

  “He has been on my mind quite a lot today.”

  “I can tell.”

  “That said, I was actually thinking about something else a moment ago.”

  His eyebrows rose. “Is that so?”

  I nodded.

  “Do you want to tell me what it is? Or do you want me to guess?”

  I took a deep breath before responding, “I know it’s going to sound trivial given everything else that happened today, but I was actually just thinking about something our daughter said to me on the drive home.”

  “All right,” David replied. “I’m all ears.”

  When I told my husband about Jessica wanting to be a detective, he didn’t freak out like I had. In fact, he wasn’t bothered about it in the least.

  David shrugged. “So, what’s the big deal?”

  “Tell me you’re joking,” I said.

  “Why would I be? I don’t see what the problem is.”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” I asked. “I don’t want our daughter to become a police detective.”

  “Of course you don’t. It’s a really dangerous job,” he said.

  “That’s exactly my point.” My eyebrows knitted. “Although, I’m confused. If you agree with me, then why aren’t you bothered by what Jessica said?”

  “Because I don’t actually believe she’s going to become a detective one day.”

  “How can you be so sure of that?”

  “Honey, she’s five-years-old.”

  “I know how old she is.”

  “My point is, she has trouble deciding what outfit she is going to wear to school, much less what she is going to be when she grows up.”

  “While I can’t argue with that, I also can’t help but be a little worried.”

  “Trust me. I know that worrying comes naturally when you’re a parent, but Jessica is just a little kid. She could change her career plans tomorrow. And again the day after that,” David said. “Frankly, she might change her career choice a hundred times in the next few years.”

  “Or she might not change her mind at all. The problem is, we don’t really know.”

  “I do know one thing. It will be years before we get a definitive answer. There’s no use worrying about it now.”

  “That’s easy for you to say.”

  “Look. I get that you’ve had a rough day, but I think you’re letting one area of your life bleed into another.”

  “How so?”

  “The mysterious man you spotted earlier has clearly done a number on you. I think he’s the one you’re really worried about. I also believe that you’re letting your frustrations about this guy carry over to other parts of your life.”

  I took a moment to process David’s comment. I then nodded. “You might be right.”

  “I think it’s a safe bet.”

  I grimaced. “What if you’re wrong?”

  Before David could formulate an answer, his phone beeped. He then looked down at his phone.

  “Why don’t we talk about this later?” he asked. “We don’t want to be late meeting your parents for dinner.”

  Chapter Five

  I loved going over to my parents’ house for dinner. Not only was the company great, but the food was always as delicious as ever. In my experience, there was nothing quite like a great meal to take my mind off things.

  I wasn’t the only one who was looking forward to dinner. David was practically salivating on the entire drive over to Sycamore Grove Trail. By the time we reached my parents’ place, his hunger was out of control. So, when we entered the living room and he caught a whiff of the food that was being prepared, he headed straight for the kitchen.

  Even though I was pretty hungry as well, I managed to muster some restraint. Especially when I saw my stepfather, Luke, grab a gift bag that he was hiding under the coffee table.

  As I stared at the bag, Luke turned his attention to my daughter.

  “Jessica, I have a surprise for you,” Luke said.

  Jessica’s eyes widened. “Really?”

  Luke nodded and handed her the bag.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “Open it and find out.”

  Jessica reached into the bag and pulled out a new doll. Not just any one, though. A Dolores McTaggart doll. Dolores dolls were all the rage amongst the five-year-olds in town.

  Jessica loved the original Dolores doll that we bought her a year ago. Meanwhile, this doll was an updated version with different clothes and a new hairstyle.

  My daughter couldn’t contain her excitement as she looked at the doll. Her eyes completely lit up.

  “Wow. A Dolores doll,” she said.

  “Do you like it?” Luke asked.

  “I love it,” she said.

  Luke smiled. “Good.”

  I nudged my daughter. “Jessica, what do you say when someone does something really nice for you?”

  “Thank you, Grandpa.”

  “You’re welcome,” Luke replied.

  Jessica leaned in and gave Luke a hug. She then ran into the kitchen to show David her new doll.

  “Daddy, daddy, you won’t believe what I just got,” Jessica said.

  While Jessica shuffled away, I turned my focus to my stepfather. To him, it was probably just a small purchase. Whether he realized it or not, he had just made Jessica’s day.

  Not only was it a sweet gesture, but it got me thinking about how lucky I was to have Luke in my life. While technically speaking, he was my stepfather, he was more of a dad to me than my birth father ever had been. Normally, I didn’t try to compare the two. But the difference between my stepfather and my birth father were staggering.

  To start, my biological father, Walter Cobb, had spent his life waging an all-out war against sobriety. With Walter’s penchant for the bottle, it was no surprise when my mother divorced him when I was four-years-old.

  When the divorce was finalized, Walter didn’t just disappear from my mother’s life. He stopped being involved in my life as well. He just skipped town and never came back. That was a little over forty years ago.

  Currently, I had no idea where Walter resided. I also had no clue what he was doing with his life. I just knew that I wasn’t a part of it.

  Meanwhile, Luke started dating my mother when I was six-years-old. A few years later, they got married. The rest was history. And what an incredible history it was.

  ***

  As my head drifted even further into the clouds, Luke smiled as he referenced the doll he had purchased for Jessica.

  “I guess that was a good buy then,” Luke said.

  “Are you kidding? You just made her entire day,” I said.

  “In that case, I’m glad I bought that doll.”

  I scratched my chin. “Speaking of, just out of curiosity, what made you even think of buying that doll for Jess? Her birthday is months away. And there aren’t any major holidays coming up.”

  “I know. I just figured that it would make for a nice surprise.”

  “You just did it out of the goodness of your heart then?”

  He nodded.

  “How sweet,” I said. “It was really nice of you to go out of your way to buy that.”

  “Honestly, I didn’t exactly go out of my way. I was already at Zuberman’s.”

  My nose crinkled. “What were you buying at Zuberman’s that brought you anywhere near the doll aisle?”

  He bit the corner of his lip before replying, “I was actually walking around the store getting some free s
amples.”

  I chuckled. “It sounds like Grandma Betsy is rubbing off on you.”

  “She is,” he said. “And nibbling on sample cups of crackers and cookies has made me pack on a few extra pounds over the last month or so.”

  “As grandma says, though, what’s the point of life if you don’t enjoy yourself?”

  “That’s easy for her to say. Her office isn’t right next to a big box warehouse.”

  “Luke, she’s retired. She doesn’t have an office.”

  “I understand that. The point is, every time I come back from a home inspection, it’s really difficult not to stop in at Zuberman’s quickly for a few samples before I sit down at my desk.”

  “I hear you. If I was in your position, I would probably give in to temptation as well.” I held my finger up. “But just think, it could be worse.”

  “I suppose.”

  “Seriously,” I said. “Imagine if you worked next to an ice cream shop.”

  “Oh dear. That would be the death of me.”

  “I’m sure it would.” I stared out into the distance, dreaming of ice cream. “What a sweet way to go, though.”

  Just then, Jessica came out of the kitchen with the doll in her hand. She then plopped down on the sofa in the living room and played with her new gift.

  “That doll really is a hit, isn’t it?” Luke said.

  “It sure is,” I said. “And again, what a kind gesture on your part.”

  Luke threw out his arms. “What can I say? I love spoiling my granddaughter.”

  “You do have a soft spot for her.”

  “Why wouldn’t I? After all, I only have one grandchild.”

  “True. I was just commenting more on the fact that you’ve turned into a bit of a marshmallow since Jessica was born.”

  “Don’t tell the guys in my office that.”

  I giggled. “Your secret is safe with me.”

  “Thanks.”

  “Although, it doesn’t have to stay a secret. I really like this new side of you.”

  “I’m glad you feel that way. I have to admit, though, it really snuck up on me. I never thought I’d enjoy being a grandfather quite as much as I have.”

  “It turns out that life never runs out of surprises to throw your way.”

  “Isn’t that the truth?” he said. “At the same time, it’s amazing how much your priorities change the older you get.”

  I bit the corner of my lip. “In some ways, yes. But in other ways, you haven’t really changed at all.”

  His nose scrunched. “I’m not sure whether to take that as a compliment or not.”

  “The fact that you’re a great family man is definitely a good thing. And it’s absolutely not a new development. As a matter of fact, I’ll never forget how kind you were to my sister and me when we were growing up. You were a great stepfather to us. And you’re a wonderful grandfather to Jessica.”

  “Thank you for saying that.”

  “No, thank you,” I replied. “For always being there for me. For always being so loving and supportive. I really appreciate it.”

  Luke leaned in and gave me a hug. “You’re welcome.”

  My mother then came out of the kitchen. “Who is ready to eat?”

  Luke and I both turned to my mother and said in unison, “I am.”

  Chapter Six

  As expected, the meal was fantastic. And the company was great as well. We all had a lively conversation while devouring my mother’s chicken and mashed potatoes. Once we polished off dinner, we ate some fresh-baked cookies. All in all, it was the perfect family gathering. Shortly after nine o’clock, David, Jessica, and I headed home.

  In the morning, more fun was on tap. It was a rare day off for David and I. Neither of us planned on squandering the opportunity to enjoy ourselves. We packed up our car and headed to the beach.

  Considering how we lived ten minutes from the ocean, it was amazing to think about how infrequently we actually went to the beach. That wasn’t on purpose. We just lived very busy lives. If it were up to me, every afternoon would be a beach day. But as you know, life rarely went according to plan.

  I was hoping that Saturday would be an exception to the rule. David, Jessica, and I found a great spot to set up. Not surprisingly, Jessica was anxious to do some swimming. David joined her in the water. Meanwhile, I dipped my toes in the sand. As I began to catch some rays, I saw Jake Williamson and Clarissa Hunt taking a leisurely stroll on the beach. When the couple spotted me, they came over to say hi.

  “Sabrina Carlson. I didn’t know you took days off,” Jake joked.

  “You know, I could easily say the same thing about you,” I replied.

  “And you’d be right,” Jake said.

  “Isn’t that the truth?” Clarissa commented. “As a matter of fact, he was just talking about business.”

  My eyes widened. “On a day like this?”

  “That’s what I told him,” Clarissa said.

  “You know, I’m right here. I can hear every word you’re saying,” Jake replied.

  “I realize that. You just aren’t listening,” Clarissa said.

  “What business is so important?”

  Clarissa grimaced. “Don’t get him started.”

  Jake held his hand up. “Wait a minute. Sabrina asked, so I’m going to answer her.”

  “Oh boy, here we go,” Clarissa said.

  “It’s looking like that beach resort idea of mine is finally going to become a reality,” Jake said.

  My eyebrows rose. “Is that so?”

  Jake nodded. “I had a great meeting yesterday with some investors and they loved my pitch. If everything goes well, we might be able to break ground on construction by the end of this year.”

  “Wow. That is a big deal.”

  “It sure is. A hotel like this could bring in a lot of tourism dollars to the area.”

  Clarissa cleared her throat. “So much for a leisurely walk on the beach. This is beginning to sound a lot more like a business lunch.”

  Jake turned to Clarissa. “I’m sorry. I’m just really passionate about this project. Not only will it inject a bunch of money into the local economy, but a resort of this size will probably create a few hundred new jobs.”

  “I know. And I’m very excited about this project. The same goes for the other businesses you are working on,” Clarissa said. “I just wish you would leave some things at the office. After all, it’s Saturday morning. So, can’t you shelve the shop talk until Monday?”

  For some reason, Jake decided to turn to me. “What do you think?”

  “Do you see me with my toes in the sand?” I asked.

  “Yes,” he replied.

  “Then why are you trying to drag me into this?” I asked.

  “Because you of all people know how hard it is to resist talking about business on the weekend,” Jake said.

  “Nice try. The fact is, as long as life doesn’t get in the way, I am more than happy to lean back and relax all weekend,” I said.

  Clarissa nudged Jake. “You should be more like Sabrina.”

  I smiled. “Jake, have I mentioned how much I like your girlfriend?”

  Jake scoffed. “You say that every time she compliments you.”

  “True,” I replied. “She’s right, though.”

  “I mean, here you are on the beach. It’s a beautiful day without a cloud in the sky. And since it isn’t tourist season, we practically have the place all to ourselves. This is an amazing gift. You should appreciate that.”

  “You’re right,” Jake said.

  “Of course I am. Now go and enjoy yourselves,” I said.

  “We will,” Jake said. He turned to Clarissa. “What do you say we go get some gelato?”

  Clarissa’s eyes lit up. “Yes, please.”

  “It sounds like you two are going to have a delicious afternoon,” I said.

  “Thanks to you,” Clarissa said. “I owe you one.”

  “Don’t mention it. Just enjoy your
gelato,” I said.

  “Will do,” Clarissa said.

  Chapter Seven

  Speaking of gelato, I ended up having a craving of my own. When David, Jessica, and I left the beach in the middle of the afternoon, we stopped by Luigi’s to get a scoop of gelato. It did not disappoint. As a matter of fact, the gelato was absolutely delicious.

  That said, indulging in a sweet treat didn’t do any favors to my waistline. I knew I would be in for a nasty surprise the next time I stepped onto my scale. I also realized that it wasn’t anything that a little time on the treadmill couldn’t undo. But that time in the gym would have to wait until Monday. I fully intended to enjoy the rest of my weekend.

  When David, Jessica, and I arrived home from Luigi’s Gelato, my daughter headed into her room to do some reading. Meanwhile, my husband and I sat on the couch to watch some TV. By a strange twist of fate, while David was flipping through the channels, we stumbled across an episode of Sassy Sleuth.

  Generally, I loved mystery shows. Especially ones with a female heroine. Sassy Sleuth was a different type of show, however. Believe it or not, it was actually based on my life. Or at least, the pilot episode was.

  Like so many things in life, the TV show turned out much differently than I thought it would. Mostly because the producer of the program had a wildly different idea for the series than I did. Of course, he didn’t tell me that until after he had bought my life rights. At that point, I had already signed away creative control of the series to him.

  That meant I was powerless to stop him from making the changes he wanted. All I could do was stand on the sideline and hope for the best. Instead, the worst came to pass.

  By the time the producer was done tinkering with the show, the only part of the pilot that resembled my life was the fact that the main character was an amateur sleuth who solved mysteries. Every other detail was changed, cut, or sensationalized. Not surprisingly, I was incredibly disappointed when I saw the final product. It wasn’t even like I was a caricature of myself. It almost felt like I was watching a show about someone else entirely.