Page 24 of Promise Me This Christmas
Carson took a casual look around the room, eventually landing on Gibson and an older woman with her gray hair pulled up in a bun.Sure enough they were chatting in what seemed to be a convivial manner.Something the woman said actually made Gibson laugh.
“I haven’t been able to get more than three words out of that guy since he checked in,” Carson whispered.
“Me either.He almost looks like a nice guy when he smiles.Did you hear he found a dead mouse in his bathtub this afternoon?”
Carson chuckled.“Chet told me.Serves the guy right.”
“I wouldn’t laugh.If he mentions the mouse in an online review, that could really hurt Amy’s future bookings.”
“I hadn’t thought of it that way.”
“You can bet Amy has.”
Promptly at seven Sage began the class.She explained about tempering chocolate.Why they needed to do it and then how to do it.It all went over Carson’s head, frankly.He was too busy watching Larkin, who had the same intense expression he remembered seeing during their physics class.
Glancing over at the Kettles’ station, he noticed Peter was likewise taking a hands-off approach.When he caught the older man’s eye he winked, and Peter chuckled.Meanwhile both Marjorie and Larkin were diligently melting a portion of their chocolate in a glass bowl that sat over a pot of boiling water.
“I’ll be like an operating room nurse,” he told Larkin.“Tell me when you need something, and I’ll pass it to you.”
“More chocolate, stat.”
He handed her several small bars.
She stirred those in then held out her hand.“Thermometer, please.”
“I don’t think surgeons say please.”He passed it over.“Personally, I think food thermometers are for sissies.Any guy worth his salt should be able to tell when a steak is done by the firmness of the meat.”
“That technique doesn’t work for chocolate.”Larkin checked the reading, then turned off the heat.“It’s time to cool the chocolate now.”
As it cooled, she stirred and stirred.Sage came by and peered into the bowl.
“That looks good, Larkin.I like the sheen.”
“She’s been following my instructions to the letter,” Carson said.
“Oh really?”Larkin offered him the spatula.“You want to take over then?”
He held up his hands.“Hey, I’m the operating nurse, not the surgeon.”
Sage laughed, then moved on to Gibson.“This isn’t the first time you’ve done this, is it?”
“I worked as a pastry chef at one time,” Gibson said.“But I’ve never attempted bean to bar chocolate like you do here.”
“That was definitely a trial-and-error process.”Sage laughed.“But very satisfying.If you want to stop by the store tomorrow morning, I’ll tour you around my kitchen.I’ve got some beans fermenting right now.Next step will be roasting.”
“I’d love that,” Gibson said.“What time?”
Carson could tell Larkin was as astonished as he was.Gibson was actually being pleasant, both to his cooking partner and to Sage.
Chapter Six
For Larkin, thetwo-hour workshop went by much too quickly.She had so much fun.Carson hadn’t been much help, but he’d definitely kept her entertained, much the way he’d wisecracked his way through high school.How he’d managed to also make the honor roll in those days had always astounded her.
At the end of the event, Austin handed out pretty copper-colored boxes for them to package their chocolates in.Sage walked around adding assorted shop favorites to the boxes.
“Isn’t this fun?”Marjorie’s eyes were sparkling, cheeks rosy.“Maybe I should retire from speech therapy and become a chocolatier.”
Peter smiled at his wife, then turned to Larkin and Carson.“Would you guys like a ride back to Bramble House?It’s probably a lot colder out now than when you walked here earlier.”
