Page 41 of The Estate
“I refuse to steal your lunch,” Rachel said, even though she desperately wanted to try it.
“It isn’t as if I don’t have a dozen more in the case. Eat up!”
Rachel didn’t need to be told twice and was surprised by the burst of chili flavor. Not that it was spicy, but more just a bold flavor. Her croissant was delicious, but it was more of a low-key cheesy delight. The chili turnover was far more robust. “Mrs. S,” she replied when she could speak. “This is amazing.”
“Thank you. I’m pretty partial to it myself,” she said, popping a bite into her mouth. Rachel did the same, not wanting the cheese in the croissant to lose its warmth before she gobbled it up. Gooey cheese ranked among the best things on the planet.
A moment later, Mrs. S asked, “You’re on your way down to White Hall?” At Rachel’s nod, she said, “I doubt you’re one to mainline caffeine and that much sugar, so you’re sharing, I take it?”
“Yes. I’m going down to meet with Cal, the owner.” Rachel stopped herself from clarifying. Cal had introduced himself as the owner, but actually, it was his parents. Or perhaps he owned a portion of it? She still wasn’t sure.
“They run many events down there?”
“They have a pretty steady calendar,” she responded.
“I’d heard that old estate was making a comeback. I haven’t gotten down there to see how it’s come out,” she paused, her eyes narrowing.
“What?” Rachel asked instinctively.
“How many people can it hold? Do they do sit-down dinners?”
“I don’t know off the top of my head how many they can accommodate. They did Alex’s wedding, and I would guess there were over two hundred people there,” she said, wondering what Mrs. S was thinking.
“That’s right. Alex’s wedding was there. I’ll assume the inside is beautiful.”
“It is,” Rachel agreed. “Cal’s done an amazing job of renovating the ballroom and the surrounding rooms. He did it in a way that kept the old-world charm but updated things where he could. It’s a fantastic venue. What’s up Mrs. S? You having a big event?”
“Not me. A casual acquaintance, a client, actually. She was in last week and was pretty upset because they lost the location for their annual gala. It’s the largest fundraiser for their organization, so she was somewhat in a panic.”
“Oh, no.”
“Can you image? It’s a popular event. Each year it’s written up in Connecticut Magazine, as it’s a big draw for politicians and local celebs. Their silent auction is legendary. Some crazy bidding, but also some great deals.
“Anyway, it hadn’t occurred to me until now, but White Hall might be the answer she needs. I’ll contact her and make the suggestion. She may not have thought of it yet.”
“It sounds like it would work, as long as nothing is already booked. Trace is the event planner there. I can give you their number so you can pass it along to your friend.”
“That sounds fantastic. Much appreciated.”
A few bites more and Rachel was disappointed to find her empty plate. The croissant had been amazing.
Mrs. S took her plate, stacking it with her own. “You take your time and finish your latte. I’ll get Terry working on the remainder of your order. And if you’re game, I’ll put a little something extra in there for you to try.”
“Oh, is this the infamous blueberry buckle Lisa’s been obsessed about?”
Mrs. S threw her head back and laughed loudly, causing Rachel to chuckle as well
“So Lisa’s been mentioning the buckle, has she?”
“Oh, she’s been discussing it alright. You know how Lisa can be.”
“I do. Bless her. It’s such a joy to bake for people who appreciate it. But to answer your question, no. This is not the blueberry buckle. You can tell Lisa it’s almost finished. Today’s test recipe is a kind of Thanksgiving leftover cookie.”
Rachel couldn’t wrap her head around all of those words being in one sentence. Granted, they were well into September, but Thanksgiving was still a little ways off. “Aren’t you jumping the gun a bit with Thanksgiving?” she asked.
“Normally this would somewhat early, but while the ingredients are leftovers from the holiday, the cookie will be in anticipation of the holiday. Come Thanksgiving, people are all flavored out. The cookies will be a little taste of things to come.”
“That sounds amazing, Mrs. S. I’d love to try one.”
