Free Snuffed Out (Book 2 in the Candlemaking Mysteries) by Tim Myers

ready for her.
    I said, “If you can watch the front, there’s
something I need to take care of in the classroom.”
    “ More monstrosities for our
benefactress?” Eve had caught a glimpse of Mrs. Jorgenson’s last
lumpy candle and had found no charm in it at all.
    “ I’ve been studying a new
technique,” I said. “If you need me, just give me a
yell.”
    She said lightly, “I believe I’ll be able to
handle anything that comes up. Go on and play.”
    “ Hey, this is serious
stuff,” I said as I smiled at her.
     
    I did a tandem dip with beeswax as I’d shown
Mrs. Jorgenson during her last lesson, alternating between two
pairs to allow one to cool while the other was being dipped. When
the first set was built up to about half an inch, I let it cool a
few minutes, then grabbed both candles in one hand at their bases
and twisted them together. I loved the look and set the twist
aside. I repeated the same twist with the second pair, but this
time I over-dipped the twist, not enough to obscure the curving
lines, but enough to give it all a more solid look. I trimmed both
bases before the wax hardened too much, then looked in the dipping
can to see if I had enough wax to try another. There wasn’t enough
wax to dip another pair, but I wasn’t going to stop dipping. I had
an idea, remembering a candle I’d seen in one of my dozen reference
books. I quickly dipped another half-inch taper just before the
remaining wax started to congeal on the surface of the water. As
soon as it was cool enough, I took out a rolling pin and flattened
the candle on the tabletop, leaving a rounded base so it would
still fit into a stand. The next step had looked tricky in the
book, but I had to try it at least once. Grabbing the base in one
hand and the exposed-wick end in the other, I gave the flattened
candle a twist. It was outstanding; the taper looking elegant and
extremely difficult to make. I was certain Mrs. Jorgenson would be
pleased.
    I’d just finished my cleanup when Eve came
back. She studied my experiments without comment, though I noticed
her gaze did linger a little longer on the flattened taper.
    I smiled and said, “You should try it; it’s
lots of fun.”
    She said, “I’ll stick with the traditional
methods, thank you,” though I could tell she was tempted. “You have
a visitor.”
    “ Is it somebody I’m going to
be happy about seeing, or should I stay back here?”
    Millie poked her head in. “Harrison Black,
are you ducking me?”
    “ No, ma’am. I’m just hard at
work.”
    “ You missed the taste-test
yesterday afternoon.”
    I’d forgotten all about Millie’s offer to
share her latest and greatest recipe. “Sorry.”
    “ Nonsense, everyone deserves
a little time off now and then. That’s why I’m closed Sundays. It
gives George and me time to get reacquainted.” Millie’s husband
worked more jobs than any sane man would, but the two of them were
happy with their arrangement, and far be it from me to
interfere.
    “ Something smells
wonderful,” I said, looking at the basket tucked under her arm. A
bright piece of gingham cloth covered the top, but it couldn’t
contain the heavenly aroma coming from beneath.
    “ That’s why I’m here. Eve,
would you like a sample?”
    “ I’ll have to take a rain
check, I’m losing ground on my diet as it is. Harrison, I’m meeting
someone for lunch, so I may be a little late this
afternoon.”
    “ Take your time,” I said. “I
owe you.”
    After she was gone, Millie said, “Does our
Eve have a new man in her life?”
    “ If she does, she hasn’t
said a word to me, and I’m not about to ask.”
    She laughed. “Such a big man, and a big
coward, too.”
    “ Hey, I never denied it. Now
are you going to let me have a taste, or am I going to have steal
that basket from you?”
    “ Never let it be said I led
someone to a life a crime. Here, try one and tell me what you
think.”
    She pulled back the cloth and I saw a batch
of cranberry