Five of Us at Christmas, But They Only Got Four Cookies novel · Chapter 17 of 24
Chapter 17: Read It Aloud
Dorothea set the lid down very gently, as if the cookies were still asleep.
"What is that, dear?" the pastor said from his chair.
"A note," Dorothea said. "A recipe. Joanna is being theatrical."
"It's the original order slip," I said. "The woman at the bakery gave it to me on Monday. It's in your handwriting, Dorothea. Anyone here can see that."
The hall had gone so quiet I could hear the coffee urn tick.
The pastor held out his hand.
Dorothea did not give him the slip.
He waited with his hand out.
"May I?" he said.
She laid it in his palm.
He put on his glasses and studied it for a long moment.
Then he took them off.
"Dorothea, I would like to hear this in your voice," he said. "Please read it to us."
"Pastor..."
"Out loud. Please."
She took the slip back.
Her smile came and went twice before it settled.
"Four cookies, early delivery," she read. "Four only. The fifth is just helping out this year."
Nobody coughed.
"Go on," said the pastor.
"There is nothing else."
"There is a second line. I could see it from here."
Her lips closed, and opened.
"Do not mention the second box to Joanna," she read. "Five names. Pickup the eighteenth. Charge Bryce's card."
The woman by the window, the one who had spoken up at the supper, got to her feet.
"You told us it was a joke Bryce made to the baker," she said.
"I may have..."
"You told all of us. Last week. You said it was a joke."
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