Died Blonde (21 page)
Authors: Nancy J. Cohen
“Have you set a date?” Michael asked.
“Not yet.” Although she’d made a commitment, Marla didn’t plan to rush into anything, either.
Anita beamed proudly. “Now you can join us at our reunion over Thanksgiving weekend,” she addressed Vail. “We’re getting together with our extended family. You’ll get the full initiation. Besides, it’ll be nice to get away. I haven’t taken a trip in a while.”
A trip
…Why did those words bother her? Marla brushed aside her misgivings. Now was the time to forge a new future, not to look, back at the past. Although she and Dalton faced many challenges, they’d conquer them together. She wanted to experience all the joy their union offered.
Lifting her wineglass, she offered a toast. “May the New Year bring us peace, health, and happiness.
L’chayim
.”
Having never before had a reading by a psychic, I was fascinated by the opportunities at Cassadaga, Florida. I consulted a woman who said many of the things Hazel told Marla, although I altered my own reading to suit the story. It was an educational experience, and although I subscribe to Marla’s healthy dose of skepticism, I’ll admit there are phenomena we can’t always explain.
Coming next in the
Bad Hair Day
series is
Dead Roots
, where Marla attends the family reunion mentioned in this tale. She encounters many surprises, not all of them pleasant, especially when the psychic’s predictions come true. Dalton Vail gets to meet her relatives, and that promises to be fun. Stay in touch for more details as they become available.
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Web site:
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SWEDISH MEATBALLS
12-oz bottle chili sauce
18-oz jar grape jelly
15-oz can tomato sauce
½ cup chopped onions
¼ cup marsala wine (optional)
1 large package frozen beef meatballs
(If you want to make your own, get one to two pounds of chopped lean beef, mix with one egg or more to moisten, a sprinkle of garlic powder, and ¼ cup seasoned bread crumbs before forming into small balls).
In a large saucepan over medium-high heat, mix together chili sauce, grape jelly, and tomato sauce until jelly is melted and ingredients blend. Then toss in onions and add wine if desired. When mixture is bubbly, add meatballs to coat. Cover pot and reduce heat to simmer. Lift lid, being careful of steam, and stir periodically. For raw meatballs, simmer for up to an hour until meat is cooked through. For frozen meatballs, heat until defrosted and hot to the taste. Serve over cooked white rice. This recipe also makes a good party appetizer. If you are cooking from scratch, meatballs may be frozen with sauce.