The Secret Cooking Club (20 page)

EPILOGUE

T
he funeral of Rosemary Simpson is held on a grey Friday afternoon. In attendance is me, Mum, Emory Kruffs, my sister, Violet, Gretchen, Alison, Nick and about a hundred other members of The Secret Cooking Club who came from all around to meet up, celebrate the life of our mentor, and to bring loads of delicious food that would feed an army. The occasion draws such a crowd that the local newspaper sends a photographer, and the head of the charity for the elderly gives a speech praising our charity bake-a-thon. Many more people are present, not so much in spirit, as in cyberspace.

Mrs Simpson is buried underneath a shady tree in a corner of the graveyard, next to her daughter and her long-dead husband. I cry at the funeral – of course I do. But at the same time, I feel a strange sense of calm. I know that Mrs Simpson's with her daughter now – her ‘Little Cook' – and that she's at peace. I know that the magic is real. And as for me – whatever happens, I can handle it.

I mean, I've already had to come to terms with the fact that Mum seems pretty serious with Emory Kruffs, and there's been talk of knocking our two houses into one (with Mrs Simpson's fabulous kitchen staying put, of course). Emory's actually OK, now that I'm getting to know him. Believe it or not, he and I have watched a couple of cooking shows together when he's over at our house. He told me a secret too – that when he has time, he might want me to teach him how to cook so he can make something special for Mum. So The Secret Cooking Club might be getting its first real ‘celebrity' member – or, at least, our first MP.

But the one thing that does rattle me is when Nick Farr seeks me out after the service, offers his condolences . . . and then reminds me about our ‘date' in two days' time to see the concert.

In other words, life goes on.

The evening after the funeral, I sit at my desk with Treacle curled up on my lap. At least so far, he
seems content in his new home here with us. I finish typing in one of Mrs Simpson's special recipes, and close the little notebook. I press the button on my new computer to publish it on the blog – sharing what she left behind with all of our friends and followers. Beside me is a plate of deliciously fresh miniature butter pastries that Gretchen and Alison made, decorated by Violet with chocolate swirls and gold sparkles on top. I also have a steaming cup of hot chocolate topped with a sprinkling of cinnamon that Mum brought up to my room. I breathe in deeply, savouring the aromas and flavours.

A dash of friendship, a pinch of secrets, a cup of laughter and a dollop of tears.

And then there's the secret ingredient that's always there – something that we just have to find within ourselves.

Maybe you've guessed it already . . .

It's really not all that secret . . .

That's right . . .

Love.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book is dedicated to Eve, Rose and Grace. I love you more than chocolate caramels. I'd like to thank the judges of the
Times
/Chicken House Children's Fiction Competition 2015 for choosing this book as the winner, and all the lovely people at Chicken House for making the dream a reality. I'd also like to thank my parents, my partner Ian, and my writing group: Lucy, Ronan, Chris, Francisco and Dave, for your support and belief. Finally, I'd like to say thank you to all my readers – you are the secret ingredient who truly bring a book to life!

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Text © Laurel Remington 2016

First paperback edition published in Great Britain in 2016
This electronic edition published in 2016
Chicken House
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Laurel Remington has asserted her right under the Copyright, Designs
and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

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Produced in the UK by CPI Group (UK) Ltd, Croydon CR0 4YY

Cover and interior design by Helen Crawford-White

British Library Cataloguing in Publication data available.

PB ISBN 978-1-910655-24-5
eISBN 978-1-910655-61-0