Zoe Donovan Mystery: Haunted Hamlet Part 16

"There's wine and some of the delicious cake Ellie made on the table. Help yourselves while I get my photos."

Luckily, all three babies were in good moods and were happy to pose while Zak and I took photos and their parents drank Zak's expensive wine.

"Did Zak talk to you?" Dad asked after I had taken enough photos to fill twenty alb.u.ms.

"He did. Why didn't you?"

Dad blushed.

"You were afraid I'd flip out and bite your head off," I guessed.

"You do have a bit of a temper."

"I know." I kissed him on the cheek. "I love the idea of Mom organizing a bachelor auction. I bet she has tons of good ideas."

"You know your mom; once I suggested it, she went into full party-planner mode. She'd like to have it before Thanksgiving, so that won't give us much time. If you're okay with the idea, I'll give her the go-ahead to start calling the people she wants to handle the flowers, catering, and decorating. She's already made up a list of women to invite. My guess is that most of the women will go out of their way to attend a Madison Montgomery party. She even has several magazines that have expressed interest in sending photographers if we manage to pull the whole thing together."

"You do realize that with Mom in charge, it's going to cost almost as much to produce this shindig as we're likely to make. Zak and Mom could easily go in together to buy a new engine and save everyone the work."

"The guys need to feel like they contributed."

Dad was right. The volunteer firefighters, as well as the other men in the community, would get the satisfaction of earning the equipment they needed rather than having it handed to them.

"Okay," I said, "I'm in."

Dad hugged me. "I knew you would do the right thing."

"Don't I always?"

"Yes." Dad smiled. "In the end, you always do."

After everyone left and it was just Zak and the animals and me, I browsed through the photos I'd taken. Harper was so very cute in her itty-bitty witch outfit, as were the other babies in their little costumes. In my heart, I know that someday I want to have a baby of my own. Zak's baby.

I could feel Zak's arm against my own as we thumbed through the photos he'd brought up on his new tablet. There was no doubt in my mind that he was the only man I would ever want to spend my life with. I don't know why I'm having such a hard time making a commitment. Time wouldn't change what I already knew in my heart to be true.

Zak pointed to the funny face Morgan had made when we tried to get her to hold a tiny pumpkin we'd carved. My baby sister Harper had grinned like the cat who got the cream when we handed it to her, but Morgan was just a tad more suspicious of the strange item. Harper seemed to glow in every photo we managed to snap. There was no doubt about it; Harper was going to be Halloween crazy like her big sister.

I looked at Zak as he made a comment about each photo I'd taken. I realized that sometimes, when you find the person who you know to be the other half of your heart, you just have to take a blind leap of faith that things will work out the way they're intended.

Maybe it was the romance, the firelight, the fun family evening, the upcoming bachelor auction, or the fact that I had almost died (again), but I found myself saying yes.

"Yes?" Zak asked without looking up from the tablet, where he was manipulating the photos.

"Yes, I'll marry you."

I held my breath, heart pounding, as I waited for a reply.

Zak looked up. "Really?"

"Uh, yeah, really."

Zak smiled. "And you're sure about this?"

"I'm sure." I felt myself begin to hyperventilate.

"Breathe," Zak instructed as he held my shoulders and looked me directly in the eye. "I love you, and you know I want to marry you, but I want you to know that I'll wait if you need more time."

I took a deep breath. "I don't need more time. I'm ready. I want to do this."

Zak pulled me into his arms and showed me just how much he loved me.

A long while later, we were snuggled up in bed watching the fire and listening to the rain. All the animals were sleeping in various locations around the room. I knew this was one of the most perfect moments that would ever happen in my life. I wanted to cherish everything about this special night. I wanted to remember every detail.

"Were you thinking of a long engagement?" Zak asked as he mindlessly traced a figure eight on my shoulder. The fire had burned down, leaving an orange glow that created a feeling of warmth in the room.

I thought about Zak's question as I inhaled the scent from the pumpkin candle I'd lit and listened to All Of Me by John Legend as it played on the home entertainment system. All of me did love all of him, but was I really ready for this? I snuggled my cheek against Zak's bare chest as I traced our initials with my index finger. I could hear his heart beating, which filled me with a sense of peace and contentment. Of course I was ready for this. I loved Zak and wanted to be his wife.

"I wasn't necessarily thinking of a long engagement," I eventually answered.

"So short?"

"Well, not too short. I mean, I'd like a while to get used to the idea. And there are plans to make," I pointed out.

"So are we talking months?" Zak fished.

"Perhaps." I stopped tracing and looked up at him. "Although I suppose there are advantages to taking things slow."

"How slow?" Zak tucked a lock of my hair, which had been covering my eyes, behind my ear.

"I don't know. Slow." I paused to think about it. Maybe I did need a little more time. "The more I think about it, the more I think a long engagement is the way to go."

"So glacial?"

"Exactly." I grinned. "You know me so well."

"Yes, I do." Zak leaned down and kissed me eagerly on the lips.

"And you're okay with taking things slow?" I asked when we came up for air.

"I'm okay with whatever you want."

"Good. Then maybe we should wait to set an actual date. There really isn't any reason to rush into things." I snuggled into Zak's side.

"So are we telling people?" Zak asked as he arranged his arms around me.

"Of course, silly. What's the point of being engaged if you don't tell anyone?"

"Does that mean a formal announcement?" Zak asked hesitantly.

"Well, I wasn't thinking we'd put an announcement in the paper or anything."

"So friends?" Zak gently stroked my hair.

"Of course. Eventually," I added as my heart started to pound. All of a sudden, everything was becoming real, and I was pretty sure I was going to have a panic attack. What in the heck was wrong with me?

"I was thinking," Zak lifted himself onto one arm and looked into my eyes, "that maybe we should wait until we get a ring to tell anyone. I mean, why make an announcement it you don't have a ring to show off?"

I took a deep breath. My heart rate slowed. "A ring? Of course we can't tell anyone until we get a ring." I felt myself relax. "And with the holidays . . ."

"It could be a while until we have a chance to shop," Zak added.

"But we know. You and I. We know, and when we're ready, we'll tell everyone."

"When you're ready, we'll tell everyone." Zak leaned down to kiss me. "Until then, I think we should focus on other things newly engaged couples focus on."

"I like the way you think."

Recipes for Haunted Hamlet.

Apple Pie Biscuits.

Cheesy White Chicken Enchiladas.

Chicken Ruben Ca.s.serole.

Loaded Mashed Potato French Bread.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup Pumpkin Cookies.

Apple Pie Biscuits.

Directions:.

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Spray a 6 x 9 baking dish on all sides with nonstick spray.

Open 1 can large b.u.t.termilk biscuits (I use Pillsbury Grands!) Melt 1 stick ( cup) b.u.t.ter (I melt it in a bowl in the microwave) Combine in a bowl: cup white sugar cup brown sugar 1 tsp. nutmeg 1 tbs. cinnamon Prepare biscuits: Dip each biscuit into b.u.t.ter coating on both sides, then dip each biscuit into sugar mixture, coating on both sides. Place into baking dish.

The topping: Top with one can of apple pie filling.

Combine remaining b.u.t.ter with remaining sugar mixture. Add cup oatmeal and 1 cup chopped pecans. Pour over top of biscuits.

Bake at 375 degrees for 35 minutes.

Drizzle over top when baked: Combine: 1 cup powdered sugar cup heavy cream Serve hot.

Cheesy White Chicken Enchiladas Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Spray 9 x 13 baking dish with nonstick spray.

Mix in a bowl: 3 large chicken b.r.e.a.s.t.s, cooked and cubed 1 cup sour cream 8 oz. diced green chiles (Ortega) Fill 8 medium flour tortillas with chicken filling.

Sauce: In a medium saucepan combine: 1 cube b.u.t.ter, melt over medium heat 4 oz. cream cheese, add to melted b.u.t.ter and stir until smooth 1 cup heavy whipping cream, stir until blended 1 cups grated parmesan, stir in slowly to avoid lumps Pour over tortillas and top with 16 oz. Monterey Jack cheese, grated.

Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 2025 minutes.

Broil for a few minutes to brown.

Chicken Ruben Ca.s.serole Grease 9 x 13 ca.s.serole dish. Place in dish 68 boneless and skinless chicken b.r.e.a.s.t.s (depending on size).

Cover chicken with 16 oz. sauerkraut; squeeze out excess fluid.

Place one slice Swiss cheese over each chicken breast.

Cover with Thousand Island dressing (about 1 cups).

Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes.

Loaded Mashed Potato French Bread 16 oz. loaf of French bread 1 stick b.u.t.ter, melted 3 lbs. russet potatoes cup sour cream 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese 6 strips cooked bacon, crumbled 1 bunch green onions, chopped Preheat the oven broiler.

Hollow out the bread loaf to create a canoelike shape. Brush the inside of the bread loaf with b.u.t.ter and brown under the broiler until barely brown.

Boil and mash the potatoes.

Stir in the rest of the melted b.u.t.ter, sour cream, cheese, bacon, and green onions.

Pour the mashed potatoes into the bread loaf.

Turn the oven to 350 degrees and bake until the bread is golden brown and forms a nice crust.

Serve with grilled chicken or steak.

Tips: The mashed potatoes can be made the day before and heated before pouring into the bread loaf.

You can make individual portions by using hollowed-out Kaiser rolls.

Real packaged bacon bites can be used in place of bacon, or you can use leftover bacon from breakfast.

Cheesy Ham and Potato Soup Combine in stockpot: 4 large potatoes (89 cups), washed, peeled, and cubed 23 large carrots, washed and sliced 1 small onion, finely chopped 4 cups cooked ham, cubed 8 cups chicken broth Bring to boil and cook until potatoes are tender.