Page 67 of From the Edge

Rowan snorted and kept working. Once the rubs were set up, she put them into clamp jars and labelled them. She lined them up on the counter, put a pot on the stove, added ingredients, aromatic sauces, and started the pot simmering.

Regis looked into the mess in the pot. “What is that?”

“Barbeque sauce. It begins the journey here.”

She laughed. “I always wondered how that kind of thing happened. I just open a bottle.”

“All that fussy pastry and you just open a bottle? Well, we know where your patience runs out.”

Regis grinned. “I have to pick my battles.”

Rowan smiled. “For my next trick, I am going to make some ketchup from scratch and then mustard. I have jars of relish put aside, and the mayo will be made tomorrow.”

Mell blinked. “You know how to make all that stuff?”

“Grandma is older than most of those recipes. She taught me, and I started making the stuff when I was little and selling the condiments to fancy restaurants.”

Eleanor smiled. “We lived too far off a main route for a lemonade stand. We got a family friend to help her set up with inspected premises. She worked on her recipe until she got it just right, and then she went commercial.”

Regis paused. “How commercial?”

Rowan smiled. “Does Kiss my Ash barbeque sauce ring a bell?”

Ted and Lucia froze and looked at her. Ted said, “Our family buys that stuff by the barrel.”

Rowan chuckled. “Good. They eat a lot, and they talk a lot. All good for business.”

Lucia chuckled.

“Eudora makes an amazing steak sauce. You should get together.” Regis smiled.

“Will she be here for the party?”

Regis grinned and tapped at her phone. “Yes. As will the pixies and the ladies they are pursuing.”

Rowan smiled. “I have met a few when I was younger.”

Regis blinked. “Right, because of your grandfather. Oh, there is another oldy. Dr. Aquilar. I am going to invite him as well and his mate and his son and his pack.”

Rowan grinned. “And this is why I am planning for a minimum of one hundred and twenty people.”

“Do you need rental tables or anything?”

“Nope. Buffets are set up in the large dining room. The wide doors to the back patio will be open so folks can wander in and out.” Rowan paused. “I am weak on beverages.”

Regis nodded. “We’ve got that. We are also bringing chairs and folding tables. The setup will happen Friday morning.”

“I can do the setup. I just need the stuff here.”

Regis nodded. “Nice. We will bring beverages and ice and treats. You have plates and cutlery?”

“Yup. All pressed leaves. Sounds weird but burns easy and doesn’t flavour the food.”

Mell chuckled. “She hates dishes. It takes some getting used to, but the plates are sturdy, and the wooden knives cut, not that you need a cutting blade; it will be fall-apart when she’s done. Rowan, will you make your special potato salad?”

“Fine, but you are peeling the eggs and the potatoes.”

“Deal.”