Chapter 1
Hayley stared numbly at the inscription that had been scribbled inside her book cover only moments before.
She couldnt believe what she was reading.
To Hayley, one of my inspirations! Keep writing and cooking! All the best, Penelope Janice .
Inspiration?
Penelope Janice was Hayleys idol. A cooking and lifestyle expert with her own top-rated TV show on the Flavor Network. When Hayley heard the famous part-time summer resident of Mount Desert Island was going to make an appearance at Shermans Bookstore in Bar Harbor midweek before the long Fourth of July weekend, she was filled with excitement. Hayley owned all of Penelopes cookbooks in hardcover, and they lined the bookshelf in her living room. Cowboys and Turbans , Penelopes mouthwatering exploration of Mexican-Indian fusion recipes, was a personal favorite. She had met her idol in person a few times in passing at Penelopes famous Fourth of July barbecues she held every year at her palatial Seal Harbor estate for all the local residents, but Hayley had never worked up the nerve to bring one of her cookbooks and personally ask her for an autograph.
Since it was practically a holiday week, Hayleys boss Sal Morretti, editor in chief at the Island Times newspaper, was amenable to her leaving early on a Wednesday in order to get in line for Mrs. Janices book signing.
By six oclock when Penelope was scheduled to arrive, the line had already wrapped around the aisles of the store, out the door, and down Main Street, nearly stretching all the way to the Bar Harbor Banking and Trust building blocks away. But thanks to Hayleys careful planning, she was only tenth in line to get her newly purchased hardcover signed.
This latest release, Making Magic out of Leftovers was the perfect title to add to her collection, especially now that Hayleys two kids, Gemma and Dustin, were out of the house and living on their own. She suddenly found her refrigerator stocked with leftovers in Tupper ware containers. She was used to cooking for a family of three for so many years. Four, if you counted the years her ex-husband Danny was in the picture. But for the record, that period of her life she would just as soon forget.
Hayley chatted with a few locals in line with her while waiting for the official start of the book signing, including Martha Hickenlooper, a culinary fan in her own right who had moved back to the island after years working as a chef in Atlanta and gaining fame in some circles for designing meal plans for Delta Airlines.
Martha also considered Penelope Janice a hero.
Have you read this latest book? she asked Hayley, breathlessly.
No, Hayley said, I just bought it today. Im going to curl up on my couch between all the barbecues and fireworks this weekend and tear my way through it!
Its genius! Penelope has no peer when it comes to creating gourmet recipes youd expect at a five-star restaurantand out of the simplest ingredients you can find in your cupboard any day of the week! I mean, the woman is brilliant. I had some leftover cheeses and a few roasted potatoes on hand, and within minutes I had a heavenly casserole like none Ive ever tasted! Im telling you, she is
Martha stopped mid-sentence, her jaw dropped, and her eyes grew wide as her attention was drawn to something happening outside the store window.
Hayley turned to see a maroon Chevrolet SS sedan pull up in front of the store, and a petite, fiery redhead in Dolce & Gabbana sunglasses, a bright pink blouse, and white capri pants jump out. The fans outside the store burst into spontaneous applause, and although she made several modest gestures begging them to stop, Penelope Janice clearly loved soaking up all of the adoration.
Donna, a heavyset Shermans Bookstore employee, who was known for wearing thick wool sweaters even in the dog days of summer because she was cold all the time, flew out the door to greet the VIP guest, and then ushered her inside the store with all the fanfare she could muster.
Hello, everyone, Im so glad you could make it! Penelope cooed as the doting fans inside the store followed the leads of the less fortunate ones still standing outside and enthusiastically broke into more applause.
She looks even prettier in person! Martha gushed, clapping her hands so hard her palms started turning red.
Donna whisked Penelope down the aisle to the back of the store where her table, pens, and stacks of books awaited.
After a few minutes of glad-handing all of the Shermans Bookstore staff, Penelope plopped down in her leather chair that had been wheeled out from the back office just for this special occasion. She waved over the first person in line to get her book personally autographed.
Hayley had secretly hoped that she might get the chance to have a brief chat with Penelope while having her book signed, mostly because she wanted to tell her just how much she enjoyed her books and TV show, but gatekeeper Donna kept the chatter between the author and her devoted readers to a minimum by shooing them away the second Penelope handed their book back to them with a bright smile.
It took less than five minutes before Hayley found herself standing before her culinary idol. She clutched her copy of Making Magic out of Leftovers to her chest and stared at the attractive woman with the Lucille Ball hair color.
Hayley was at a complete loss for wordsa rare occurrence, by the way.
Would you like me to sign your book? Penelope asked politely, as Hayley noticed her lipstick matched her hair perfectly.
Martha had to nudge Hayley in order to snap her out of her trance.
Oh, yes, sorry, Hayley laughed, shaking her head. Just make it out to Hayley. Thats Hayley with a Y. I mean, in the middle, everyone knows Hayley has a Y at the end. Although I did go to summer camp when I was a kid with a girl who spelled it with two Es at the end. H-A-I-L-E-E. But thats rare
Could you please just hand her your book, Hayley, so she can sign it? Donna barked, quickly losing patience.
Gosh, Im just a bundle of nerves. I guess I never thought I would ever meet you in person, Hayley said.
She handed Penelope the book and watched her start to write her name on the title page inside the front cover, but then she stopped and looked up at Hayley.
Hayley... as in Hayley Powell?
Yes, thats right, Hayley said, incredulous.
How could this woman possibly know who she was?
As in Hayley Powell, who writes the Island Food & Spirits column I read every week in the local paper?
Yes, Hayley said.
Im such a huge fan! Penelope yelped.
Martha dropped her book on the floor in shock.
You know my column? Hayley asked, her mouth agape.
Of course I do! You forget I live here during the summer. I like to keep up with all the local news. I stumbled across you a few years ago, and I have to say, Ive been hooked on your column ever since. I also must confess, Ive lifted a few of your recipe ideas for my show, but please dont sue me!
