Jean bought an old cookbook from a charity shop. Its previous owner had written notes beside the recipes.
At first, they were about cooking times. Later, they were about her husband, Alan.
Jean read the whole book without making a meal.
The next morning, she returned to the shop and asked whether the same woman had donated anything else….
The cookbook cost Jean two pounds.
She chose it because it contained a clear photograph of a chicken pie and no ingredients that required a separate shopping trip.
At home, she opened it at the pie.
Someone had written ten minutes longer beside the recipe. Beneath that, in a different pen, was a second note.
Alan says too much pastry. Alan had thirds.
Jean laughed and turned the page.
The roast-potato recipe carried a small correction to the oven temperature. Then came another note.
Alan’s mother did them differently. Alan’s mother is welcome to do them on Sunday.
Jean made tea.
Her husband, Paul, asked whether she’d found anything for dinner.
Not yet. There’s a development in the potatoes.
He looked at the photograph.
They look ordinary to me.
Jean moved on to soups. Alan had suggested less pepper, more cream and serving it in bowls his mother had given them.
The owner had crossed out the entire final suggestion.
By the pudding section, the handwriting had become larger.
Alan says this is very rich. So is his opinion of himself.
Jean read that to Paul.
He said it sounded like a good pudding.
She turned another page. A recipe for two had been changed to one. Then changed back to two.
Jean sat up.
Paul asked whether they were eating soon.
I need to know what happened at Christmas.
We had your sister here.
Not our Christmas.
The turkey page was splashed with gravy. Alan’s name appeared three times, but Jean couldn’t read the middle sentence.
She held the book near the lamp.
Paul put a pizza in the oven.
At the back, the last note said never again. It might have referred to the fruitcake. Jean wasn’t prepared to assume that.
On Friday, she returned to the charity shop.
The assistant asked whether the book had a problem.
No, it’s excellent. Did the same lady bring in any other books?
There was a gardening one. I can look.
Please do.
The assistant found it beneath the counter. Handwritten notes ran down several pages.
More recipes? she asked.
Jean took out her purse.
No. I need to know if she kept Alan.
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