EXCERPTS FROM the SILVER SISTERS MYSTERY "A CORPSE IN THE SOUP" A CORPSE IN THE SOUP - BOOK 1 | Page 12

Chili jumped up and down. “Who? Oh my God! Of course I know who he is. Caesar Romano is only the hottest chef in Hollywood. I love his show. In fact, I helped prepare one of his recipes on the ship for the Prince of Liechtenstein. It was so good he practically gave us all medals.” She turned to Goldie. “Hey, Mom! Auntie’s got tickets for a taping of Flirting with Food!” “Really? Be sure to ask her to get that sexy chef’s autograph for you.” “No, no, Mom.” Chili’s eyes bugged out. “She says one of the tickets is for me and—oh, no way! I don’t believe it! She’s got tickets to Gourmet Gladiators too!” Doing a little pirouette, she nearly knocked down a mannequin wearing a vintage, handbeaded flapper dress. Goldie managed to catch the dummy just before it hit a china cabinet. “Gourmet what?” “Gourmet Gladiators, Mom. It’s like the Super Bowl of cooking. They hold it every year at the end of October.” She covered the mouthpiece of the phone. “Mom, I know I just got here, but we can hang out when I get back.” Goldie heard Godiva firing rapid instructions into Chili’s ear. “Besides, Mom, Aunt Godiva says she booked a first-class flight for me on Thursday, her treat. I can’t really back out now. Still...” She laid a gentle hand across Goldie’s forearm. “I know we were supposed to spend some time together.” She bit her lower lip. Goldie glanced at herself in the Art Deco mirror hanging on the wall beside her, surprised to see how annoyed she looked. She gave her daughter’s hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay, Sweetie. This is a great opportunity. If I was able to send you to France to study at Cordon Bleu and watch you sail away on your dad’s cruise ship, I think I can handle a little trip to California.” Goldie tugged on a wayward strand of her daughter’s hair and smiled. Chili squealed a joyous thank you to her aunt and her mother, tossed the handset to Goldie and disappeared out the door. Goldie lifted the phone back to her ear. “Well, Godiva, I