It’s been such a busy week with the release of IN SEARCH OF TRUTH, the third book in the Deadly Force series. Now I’m looking forward to weekend. And if it’s warm enough, I may plant some hosta and peony bulbs. 🙂 But before the weekend starts, it’s time for the last installment of Nate and Sarah’s Wedding Breakfast. And this morning they’re finishing up with Ham and Potato Hash.
Nate Walker ~ “For the last few entries, my lovely wife Sarah has been narrating. But since she’s on the phone with the tour guide we’re supposed to meet in less than an hour, I’m taking over. 🙂 It stopped raining almost as quickly as it started and now Sarah is on the balcony, whispering to the tour guide. It’s almost as if she’s hiding her plans from me.
I tried talking Sarah out of her detailed day with the tour guide. After all, we’re on our honeymoon and have this gorgeous hotel room. But she’s a historian who can’t pass a cemetery without exploring it–even if it’s on private property. I knew this about her when I married her and her dedication to her work is one of the things I love most about her.
As if she can hear what I’m thinking, she comes in and frowns at me. I wink and hand her a cup of hot coffee. Then I take the lid off the last silver chafing dish on our breakfast table. An insanely delicious smell wafts out and I know what this is: Ham and Potato Hash.
When she sees the hash, her eyes widen. I smile and serve myself. Then I sit down and start eating. The entire time I eat, I’m watching her. She’s still wearing a white silk robe over her short nightgown and I’m trying to come up with an argument that will keep her in the room with me.
Because I know I’m way more fun than touring old Charleston cemeteries.
“Are you sure we can’t get into the Stranger’s Cemetery at St. Philip’s?” Sarah asks the tour guide.
I can’t hear the guide’s response, but from Sarah’s wrinkled nose I know she’s not happy. I put some hash on her plate and lay it on the table near her chair.
She sinks into her seat and says, “Alright. Thank you.” When she hangs up she says, “You won. The tour guide canceled our tours. Because of all the rain, everything we wanted to do today is flooded. And forget about Fort Sumter. Something about the ferry not running with all this wind.”
As if on cue, a breeze comes through the window rustling the white curtains and blowing her robe just enough so I can see her thigh. I add some more hash to her plate. “I’m sure we can come up with something else to do today.”
She tightens her robe and takes a bite of her hash. At the first taste, she closes her eyes. “This is so good.”
I chuckle. “I know.”
She keeps eating in silence and I reach out to take her free hand. “What’s wrong?”
She shrugs and lays her fork on the plate. “I know it’s silly, but I had a plan. I knew what we were going to do, what we were going to see. Even our nighttime ghost tour was cancelled.”
I put down my fork, wipe my lips, and draw Sarah into my lap. I wrap my arms around her waist and she curls into me. “I’m sorry the rain ruined your plans.”
“No you’re not,” she whispered against my neck.
“Yes I am.” Thunder rolls again and, once again, the clouds darken the room. I tighten my hold. “I know how much you wanted to traipse through old cemeteries and explore old forts and prisons. I know how much you love stuff like that. I know history makes you happy. And your happiness is everything to me.”
She sniffles and snakes her arms around my neck. “I guess we can stay in.”
I kiss her nose. “How about this plan. We stay inside until the rain stops. Then, later this afternoon, I’ll take you on my own private, new husband tour.”
She pulls away slightly to meet my gaze. I know she’s trying not to laugh. “What kinds of things are on this private, new husband tour?”
“There’s a chocolate shop on Society street where we can get sandwiches served with homemade hot chocolate and macarons.”
She tilts her head. “That sounds promising.”
“I also know that the Gateway Walk is open to the public until dusk.” I try to keep the laugher out of my voice. “I’ve heard it’s haunted.”
She smiled. “I’ve heard that too! In fact, I heard this story about Lavinia Fisher, the first–“
I kiss her quickly. “We can walk along the Battery and see where pirates were hanged and visit some churches. We’ll return to the hotel for dinner and go to the Best Friend Lounge for a romantic nightcap. Then, we’ll go up to our room and … sleep.” I say the last word with the widest smile.
Sarah leaves my arms and stands with her hands on her hips. “Okay we’ll go with your plan. Stay here for a few more hours and then you can be my personal–“
“And sexy–“
“And sexy,” she bends over to kiss me, “tour guide.”
“So,” I waggle my eyebrows to make her laugh. “We have a few hours. What do you want to do?”
She licks her lips, plays with the belt of her robe, and sits at the table again. Then she picks up her fork and sends me a sultry smile. “First we’re going to finish the hash.”
Ham & Potato Hash
Ingredients
- 3 Tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper finely chopped
- 2 medium potatoes peeled
- 1 cup finely diced cooked ham
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions
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Slice the potatoes in half. Bring a saucepan of water to a simmer and cook the potatoes for 10 minutes. Rinse the potatoes in cold water and drain. Dice the potatoes to 1/2" pieces. Set aside.
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In a cast-iron skillet, melt the butter over medium heat and add the onion. Cook for 8 minutes and add the bell pepper. Cook for another 4 minutes.
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Stir in the rest of the ingredients and stir and cook until the hash is brown and crusty, about another 15 minutes.
