Just desserts

It was time to teach Marilyn' s grumpy husband a lesson¼

Laptop in hand, Marilyn settled herself at the kitchen table and logged into her meeting.

Her tummy growled and the chocolate muffins on the bench beckoned.

Last night, she' d indulged her creative side, coating them with chocolate ganache and adding sugared violets.

Her hand was hovering over them when her phone beeped.

It was her husband. What did Jonathan want? She read his text.

Any chance of coffee and a muffin?

He knew her writing group was meeting. When she' d told him last night, he' d quickly bagged the use of the study for a meeting.

I'm the one with the job,' he' d said, rubbing in the fact that she' d lost hers. Since then he' d been shaming her into doing more than her share of the housework.

The Zoom meeting hadn' t started properly. Everyone was chatting.

She resisted adding salt to Jonathan' s coffee and put the smallest muffin on a plate.

In the study he was sitting at the desk in his best jacket and white shirt, worn with his pyjama pants and slippers. Well, nobody would notice, would they?

Smug Jonathan managed to look professional while feeling comfy and relaxed.

She put the coffee and muffin on the desk. His laptop screen was blank.

My meeting doesn' t start for half an hour,' he said.

So why didn' t you get your own coffee?'

Close the door on your way out,' he said, as he picked up some papers.

Back at the kitchen table with her coffee and muffin, Marilyn focussed on her friends. It was preferable to focussing on Jonathan' s new smugness.

Smiling at the expressions on the other writers' faces, she slowly bit into the rich moist cake, closing her eyes as she did so.

Suddenly everybody stopped talking.

Can I have one of those?' Tess was chairing today' s meeting. I' ve been too busy to bake.'

Self-consciously, Marilyn took another bite.

Cake had always been part of their meetings. Ordinarily the group met in cafés. For the time being, they' d decided to meet online.

Today' s meeting had attracted 15 participants, and all 15 pairs of eyes were on Marilyn as she slowly bit into the chocolate ganache.

Her idea had worked!

I' d kill for one of those muffins,' Tess continued.

I could make you some?' Marilyn suggested, and had to blink in surprise at the response.

One at a time,' she said, finding a notebook. So that' s a dozen for you, Paula? And Lesley, you want gluten-free? No problems.'

Several others spoke up. Yes, I' m happy to deliver them, if you like.'

That afternoon she baked 10 dozen muffins, content with her day' s work. Every penny helped and she' d been offered £30 a dozen.

Jonathan' s face was a picture that evening when she told him that supper was grilled cheese on toast.

Next morning, she made orange and cranberry muffins, with tiny curls of candied orange peel and flowers made from icing.

Photos of yesterday' s muffins on social media had attracted dozens of favourable comments. She took more photos to upload.

She knew Jonathan had another meeting online at 10 o' clock, so she went into the study at 10.30 with an espresso and an elaborately decorated chocolate muffin she' d kept hidden from him.

His eyes widened, but he couldn' t complain. Not on camera. Especially when he realised he' d become the centre of attention.

The resulting orders amounted to 20 dozen muffins, and Marilyn spent the whole week baking and delivering muffins across town.

The house smelt wonderful, except in the evenings when the only cooking aromas were of eggs or grilled cheese.

Friday morning saw her in her blue cashmere jumper, pearl earrings and new Chanel lipstick.

I' ll need the study at nine o' clock,'' she told a surprised Jonathan. I' ve organised a meeting.''

He didn' t seem to hear. Or was he deliberately ignoring what she' d said? It was hard to tell these days.

For today, she' d experimented with a recipe for devil' s food cake the red glacé cherries and double hit of chocolate proving a mouthwatering combination.

I' ll have coffee and some of those,' Jonathan said, as he headed for the shower.

Marilyn carefully arranged the lavishly decorated muffins on her best china plate and walked down the hall to the study.

It was time to take her new business to the next level.

She' d lined up several local business leaders, including Jonathan' s boss, and prepared a presentation about catering for their requirements.

As the meeting got underway, Jonathan walked in carrying his laptop.

What are you doing in here?' he said grumpily. My meeting' s about to start.'

It was hard to take him seriously in his new working attire of best jacket and shirt worn with striped pyjama pants and slippers.

Marilyn had had enough. She looked apologetically at the faces on her screen. Is that you, Jonathan?'

It was his boss speaking. Allow me to introduce you all to my husband,' Marilyn said sweetly, turning her laptop to face him.

Amid the laughter, she said: Your trousers are on the ironing board, dear.'

JonathanÕ s face was a picture that evening when she told him that supper was grilled cheese on toast