Waxing Moon (The Candlemaking Mysteries Book 5) Read online

  "You'd better believe it."

  I took a deep breath. "At first I thought it could have been the bride. She had a bandage on one finger, and I thought she might have burned herself melting the wax. Then I realized that she had nowhere to hide the money and receipts. Did you see how small her purse was, or how that dress clung to every curve? She wasn't hiding anything. Then I talked to her father, but frankly, I didn't think he had the intelligence or the nerve to pull it off. I knew the maid of honor was nervous about something, but as soon as she confessed to dropping that plate, she was fine. That left David, the bride's brother."

  "Sweet David? I can hardly believe it. What gave him away?"

  "There were a couple of things. He was obviously too broke to get a haircut for his own sister's wedding, but then outside he suddenly offered to pay for a taxi for his father. The real giveaway was when I looked at his shoes, though. When David melted the wax, a big blob must have hit one shoe. He managed to scrape it off, but there was enough residue left behind so that the polish wouldn't touch it. That's when I knew it had to be him, and as soon as I confronted him, he broke down and confessed. David felt so guilty that he couldn't afford a present for his sister that he decided to rob you. He said he'd come by tomorrow after the wedding to apologize himself and thank you in person for not turning him over to the authorities. He swore to me that this was a one time deal, and I think he's telling the truth."

  "Harrison, I don't know how to thank you. I can't believe you came up with the solution."

  "Well, I had an advantage. After all, when it comes to candles, it's hard to fool a candlemaker."

  Candlemaking Tips for Twisting Dipped Candles

  Dipping candles is great fun, and once you've mastered the basic technique, there are lots of variations to experiment with. After your melted wax reaches the proper temperature, the layers build up on your wick at a satisfying pace. You can add scents and dyes to your wax, too, yielding endless combinations.

  One of my favorite things to do with a freshly dipped candle is to twist it. The wax needs to be warm and flexible for this technique, so it works best on a brand-new candle. If you can't wait to dip an entire candle, take one you've already dipped and dunk it into melted wax eight or ten times to warm it throughout. This process is called overdipping.

  Take the warm candle and place it on a hard surface like the back of a cutting board. Use a rolling pin or any round piece of wood to flatten the middle part of the candle. You need to press firmly here to get the wax flat enough for a pretty twist, a little under half an inch thick after it's rolled out. Working quickly, pick the candle up, grasp the top edge of the flat section with one hand and the bottom of the flattened area with the other. Then gently twist the candle until you've got a shape you like. Gently knead the wax as you twist it, keeping it smooth and even all along the spiral.

  After you've got a shape you're happy with, check to be sure the candle's base will still fit in a holder, then look to be sure the candle is straight. Set the candle aside until it cools, and then light it! Twisted candles give off a good light, in spite of their flat centers.

  Have fun, and don't be afraid to experiment.

  Happy candlemaking!