Heritage Spice

You have heard the phrase "The way to a man's heart is through his stomach." This is more true than you would ever imagine.

When I was six, my Nanna came to live with us. She taught me about my family heritage and the spice Nutmeg we have cultivated for generations.

"Gertie, I will die one day."

"Nanna, NO!"

"Hush dear it is inevitable." Laughing she looks up. "So is that precious pout of yours."

"But Nanna, who will bake your special spice cake if you go?"

"Why you will of course."

"Nanna, why won't Mamma bake the cake?"

"She doesn't have the gift like you do, Gertie."

"I have a gift? Where is it Nanna?"

Pointing at my nose, she answers. "Your nose is your gift."

Confused I looked at her, clearly disappointed. "But, Nanna! Everyone has a nose. How special can that be?"

"More special than you could ever imagine, Gertie. You won't understand for many years. But before I go you will have our recipe."

"We have a recipe Nanna?"

"Indeed we do. But we will talk of this another time. Now is the time to learn about baking. Bring me my bowls and utensils. We can start there."

Nanna and I spent much time together. Mother had to work many hours and father left one day and never came home. That left just the tree of us. Nanna, Mother and me.

Mother never brought another man into our home and no one ever mentioned Father since the time he left.

* * * * *


"Gertie, Have you a beau yet?"

Blushing I answer, "I have several young men that would like more attention from me Nanna."

"How old are you now Gertie?"

"I am seventeen this month."

"Do you fancy a boy in particular?"

"Aye, I do. A most handsome young man named Jacob. He always smells so, so strong."

"Would you spend your life with him?"

"I have thought him best of all my suitors. Mother still seems indifferent to my dating."

"It is time you learned to make our secret spice cake." Nanna gave me a solemn look.

"I thought that was just a tale you told me to keep me interested in baking!"

"No my child, the recipe is real and so is the magic involved in baking our cake." Nanna had become serious.

The baking was part of our heritage. That whole week she taught me about how to extract our nutmeg, how to process it and the sacred prayer to speak as we prepare our ingredients. I had never paid attention to the words as a child. But now its meaning was clear and I could smell the spice as it mixed with the other ingredients. The scent became stronger the more she prayed. It was more like a chant she continued until she put the mix into the cake pan. I don't remember a time when I didn't smell nutmeg in the house.

One day I heard Mother and Nanna arguing. "He left because he had no sense of smell. The spell of the nutmeg faded and he didn't want to stay," Nanna said.

"I never wanted to use the spice to begin with. I wanted him to stay for love's sake. Not for the sake of our spice! I don't want a false relationship for Gertie. It is not fair to her or her suitor."

"Gertie has the gift of smell. She can tell this fellow Jacob is her mate. We are not trapping the lad. We are just pointing him in the right direction. You will see, it will work out fine, Marta."

We cleaned the house all that week and made arrangements for Jacob to call on Sunday for dinner. It was my first time to bake the spice cake and this was my first time to say the sacred prayer over the ingredients. I could smell the intensity of the nutmeg increase, indicating I had done it adequately. Nanna approved of the scent as well. I put the cake in the oven and went to change for dinner.

I had on my prettiest pink dress and sandals. Though Mother wouldn't say otherwise, I knew she didn't want us to serve the spice cake. Nanna heated some nutmeg on the stove in a pot.

This was our way, the ritual of the spice. It permeated the house, our food and our mates. Once we found that special someone we created an olfactory overload that hits their pleasure receptors.

I hoped Jacob could love me for who I am. Nanna assured me he would. The spice cake would just help him realize it sooner. It was our nutmeg that did that. It was magical, Nanna said. I wanted to believe her but where was my Pappa? Where had he gone? Would Mother ever be happy again? I didn't want to be alone like she was.

"We don't know what happened to your father, Gertie." Nanna said. "He could have had an accident and we just don't know."

"Nanna, Mother, Jacob is coming! I see him walking toward the house!" I exclaimed, as I peeked out the front window.

"Momma, could you answer the door? I have to pee."

Nanna laughed and went to the kitchen to finish setting the table.

Mother greeted Jacob with a warm smile and brought him to the living room.

I entered on cue and smiled. "Hello Jacob, thank you for coming to dinner. This is my mother, Marta." Mother nodded.

"Can I offer you something to drink? Lemonade, tea or water?" Mother asked.

"Thank you Ma’am, lemonade please."Jacob replied and looked over to me. "Gee Gertrude, it smells so wonderful in here! What have you been baking?" He was already succumbing to the spice. Momma smiled, I could tell she liked Jacob, she seldom smiled.

"It's a family recipe, Jacob," Mother answered and smiled knowingly. "I will get the beverages, you kids sit and talk." She went into the kitchen.

"You will meet my Nanna. She has been with us for many years." I smiled at Jacob and took a deep breath.

"It is a charming cottage, Gertrude, just like you." He reached and took my hand and kissed it gently.

I felt my face flush at his touch and knew I made the right decision about him. He was sensitive to the nutmeg. That was important. I couldn't have a mate that disliked the scent. It was a part of who I was. It will always be a part of our family.

Jacob smiled and looked around. "We are graduating this year Gertrude. Have you considered what you are going to do afterward?"

He looked at me hopefully. I looked back at him and sat up straight. "I intend to get married and raise a family. I guess you can say I am old-fashioned but that is what I want. What about you, Jacob, what do you want?" I tilted my head and squeezed the hand he had in mine.

"I have an apprenticeship ready for the printing press after graduation and I too am inclined to wed and start a family." He looked down, took a breath and looked at me.
Mother came in with our beverages. "Dinner will be ready in about ten minutes. Why don't you take a walk in the garden Gertie, and show Jacob the property. We'll call you when it is ready."

Holding hands we walked along the stone steps that surrounded and crossed through our family garden. Two areas for vegetables, two area for flowers. The back of the property had the nutmeg trees. We had six trees that had been cultivated by our family for seven generations now. I could feel Jacob relax as we walked and continued our conversation of our future.

"You know I fancy you Gertrude, don't you?"

"Yes Jacob, I fancy you too." I answered softly. He smelled so good. I could tell he was attracted to me. His scent changed as he continued to hold my hand.

"Could we continue seeing each other exclusively this school year?" He asked tentatively.

"I would like that Jacob."

He started to bend forward to kiss me when mother called. "Dinner is ready, kids."

We walked into the house and into the kitchen. Jacob sat me in a chair and grinned wide when he met Nanna.

"Hello Jacob! How good of you to come for dinner. The first of many, I hope." Nanna smiled at Jacob. I knew right then she approved of him.

"Thank you ma'am, it would be an honor to visit your lovely home and to court your lovely granddaughter."

Nanna nodded thoughtfully and served dinner. Summertime harvest yielded lots of fresh veggies and we served a wonderful vegetable casserole, salad and fresh bread.

The conversation over dinner was light and the atmosphere cheerful. Desert was our family spice cake and coffee. This was the true test of my instinct about Jacob. If he eats the cake and enjoys it, we are fated to be together. If he doesn't like it, he will never set foot in our home again. That is how it worked. I was especially nervous because I made the cake myself.

The spice of the nutmeg will bring out his true feelings-that potential. I was nervous. Nanna had just yesterday informed me of this effect. I wanted him to be the one, he smelled right.

We all took bites with our coffee. All feminine eyes were on Jacob. He took a bit of the spice cake and rolled his eyes in amazement. "Ma'am, this is the best cake I have EVER had."

And there it was, our fates were sealed. The magic of the nutmeg worked just as we hoped. The way to a man's heart truly was through the stomach.