coming down the hallway.”
Hannah was glad that her mother’s dining room table and chairs were higher than hers at the condo, even Mike, who was taller than anyone there, had no problem tucking his feet up. She’d barely lifted her legs up to the second rung of the chair when the cats whizzed around the corner, claws skidding on the polished wooden floor, and raced into the dining room.
“Whoa!” Norman said, but of course it did no good. Cuddles was in the lead and she wasn’t paying any attention to anyone except Moishe, who was chasing her.
“Stop it, Cuddles!” Norman said in an effort to gain control. But Cuddles simply made a land speed record lap around the dining room table and jumped up, landing squarely in Norman’s lap.
“Oof!” Norman gasped, as his pet landed heavily.
And then, a split second later, it was Delores’s turn to gasp as Moishe landed in her lap. “Moishe! Really!” Delores said, but there was a smile on her face. “I think he really missed me!”
Hannah couldn’t keep the smile off her face. Moishe had just won all the points in the game of making Delores adore him.
“Well, that was interesting,” Doc said, addressing Norman and Delores. “Do either of you need medical attention?”
“I’m fine, dear,” Delores told him, despite the fact she was still a bit out of breath from the unexpected onslaught.
“Me too,” Norman concurred. “Cuddles settled right down and now she’s purring.”
Hannah glanced down at the cat in her mother’s lap. “So is Moishe. As a matter of fact, I think he’s so comfortable, he’s fallen asleep.”
“It was probably Moishe’s idea,” Norman said, smiling at Delores. “He missed you and Hannah so much, he convinced Cuddles to invade our dinner party.”
Hannah laughed. “You’re probably right. Either that, or Moishe is thanking Mother for the ladybugs.”
“I bought those!” Michelle protested. “I made a special trip to the garden center to get them.”
“And Moishe and I thank you, dear,” Delores said, smiling at her.
“I’ll pour the wine,” Norman offered, reaching for the opener that Hannah had placed on the table and opening both bottles of wine. “Who wants red?” He looked around the table. Lonnie and Doc passed their glasses to Norman. He filled their glasses and passed them back. “How about white?”
“While Norman does that, I’ll serve,” Hannah said, reaching for the bowl with the rice. “This is Tracey’s favorite rice. She calls it Mushy Roomy Room Rice. Will you pass the plates, Mother?”
Delores shook her head. “No, dear. I don’t want to disturb Moishe.”
“You’re going to have to disturb him eventually.” Doc looked down at Hannah’s sleeping cat and frowned. “You just got home, Lori, and I’ll be darned if I’ll share our bed with Moishe tonight!”
Hannah laughed. “No problem, Doc. Moishe always sleeps in my bed with me.”
“I’ve noticed,” Mike said, giving a mournful sigh.
“So have I,” Norman said, looking equally mournful.
That did it for Delores. She started to laugh so hard that she dislodged Moishe, who made a beeline for the garden under the dome. Cuddles saw him run and wasted no time in giving chase. In the space of a second or two, both cats were gone and everyone at the table, including Hannah, was laughing uproariously.
“I’ll do the rice,” Norman said, taking the bowl from Hannah’s hands and motioning for Delores to pass her plate.
“And I’ll dish up the Lemon Glazed Chicken Breasts,” Michelle offered. “Just pass the plates with the rice and I’ll do my part.”
“What shall I do?” Hannah asked.
“Sit there and drink champagne with your mother and me,” Lynne told her. “You’ve worked enough for one day.”
* * *
“I don’t know about you, but I’m absolutely stuffed,” Delores declared, leaning back in her chair and smiling. “That was incredibly good chicken, dear.”
“Thank you.” Hannah accepted the compliment the way Delores had taught her, simply and sincerely.
“And the rice was perfect with it,” Andrea commented.
“It’s my rice, Mom,” Tracey said proudly. “Aunt Hannah named it after me.”
“That’s right, honey,” Hannah smiled at her oldest niece.
“Do I have a rice?” Bethie asked, looking slightly worried as she asked her aunt the question.
“Not tonight. Tonight you get to name the dessert.”
“I do?” Bethie’s smile was rapturous. “What is it, Antanna?”
“Some people call it a cake and some people call it a pudding. It has your favorite oranges in it, Bethie.”
Bethie considered that for a moment, and then she nodded. “I thought of a name, Antanna.”
“What is it?” Andrea asked her.
“It’s Orange Pake.”
Tracey looked slightly puzzled. “But, Bethie .