talk to Darcy’s co-workers.”
“Good. No sense in wasting your time talking to the wrong people. What time is dinner, Hannah?”
“At seven-thirty. Michelle and I wanted to give Mother a little time to relax first, but you can come early, Mike,” Hannah said quickly. “We’ll be there.”
Mike gave a little nod to confirm it. “I guess I could drink champagne, but . . . will there be any beer?”
“Cold Spring Export. I picked it up at Florence’s this morning. It’s in Mother’s refrigerator, chilling.”
“Great! That’s my favorite beer, you know!”
“I do know and that’s why I got it.”
Mike reached for a Fudge-Aroon Cookie, finished it off in two big bites, and selected a Cashew Crisp. “You’re really good to me, Hannah. Sometimes I wish you’d taken me up on my proposal. If we were married, I’d always have cookies.”
“Ahh! That must be true love!” Hannah said, somehow managing to keep a straight face.
Mike stared at her for a second, and then he sighed. “All right. I get it. Maybe I should have phrased that a different way?”
“Yes. You could have said that if we were married, you’d always have love in your life.”
Mike considered that for a moment or two, and then he shook his head. “That sounds like a Valentine card. Maybe it’s true, but I wouldn’t say anything like that.”
“Then what would you say if I gave you another chance?”
Mike took a moment and then he smiled. He’d obviously thought of something. “How about this? I could say that if we were married, I’d love you forever.”
Hannah studied his expression. No smile. No smirk. No glimmer of humor in his eyes. Mike was serious and he deserved a serious answer.
“I . . . I don’t know what I’d say to that, but . . . I know I’d be grateful, and happy that you felt that way.”
“And you’d love me forever, too?”
Hannah was silent. What could she say? This was getting too serious and she wanted to go back to their casual bantering before either one of them said something they’d regret later. It was time for a little light-hearted humor.
“If you said you’d love me forever, I’d probably ask you if you’d like another cookie,” she answered, hoping that she could make Mike laugh, or at least stop being so serious.
Mike smiled. “And I’d probably take you up on it since my cookie plate is empty,” he responded.
“Already?” Hannah asked, gazing down at the empty plate in shock. “You inhaled those cookies, Mike!”
“That’s the test of a good cookie. Just give me half as many, Hannah. I don’t want to spoil my dinner.”
* * *
Hannah and Michelle were sitting at their mother’s kitchen table, having yet another cup of coffee. Dinner was in the crockpot, and the table had been set with their mother’s best china and silver. All preparations had been made, and all they had to do now was wait until Norman got back from the airport with their mother.
Hannah had just put on a fresh pot of coffee when the doorbell rang. She turned to look at Michelle and saw that her sister was already up and heading for the door.
“I’ll get it,” Michelle said, hurrying through the doorway. “It’s got to be Mother and Norman.”
Michelle came back into the kitchen. “They’re here,” she announced, stepping aside so that Hannah could see that Delores had someone with her.
“Lynne?” Hannah was shocked to see her friend. “I didn’t realize that you were coming back here with Mother!”
Lynne exchanged conspiratorial glances with Delores. “We wanted to surprise you,” she said.
“But how about the rest of the packing?”
“Robby and Maria are taking care of that,” Delores explained. “There’s not that much left, and they’ll call the moving company when they’re through. Lynne’s things should be here in a week or two.”
“And in the meantime, Delores was kind enough to offer to let me stay in one of her bedrooms, and since I’m staying here . . .” She stopped and turned to Delores.
“Lynne can help us with the investigation,” Delores added.
“I’m glad you’re back, Mother,” Hannah told her, getting up to give her mother a hug.
“Me too, Mother,” Michelle said, following Hannah’s lead.
“And I’m glad to see you, too.” Hannah turned to Lynne and gave her a hug. “Would either of you like coffee?”
“No, thank you,” Delores responded immediately. “I had too many cups on the plane.”
“Thanks, but no,” Lynne said, shaking her head.
“Where’s Doc?” Delores asked, and it was clear that she was eager to see her