her head. “No, she’s moving. Chuck told me that she met some high-powered lawyer at a conference in Minneapolis, got engaged a couple of weeks later, and married him two weeks ago. She’s moving to New York with him next week, and she told Chuck that her new husband doesn’t want her to work. She didn’t even bother to give notice. She just told everyone at the station that she was leaving and that was that.”
Hannah was shocked. “You mean . . . she just quit with no notice or anything? And she left the rest of the news team in the lurch?”
“That’s right. Believe me, Chuck wasn’t happy about that! He told me he’s been anchoring the news by himself for a week now while the producer looks for a replacement.”
Hannah began to smile. “And you’re Dee-Dee’s replacement. Good for you, Lynne!”
“I’m really happy about it. The hours are fine and now that I have good transportation, I’m starting on Monday.”
“That’s wonderful!” Hannah was pleased for her friend. “You’re really something, Lynne. You’ve been here less than twenty-four hours and you already have a place to live, a car, and a new career.”
Lynne took a sip of her coffee and began to smile. “You’re right. The only thing I’m missing is a cookie.”
“Oh, no!” Hannah was thoroughly chagrined. “I’m sorry, Lynne. I was going to fill a plate with cookies and I got so excited for you, I forgot.”
“That’s okay. I was just teasing. But I really would like a cookie. What fantastic cookies do you have to celebrate my new job?”
“I know just the thing!” Hannah jumped up and headed for the baker’s rack. “I just made these Snowflake and Ice Cookies. I haven’t even tried them yet.”
“Then we’ll try them together,” Lynne said, as Hannah filled a plate with her newest cookie.
“Not without me, you won’t,” Norman said, coming in from the coffee shop, just in time to hear Lynne’s comment. “Those sound like interesting cookies.”
“I’ll get Norman a cup of coffee,” Lynne offered, “and we will all try them.”
Once Hannah set the cookie plate in front of them and they’d all tasted them and pronounced them excellent, Norman turned to Hannah.
“Lonnie’s coming in with the cartons of things from your bedroom at the condo,” he told her. “Do you want me to text him and tell him to take them to your mother’s place?”
Hannah thought about that for a moment, and then she shook her head. “I don’t want to store them there. I think it would be better if I got a storage unit. That way I could go through the boxes whenever I had any free time and decide which things I wanted to keep.”
“I have some room in my garage,” Norman offered.
Again, Hannah shook her head. “You’re already storing all Ross’s old film and video equipment. I’d rather take my things to that storage place out by the community college.”
“Whatever you want,” Norman agreed. “I’ve got a trailer hitch on my car and we can take them out there whenever you like.”
Hannah glanced at the clock on the kitchen wall. “I can go at noon if that’s okay with you. I’ve got Lisa, Aunt Nancy, Marge, and Andrea handling the coffee shop for the noon rush.”
“That’s fine with me,” Norman agreed. “I’ll give Lonnie a call and see if that’s okay with him.”
Norman got up and moved away so that they could talk while he called Lonnie.
“Norman’s so considerate,” Lynne commented.
“Yes, he is. That’s one of the things I like best about him. Norman’s a real gentleman and he always considers other people’s feelings.”
“Yes, especially yours. I’ve noticed that.”
Lynne looked a bit concerned and Hannah wasn’t sure why. “You look a little worried,” she said. “Tell me why.”
“Well . . . I really should offer to help you and Norman unload your things, but I arranged to meet your mother for lunch at Red Velvet Lounge at noon. If you need me, I can call and cancel.”
“All set with Lonnie,” Norman said, coming back to the work station just in time to hear Lynne’s comment. “You don’t have to cancel, Lynne. Lonnie told me that there’s not that much, and Hannah and I can handle it.”
“Whatever you say,” Lynne said, and Hannah noticed that she looked relieved.
“Are you prepping for your tea with Stephanie Bascomb?” Hannah guessed.
“Actually, yes. When I told your mother that I was willing to pay rent if Stephanie would let me into the condo early, your mother told me