Carrot Cake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #10)(52)

When the Jell-O powder is dissolved, combine the pineapple juice with cold water to make 2 cups of liquid. Add this to your saucepan and stir it in.

Refrigerate your saucepan until the Jell-O is partially set. (This should take approximately 45 minutes.)

Put the Jell-O mixture into a bowl and whip it with a whisk or an electric mixer.

Fold in the Cool-Whip.

Fold in the lemon pie filling. (This is the time to make the instant pudding and pie filling and fold it into your Jell-O if you couldn’t find canned pie filling.)

Fold in the drained, crushed pineapple and blend thoroughly.

Spray a 2-quart Jell-O mold, or a standard-sized Bundt pan with Pam or another nonstick spray. You’ll also need a second, much smaller bowl or mold to hold the Jell-O that won’t quite fit in the first mold.

Transfer the Jell-O mixture to your molds and chill it in the refrigerator for at least 12 hours before serving.





Chapter Seventeen


The three sisters worked in silence, helping Hannah assemble the casseroles she was making for tonight’s dinner. Andrea opened cans, Michelle chopped onions, and Hannah fried hamburger, enough for four batches of Wanmansita Casserole.

“To tell you the truth, Hannah, I really don’t know what to do about Ronni Ward, either.” Andrea broke the heavy silence that had fallen over them. “It’s just that I thought a complete makeover might help. I shouldn’t have said that about you being jealous.”

“That’s true. You were dead wrong, you know. The sinking feeling in my stomach and the overwhelming urge to wrap my hands around Ronni Ward’s perfectly shaped throat and squeeze couldn’t possibly be caused by jealousy.”

Both Andrea and Michelle burst into laughter, and Hannah joined in. It was a good moment sandwiched in between all the bad things that had happened lately, and all three wanted to savor it for as long as they could.

When they’d quieted down again, Andrea turned to Hannah. “How about a makeover for you, too? I can run and find Bertie and make an appointment, my treat.”

“No, thanks. I don’t think it would help.” Hannah carried the first casserole to the preheated oven and slipped it inside.

“Okay then. How about going out to Heavenly Bodies at the mall with me?”

“What’s Heavenly Bodies?” Michelle asked.

“It’s a new fitness club. Their motto is, We’ll make you look like a star. That’s because of the name. Do you get it?”

Michelle groaned and gave Hannah one of those I-don’t-believe-she-said-that looks.

“We get it,” Hannah answered Andrea. “You know how I feel about fitness clubs. They’d have to open at three A.M. for me to go there before work. And after work, I’m too tired to go anywhere that requires any effort. It would be a waste of money for me to join.”

“But this one’s different. They give you a key to the outside door and you can come in anytime, day or night, twenty-four seven.”

“They have around-the-clock staff?” Michelle looked interested.

“No, but they’ve got an agreement with the guards at the mall to come in to check every hour.”

“That doesn’t sound very safe to me,” Hannah said. “I wouldn’t want to go there by myself at three in the morning, knowing that dozens of other people had keys and any one of them could unlock the door and walk in on me.”

“I wouldn’t feel safe, either,” Michelle added her opinion. “It would be creepy to go to a gym alone at night.”

Andrea shrugged. “Go during the day, then. You could always go on your lunch hour. Lisa would be happy to handle the coffee shop by herself for an hour or so, especially if she thought it was helping you.”

“That’s another point. I don’t think it would be helping me.” Hannah picked up another casserole and slid it into the oven. “I’ve never been able to stick with an exercise program, and there’s no reason to think it would be different this time. I start out just fine, but after a week or so, I start making excuses for not exercising. And then, before I realize what I’m doing, it’s been over a month since I’ve jogged, or used the treadmill, or whatever I planned to do. Besides…” Hannah paused to carry the remaining casseroles to the oven, and when she came back, she plunked down on the stool at the counter and sighed. “Look, Andrea…it doesn’t really matter how cute the club’s name is or the promises they make. Let’s face reality here. We all know I’m never going to look like a star.”

“Well, you are a star as far as I’m concerned!” Andrea looked very serious.

“With me, too,” Michelle chimed in.

“Thanks,” Hannah said. It was nice to get a vote of confidence from her sisters.

“Let’s not talk about makeovers, or fitness clubs, or Ronni Ward anymore, then. It’s just too depressing.” Andrea reached into the briefcase she was carrying and pulled out an envelope. “Let’s talk about murder instead.”

There was perfect silence for a nanosecond, and then both Hannah and Michelle burst into a volley of laughter. Andrea looked slightly puzzled for a moment, and then she began to smile. “I didn’t realize I made a joke,” she said, handing the envelope to Hannah. “I brought these for you.”