Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1)(36)

Hannah filled a cup with regular coffee for Sally Percy, the wife of Andrea’s boss, and glanced at the end of the line again. What she saw made her relax for the first time that day. Her mother was standing in line with Carrie Rhodes, and both women smiled widely when they caught her eye. Hannah knew immediately that Norman had announced their plans to go to the Woodleys’ party together. It was the old case of “I know, you know, and I know you know.”

As the line snaked slowly past her, and Hannah concentrated on exchanging pleasantries with everyone she served, she noticed that Delores and Carrie seemed to be having a slight difference of opinion. They weren’t arguing. It was much too friendly for that. But Hannah heard faint strains of “But I’d like to, really. This is so good for Norman” from Carrie, and “No, she’d never accept it from you” from Delores. Then Carrie’s voice wafted down to Hannah, “I’ll order the corsage. What type of flowers does she like?” And Delores answered, “She adores sunflowers, but those wouldn’t do at all. How about orchids?”

By the time Delores and Carrie had arrived at Hannah’s station by the coffee urns, they were both wearing identical “cat that got into the cream pot” smiles, a very useful phrase that Hannah had picked up while paging through her mother’s Regency romances. Carrie took a cup of herbal tea, Delores selected black coffee, and then Delores leaned close. “We just came from Beau Monde and Claire told us you bought a new dress for the Woodleys’ party.”

“That’s right, Mother.” Hannah wasn’t surprised that her mother knew about her recent purchase. It was almost impossible to keep secrets in a town the size of Lake Eden.

“I’d like to buy it for you, dear. Let’s call it an early birthday present.”

Hannah was surprised. Her mother usually wasn’t this generous. “That’s very nice of you, Mother, but my birthday’s in July and that’s over eight months away.”

“All right then, Christmas. I’m just so pleased that you bought something in the ‘first stare of fashion,’ dear. Claire said it looked divine on you and everyone knows that Claire has exquisite taste. You must let me reimburse you. I insist.”

Hannah stifled a grin, these club meetings always made her mother spout Regency phrases, but she wasn’t about to look a gift horse in the mouth. Delores could afford to be generous. Hannah’s grandfather had invested heavily in the fledgling Minnesota Mining and Manufacturing Company, and over the years 3M stock had split more times than Hannah could count. “Did Claire tell you what I paid for the dress?”

“I asked, but she said that it was just between the two of you. How much was it, dear? I’ll write you a check.”

Hannah sighed as she listened to the hoofbeats of the gift horse gallop off into the sunset. She couldn’t tell her mother what the dress had cost. She’d promised Claire not to mention the price. “I can’t say, Mother. Claire gave it to me at cost and I promised that I wouldn’t tell anyone what I paid.”

“Not even moi?”

“Not even you, Mother.” Hannah had trouble keeping a straight face. Her mother sounded just like Miss Piggy when she referred to herself as moi.

Carrie leaned close to whisper something in Delores’s ear, and her mother began to smile again. “That’s a wonderful idea. You’ll need a new purse and a pair of shoes, Hannah. Why don’t you let me pick up the tab for those?”

“I have a black clutch, Mother. You gave it to me two years ago. And my black heels are perfectly—” Hannah stopped and began to frown as she remembered that her only pair of black dress shoes needed to be resoled. “You hit it on the nose, Mother. I could use a new pair of shoes.”

“Then I’ll buy them for you. Choose Italian, dear. They’re the only ones that last. And make sure you walk around the store at least twice to make sure they don’t pinch. I could go out to the mall with you and help you shop.”

Hannah winced as she remembered the last shopping trip she’d taken with her mother. Delores had wanted her to buy a dress coat instead of her all-purpose parka. “That’s all right, Mother. I know how busy you are. And that reminds me, how’s your tooth?”

“My tooth?” Delores appeared startled, and Hannah bit back a grin. Did her mother think that the news on the gossip grapevine traveled in only one direction? “It’s fine now, dear. Norman’s a marvelous dentist. Did I tell you that I saw Ron LaSalle driving away?”

“No, but Norman did. You didn’t talk to Ron, did you?”

“He was pulling out when I drove up and all I saw was the back of his truck. For all I know, it wasn’t even Ron.” Her mother looked very flustered. “Do you think that I should report it to Bill?”

“Definitely. Bill’s trying to account for Ron’s actions on the morning that he died, and what you saw might help.”

Carrie shivered slightly. “It’s frightening to think that someone we all knew could be shot down in broad daylight on our streets.”

“I know.” Delores sighed. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s Herb Beeseman’s fault. That boy spends all his time writing tickets and he’s never where he’s really needed. If he’d stuffed that citation book in his pocket where it belongs, he might have been there in time to save Ron’s life!”