Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder (Hannah Swensen #1)(90)

Hannah raced back into the house and headed straight for the kitchen. There it was: her white bakery bag with the red plastic handles and “The Cookie Jar” printed on the side in gold letters. She snatched it up and ran back outside again.

“These are for you.” Hannah was breathless as she handed the bag to Bill. “They’re my best cookies, Pecan Chews.”

Bill looked both surprised and pleased. “Thanks, Hannah. Why did you leave them inside?”

“I used them as an excuse to see Judith.” Hannah laughed and the echo of her own laughter sounded wonderful to her ears. “I gave them to her as a hostess gift, but I don’t think she’s going to be doing much entertaining where she’s going to end up.”





Epilogue




It wasn’t bad as family parties went and Hannah was pleasantly surprised. Norman had gone out to the sheriff’s department open house and he’d offered to help Bill move Mike Kingston into his new apartment. Naturally, Bill had asked him to come back to the house for pizza with them and now they were all sitting around Andrea and Bill’s dining room table, munching pizza, the salad Delores had brought, and Hannah’s contribution, two pans of her Lovely Lemon Bar Cookies. She’d told everyone she thought it was appropriate to bring bars because Judith Woodley was behind them at last.

Something else had happened that made this night into a celebration. Sheriff Grant had promoted Bill to detective and he’d decided that Bill should be Mike’s partner. Mike was still Bill’s supervisor, but they would be working together on cases. Of course Sheriff Grant didn’t know anything about Hannah’s part in solving the double-homicide, and neither did Mike. Hannah had told Bill that she wanted all of the credit to go to him.

There was another thing to celebrate and it concerned Andrea’s career. Bill had decided that since Tracey loved preschool so much, it would be a shame to take her away from the friends she’d made. And since Tracey would be spending her days at Kiddie Korner, Andrea could keep right on selling real estate.

“Time for bed, Tracey.” Andrea sounded relaxed and happy as she turned to her daughter. “You’ve got school tomorrow.”

“Okay, Mommy. I can take the detective bear that Mike gave me, can’t I?”

“Sure, you can,” Bill answered her.

“But it’s a collectible,” Delores objected. “What if one of Tracey’s friends gets it dirty?”

Mike shrugged. “Then it’ll get dirty. Let her take it, Andrea. It’s not much of a present for Tracey if she can’t play with it.”

“You’re right.” Andrea smiled at him and then she turned to Tracey. “You can take it, honey. It’s okay.”

Hannah watched the exchange and it made her feel good. Perhaps Andrea was becoming a little less materialistic. She certainly was becoming more maternal. Tracey had called her “Mommy,” and Andrea hadn’t objected to the label.

After Tracey had kissed everyone good night and left to go upstairs with Andrea, Delores motioned to Hannah. “Could you help me dress another salad, dear? We’re running out.”

“Sure.” Hannah followed Delores into the kitchen, but the moment they were out of earshot, she took her mother’s arm. “Spill it, Mother.”

“Spill what, dear?”

“The reason you wanted to get me alone. We weren’t running out of salad. The bowl was half full.”

“You always were the smart one.” Delores laughed. “I just wanted to know how you felt with two men competing for you.”

Hannah reared back on her heels and gave her mother a look that would wither baby grapes on the vine. “Are you crazy, Mother? Norman isn’t interested in me that way. We’re friends, but that’s as far as it goes. And Mike Kingston certainly isn’t. He’s just being polite to his new partner’s sister-in-law.”

“I don’t think so.” Delores didn’t seem at all swayed by that argument. “Norman told Carrie that you’re the first girl he’s felt comfortable with in years.”

“That’s nice, but it doesn’t spell romance. Norman’s just as comfortable around Andrea. As a matter of fact, I think he’s even more comfortable around her. They were huddled together in the living room for a long time, discussing what color Andrea should choose for her new carpet.”

“But Andrea’s married,” Delores pointed out, “and you’re not.”

Hannah couldn’t resist teasing her mother. “That’s true. Do you think that Norman would feel even more comfortable around me if I got married?”

“That’s not what I mean and you know it!” Delores sounded as outraged as she could, given the fact she had to keep her voice down.

“Sorry, Mother. It’s just that you’re always trying to push me into marriage. I’ve told you before, I’m perfectly happy being single.”

“That’ll change when you meet the right man.” Delores seemed very certain. “I think you’ve already met him and you just haven’t realized it yet. Norman’s a very good catch.”

“You make him sound like a trout.”

“It fits, dear.” Delores looked highly amused. “Norman’s swallowed the bait. Now all you have to do is reel him in.”