Chocolate Cream Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen #24)(25)

“What are these cookies?” Lisa pointed to a row of cookies in the middle of the box.

“We’re calling them Chocolate Mint Cookies. Grab a cup of coffee and try one. I want to find out what you think of them.”

Lisa got up and headed for the coffeepot. In less than a minute, she was back with her coffee.

“Go ahead,” Hannah invited. “I already had one when we baked them, but I think I’ll have another.”

“They smell nice and minty,” Lisa remarked, choosing a cookie from the box and taking a bite. “Mmmm!”

“That sounds like you approve.”

Lisa nodded and took a sip of coffee. “I love the combination of chocolate and mint. They’re wonderful, Hannah!”

“Thank you. Do you think we should offer them on our takeout list of cookies for Valentine’s Day?”

“Yes, but only after you let people sample them today. You know everyone who comes in likes to critique our cookies. And not just because they get a free cookie. I think our customers really like it when we ask for their opinion.”

“I’ll bake more this morning and we can test them out on the customers today. How about your Pink Grapefruit Cake and the White Chocolate Brownies?”

“We can test those, too. I brought in the rest of the Pink Grapefruit Cake and the brownies. You test those and if you like them, I’ll bake the cake when I take my lunch break.”

“But then you won’t get lunch.”

“Yes, I will. I can order a hamburger and fries from Rose at the café and run down to get it while the cake is baking. And after I eat, I can bake the brownies.”

There was a knock at the back door and Hannah got up from her stool. “It’s Mother,” she told Lisa. “I’ll go let her in.”

“Four knocks in rapid succession, polite, but insistent,” Lisa said. “I can recognize her knock now, but I still have problems with Norman’s knock.”

“That’s because he changes it deliberately. He likes to try to fool me, but I’m right more often than I’m wrong.”

“Oh, good! You’re in this morning!” Delores greeted Hannah the moment she opened the door. Then she stepped in, wiped her boots on the rug Hannah kept by the door in the winter, stepped out of her boots and replaced them with slippers, and handed Hannah her parka to hang from a hook just inside the door. “How are you, dear?”

“I’m fine. Lisa and I were just having coffee. Would you like to join us?”

“That would be lovely.” Delores followed Hannah to the work station, took a stool next to Lisa, and noticed the box of cookies. “What are these? They look divine!”

“They’re Chocolate Mint Cookies,” Hannah told her.

“I haven’t had these before, have I?”

Hannah shook her head. “No, Michelle and I came up with the recipe and we baked them yesterday, just in time to invite Earl for coffee and cookies before he plowed us out. Try one, Mother. I’d like to know what you think of them.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice,” Delores said with a laugh, reaching for a cookie and taking a bite, “I absolutely love the combination of chocolate and mint. These are fabulous, dear! You’re going to serve them here, aren’t you?”

“Yes,” Lisa answered, reaching for another cookie. “Our customers are going to love them.”

Delores turned to Hannah. “What did you think of the mayor’s news, Hannah?”

“It’s exciting. They’re going to do the interviews with the movie people right here at The Cookie Jar. It’ll be fun to see some of the movie people again, and they’re even going to interview some of the locals who were in Crisis in Cherrywood.”

“Will they interview Tracey?” Delores asked.

“I think so. She had a big role in the movie.”

“How about you, Hannah?” Lisa wanted to know.

“I doubt it. My part wasn’t that big. I’m hoping that Lynne and Tom will fly in for the festival. It would be good to see them again.”

“Stephanie Bascomb told me that she’s keeping a list of the people who are coming in for the festival,” Delores told them. “I’ll ask her if Lynne and Tom are on it.”

“Thanks, Mother. I really would like to know. I tried calling Lynne last night to ask her if she was coming, but she wasn’t home.”

“Stephanie’s coming over this afternoon for coffee. She invited herself and of course I agreed. You should drop by, Hannah. I’ll ask her to bring the list with her.”

“I would, but it’s our first day back and . . .”

“Go ahead, Hannah,” Lisa interrupted the excuse that Hannah was about to give. “Aunt Nancy will be here, and Marge and Dad are coming, too. We can handle things here.”

“Wonderful!” Delores said quickly. “Hannah can help me think of something to serve. Stephanie loves appetizers, and I hate to serve crackers and cheese every time she comes for coffee.”

Hannah knew when she was beaten and she put on a smile for her mother’s benefit. There were usually strings attached to her mother’s invitations and she should have expected it. “I’ll bring some cookies and if Florence has grapes, I’ll make frozen grapes.”