Chocolate Cream Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen #24)(8)

As Dee Dee began to read the news alert on the TelePrompTer, Hannah reached for the remote control. She turned up the volume on the television to override the noise outside her living room windows and closed her eyes again. She began to doze off, but caught the words “worst storm of the century,” followed a few seconds later by a long list of school closures. Jordan High in Lake Eden was among them, and that meant Michelle wouldn’t have to teach English and drama at their local high school in the morning.

Hannah didn’t bother to turn up the volume again, even though the drum roll of icy snow pelting against her windows was increasing in both speed and volume. A list of winter storm precautions appeared in a scrawl at the bottom of the screen, and the words MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO RETURN TO A PLACE OF SAFETY appeared in bold black type. DRIVE ONLY IN CASE OF EMERGENCY scrolled across the screen, followed by several other common cautions for driving on local roads and highways in hazardous conditions.

The camera switched to Chuck and he quickly put down the glass he was holding. Idly, Hannah wondered if it really was the ginger ale that it appeared to be. Then she reached for the phone, picked it up, and punched in her mother’s number.

Delores answered on the first ring. “Hannah! Where are you?”

“I’m here at home,” Hannah answered, wondering why her mother sounded panic-stricken. “Are you and Doc all right, Mother?”

“We’re fine, dear. We were worried about you. I tried to reach you three times on your cell phone and it kept saying that your phone was out of service.”

Hannah gave a little groan. “Sorry, Mother. That’s my fault. I forgot to recharge it when I got home from church.”

“Well, go plug it in right now while you still have electricity. I’ll wait.”

Hannah grabbed her cell phone, which was on the table by her house phone, and plugged it into the charger cable. “Okay, Mother. It’s charging right now.”

“Good. They’re saying this storm is going to turn into a blizzard, Hannah.”

“I know. I was watching KCOW and that’s why I called you. Have you heard from Michelle and Lonnie?”

“Yes, dear. They’re here right now. I told them to stay here until the storm’s over and not try to drive out to your condo. Doc just got home from the hospital and he says the roads are close to impassable already.”

“That’s the reason I called. Did Michelle and Lonnie agree to stay with you and not try to drive out here?”

“Of course they agreed, dear. Both Doc and I were very firm with them. We’re all going down to the Red Velvet Lounge for dinner, and then we’ll come back up here and enjoy the garden.” There was a pause and Hannah heard her mother sigh. “I wish you could join us, but I don’t want you to drive in weather like this, Hannah.”

“I wouldn’t dream of it, Mother. I’m fine here.”

“But aren’t you lonely?”

Hannah glanced down at the cat who’d just nestled down in her lap. “I’m not lonely with Moishe here. He’s sitting in my lap and purring right now.”

“Oh, good. I’ll let you go then, dear. Will you promise to call me if there’s any problem?”

Hannah couldn’t imagine any problem that would necessitate a call to her mother, but she knew better than to argue. “Of course I will, Mother.”

“And call if you’re lonely. It doesn’t matter what time it is. I’ll be here for you, Hannah.”

To Hannah’s surprise, tears came to her eyes. Her mother was being uncharacteristically empathetic. “Thank you, Mother.”

Once they’d said their goodbyes and Hannah had replaced her phone in the cradle, she reached for a tissue and wiped her eyes. But the moment after she’d dried her eyes, she felt them well up with tears again. She hadn’t felt at all lonely until her mother had mentioned it. And now, even holding her sleeping cat, she began to wish that she was with her mother and Doc and Michelle and Lonnie, enjoying good conversation and good food at the Red Velvet Lounge in their condo building.

Hannah imagined the evening they’d have together. After dinner, they’d go back up to Delores and Doc’s penthouse and sit in the climate-controlled garden under the dome that would protect them from the elements. Hannah’s mother would open a bottle of Perrier Jouet, her favorite champagne, and they’d watch the snow swirl outside. Now that Hannah thought about it, she missed her family dreadfully.

“Nonsense!” Hannah said aloud, startling the cat in her lap. She gave him a scratch under his chin and a rub behind his ears, and soon Moishe was asleep again. The attention had soothed Moishe, comforted him and assured him that everything was okay. And knowing that made Hannah wish she had someone beside her to comfort her.

There was only one cure for feeling lonely and abandoned, and Hannah knew exactly what it was. She would bake. She always felt better when she baked. She’d try out the new cake recipe that Lisa’s Aunt Nancy had given her. If it worked well for her, it would be a great addition to their Valentine catering menu.

The recipe was in the bottom of her purse, neatly folded with Hannah’s inscription “TO TRY.” She read through the ingredients and began to smile. She had everything she needed to bake Aunt Nancy’s Ultimate Strawberry Bundt Cake.

Hannah headed to the kitchen with a smile on her face. The day that Aunt Nancy had given her the recipe, she’d picked up a strawberry cake mix at Florence’s Red Owl Grocery. She had sour cream in her refrigerator and she’d even stopped at Lake Eden Municipal Liquor to buy a bottle of strawberry liqueur. Instant vanilla pudding was no problem. She always had that on hand in case she wanted to make her Fake Orange Julius. And there was a jar of strawberry jam in the refrigerator.