Cinnamon Roll Murder (Hannah Swensen, #15)(29)

“I know, but nothing seems to work for Bev. Every allergy drug she’s tried makes her so groggy and dizzy, she can barely walk across the room. It’s not that she doesn’t want me to see Cuddles. She knows how much I miss her, and she feels really terrible about all this.”

Hannah didn’t believe that for a second. Hannah knew she had cat dander all over her clothes, especially since shedding season for Moishe seemed to be at least eleven and a half months long. Yet the last time Hannah had talked to Doctor Bev at her birthday party in February, Norman’s fiancée hadn’t even sniffled. Perhaps Hannah didn’t have the right to pass judgment when she wasn’t an expert on allergies, but she was almost positive that Doctor Bev’s allergies were fake. She was also almost positive that Doctor Bev had Norman buffaloed into thinking they were real.

“Well,” Hannah said, determined to be cheerful and upbeat. “You don’t have to worry about Cuddles. She’s having a good time with Moishe and you know how well they get along.”

“Oh, I know. They’re best friends. You know ... I miss Moishe, too. I used to love it when you brought him to my place. Remember how they used to sit on the kitty staircase I built, and stare out at the birds in the trees?”

“I remember.”

The only sound in the kitchen was the hum of the motor in the walk-in cooler. Hannah could tell that Norman was lost in his thoughts, and she was lost in hers. She thought about the house they’d designed together. In a way, she regretted even hearing about the Minneapolis paper’s Dream House contest. The idea that Norman would actually build it hadn’t crossed her mind. The house had turned out to be perfect. She’d loved taking Moishe out there and spending time with Norman in the house they’d designed for the contest. But now that Norman was re-engaged to Doctor Bev, everything was different. If she’d been able to see into the future, she might never had agreed to enter the Dream House contest with him in the first place. She’d put countless hours and a lot of hard work into collaborating on the blueprints. It just wasn’t fair that Doctor Bev would be marrying Norman and living in Hannah’s dream house with him.

There was a long silence, and finally Norman spoke. “Those were really good days, weren’t they, Hannah.”

Hannah nodded. She could tell that Norman was depressed, and she decided to change the subject. “So why are you here, Norman?” she asked him.

“I just came to tell you that Bev put the wedding invitations in the mail yesterday. You should get yours today. I know it’s awkward, but I hope you’ll come. Bev doesn’t want a church wedding, so we’re holding the ceremony upstairs in the community center. The reception’s downstairs in the banquet room.”

Hannah tried not to look too dismayed. She’d been hoping that something, anything really, would happen to break up Norman and Doctor Bev, but the chance of that happening was growing slimmer by the day. “When’s the wedding?” she managed to ask, forcing the words past the lump in her throat.

“Two weeks from now, on Saturday. Anyway, I just want to say that I’m still here for you, Hannah. I always will be. And if there’s anything I can do to help you investigate Buddy Neiman’s death, just let me know.”

“Thanks, I’ll do that,” Hannah said, even though she knew she wouldn’t call on Norman unless she absolutely had to. There was no point. And even if she had to call on him, there was the distinct possibility that Doctor Bev wouldn’t let him help her anyway.





“Here’s the autopsy report.” Delores plunked an envelope down on the kitchen counter. “Now where’s Lisa’s new puppy?”

“Sammy should be here any minute. Herb called Lisa to say he was leaving Doctor Bob’s office, and Sammy got a clean bill of health. They won’t have the results of the blood work until tomorrow, but Doctor Bob says there are no signs that there’s anything seriously wrong.”

“That’s good. I picked up a few things for him at the mall.”

“That was nice of you,” Hannah said. And then she turned to look at her mother. Delores was carrying an enormous bag from the pet store. “That looks like more than a few things. What do you have?”

Delores opened the bag and pulled out a fire-engine red quilted dog bed with a detachable pillow. “There are zippers,” she said, pointing them out. All you have to do is pull the foam out, it’s all in one piece, and put the quilted part in the washing machine.”

“That’s a very nice present, Mother.”

“I thought so. I chose red because I know it’s your favorite color.”

Hannah was confused. “But Mother ... Sammy is Lisa’s dog, not mine.”

“I know that. Bu Lisa told me that little Sammy is going to be spending a lot of time here at The Cookie Jar. And he might as well have a bed that’s your favorite color, don’t you think?”

“I think ... why not?” Hannah gave a little laugh. “Thank you from Sammy, Lisa, and me.”

“Oh, that’s not all. I bought some toys, too.” Delores reached into the bag and pulled out a plush duck. “If Sammy bites down on its stomach, it quacks.”

“That’s cute,” Hannah said, taking the duck and squeezing it around the middle. It made a series of quacking noises that sounded so realistic that Lisa came rushing into the kitchen. “What’s ... oh. It’s a toy! Let me see it.”