Cream Puff Murder (Hannah Swensen, #11)(38)

“Put a period to Ronni’s existence,” Delores interrupted to finish the sentence for her in Regency romance phrasing.

“Anybody who might have wanted her dead for any reason. If you hear something that’s not about…uh…”

“Sex, dear. Say sex. It’s the word you want. Let’s not equivocate here.”

“Okay, Mother. If you hear something that’s not about sex, that might be important, too.”

“What’s not about sex?”

“Mother!”

“I’m sorry, dear, but you’re beating around the bush. Say what you mean. And before we go any further, I have to tell you something I heard from a very good source.”

“What’s that, Mother?”

“Mike. I heard that he was involved with Ronni. He’s a bounder, dear. He’s always going to have a roving eye. I know he’s handsome, and I know he’s appealing, but he’s never going to be true to you. Norman will. He’s a much better bet for a husband.”

Hannah just blinked. Delores had never been so frank with her before, and she wasn’t quite sure what to say.

“I realize that I’m overstepping my bounds here,” her mother went on. “I do it all the time, and I can’t seem to stop, especially with you. I used to be able to control it much better when I had a love life of my own, but now that Winthrop’s gone, there’s no one to diffuse my concern. And…I think I may have a control issue.”

Hannah’s mind went on red alert. A control issue? Overstepping her bounds? That wasn’t her mother’s usual terminology. Either she was seeking professional psychiatric help, or…“Are you listening to Doctor Love on KCOW talk radio?”

“Yes, dear. But how did you know…”

“Did you ever call in?”

“No, of course not. I’m not the type to do something like that.”

Hannah relaxed slightly. Delores would never take the chance that someone might recognize her voice on the air. “Did you read, Love Is Right Around the Corner?”

“Pop psychology,” Delores dismissed Doctor Love’s newest book, the one she plugged on every show.

“But you read it.”

“Well, yes. But how did you…?”

“Control issue,” Hannah said, before her mother could finish the question. “That’s Doctor Love’s favorite diagnosis. She also likes to talk about overstepping bounds and diffusing concern.”

“But Doctor Love is right. I do have a control issue, especially when I try to run your life. If I’m not careful, you’re going to hate me for it.”

Hannah shook her head and said what was in her heart. “I couldn’t hate you, Mother. I love you too much.”

“Oh!”

Delores looked as if she was about to break into tears, and Hannah knew that would embarrass them both. As a family, they’d always kept their emotions under control and private. “Okay, let’s get back to business, here,” Hannah changed the subject quickly. “You’re going to help me catch Ronni’s killer…right?”

“Right.” Her voice quavered a bit, but Delores took a deep breath and managed to pull herself together. “You said you want Carrie and me to find out who Ronni was involved with and how it affects or affected their lives.”

“Exactly right.”

“We’ll do that, dear. Anything else?”

“Just be alert for anyone who hated Ronni enough to kill her. You uncover the motive. I’ll check it out and see if there’s an alibi.”

“We’re all set, dear.” Delores got up and walked around the stainless steel island to give her eldest daughter a hug. “I’m proud of you, Hannah. And I love you very much. I know I don’t tell you that enough.”

“Thank you, Mother. Was that Doctor Love?”

“Yes. Most of the time she’s full of hot air, but that’s some of her very best advice.”





TERRY’S CARROT CAKE COOKIES

DO NOT preheat oven yet—this cookie dough has to chill for at least 2 hours before baking.



1 cup butter (2 sticks, 1/2 pound) at room temperature

2 cups white (granulated) sugar

3 eggs, beaten (just whip them up in a glass with a fork)

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

4 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg

1 teaspoon salt

20-ounce can crushed pineapple (very well drained)

1 cup golden raisins

1 cup chopped walnuts (measure after chopping)

3? cups flour (pack it down in the cup when you measure it)

1 cup coconut (chopped a little finer than it comes out of the bag)

3 cups finely grated carrots



Terry’s tips for her recipe:

1. When she drains her crushed pineapple, Terry uses a wire mesh sieve and presses the pineapple against the mesh to remove as much liquid as possible.



2. When she’s in a hurry and doesn’t want to grate her own carrots, Terry buys shredded carrots and then chops them up a bit finer in her food processor with the steel blade, or with a chef’s knife on a cutting board.