Lemon Meringue Pie Murder (Hannah Swensen #4)(97)

Hannah maintained her pleasant expression, but she resolved to have a talk with her mother about the seating arrangements for these family gatherings. Her mother always sandwiched her in between Norman and Mike, and she was beginning to feel like peanut butter.

"Did you see Freddy this morning?" Andrea asked her.

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"Yes, I did. I drove out to the hospital right after I delivered my cookies for the church bake sale." Hannah gave a small smile. Thanks to the layer of plastic wrap on top of her bowl, her dough had been intact and she'd baked her cookies early this morning. If she didn't tell, no one would ever guess what that batch of Molasses Crackles had been through. "Doc Knight says Freddy's going to make a full recovery. I was there when they took him off the respirator and the first thing he told us was that Jed had attacked him."

"Did he understand why?" Norman asked.

"He did after we explained it. Freddy said he hoped they'd lock Jed up for good so he couldn't hurt anyone else."

"That shouldn't be a problem," Mike said. "We got a full confession. And since we found the stolen money in Jed's truck, the only question now is who gets to prosecute him first, the Feds or us."

"Hi!" Lisa was grinning ear-to-ear as she approached the table with Herb. "I'm sorry we're late. We stopped at the hospital to see Freddy and he wanted to tell us all about his new job."

Herb pulled out a chair for Lisa, then took his place at the table. "Doc Knight found a job for Freddy at the hospital doing maintenance work and taking care of the grounds."

"There's Aunt Michelle!" Tracey said, standing up to wave. "And Uncle Lonnie's with her."

Hannah laughed at the shocked expression on Andrea's face. It was clear her sister was now regretting teaching Tracey indiscriminate use of the term "uncle." It wasn't that Andrea disliked Lonnie, but she'd made it clear that she didn't approve of Michelle dating anyone in law enforcement. She'd explained that it was all right for Hannah since she was older and more independent, but she felt that Michelle should have a boyfriend with a less demanding job.

"Isn't it a beautiful evening?" Lisa asked, looking straight at Hannah and closing one eye in a wink. "I think this is the best night of my life. And there's even a full moon!"

Hannah stared hard at Lisa. Something was definitely

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wrong with her partner. Lisa's eyes were sparkling, her face was flushed, and she looked as if she'd been awarded the Nobel Prize, the Miss Universe crown, and an Olympic gold medal all at once. If Hannah hadn't known better, she might have suspected that Lisa was giddy on champagne, but the cork was still in the bottle.

"Are you okay, Lisa?" Hannah asked.

"I've never been more okay in my life!" Lisa gave a little giggle and reached for her water glass.

Hannah blinked. Lisa was holding her water glass awkwardly, with her finger held straight out as if it hurt. She was about to ask how she'd injured her hand and whether Doc Knight had given her pain pills when Andrea let out a gasp.

"Oh, my!" Andrea squealed and rushed over to hug Lisa. "Why didn't you say something sooner? This is just wonderful!"

Hannah regarded her sister with total amazement. Had everyone gone crazy? "What's wonderful?"

"This!" Andrea reached for Lisa's hand and held it aloft. "Lisa and Herb are engaged!"

Hannah laughed long and hard, even though she felt like total fool for not noticing the ring earlier. The champagne was opened, along with a bottle of sparkling apple juice for Tracey to share with Norman, who said that since he was driving, he'd pass on the champagne.

Congratulations flowed for several joyful minutes. Then Delores asked the question that was in everyone's mind. "When is the wedding?"

"On December thirty-first," Herb answered her, with a grin. "Lisa wanted to wait until the busy season was over at The Cookie Jar, but she still wanted me to get the tax break."

Hannah applauded. "Smart girl."

"Can I be in your wedding, Lisa?" Tracey asked. "I always wanted to be a flower girl."

Lisa reached over to give her a hug. "I was just going to

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ask you if you'd be my flower girl. You're my first choice. I'd like to make this is a real family wedding."

"What a wonderful idea!" Delores clapped her hands. "Wouldn't it be delightful to make it a double wedding and have a real family affair?"

Hannah fumed as her mother turned to smile first at Norman and then at Mike. Delores was getting positively blatant. Silence fell as both men shifted uncomfortably and Hannah knew she had to do something.

"A double wedding would be wonderful," Hannah said, seizing the first idea that popped into her head and running with it, "but I really think that Michelle should finish college before she gets married."

Michelle looked startled for a split second, but then she caught on. "You won't get any argument from me. I want to get my degree before I settle down. That's all right with you, isn't it, Mother?"

"Of course it's all right! But, I didnt mean..."

Delores faltered and Hannah almost felt sorry for her... almost, but not quite. "I'll come up with a special wedding cookie for you, Lisa. Something spectacular."