Red Velvet Cupcake Murder (Hannah Swensen, #16)(46)

“Hannah. It’s Norman. They just told me.”

There was a pause that was just long enough for Hannah to wonder why Norman sounded upset and then to realize that he was referring to Doctor Bev’s death.

“I’ve been so worried. How are you?”

Again, it took Hannah a moment to figure out that he was talking about how she’d discovered Doctor Bev’s body.

“It must have been horrible for you,” his voice went on.

“Mike told me you gave her mouth-to-mouth for twenty minutes before anyone arrived.”

Hannah thought about that. It hadn’t been awful except in retrospect. When she’d been engaged in the act of attempting to resuscitate Doctor Bev, she hadn’t thought about anything except forcing air into her lungs to get her to breathe again.

“You deserve a medal,” Norman’s voice continued. “I talked to Andrea a couple of minutes ago and she said Doctor Bev was really nasty to you on the Petersons’ porch. I’m sorry, Hannah. It’s my fault you had to go through all that.”

Guilt time, her mind announced. Norman’s been worrying about you for hours and you haven’t given him a thought.

“Anyway, please give me a call when you get home. I want to hear your voice and know that you’re all right. And if there’s anything I can do for you, please, please let me know. I love you, Hannah.”

He loves you more than you love him, her mind accused her. That’s crystal clear. He called you the moment he heard about Doctor Bev. You should have called him from the hospital, but you didn’t even think about it.

“I was a little too busy at the time,” Hannah argued out loud. “And you’re right. I didn’t think about it. I didn’t think about anything at the time. I was in shock.”

A likely excuse!

“It’s no excuse!” Hannah shouted. “It’s the truth!”

“Rrrrrow!”

Hannah looked up to see Moishe regarding her curiously. Or perhaps it was an anxious expression. It was difficult to tell with a cat.

“I’m okay,” she told him, and he lowered his head to rest on his paws again. In no time at all his eyes had closed to slits and he was purring softly.

It took a total of five minutes to change her clothes, toss the ones she’d worn when she jumped into Miller’s Pond into the washer, and carry her lemonade back out to the living room again. She sat down on the couch, listened to make sure the load in her washer was balanced and not thumping unevenly, and reached for the phone. Her fingertips had just touched the receiver when it rang.

“Hello,” she answered, wondering if it was Norman and mental telepathy was at work. But that wasn’t the case because it was Andrea.

“Hannah?” Andrea asked a bit tentatively.

“Yes, Andrea.”

“I know you probably just got home and you’re resting, but . . . can I drive out to see you?”

Hannah didn’t hesitate even though she still had to think of something to make for Mike to eat. “Sure,” she said.

“I’ve got something for you, but I have to stop on the way to pick up some milk for tomorrow. Do you need anything?”

“I’m not sure I . . .” Hannah stopped speaking and began to smile as visions of pancakes swimming in butter and syrup danced through her head. Mike loved breakfast any time of the day or night, so she’d make pancakes and sausage. Mike also loved dessert and she was sure she had some cookies in the freezer. Teamed with the ice cream that she knew was there, they would make a fine dessert.

“Are you there, Hannah?”

“I’m here. I was just thinking about what I needed. Can you pick up breakfast sausage, quick-cooking oatmeal, milk, and maple syrup?”

“Sure. I’m writing a list. Anything else?”

“Where are you going?”

“The Quick Stop. The Red Owl’s already closed.”

“Do they have any fresh fruit out there?”

“Nothing fancy, but the last time I was there they had oranges and apples.”

“That’ll do just fine. I’ll need an apple.”

“Just one?”

Hannah considered that for a moment. If Andrea hadn’t eaten, she’d invite her to stay. And then there was Norman. When she returned his call, he might want to drive out to talk about Doctor Bev’s death. That would be dinner for four. And heaven only knew who else would call. She’d better plan for six, just in case.

“Hannah?”

“Sorry. I was trying to plan things. Better bring two apples, just in case. And you’d better bring enough breakfast sausage for six.”

“You’re expecting company?”

“Not exactly. I’m anticipating company. I never know what’s going to happen when I start to cook.”

“That’s because you’re such a good cook and everybody wants to come to your place to eat. I’ll see you in about forty . . . Hold on. I’ve got another call coming in.” Hannah held on and in less than a minute Andrea was back on the line. “That was Norman. He tried to call you, but your line was busy.”

“Of course it was busy. I was talking to you.”

“I know. That’s what I told him. You really ought to get call-waiting, Hannah.”