Raspberry Danish Murder (Hannah Swensen #22)(20)

“I hope it’s good news and it’s still in fairly good shape. How about the second call?”

“It was from Sally at the Lake Eden Inn, and she told Lisa that it was important.”

“Thanks, Michelle. I’ll call Sally first and then I’ll talk to Cyril.”

“There’s one other thing. Andrea’s out front and she wants to talk to you. Should I send her back now, or wait until you’ve returned your calls?”

“Send her back now. I need to talk to her anyway. I’ll give her a cup of coffee and a couple of cookies and then I’ll make my calls.”

A phrase their great-grandmother Elsa had been fond of saying popped into Hannah’s head. “It never rains, but it pours,” she said, smiling at Michelle.

Michelle looked at her blankly for a moment, and then she began to smile back. “I don’t exactly remember it, but that sounds like Great-Grandma Elsa.”

“You’re right.”

“It means that everything happens at once, doesn’t it?”

“It does,” Hannah said, and then she glanced at the clock. “Today, that’s a good thing.”

“Why?”

“Because Andrea arrived in time to take you to your rehearsals. I’ll make sure she leaves in about thirty minutes.”

“Great! I looked at the thermometer and it’s really cold out there. But that’s not the only good thing about Andrea coming in.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s brought her new whippersnapper cookies for you to taste. She gave a sample to Lisa, Aunt Nancy, and me, and I know you’ll like them. They’re really good!”

“I’m sure they are. Andrea loves to make whippersnappers. Go tell her to come back here and I’ll taste one before I make my calls. And if Lisa starts telling the story, just come back here with Andrea and me.”

Hannah had just poured a cup of coffee for her sister when Andrea breezed through the swinging door. She was carrying a plastic container, and she set it down on the stainless steel surface of the work station. She was wearing a powder blue cashmere sweater and skirt that looked stunning with her shining blond hair. Andrea was the perfect picture of the highly successful real estate agent that she actually was.

“You look lovely, Andrea,” Hannah complimented her.

“Thanks.”

Hannah somehow managed to keep the amused smile off her face. Usually, when someone received a compliment, they responded with a return compliment in kind. Of course, Hannah couldn’t really fault Andrea for not returning the compliment, since she was wearing a pair of old jeans, a green sweater that had seen better days, and her voluminous white chef’s apron.

“I brought you something,” Andrea said, motioning toward the container. “I baked a new whippersnapper cookie.”

“Your reputation has preceded you.”

“What?”

“Your whippersnappers. Michelle already told me that I was going to love them.” Even though she wasn’t really hungry, Hannah’s mouth started to water as Andrea took off the lid and the scent of pineapple wafted through the air. “They smell delicious,” she said.

“Come and taste one. So far, everyone likes them, but your opinion matters the most to me.”

Hannah was pleased. As far as she was concerned, what Andrea had just told her was even better than a return compliment.

“If they taste as good as they smell, I’m sure I’m going to love them.” Hannah walked over and plucked a cookie from the container. “They’re pretty, Andrea. I like the cherry on top.”

“Thanks. They looked a little plain, and I thought they needed something for color.”

“Well, you picked the right something. Half a maraschino cherry always reminds me of holidays or special occasions.” Hannah bit into the cookie and smiled as the flavor she’d smelled became a reality. “Oh, my!” she said.

“Does that mean you like them?”

“I love them! What do you call them?”

“Pineapple Raisin Whippersnapper Cookies. I start with a spice cake mix and add the Cool Whip, crushed pineapple, and golden raisins.”

“Will you give me the exact recipe? I know our customers will love them. They love all of your whippersnapper cookies.”

Andrea looked extremely pleased even though Hannah had told her that before. “Then I guess that it’s a really good thing I have more cookies in the car. I’ll go get them before I leave, and you can try them out on your customers.”

“That’ll be fun. I’ll be happy to pay you for the cookies, Andrea.”

“Don’t be silly!” Andrea waved away Hannah’s offer. “Consider it a favor. You do lots of things for me.”

“I do?”

“Yes. The biggest favor is that you’re teaching Tracey to bake. And I think Bethie’s old enough to have a small part in it.”

“Oh, good!” Hannah said. It was the one thing that she could do for Tracey and Bethie that Andrea or Grandma McCann didn’t have the time or the inclination to do.

“I wish you would give me more so I could do for you,” Andrea said. “Sometimes I feel like I take and take from you, and I never give back.”

An idea flashed like lightning through Hannah’s mind and she gasped aloud. There was something that Andrea could do for her!