Raspberry Danish Murder (Hannah Swensen #22)(73)

“Ready,” Michelle responded. “We’d better go in and find Mother and Doc.”

Hannah retrieved the platter of cookies they’d baked for the funeral buffet. It was always held after the formal church service, and it was a tradition in Lake Eden. Usually, it was held in the church basement, which was equipped with a kitchen and a large reception area.

Both sisters walked to the side door that led to the basement of St. Jude’s. Michelle pushed it open and they began to descend the stairs.

The sound of subdued voices greeted them as they reached the bottom of the staircase and opened the inner door to the largest basement meeting room. It was the venue where church suppers and potluck fundraisers were held. The scents of coffee and a mixed bouquet of casseroles, salads, breads, and desserts were compelling, and Hannah realized that she was hungry. She really didn’t feel like going through the buffet line and eating at one of the long tables where she would be obligated to make polite and meaningless conversation with the other mourners.

“What’s wrong?” Michelle asked, noticing the frown on Hannah’s face.

“I really don’t want to stay long enough to eat,” Hannah told her. “I’d rather find Mother and Doc and see if they need our help to get the information we need. Then I’d like to leave.”

“I’m with you,” Michelle said. “I’m hungry, but I don’t want to socialize for very long either.”

Hannah looked around at the crowd of people who had taken seats at the tables. “Everyone else must have come straight down here after the church service.”

“There’s Mother and Doc.” Michelle gestured toward one of the tables. “It looks like they saved places for us.”

“That’s good. Most of the tables are already filled. Let’s drop off these cookies and go sit with them.”

They gave Doc and Delores a wave to indicate that they had seen them, and then the two sisters headed straight for the kitchen in the rear to deliver the cookies they’d brought.

“Hello, girls!” Father Coultas’s long-time housekeeper, Immelda Griese, greeted them. “What did you bring?”

“Raisin Almond Crunch Cookies,” Hannah told her.

“Sounds great. I might just have to eat one or two as I put them out,” Immelda said, smiling at them. “Thank you, girls. I’m sure everyone will enjoy the cookies.”

Hannah and Michelle backed out of the kitchen as quickly as they could. The ladies were rushing around, and they didn’t want to get in the way of the food preparation. They entered the meeting room again and dodged the women who were carrying platters, bowls, and covered casserole dishes to the table that had been moved to the front of the room to hold the after-service buffet.

“Hello, Mother,” Hannah said, sitting down next to her. “Hi, Doc,” she greeted Doc Knight, who sat across from Delores.

“Hi, girls,” Doc said to both of them. “Are you two all right?”

“Yes,” Michelle answered for both of them. “Thank you for asking, Doc.”

“Funerals are always a strain,” Delores said, looking properly solemn. “I thought Father Coultas gave a lovely eulogy, didn’t you?”

“Very nice,” Doc agreed, “but I wish he hadn’t given P.K.’s full name. No wonder he went by his initials!”

“He said that he didn’t want to be known as a cross between a steak and a vacuum cleaner,” Michelle told him.

Delores gave one sputter of startled giggles, but she composed herself again quickly. “I shouldn’t have done that,” she said. “This is a grave occasion.”

Both Hannah and Michelle began to shake with silent laughter, even though they tried to hold in their mirth and look serious.

“What is the matter with you two girls?” Delores asked them.

“They’re trying to keep from laughing,” Doc explained.

“But why?”

“This is a grave occasion?” Doc repeated. “Please stop with the puns, Lori. You know they crack me up. I’m having enough trouble maintaining after the cross between steak and the vacuum cleaner.”

“I did say that,” Delores admitted. “I just never thought that . . .” she paused and took a deep breath. “It was totally unintentional, but I’d better not say another word.” She slapped her hand over her mouth to show that she was serious, and there was a very determined look in her eyes. When she removed her hand, her lips were closed tightly.

Hannah, Michelle, and Doc exchanged glances. They all knew that Delores would never be able to hold her tongue for long.

There was silence at their end of the table. No one spoke, including Delores. Her promise of silence lasted for at least twenty seconds, fifteen seconds more than Hannah had expected. Then Delores turned to Hannah and opened her mouth.

“When Edith gets here, I’ll take you girls over to meet her and we’ll offer our condolences.”

“Do you have a plan to get the information we need?” Hannah asked her.

“Yes, and I’m almost certain it will work.”

“Do you want us to do anything to help you?” Michelle asked.

“Yes. Michelle, you should just stand there and look solemn.”

“But what should I do if P.K.’s mother or father asks me a question?”