Blackberry Pie Murder (39 page)

That was everyone’s cue to compliment Dick’s martinis and Sally looked very pleased. “I’ll tell Dick you liked them.”

“So what’s your solution, Doc?” Hannah asked, unable to contain her curiosity any longer. She hoped it was a good solution. Someone had to take charge of this runaway wedding train, and Doc Knight was the only one who could do it.

“I’ll tell you in a minute,” Doc said, motioning toward the pretty Lazy Susan that Sally had put in the center of the round table. “What do you think of Sally’s appetizers?”

“I think I’m happier than I’ve been all day,” Hannah said, 328

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helping herself to a toast point with smoked salmon and herb-studded cream cheese. She pointed to the neighboring section on the swiveling tower. “Are those Bill Jessup’s Misdemeanor Mushrooms?”

“You betcha!” Sally said, grinning from ear to ear as Hannah added two to her appetizer plate. And then Sally proceeded to name the appetizers in each section of the tiered tray.

“My favorite deviled eggs!” Michelle said, taking one with smoked salmon and another with ham salad. “What could be better than this?”

“Baked Brie with apple and cinnamon,” Andrea said, helping herself to a big slice.

“These olives stuffed with bleu cheese are the best,” Lisa offered her opinion.

“No, the haggis is.”

“Haggis?!” Hannah gasped, staring at Doc’s side of the Lazy Susan. “Where’s
that
?”

“It’s not haggis. It’s Mike’s Busy Day Pate,” Sally told them. “It just looks different because I piped it on a triangle of pumpernickel bread.”

“We only have ten minutes or so until Mother gets here,”

Hannah said, glancing at her watch as they finished their martinis and Sally’s busboy arrived to take away the appetizer tray. “You’d better tell us your solution now, Doc.”

“It’s simple,” Doc said, smiling at all of them. “I’m going to kidnap Lori and drive her to the airport. We’ll board a plane to Las Vegas, first class of course, and get married at the Little White Wedding Chapel.”

“By Elvis?” Lisa asked, who had obviously heard of the Little White Wedding Chapel.

“No, by a minister. They have regular services, too. I called to find out. After the ceremony, you girls will spend the night there and fly back to Lake Eden in the morning to get ready for the reception dinner. Lori and I will stay a second night and then fly back in time for the reception.”

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There was silence for a full minute as they all thought about it. It was an incredible plan. And then Sally spoke.

“Does Delores know about this?”

“Of course not. Lori would never agree. I’m just going to kidnap her from her house and bundle her into a waiting limo that’ll drive us to the airport.”

“That’s romantic,” Lisa said, blinking back the moisture that had formed in her eyes.

“That’s not romantic. That’s necessary,” Hannah contra-dicted Lisa. “Mother’s never going to make up her mind and none of us can take any more of these changes in the wedding plans.”

“And that’s why I decided to save us all the aggravation,”

Doc explained. “Your mother will be so happy by the time the reception rolls around, she’ll love anything you decide to do. Just put up with her in the meantime and know that the final decisions are entirely yours. Can you do that?”

“We can do that,” Hannah said. “Is there anything we can do to help you arrange things?”

“All you have to do is pack a suitcase for Lori on the day we leave and bring it out to me at the hospital. Then we’ll be all set.” Doc looked around at their shocked, but delighted faces. “So what do you think of my solution?”

“It’s brilliant,” Hannah spoke for all of them and there were nods all around the table. “We’ll be grateful forever, Doc. You saved us a lot of grie . . .” She stopped speaking as she glanced at the door to the dining room. “Uh-oh! Here she comes!”

All eyes swiveled toward Dot Larson, who was leading Delores into the dining room. Sally got up to go back to the kitchen, stopping to greet Delores on the way, and Delores gave a little wave around the table as she sat down in the vacant chair next to Doc. Then she zeroed in on Hannah. “Are you all right, Hannah?”

“I’m fine, Mother. Why?”

“There was a rumor floating around at the hospital when 330

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I left. Mike and Bill brought in a woman in handcuffs, and she had a head injury. Jenny was on, and Mike told her that the woman tried to kill you!”

“That’s true,” Hannah admitted.

“Jenny also said that Mike told her Norman held a gun on the woman until he arrived to cuff her.”

“That’s true, too.”

“Oh, my!” Delores put her hand to her chest and took a deep breath. “I’m so glad you’re all right! Mike told Jenny and Marlene that you were, but I was still worried. Tell me, dear . . . is it true that Norman didn’t even know how to shoot that gun?”

“That’s what he said after Mike arrived.”

“Well, for heaven’s sakes! What was Norman planning to do with it?”

“He was planning to figure it out before he had to shoot, Mother.”

Andrea started to laugh. “Did that last sentence of yours have a comma in it, Hannah?”

For one brief second, Hannah didn’t get it, but when she did, she was delighted. Andrea had made her first joke about grammar. Perhaps all the nights she’d spent helping Andrea with her grade school grammar lessons had borne fruit after all!

“It has a comma,” Hannah told her. “Norman wasn’t planning to shoot Mother.”

There was laughter around the table for several minutes and then Sally arrived with a split of champagne. “Delores?”

she said, pouring it for Delores and giving her a glass. “I know you’ve already eaten so I brought you a sweet treat to go with your champagne.”

Delores looked down at the gold box on the table. “Is that what I think it is?”

“Yes,” Sally said. “The last time you were here with Doc, you mentioned that you loved chocolate, so I made some fruit truffles for you.”

“Wonderful!” Delores said, “Truffles are one of my fa-BLACKBERRY PIE MURDER

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vorite things.” She gave Sally a grateful smile and reached into the box for one. She took a bite and her smile grew even wider. “This one is strawberry and they’re wonderful, Sally!”

“Thank you. And now I’d better get the rest of the entrees Doc and the girls ordered. Doc said you’d be having refresh-ments at the bridal shower, but are you sure you don’t want something else to eat?”

“Well . . . a little chicken salad sandwich with the crusts cut off only goes so far. Do you have your oso bucco tonight?”

“We do.”

“Then I’ll have that. And what I don’t finish, Doc will probably have for breakfast . . . right, Doc?”

“TMI, Lori.”

Delores laughed. “Too much information. I learned that just the other day from Hannah.” She turned back to Sally.

“Please forget you heard that.”

“Consider it forgotten,” Sally said. She patted Delores on the shoulder and then she hurried back to the kitchen.

“I have a toast,” Delores said when Sally had left. “I want to thank all of you for being so patient with me. I know I promised I wouldn’t change my mind again, but I just had the best idea for the wedding.”

The three Swensen sisters and Lisa exchanged glances. It was clear that all four of them were thinking the same thought.
Uh-oh! She’s going to do it again!

“What’s your idea, Mother?” Hannah asked.

“Pink! Wouldn’t pink be a perfect wedding color?”

Hannah came close to groaning. With her red hair she did not look pretty in pink. “Does this mean you’re going to wear pink on your wedding?”

“No, dear. I was thinking about the bridesmaid dresses and the bridal bouquet. I think little pink roses mixed with something white would be absolutely perfect. Pink and white. It’s a simply lovely combination. Yes, I’ve decided. I want white for the other wedding color.”

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“You’re planning to wear white?” Lisa asked.

“Heavens no! I’d never wear white. This is a second wedding for me and I’m not exactly the blushing bride, you know.”

Doc laughed. “You can say
that
again!”

While Hannah, Michelle, Andrea, and Lisa struggled to contain their laughter, Delores turned to Doc in shock.

“Doc!” she exclaimed, her eyes flashing fire.

“Relax, Lori. Three of the four girls sitting at this table are your daughters, and I delivered all three of them. I know you’re not the blushing bride.”

“Oh,” Delores said, and her angry expression turned into a smile. “Of course you know. You were my doctor.”

“I’m still your doctor.”

“Yes, you are.” Delores turned back to them again. “I’m sorry I’ve been so indecisive about the wedding plans. It’s just . . . well . . . I want everything to be perfect.”

“That’s okay, Mother,” Hannah said, and she meant it.

Andrea nodded. “Don’t worry about it, Mother.”

“We’re fine with anything you decide,” Michelle said.

“It’s your wedding, after all,” Lisa added her comment.

“You’re the one who has to decide.”

“But I’ve been changing my mind too much after I promised Hannah I wouldn’t.” Delores looked contrite. “I want to apologize and tell you that I plan to do my very best to stick with what I decided.”

“Fine with us,” Hannah said, and everyone else nodded their agreement.

“Oh, good!” Delores looked very relieved. “For a moment there, I thought you were about to give up on me.”

“We’d never do that,” Hannah responded for all of them.

“Well, you’re all very understanding and sweet,” Delores said, and then she turned to Doc. “I have good girls, don’t I, dear?”

“The best in the world,” Doc said, winking at them before he pulled Delores into his arms and hugged her.

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Andrea smiled at Delores. “We’re all very happy for you, Mother.”

“And we’re very happy to plan your wedding,” Hannah added.

It was a happy moment. The wedding planners were saved future aggravation and Doc had accomplished that. As far as everyone at this table was concerned, Delores was marrying the perfect man for her . . . and for them, too!

And then the roof came crashing in, metaphorically of course, because Howie came up to their table. “You all look very happy,” Howie said.

“We are,” Delores said, smiling at him. “What’s the good word, Howie?”

Howie looked slightly embarrassed. “I’m afraid it’s not very good, Delores. Can I see you in private, Hannah?”

Hannah felt her heart rate escalate. Howie looked very solemn. “Of course,” she said.

“Is this about the trial?” Doc asked him.

“Yes. When is the wedding?”

“September twentieth,” Delores told him. “And of course you and Kitty are invited. I’ll get the invitations out soon.”

“Thank you,” Howie said politely, and then he turned to Doc again. “I really should talk to Hannah in private.”

Hannah made a move to get up, but Doc motioned her back down to her seat. “If this is about the trial, it concerns all of us. What is it, Howie? Spit it out.”

“Hannah?” Howie turned to her.

Hannah swallowed hard. She was terribly afraid that their happy evening would be spoiled, but now that Howie had brought it up, there was nothing to do but discuss it in front of her family. “Go ahead, Howie. Tell us all.”

“Your trial is scheduled for the first week in September, Hannah. That means it should be over by the time your mother gets married.”

“Thank goodness for that!” Delores said, looking very relieved. “Hannah’s a bridesmaid, you know.”

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“I know,” Howie said, turning back to Hannah. “I need you in my office next week to discuss strategy.”

Hannah nodded. Her mouth was too dry to speak. She wanted to ask him if everything was going to be all right, but perhaps the question was better left unasked for now.

“I’ll be there,” She forced out the words, and then she turned to her mother. “Don’t worry, Mother. You heard Howie. Everything will be settled by the time you get married.”

Delores smiled and motioned for Sally to bring an extra chair for Howie. “Champagne?”

“Just one glass. I have to meet a client at my office.”

“At this time of night?” Doc asked him.

“Yes. It’s an assault and battery charge and this case is complicated.”

“You work too hard, Howie,” Delores said as Dot arrived with a chair for Howie and poured champagne for him.

As the conversation flowed around her, Hannah managed to keep the smile on her face. Howie wanted to have a strategy meeting. What did he mean by that? Was her case even more complicated than the case he was discussing with another client tonight?

Somehow Hannah managed to keep the fixed smile on her face, but she didn’t meet anyone’s eyes, especially not Howie’s.

She was afraid she’d burst into tears. Was Howie going to try to convince her to accept a plea bargain? And should she do that if he said it was advisable? If she did, would she be locked in prison so that she couldn’t be a part of her mother’s wedding to Doc?!

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BLACKBERRY PIE MARTINI

To make this drink you will need a martini glass, a martini shaker
OR
a pitcher filled with ice, and a drink strainer.

The Rimming Mixture:

1⁄2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1⁄4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
(
use the store-bought

kind—it’s ground finer than if you grate it
)
1⁄4 cup white
(granulated)
sugar
The Drink:

2 ounces of Tito’s Handmade Vodka

1 ounce Triple Sec

3⁄4 ounce fresh lemon juice

2 ounces Torani Blackberry Syrup
(or fresh or frozen

blackberry puree)

The Garnish:

blackberry as a garnish

Mix the cinnamon, nutmeg and sugar together in a saucer or small salad plate that is slightly larger than the rim of your martini glass.
(I used the cap of my flour jar