Connie Mac had arrived at the inn an hour behind schedule, and she'd offered the services of her personal limo and driver for the tour. Hannah had climbed in front to direct the driver to the venues, and Andrea, who was sitting in the back with Connie Mac, had explained which events would be held there. After a brief stop at Jordan High, where they'd viewed the displays, examined the shuttle sleighs, and spoken to the principal, Mr. Purvis, they were on their way to the Lake Eden Community Center to meet Marge Beeseman at the library and to check in with Edna Ferguson.
Everyone who was walking down Main Street stopped to stare as Connie Mac's limo passed by. That didn't surprise Hannah. Connie Mac was the first big celebrity to come to Lake Eden, and her limo was definitely an eye- catcher. It was painted peach, Connie Mac's favorite color, and her name was lettered in flowing gold script on the doors. Even though the windows were tinted so that no one could see in, anyone who could read knew exactly who was riding inside.
The intercom chimed as they neared the community center, and Connie Mac's voice came over the speaker. 'Pull up in front of the door, Spencer.'
'Yes, ma'am.' The driver pulled up next to the curb in a no-parking zone and hopped out of the limo to open the door. As Hannah watched him usher Connie Mac out, she wondered if Spencer ever felt silly in his uniform. It was black, the type that chauffeurs always wore in the movies, but his shirt and tie were peach to match the color of the limo.
Andrea and Hannah scrambled out of the limo with no assistance from Spencer. He obviously knew his priorities. They followed Connie Mac up the front steps that led to the community center and into the lobby.
'This won't take more than a few minutes,' Connie Mac told Spencer. 'Park in the lot and watch the door. When I come out, pull up in front.'
'Yes, ma' am,' Spencer said, tipping his cap and turning to go.
'Spencer?'
Spencer halted and turned to face her. 'Yes, ma'am?'
'I've warned you before to wait until I dismiss you. I won't remind you again.'
Spencer shifted from foot to foot and dropped his gaze to the brown indoor-outdoor carpeting that covered the floor of the lobby. The color crept up the back of his neck, and Hannah knew he was embarrassed at being reprimanded in front of them.
'Your notepad, Spencer?'
Spencer responded, pulling a small leather-bound notebook and pen from his pocket. 'Yes, ma'am?'
'Call the chef at the inn and tell him I want free-range capon tonight, no substitutes.'
'Yes, ma' am. Would you care for a salad?'
'Endive, radicchio, and butter lettuce with a vinaigrette of extra virgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar mixed at tableside. No potatoes. In a small town like this, they'll probably be french fries.'
Hannah bit her tongue to keep silent. Her friend, Sally Laughlin, was the chef at the inn and her french fries were legendary.
'Rolls with the salad course, but make sure they're not commercial,' Connie Mac continued, 'and fresh raspberries drizzled with Grand Marnier for dessert.'
Spencer jotted that down and then he looked up from his notepad. 'Will there be anything else, ma'am?'
'Contact the desk and have them send up a maid to unpack for me. She should hang everything on padded hangers and press anything that's wrinkled.' Connie Mac stopped and frowned slightly. 'Make sure someone from my staff is there to keep an eye on her. I brought some of my good jewelry for the banquet tomorrow evening. Do you know if the inn has a safe?'
'No ma'am.'
'Call the desk and ask. And tell them to send a bottle of properly chilled Pouilly Fuisse to my suite.' Connie Mac paused and a tiny frown appeared on her forehead. 'I know there's something else, but I can't think of it right now. That's all, Spencer. You may go.'
'Thank you, ma' am.'
Spencer tipped his hat again and this time he made it out the door. Hannah tried to catch her sister's eye, but Andrea seemed starstruck and completely oblivious to the fact that the Cooking Sweetheart had just embarrassed her chauffeur, insulted Sally's culinary skills, and questioned the honesty of the maids at the inn.
-4-
'I'm just so thrilled to meet you, Mrs. MacIntyre.' Marge Beeseman's voice shook slightly as she reached out to take Connie Mac's hand. Her brown hair was clipped short and frosted with blond, but it was clear to Hannah that Marge's new 'do' hadn't succeeded as a total confidence builder. 'Your cookbooks arrived yesterday, all two hundred of them.'
Connie Mac smiled the sweetest smile that Hannah had seen yet, the very same smile she used on her show. 'You really must call me Connie Mac. 'Mrs. MacIntyre' is simply too formal. May I call you Marge?'
'Of course,' Marge breathed, obviously impressed by Connie Mac's tailored suit of peach wool and her gracious manner. 'Just follow me and I'll show you the table I set up for your book signing. It's going to be such a wonderful fund-raiser for the library! Everyone in town wants to meet you and buy an autographed copy.'
Connie Mac frowned as they approached the table that Marge had set up at the back of the library. 'This is where you want me to sign my books?'
'Yes, I set it up this way on purpose. When people come in, they'll get to see the whole library on their way to your table.'
'That's certainly important,' Connie Mac said pleasantly, but Hannah could tell that she wasn't pleased. 'I have an idea, Marge. I think we should move my book signing to the lobby of the community center.'
'But we want people to see the library. If you're in the lobby, they won't come all the way back here.'
Connie Mac linked arms with Marge and walked her back toward the entrance of the library. 'Let's put our heads together, Marge. I'm sure that between the two of us, we can come up with a solution to our little problem. We have to decide which is more important, raising funds for the library, or giving people a tour.'
'They're both important,' Marge insisted, digging in her heels.
'Of course they are, but how about this? I'll sign copies of Sweets For Your Sweetie in the lobby and you'll sit right next to me at the table. Then, when people ask about the library, you can tell them about it and invite them to come back to visit when the Winter Carnival is over. With all the other activities going on, I doubt they'll do much reading this week anyway.'
Hannah waited for Marge to explode. The Lake Eden Community Library was her baby. She was proud of what she'd done and it was only natural for her to want everyone to see it.
But the expected explosion didn't come. Marge just looked flattered as she asked, 'You want me to sit with you?'
'Of course I do. The mayor told me how instrumental you've been in planning this library. He said it was all your idea and you should take credit for it.' Connie Mac patted Marge's arm. 'And I must admit that I have a selfish reason for wanting you to sit with me, Marge.'
'Really?'
'Most people don't know this about me, but I'm really a very shy person and I just hate the idea of sitting in the lobby all alone. If you're with me, you can introduce me to all your friends.'
Marge preened a bit. 'I could certainly do that. I know everyone in Lake Eden. I was born and raised here.'
'I'm sure we'll have a wonderful time together,' Connie Mac said, stepping out of the library and into the hallway. 'I'll see you tomorrow, Marge.'
Hannah rolled her eyes as she followed Andrea and Connie Mac down the stairs to the banquet room. The Cooking Sweetheart was a steamroller when it came to get- ting her way, but she had charm and she knew when to dish it out. After only one dose, Marge Beeseman, one of the most obstinate women in Lake Eden, had caved in like an underbaked cake.
'Edna? We're here,' Hannah called out as they entered the banquet room in the basement of the community center.
Edna, a thin woman with wiry gray hair that had been permed to death, bustled out of the kitchen. She was wearing a new, sparkling-white apron that Hannah knew was her version of 'all dressed up.'
