“Wonderful!” Delores looked very pleased.
“And then Earl said he was going to buy you some completely outrageous shoes.”
Delores laughed. “I’m not sure I trust Earl’s taste in shoes, not after those beaded boots he bought at the mall!”
“I can’t say I blame you. Those eagles were pretty colorful.”
“Well, I hope they have a simply wonderful time sightseeing, and shopping, and everything else. And how was your visit with your old friends in Minneapolis?”
“Just fine. I toured the clinic. It’s ultramodern, and it’s got everything a dentist could possibly want.”
To Hannah’s ears, Norman sounded a bit envious, but perhaps that was only her imagination. She knew Norman liked his own dental clinic and he’d refurbished it just the way he wanted.
“How long has it been since you’ve seen your friends?” Andrea asked, making conversation.
“I saw two of them at the dental convention I went to last year, but I haven’t seen the other two for at least three years.”
Hannah entered the living room with Norman’s coffee and handed it to him. “I thought you weren’t coming back until tomorrow.” And then she asked the question that was uppermost in her mind. “What brought you back early?”
“I heard about the murder on the news. And I wanted to get back here as soon as I could. Do you need anything?”
“I don’t think so, but I’m glad you’re back,” Hannah said. She smiled at him and fought back a rush of happy tears. Norman had thought she might need him and he’d come running. He really did love her.
“Besides, my friends all had plans for this evening. And it seemed silly for me to stay over just so I could drop by the clinic in the morning to say goodbye. I drove partway here, and then I stopped at The Moosehead for something to eat.”
“I remember The Moosehead!” Delores exclaimed. “I’ll never forget the night Carrie and I won their karaoke contest.”
“Neither will we,” Michelle remarked, exchanging meaningful glances with her sisters.
“That’s where I heard about the murder,” Norman went on. “I was eating a steak sandwich at the bar, and it was on the news.”
Hannah’s euphoria at Norman’s return took a nosedive. He hadn’t dropped everything to race back to her. He’d been coming home anyway.
“Try these, Norman,” Delores said, pushing the platter closer to Norman and pointing to the Chocolate Marshmallow Cookie Bars. “Hannah and Michelle baked them, and they’re divine.”
“The Aggression Cookies are good too,” Andrea offered. “And so is the Wacky Cake.”
Norman shook his head. “Thanks, but I really can’t eat any more. I had a hot fudge sundae before I left The Moosehead.”
It was difficult not to react when one’s sensibilities had been so badly injured, but Hannah did her very best. She knew it was only a matter of time before the pleasant expression on her face slipped.
“I’d better pack up Cuddles and get home,” Norman said. “Rose is booked for an early morning checkup before she opens the cafe, and it’ll be close to midnight before I get home.”
“But aren’t you going to stay to say hello to Mike?” Delores asked. “He should be here any minute to take Hannah’s statement.”
Norman turned to Hannah. “Do you need me to stay?” he asked her.
“No, not really.”
“Good. I’ve had two really late nights in a row, and all I can think of is getting some sleep.”
“I’ll help you get Cuddles in her carrier,” Michelle said, jumping up from her seat on the couch.
Hannah said nothing. She was too surprised to speak. Not only had Norman refused her baked goods, he’d chosen to go home when he knew Mike was coming to see her.
“Something’s wrong with Norman,” Delores whispered, mirroring Hannah’s thoughts.
“I know.”
“Aren’t you going to find out what it is?” Andrea asked, keeping her voice low.
“He’s probably just tired,” Hannah said, covering for Norman even though she agreed that he was behaving strangely. “I’ll see what he says when I walk him to the door.”
“All ready,” Michelle said brightly, coming into the living room carrying a bag with all the things Norman had brought for Cuddles. She was followed by Norman, who was carrying Cuddles in her carrier.
“Thanks, Hannah,” Norman said. “I know she had a really good time.”
Hannah jumped up and took the bag from Michelle. “Watch Moishe, will you? I’ll see Norman and Cuddles out.”
When Hannah stepped out the door with Norman, she took a deep gulp of the warm night air. The humidity was high and the air felt heavy, laden with the scent of lilacs from the hedge that bordered the back of the condo complex.
“I can take that,” Norman said, holding out his hand for the bag.
“But can you handle that and the carrier, too?”
“Not a problem.”
Norman took the bag and was about to leave when Hannah grabbed his arm. “Is there something wrong?”
“Other than murder, you mean?”
Hannah laughed. Perhaps it was a lame joke, but it was a joke nonetheless. “Yes, other than murder. It’s just that you seem so…distant.”
“I told you. I didn’t get much sleep. Other than that, everything’s fine.”
“Okay. Goodnight then.”
Hannah turned to go, but Norman pulled her back. He dropped the bag and wrapped his free arm around her waist. “Everything’s going to be all right, Hannah. I promise.” And then he kissed her.
The kiss was warm. Friendly. Nice. It lasted only a second or two, and then Norman picked up the bag and hurried down the stairs.
Hannah stood there for a moment, breathing in the scent of lilacs and blinking back tears. Something was definitely wrong. Norman’s kiss had been the type of kiss you might give to an old friend.
Chapter Fifteen
By the time Mike knocked on the door at twelve twenty-five, Delores and Andrea had left, and Michelle had gone off to bed. Hannah was sitting on the couch, feeling about as deserted as a woman can feel. Mike wanted her to marry Norman, Norman had kissed her like an old friend, and she hadn’t heard from Ross in at least three months. The only bright note was that Bradford Ramsey was dead.
“Uh-oh,” Mike said when she opened the door. He took in her baggy old gray cotton sweats with one glance, and his gaze lingered on the pair of red socks she was wearing with the hole in the toe. “Are we feeling a little sorry for ourselves?”
“I can’t speak for you, but I am!”
A grin swept over Mike face. “Where’s your entourage?”
“Moishe’s sleeping with Michelle, Mother and Andrea left at eleven-thirty, and Norman took Cuddles home.”
“Norman’s back?”
“In a manner of speaking.”
“What do you mean?”
“Nothing really. He didn’t seem very glad to be back, but he was probably just tired.”
“It could be the wedding, too.”
“The wedding?”
