“That’s right. It’s a combination dinner and intervention. Lori’s causing a problem for all four of you and I have a solution. All I need is your word that you won’t tell anyone about my solution until Lori and I are married.”

“You have my word,” Hannah said quickly.

“Mine, too,” Michelle chimed in.

“And you have mine,” Andrea promised. “We almost went crazy trying to plan this wedding.”

“Lisa?” Doc turned to the only one of them who hadn’t spoken.

“I agree, but I’m not too happy about it,” Lisa told him. “When I married Herb we promised we wouldn’t have any secrets from each other, except for Christmas and birthday presents, and little things like that. But this isn’t little and it’s a secret.”

“You can tell Herb,” Doc assured her. “I’d like you to warn him not to tell anyone else.”

“I can do that. Herb will never tell. He keeps secrets better than anyone I’ve ever known.”

“It’s fine then.” Doc looked around at each of them. “If Lori gets even a hint of this, it’s not going to work.”

Hannah was about to ask what Doc’s solution was when Sally brought an appetizer tray. “Check this out,” she said, setting it in the center of the table. She turned to Doc and asked, “Did you tell them yet?”

“Not yet. We were just waiting for Hannah to get here. You can bring the drinks, Sally. And once you do that, please sit down and join us. You’re a part of this, too.”

Sally hurried to the bar and picked up a tray of martini glasses that she carried back to the table. “These are Blackberry Pie Martinis,” she explained as she set a glass in front of each of them and took one for herself. “Dick came up with the recipe.”

“Thanks, Sally, but I really shouldn’t . . .” Michelle started to say, but Sally put a hand on her shoulder.

“No worries,” Sally said. “Yours is nonalcoholic. So is mine. I have to cook tonight.”

“These are incredible,” Lisa said, after she’d taken a sip.

“Yes, they are,” Hannah agreed with a smile.

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?”