Rick got the chairs in short order and rushed off to enjoy his dinner. Andrea didn’t look happy at this turn of events, but she sat down right outside the holding cell with Delores.

“Oh, Hannah!” Delores sighed deeply. “I just knew something bad would happen today. And it did. I still can’t believe that a daughter of mine is in jail!”

“And my husband locked you up!”

One look at Andrea’s face and Hannah knew her brother-in-law wouldn’t be forgiven soon.

“I am not going to read the paper tomorrow,” Delores declared. “That snake in the grass was there and he heard the whole thing!”

“Rod Metcalf?” Hannah asked, unable to think of anyone else her mother might call a snake in the grass.

“That’s right. And I think he took a picture of you with his cell phone as Bill led you out of the dining room.”

“It’ll probably be on the front page,” Andrea said, frowning deeply. “I wish there was something we could do to kill that story, but I don’t think asking Rod to do it will work.”

There was a moment of silence and Hannah knew her mother and Andrea were thinking thoughts of public scandal and how they could possibly avert it. It was time to change the subject before all three of them got depressed. “So what did Sally send for my dinner?” Hannah asked.

“There’s a new appetizer she made for you,” Andrea replied quickly and Hannah knew she also wanted to change the subject. After all, her husband would be in the infamous article, too. “Open the bags and take a look.”

Hannah opened the two bags of food and looked around for something to use as a table. There was nothing even remotely resembling a table in the cell. She finally settled for the cot nearest the door and then she began to explore the takeout boxes that Sally had sent.

“These are darling,” she said, opening a box with four mini open-faced sandwiches spread with cream cheese that were topped with a small piece of smoked salmon.

“Aren’t they though!” Delores looked pleased that Hannah liked them. “Do you think they’d work as an appetizer for the wedding reception?”

Hannah stared at her mother in shock. They’d been suggesting appetizers for weeks now and Delores had rejected every one of their suggestions. “I think these would be just perfect,” she said, hoping that agreeing with her mother wouldn’t mean that Delores would disagree.

“That’s set then.” Delores gave a quick nod. “I thought of it the moment I saw them. They’re festive, and fancy, and not messy at all. I think that’s important when the guests are wearing their best clothing and don’t want to spill.”

“That’s very smart, Mother,” Andrea complimented her.

“Yes, it is,” Hannah agreed. “We’ll have to keep that in mind when we figure out the rest of the menu.”

“Thank you, dears.” Delores looked pleased. “And by the way, I’ve also decided on the entrée.”