“I wasn’t sure either, but that’s what was available in my price range. And it’s a lot easier now that I’m on the board.” Hannah stopped speaking and sighed deeply. “Actually . . . I’m not sure it’s easier. It’s easier for changes that I’d like to make, but I don’t really want any changes. And the board meets twice a month with meetings that last a couple of hours. Now that I think about it, I really don’t know if it’s worth it.”

“Would you rather have a house?”

“Maybe, but then all the headaches would be mine, and all the expenses, too. This way it’s a shared responsibility. I’m just not sure which I’d prefer, but this is what I have and I’m happy with it.” She stopped and motioned to Michelle. “Come on. My grand prize has to be here somewhere. We need to find it.”

They looked in the guest bathroom, but there was nothing there. It was exactly as Hannah had said. The room was too small for anything that needed three football players to carry it.

“The only place left is your bedroom,” Michelle said, opening the door to Hannah’s room. “Since we’ve eliminated all the other possibilities, it’s got to be in here.”

Both women started to enter Hannah’s bedroom, but the moment they cleared the doorway, they both stopped dead in their tracks.

“Whoa!” Hannah said, taking a step backward.

“Whoa is right,” Michelle breathed. And then they both simply stared at the huge apparition taking up the space near the foot of Hannah’s bed.

“Is that what I think it is?” Hannah asked, turning to face her sister.

“I think so. It looks like one of those all-in-one trainers, the ones that take the place of stationary bicycles, rowing machines, cross-country ski simulators, and treadmills.”

“I was afraid of that,” Hannah said, frowning deeply. Then she pointed to the front of the machine. “Is that what I think it is between the handlebars?”

“If you’re thinking television set, you’re right. And I think there’s a . . .” Michelle stopped speaking and walked forward to approach the front of the machine. A moment later, she said, “I’m right. It’s a television set with a built-in DVD player so you can play exercise videos, or watch regular television while you use the treadmill. It’s an expensive piece of equipment, Hannah. You won an all-in-one fancy exercise machine that would make every member of a fitness center drool.”

Hannah let out a groan and sat down on the edge of her bed. “Just what I needed. Oh, boy.”

“You’re being sarcastic . . . aren’t you?”

“And how! I don’t need an exercise machine. The last time I used one was at Heavenly Bodies Spa in the mall. And you know what happened when I did that!”