Down at the far end of the park, the skating rink gleamed in the sun. Hannah was amazed that the ice looked so firm until she remembered that it was artificial. If the day kept up its warming trend, all the snow would melt and Ross would have to rely on fake snow as well as fake ice. That wasn’t so bad, but Tracey and the other girls would broil in their heavy costumes during the skating scene.

Once she’d passed the circular sidewalk that ringed the park, Hannah crossed the street and walked up Fourth to Main Street. She rounded the corner by the now-defunct Magnolia Blossom Bakery, and found herself glancing in the front plate glass window and remembering how beautifully decorated it had been. Some of those decorations, including the lovely round tables and matching chairs, now graced the coffee shop at The Cookie Jar. Hannah still felt a bit guilty for taking advantage of Vanessa’s panicked offer to sell them to her at such a ridiculous price, but she wasn’t about to give them up. She’d done the right thing and contacted Gloria Travis, who should have inherited the money Vanessa had spent to buy them, and Gloria had told her to keep everything she wanted and give away the rest.

Lake Eden Realty, the office where Andrea worked, was humming in lonely splendor. The computers were on, the desk lamps were lit, and the fax machine was spewing out paper. The owner, Al Percy, wasn’t there and neither was Andrea. Since Ross had rented Main Street for the week, no business except movie business would be conducted.

Her shop looked busy and Lisa must have been waiting for her to arrive, because she opened the front door and motioned to her. Hannah dashed across the street and into The Cookie Jar, wondering what sort of emergency had reared its ugly head in the forty-five minutes she’d been gone.

“He

he wants what?” Hannah sputtered, looking at her young partner with dismay. “And by when?”

“Hors d’oeuvres, that’s what. And he had the nerve to ask me if I knew what they were!”

“That’s not the insult you think it is,” Hannah informed her. “He asked me if I knew what finger food was!”

Lisa gave a started little giggle, and Hannah knew her good mood had been restored. That was one of the things she loved about her partner. Lisa had a sunny disposition, and even though Dean had introduced a few storm clouds on her horizon, her cheerful nature couldn’t remain hidden for long.

“What sort of small bits of appetizing food does he want?” Hannah asked, giving the dictionary definition and earning a smile from her partner.

“He said he’d leave that up to us. The only thing is, everything has to be edible, because he wants the extras at the cocktail party to mingle and munch.”