“Parliament,” Hannah corrected her. “A flock of owls is called a parliament, but that’s not really important. Who’s going to the fitness conference with Bill?”

“Ronni Ward, that’s who! Remember when Bill hired her to hold exercise classes for the deputies?”

“I remember.”

“Well, her official title is fitness instructor and that means she’s qualified to go along, all expenses paid by the department.”

Hannah reached out to pat her sister’s arm. She could understand why Andrea was upset. Escaping the frozen tundra for a tropical climate, all expenses paid, was a collective Lake Eden fantasy during the winter months.

“The conference is in a hotel that’s right on the beach,” Andrea continued. “And you know what that means!”

Hannah didn’t bother to respond since all three of them already knew that the beach meant bikinis and Ronni Ward was the three-time winner of the annual bikini contest. “But surely you don’t think that Bill

” Hannah stopped speaking as she read the look on her sister’s face. “Have some more chocolate. It’ll help.”

“I know exactly how you feel,” Lisa said, pushing the plate of cookies closer to Andrea. “I’d feel the same way. But maybe Ronni will find a really handsome fitness instructor and they’ll

they’ll do exercises together, or something.”

Andrea gave Lisa a halfhearted smile and Hannah could tell she wasn’t convinced. She took another cookie, though, and ate it before she spoke again. “It’s just making me a little crazy that I can’t go, that’s all. It’s so boring in Lake Eden this time of the winter.”

Hannah exchanged glances with Lisa. “When is Bill leaving?”

“The second week in March. And you know as well as I do that nothing ever happens in Lake Eden in March.”

“Well, this year is an exception to the rule,” Hannah stated, sharing a smile with Lisa. And then she proceeded to tell Andrea why Ronni Ward was going to wish she’d stayed home in Lake Eden instead of flying off to Miami with Bill.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JAM COOKIES (PBJs)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F., rack in the middle position

1 cup melted butter (2 sticks, ˝ pound)

2 cups brown sugar (firmly packed)

˝ cup white (granulated) sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1˝ teaspoons baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

˝ teaspoon salt

1 cup peanut butter

2 beaten eggs (just whip them up with a fork)

˝ cup chopped salted peanuts (measure AFTER chopping)

3 cups flour (no need to sift)

approximately ˝ cup fruit jam (your choice of fruit)

Microwave the butter in a microwave safe mixing bowl for approximately 90 seconds on HIGH to melt it. Mix in the brown sugar, white sugar, vanilla, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Stir until they’re thoroughly blended.