“It is. Don’t forget that Amy lives with a manic-depressive father. And when he’s manic, he has anger issues. Amy and her brother are the only ones who see that anger. Amy’s just a child, but she’s very careful to assess her father’s mood and act accordingly. He’s never lashed out at her, but that’s because she’s careful not to antagonize him when he’s in anger mode.”

“Why doesn’t she tell someone about it?”

“She’s afraid that no one will believe her.”

“That sounds like a very bad situation.”

“It is. Anyway, those are the family dynamics and they’re just fascinating. I spent some time talking to Tracey, and I’m sure she can handle the part. I’ll stay and watch her audition with you. And then I’ll put in another good word with Ross.” Lynne stopped speaking and sighed dramatically. “Oh, look! There’s that gorgeous detective!”

“Mike Kingston,” Hannah told her, watching as Mike walked across the stage. He was in full uniform and he turned from side to side in response to an instruction they couldn’t hear from their position in the back row.

“You know him?” Lynne asked, and then she gave a little laugh. “Of course you know him. You’re bound to know him. Lake Eden is a pretty small town and you probably know everybody. I tell you, Hannah

if I didn’t love my husband, I’d be all over him.”

Hannah was about to make a wisecrack, something about how Lynne would have to get him on the rebound because he’d proposed to her and she’d just turned him down. But Hannah didn’t say that. For one thing, it would sound like bragging. And for another thing, they weren’t best college buddies anymore, and her love life, or lack of it, wasn’t any of Lynne’s business.

When Mike left the stage, Lynne turned to Hannah. “They’ll take a break now, and then they’ll audition for the speaking parts. That’s the way they always do it.”

“Maybe now would be a good time to meet Mr. Lawrence,” Hannah suggested. “Ross asked me to bake for him and I need to know what kind of cheesecake he likes.”

“Cherry.”

“I know that, but there are different kinds of cherry cheesecakes. Does he like the light and fluffy type with cherry swirled all the way through? Or would he prefer it dense and heavy with the cherries only on the top?”

Lynne shrugged. “I really don’t know. Let’s go ask him.”