There was a sputtering on the line, a close cousin to the sound of Bill’s old Ford when the plugs were dirty. “That’s not what I meant and you know it!” Delores finally managed to say. “What are you doing, Hannah?”

“We’re having coffee, Mother. And then I’m going to bake a cheesecake. But your suggestion sounds like a lot more fun than

”

“Cut that out right now, Hannah Louise!” Delores interrupted her.

“Just kidding, Mother.”

“Well, it’s not funny! I want you to bake that cheesecake now. And then send him straight home. Don’t forget that you have to face yourself in the mirror in the morning.”

Hannah heard a resounding click and she laughed as she hung up the phone. “I’m a mean person. I gave my mother such a hard time, she hung up on me. A good daughter wouldn’t have done that.”

“Maybe not, but it feels good once in a while, doesn’t it?”

“It sure does!” Hannah turned to give him a grin. “Your five minutes are almost up and Norman hasn’t

” The phone pealed loudly, drowning out the rest of her sentence.

“That’s Norman,” Ross said.

“You’re probably right.” Hannah reached for the phone. “Hello, Norman.”

“Hi, Hannah. I figured you’d rather hear from me than my mother.”

“You got that right!”

“I just wanted to ask

I don’t have anything to worry about with Ross, do I?”

Hannah stifled the urge to give Norman an earful about privacy, and personal freedom, and sticking his nose into someone else’s business, but she didn’t. He’d asked her straight out instead of being devious, and she owed him a straight answer. “If you ever do, I’ll let you know. How’s that?”

“Fair enough,” Norman said. “Good night, Hannah. I love you, you know.”

“I know,” Hannah said, wishing she could return the sentiment, but not wanting to give him false hope. She gently replaced the receiver in the cradle and turned to Ross. “Seems like the whole town’s talking about us.”

“I figured as much. I hate to say it, but maybe I’d better go. There’ll be other times

won’t there?”

“That’s up to you,” Hannah said, giving him a playful grin as she headed for the chair by the door to get his coat.

SALLY’S FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE CAKE

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F., rack in the middle position

Hannah’s Note: This cake is going to fall in the center. There’s just no way around it since there’s no flour to hold it up. That really doesn’t matter, because it’s so delicious. Just be prepared to cover up the crater in the middle with plenty of whipped cream—Sally whips two cups of cream sweetened with 1/3 cup of powdered sugar, spreads it on the top, and shaves some bittersweet chocolate on top of that.