“Herb thinks the mayor’s going to give them a choice. Close the liquor store and put parking meters on Main Street to make up for the lost revenue, or keep it open and forget about the tax increase they’ll have to pay to get the parking meters installed in the first place.”

“That ought to work,” Hannah said with a smile. The mayor was almost as devious as her mother.

“I think so, too. Everybody wants to park for free and nobody wants to pay more taxes. Anyway, I’m here and you don’t have to come in until you want to. You need some time to think.”

“Think?”

“About Mike and Norman. Mayor Bascomb asked Herb if you’d made up your mind yet.”

“He did?” Hannah was surprised. “I didn’t know he cared one way or the other.”

“Well, he does. He wants you to marry Norman. He says it’s your civic duty.”

“What!”

“That’s exactly what Herb said, but Mayor Bascomb explained it. He said that they can always hire a new detective, but finding a dentist to take over the clinic will be a lot harder.”

“Wait a second

the mayor thinks the man I don’t marry will leave town?”

“Yes, and he’s not the only one. Herb says Mike’s not going to stick around and feel like a loser if you end up marrying Norman. He’s too proud to eat crow in front of the whole town. And Norman’s not going to stay here and watch you live happily ever after with Mike. He really loves you and it would be too painful for him. Not only that, if Norman leaves, Carrie will probably go with him, because he’ll be all depressed and she’ll think he needs her. And then your mother will end up losing a partner.”

“Oh, boy!” Hannah groaned under her breath. This was a whole new set of problems to consider. She’d been thinking about how her choice would affect her own happiness, but now it seemed it could have ramifications on the whole town of Lake Eden!

“Anyway, take your time about coming in. I’ll see you when you get here.”

Hannah said goodbye and turned to look at Moishe. “I wish I’d known sooner. Turns out we could have slept in.”

“Rrrow!” Moishe replied, and Hannah thought he looked disappointed. Sleeping in while nestled at the foot of the bed, half buried in the fluffy comforter, was one of Moishe’s favorite activities.

“Oh, well. I guess I might as well carry out the garbage and

”

Before Hannah could finish telling an uninterested feline her plans, the phone rang again and she snatched it up. “Hello?”

“Hi, Hannah. It’s Barbara Donnelly. I know it’s early, but I wanted to catch you before you left for work.”