“Ouch!” Hannah yelped, staring down at her pet in surprise. Moishe’s ears were back and his fur was beginning to bristle. She might have followed her earlier ouch with something a bit more colorful, but it was Tuesday, Moishe was filming his second scene in Crisis in Cherrywood, and she was sitting in a pew at Holy Redeemer Lutheran Church. Even though Moishe’s claws were needle sharp and her thighs stung from the punctures, swearing would not have been appropriate.

“He’s nervous,” Norman said, collecting Moishe from his perch on Hannah’s lap. “I’ll take him outside and walk him around a little. Just come and get me when they’re ready for him.”

At first Hannah thought Norman had something in his eye, because he winked at her several times. She was about to ask him what was wrong when she spotted the cause for Norman’s wink, her feline’s anxiety, and the little puncture marks Moishe’s claws had left on her denim clad legs. Delores was approaching, striding hurriedly up the center aisle, and not even the lure of Hollywood fame would keep her cat docile when he caught sight of the person at the top of his Least Favorite list.

“Hello, Mother,” she said, giving Norman the high sign to skedaddle, and then patting the pew beside her. “Have a seat.”

“Thank you, dear. I know I’m early, but I wanted to see Moishe’s scene. I missed out yesterday.”

Now this is a fine pickle, Hannah thought, using her father’s term to describe a dilemma. She had to think of some way to get her mother as far away from Moishe as possible.

“I’d love to have you watch,” Hannah said, clutching onto the first excuse that occurred to her, “but Tracey’s going to be disappointed.”

“What do you mean? Andrea told me that Tracey’s first scene isn’t being filmed until later tomorrow.”

“That’s true, but they’re working on her hair and makeup right now down at the Cut ’n Curl. And after that, she’s being fitted for her costumes. I just naturally assumed that you’d want to be there, especially since Bill’s in Miami and Andrea’s dealing with all these stage mother things alone.”

“You’re absolutely right! Thank you for telling me, dear.” Delores rose to her feet with a grateful smile. “Of course she’d never say anything, but with Bill gone and all, she’s bound to want someone with her

not to mention how much better Tracey would feel with Grandma there.”

Hannah watched her mother rush out and she gave a huge sigh of relief. She was free at last, but she’d have to pay the price. Once Andrea figured out what had brought Delores descending on them like a cloud of locusts, she’d owe her sister a whole batch of cookies and then some!