“You really think it’s that good?” Delores asked, her eyes sparkling in excitement.

“I do. If I didn’t know better, I’d think you’d been dressing sets all your lives.”

“Thank you!” Carrie looked just as delighted as Delores did. “We did work very hard on it.”

“And you finished it ahead of schedule. Do you know how rare that is in the movie industry?”

Both Delores and Carrie shook their heads and then Delores cleared her throat. “Since you like your sets so much, I have a favor to ask.”

“What’s that?”

“Invite Hannah out to the inn for dinner tonight. I just know she’s not going to eat right.”

Really, Mother! You’re about as subtle as a ballerina in hip waders! Hannah thought, but she didn’t say it. It seemed as if her mother had given up on Norman and Mike as likely candidates for sons-in-law, and was now concentrating all her efforts on Ross.

“My pleasure,” Ross said, slipping his arm around Hannah’s shoulders and giving her a little squeeze. “And after dinner, I’ll have dailies of Moishe for her to see. How about you two? Would you like to join us?”

Delores shook her head. “That’s very nice of you, but no thanks. They’re having a sale at the mall tonight and I promised Carrie I’d go shopping with her.”

“We can go shopping another time,” Carrie declared.

“But how about the sale? It’s twenty percent off.”

“I’d probably buy something I didn’t need anyway. And I’m certainly not going to turn down such a nice invitation. Come on, Delores. Let’s go see that footage of your grandcat,”

“My grandcat?” Delores exclaimed, turning to give Carrie a dirty look. “How about Norman? Don’t you have to fix dinner for him?”

“Norman can fend for himself tonight. I’m going, Delores. How about you?”

“Oh. Well

all right,” Delores conceded, looking none too happy about it as she turned to Ross. “Thank you, Mr. Barton. We’d love to join you for dinner.”

“It’s Ross. And I’m very glad you’re coming.” Hannah glanced at Ross in surprise. He sounded as if he actually meant it. “Shall I pick you all up at seven?”

“No need for that,” Carrie said, exchanging another look with Delores. “I’ll drive and we’ll bring Hannah with us.”

Hannah choked slightly and covered it with a cough. It was the battle of the mothers and it seemed as if Delores had met her match. Less than two minutes ago, her mother had practically pushed her into Ross’s arms, and now Carrie had placed her in the position of co-chaperone.

“That’s out of the way for you,” Ross said to Carrie. “I’ll pick Hannah up at her condo. She has to take Moishe home first.”