Delores didn’t say anything. She just stared at Hannah so intently that Hannah began to feel uncomfortable. “Don’t look at me that way, Mother. It was just a guess.”

“But you’re right! Bethie has a stuffed giraffe and it’s one of her favorite toys! You really should have children, Hannah. You have a natural flair for understanding them.”

A host of replies occurred to Hannah including, It takes two to have children, Mother! and I’ll take that under consideration and let you know within a decade or so. But she knew that anything she said would only make the situation more uncomfortable. And that was when Michelle arrived at the workstation with the platter of Angel Jellies and saved her the necessity of replying.

“Have a cookie, Mother,” Michelle invited. “They’re raspberry Angel Jellies.”

“My favorite!” Delores declared, reaching for one.

“Norman?” Michelle offered the platter to him.

“Thanks, Michelle. I’ve never had these before.”

“Hannah?” Michelle passed the platter to her. And then, in an undertone, she said, “I think you’d better put something in your mouth before you insert your foot.”

Hannah had all she could do not to laugh. “Just set the platter in front of Mother, Michelle. She likes these cookies so much.”

“Of course. I planned to do that.” Michelle took the stool next to Hannah. “What are you giving Andrea and Bill for Christmas, Mother?”

“I don’t know yet, dear.”

“How about if we all go in on it together and give Andrea and Bill a few days in a nice hotel, just the two of them?”

“Why, that’s a wonderful idea!” Delores agreed immediately. “But you girls don’t have to contribute anything. I can afford to do it by myself and I’d like it to be my present to them. I wonder which hotel I should choose.”

“Somewhere warm,” Hannah suggested. “I think the cold is getting to Bill. When he came in the other morning, he was shivering.”

“You’re right, dear,” Delores agreed. “This has been a particularly cold winter. I know that Bill has the week after Christmas off. Andrea mentioned it to me the other day. I could fly them down to Florida to a nice, relaxing resort. They could have a mini second honeymoon.”

“That sounds nice,” Norman said. “Mother and Earl went to Florida last March, and they loved it.”

“Then that’s what I’ll do. I’ll fly them down there the day after Christmas and they can come home the day after New Year’s.”

“You’d better act fast to get plane tickets,” Michelle cautioned her. “Flights are hard to get over holidays.”

“I know, dear. Don’t worry. I’ll rush right home and do it.”