“I don’t know when I’d watch it. Maybe you can rent it again when both of us have more time.” Hannah stood up too, and gave him a little hug. “Thanks for dinner and the movie.”

“Thank you for the cookies. They’re going to be a big hit at the birthday party.”

“I hope so.” Hannah pulled him down for a good night kiss. And when it ended, she opened the outside door for him. “See you tomorrow, Norman. Lisa’s looking for her mother’s recipe for cream puffs. If she finds it and you drop in around two, you can sample the mini cream puffs we’re making for Mother’s book launch party.”

“I’ll do that. Thanks, Hannah.”

Norman gave a little wave and went down the stairs. Hannah watched him step over the planter that separated the buildings and walk off to the visitors’ parking lot. When she stepped back inside and closed the door behind her, she gave a little sigh and went over to the couch to pet Moishe. If she’d offered to share her bedroom, Norman would have stayed regardless of the status of his electricity. Of course she hadn’t. There was no way anyone was going to place her in the Ronni Ward category. But Norman had left, and now she felt lonely.

“Come on, Moishe. It’s time for bed.” Hannah flicked off the lights and headed to the bedroom. “It’s going to be an even longer day tomorrow.”

Five minutes later, her teeth were brushed, her face was washed, and she was dressed in the oversized sweats she always wore for pajamas when the mercury dipped below freezing. She climbed under the covers and gave a long sigh. Alone again.

She was in the throes of feeling terribly sorry for herself when Moishe jumped up on the other pillow and started to purr. It was such a comforting, soothing sound that it made Hannah smile as she drifted off to sleep.

MINI CHEESEBURGER COOKIES

DO NOT preheat oven—these cookies don’t need to bake.

FOR THE BUNS:

12-ounce box round vanilla wafers (I used Nilla Wafers)

FOR THE HAMBURGER PATTIES:

approximately 3 dozen slightly larger round chocolate-covered cookies (I used 2 packages of Keebler Fudge Shoppe Caramel Filled Cookies—18 cookies to a package)***

FOR THE SHREDDED LETTUCE:

1/2 cup shredded coconut (pack it down when you measure it)

green food coloring

FOR THE CHEESE AND THE KETCHUP:

1/2 cup salted butter (1 stick, 4 ounces,

1/4 pound) at room temperature

1/4 cup milk (2 ounces)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

16-ounce (1 pound) box powdered sugar (approximately 3½ cups)

yellow food coloring

red food coloring

FOR THE TOP OF THE BUN:

1/4 cup sesame seeds

1 egg white

Prepare your shredded “lettuce” first. It will need time to air dry. Dump the coconut into a large plastic Ziploc bag. Hold the bag open and add three drops of green food coloring to the coconut. Squeeze out some of the air and seal the bag.