Hannah just shook her head. It was a disaster in the making, perhaps even another Titanic on a slightly smaller scale. “At least we can get one thing settled before the crockery starts flying.” Hannah stood up and headed for the phone by the cash register. “I’m going to call Andrea and ask her if she’ll handle your wedding arrangements.”

“Tell her she can have complete control of everything. I’ll go along with whatever she wants to do.”

“That’ll sweeten the pot.” Hannah started to grin as she punched in the number. “If I know Andrea, she won’t be able to resist.”

Andrea sounded chipper when she answered the phone. “Hi, Hannah.”

“How did you know it was me?”

“I just got a new cell phone with built-in caller I.D. It’s a very important tool for a real estate professional.”

“No doubt,” Hannah said, grinning a little. Andrea always had state-of-the-art electronics, and she always said she needed it because she was a real estate agent. “I called to tell you that Herb and Lisa have to postpone their wedding until Valentine’s Day.”

“That’s too bad. Hang on a second, will you?” Hannah hung on and waited for several seconds. Then Andrea came on the line again. “Sorry about that. So why are they postponing the wedding?”

“Jack Herman’s been accepted in a test program for a new Alzheimer’s drug. Lisa and Herb want to wait until the trials are over.”

“That makes sense. So why did you call me?”

“Lisa needs to spend all her free time with her dad and she won’t have time to arrange the wedding. She’d love it if someone else would take charge and I thought maybe you might … hold on a second.” Hannah put down the phone and motioned to Lisa. “I think I hear someone knocking at the back door. Can you go let them in?”

“Sure.”

“Sorry, Andrea.” Hannah directed her attention back to the phone. “Someone’s at the back door and Lisa went to let them in. it’s probably Mother or Carrie.”

“No, it’s not.”

“How do you know?”

“Because it’s me.”

“What are you talking about?” Hannah was thoroughly confused, especially because her phone had suddenly developed a strange new echo.

“Turn around, Hannah. Lisa just let me in and I’m standing right behind you.”

<3>

Hannah whirled around and practically bumped into her hugely pregnant sister. Andrea was standing there grinning, her cell phone to her ear. Despite the fact that she was almost as big around as she was tall, Andrea still managed to look glamorous. She’d arranged her shining blond hair in an elaborate twist, her make-up was perfect, and she’d draped a forest-green cashmere scarf over her fawn-colored coat so artfully, she could have been the cover model for a maternity fashion magazine.

“You can hang up now, Hannah,” Andrea said.

“Right.” Hannah hung up the phone and hurried to take her sister’s arm. “Come with me. You’d better sit down. I’ll get another chair so you can put your feet up.”