<13>

Hannah was about to go trolling through the crowded room for her sister when Andrea came up carrying another dessert plate. “This pecan pie of yours is just wonderful! Remember when I was afraid I’d have the baby at Thanksgiving and I wouldn’t get to have your pie?”

“I remember.”

“Well, I had your pie at Thanksgiving, and now I’m having it again. And I still haven’t had the baby!”

“No one can hurry nature,” Hannah intoned, realizing how pompous that sounded, but unable to take it back.

“Sure they can. If there was a horse here right now, I’d take Lisa’s mother’s suggestion and ride him around the room until something happened.”

“And I’d probably boost you up in the saddle,” Hannah said, picturing the scene that would make and exploding in laughter. A scant second later, Andrea began to laugh, too. It was one of those wonderful moments when sisters who were very different happened to be on the same wavelength. When she was able to speak again without sputtering, Hannah said, “While we’re waiting for that horse, I’ve got a question for you. I need to know about Brandi’s engagement ring. Michelle saw it, but she couldn’t describe it except to say that she thought it looked expensive. Did you notice it?’

“Of course I did! It was gorgeous, and it looked like a really valuable antique.”

Hannah grabbed Andrea’s napkin, turned it inside out so she could write on a spot that wasn’t covered by Santa and his reindeer, and held her pen at the ready. “Okay. Describe it for me.”

“It was a square-cut emerald, at least two carats, surrounded by a frame of Tiffany-cut diamonds.”

Hannah gave a low whistle. Even though she knew next to nothing about jewelry, the ring Andrea was describing sounded expensive.

“The diamonds were blue-white, a really excellent color, and they had to be at least a half-carat apiece. And the setting was platinum. That’s more expensive than gold or silver.”

“Okay,” Hannah jotted it all down. “Do you have any idea how much a ring like that would cost?”

“Not really, but I’d guess it was worth a lot more than her fur coat. And Brandi and Martin were fighting about it.”

“Fighting?” Hannah asked, leaning forward.

“She wanted to wear it and he told her to take it off. They stared each other down for a minute and then she took it off her finger and dropped it in her purse. Is that all you need? I want to go back to the dessert table for some Candied Pecans.”

“Hold on, Little Piggy,” Hannah said, smiling to show her sister that it was a term of endearment. “Do you have your cell phone with you?”

“Of course I do! I’m a real estate professional.”

“Could you help me out and call all the wedding chapels in Las Vegas to find out where Brandi and Martin got married? There’s something I need to know.”

“Sure. It shouldn’t be that hard, especially since I know an Elvis impersonator married them. Once I find the right chapel, what do you want me to ask?’