“Actually, Betty Crocker wasn’t from anywhere. It’s the name Pillsbury came up with to market their first cookbook. But Pillsbury’s based in Minnesota so I guess you could say they both came from here.”

“Good. I love it when important people besides Sinclair Lewis come from Minnesota.”

Hannah blinked. What Lisa said was a jump in logic. “You’ve got something against Sinclair Lewis?”

“Not really. I realize he’s important, but his books are depressing. I’m already living depressing. My mother’s dead, my dad’s got Alzheimer’s, and the wedding’s off.”

“Whoa!” Hannah pushed Lisa down on a stool at the workstation and made an end run to the kitchen coffeepot. This was a crisis. “What’s this about the wedding? Did you have a fight with Herb?”

“Of course not. I love Herb and he loves me. That’s not the problem.”

“What is?” Hannah filled two mugs, put one down in front of Lisa, and sat down on the opposite stool.

“It’s a matter of timing. Herb and I talked about it last night and we both agreed to call off the wedding.”

“For good? I mean, you don’t have to tell me if it’s too personal, but … “

“It’s not personal,” Lisa interrupted her. “And no, it’s not off for good. We just decided to wait to get married until everything’s settled with Dad.”

“He’s okay, isn’t he?” Hannah felt a quick jolt of fear. Lisa adored her father and she’d given up her college scholarship to stay home and take care of him.

“Dad’s fine. It’s just that Marge found a new doctor for him, a really good neurologist, and he was accepted in a new drug-testing program. It’s some kind of cocktail thing, three drugs that work together to boost a brain-signaling chemical that improves memory. Dad’s all excited about it, but the only thing is, the study starts this coming Monday and it lasts for two months. Herb and I didn’t think it was fair for us to get married in the middle of the program, especially since we’ll be switching houses and all.”

“That makes sense,” Hannah said, breathing a sigh of relief. As far as she was concerned, Lisa and Herb made a perfect couple. And Herb’s mother, Marge Beeseman, was really stepping into the breach to help with Lisa’s dad. She was giving them her house as a wedding present and she was moving into Jack Herman’s home to become his caretaker. And even though Marge was a widow and Jack was a widower and they used to date in high school, no one in town was saying boo about the living arrangements. “So when do you think you’ll get married?”

Lisa looked down at her engagement ring and gave a little smile. “We’re shooting for the middle of February. That’s when Dad’s test program is over. But instead of a big wedding, we’re just going to run down to the courthouse.”

“Not fair,” Hannah said, getting up to stash her crock full of meatballs in the cooler and making a mental note to take it down to the community center at noon and let it cook until time for the party.