Read Online Double Fudge Brownie Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 18) by Joanne Fluke - Free Book Online Page A

waiting at home in Lake Eden .
    “Why so quiet?” Ross asked her. “Are you having second thoughts about trying that tequila sunrise?”
    “No, not at all. I love to try new things.”
    “Me, too. I guess we both have adventurous spirits.”
    Hannah almost burst into laughter. Most people thought she was too cautious and no one had ever called her adventurous before. Perhaps she was changing. And if she was, it was all because of Ross. “Perhaps that’s true,” she said, smiling at him over the rim of her pink lemonade glass.
     
    Hannah was getting dressed for dinner when there was a knock on her hotel room door. “Just a minute!” she called out, slipping the top of her pantsuit over her head and slipping on her shoes before she answered the door.
    “Mother!” she said, surprised to see Delores standing there. She’d expected that the knock would be from Michelle, Andrea, or Ross.
    “May I come in?” Delores asked.
    “Of course. There’s nothing wrong, is there?”
    “Not a thing. I’m supremely happy. You don’t have to worry about me, dear. It’s you that I’m concerned about.”
    Uh-oh! Hannah’s mind warned her. Something’s up! “What is it, Mother?” she asked in a voice that was much calmer than she felt.
    “It’s Mike and Norman. Have you heard from them since you left?”
    “No, they haven’t called me.” Hannah felt her heart beat faster. “Is something wrong with Moishe?”
    “Oh, no dear. Everything’s fine as far as I know. I just . . .” Delores stopped and looked terribly uncomfortable as she handed Hannah the bottle of champagne and the glasses she was carrying. “Pour us a glass. We’re going to need it. We’re going to have a mother-daughter talk.”
    That was enough for Hannah. She took the bottle and filled two champagne flutes. She didn’t plan on having more than one sip. She wanted her wits about her, and she had a date with Ross and a tequila sunrise in less than thirty minutes. But her mother obviously had something serious on her mind.
    Delores took the chair Hannah indicated and accepted a glass of champagne. She took a sip and sighed heavily. “Doc thinks I’m borrowing trouble and I shouldn’t interfere, but I told him I just had to come and discuss things with you.”
    “What would you like to discuss?” Hannah asked, even though she really didn’t want to know. There was no way she was looking forward to the forthcoming conversation.
    “Well, dear . . . I think it’s best to be blunt and jump right in. I’m very concerned about what you’re going to tell Mike and Norman about Ross.”
    “When I tell them what about Ross?”
    “When you tell them that you were in Ross’s suite last night until two in the morning.”
    “Those rats!” Hannah muttered under her breath, taking the one sip of champagne she’d allotted herself for this mother-daughter talk. “Andrea and Michelle must have run right up to the honeymoon suite and blabbed everything to you.”
    “Well . . . not exactly, dear. I called them and asked.”
    Hannah took a deep, calming breath. “Why did you do that?”
    “Because I was concerned about you. I didn’t want you to do anything rash.”
    “Really, Mother! I’m a grown woman over thirty. What I did or didn’t do in Ross’s suite is none of your business!”
    “I know that, but I just wanted to ask what you planned to do about Mike and Norman.”
    Hannah bit back another angry retort. “I’m not planning to do anything , Mother. What’s happening here? Are you trying to manage my love life?”
    “No! I never wanted to do that! I was just concerned, that’s all. And I’m glad you’re having this . . . this little interlude with Ross. But I don’t want you to be swept overboard.”
    “Swept overboard? You’re the one who’s going on a cruise, not me.” Delores gave a small smile, but Hannah could tell that her mother wasn’t really amused. “What exactly do you mean by being swept overboard,