Read Online Peach Cobbler Murder by Joanne Fluke - Free Book Online

removed her hand to step inside, the top layer of skin on her palm would stay on the outside of the door-knob.
    Once inside, Hannah headed straight for the kitchen coffeepot. She’d invested in one with a timer when they’d gone on sale right after Christmas and it had been money well spent. Hot coffee awaited her and it was just what she needed after her long, cold commute.
    Hannah was about to take her first sip of coffee when the phone rang. Should she answer it? It couldn’t be a business call. Everyone in town knew they were closed for Lisa’s wedding day. It had to be someone she knew. And that meant she practically had to answer. Hannah took a quick sip that burned her lip and reached for the phone on the wall. “Hello?”
    â€œYou didn’t say, Hello, Mother .”
    Hannah was silent for a moment. Perhaps they had a bad connection, or maybe she was still half asleep. But to her ears, Delores had sounded almost disappointed. “Every time I do that, you tell me that I shouldn’t answer the phone that way.”
    â€œThat’s true. You shouldn’t. But you’ve done it so often I’ve come to expect it. I called to ask you an important question, dear. How’s business?”
    â€œThere isn’t any. We’re closed today.”
    â€œI know that. When I said business, I meant business in general. I need to know if all the public relations work I’ve been doing at my clubs is working.”
    â€œI think it is,” Hannah answered reluctantly. She really hated to discuss her business with Delores now that she was an adult living on her own. But her mother was concerned and Hannah knew she had her best interests at heart. “It’s a whole lot better than it was, Mother.”
    â€œBut it’s still not good enough.”
    â€œYou’re right,” Hannah admitted. It seemed that the unexplainable mother-daughter radar was working again, and Delores had caught the worry behind her daughter’s words. “A couple dozen of our regulars are back, and that’s good. And quite a few of the ladies from your groups came in.”
    â€œSo every day a few more of your former customers come back?”
    â€œThat’s right. Yesterday was a pretty good day. Everybody that came in wanted to wish Lisa well before the wedding.”
    â€œSo you showed a profit?”
    Hannah opened her mouth to answer in the affirmative, but she’d never been able to lie to her mother. “Not exactly.”
    â€œDid you at least break even?”
    â€œNot quite.”
    There was a long silence on her mother’s part and then Delores spoke again. “Maybe it’s a passing fad. I just read a report that said most bakeries are suffering because everyone’s counting carbs. People just aren’t eating as much bread or as many sweets right now.”
    â€œI don’t think that’s got anything to do with it, Mother. Customers are still streaming in across the street at the Magnolia Blossom and they’re not featuring low-carb desserts.”
    Delores was silent again and when she spoke she fairly hissed the words. “Those two lightskirts! ”
    â€œMother!” Hannah was shocked. She knew precisely what the phrase meant in the Regency romance novels that her mother liked to read.
    â€œI’m sorry, dear. But Shawna Lee’s been trouble ever since she set foot in Lake Eden and her sister’s no better. If I don’t miss my guess, all this has to do with Mike.”
    â€œMike!”
    â€œYes. Shawna Lee wants him and you’re in the way. She opened her bakery to discredit you and drive you out of business.”
    Hannah considered that for a moment. Could her mother possibly be right? Jealousy was a powerful motive. “Maybe I should march right over there and tell her that if she wants him, she can have him.”
    â€œOh, don’t do that, dear,” Delores said quickly. “She’d