Plum Pudding Murder Read Free Page A

an effect on your dad’s Alzheimer’s?”
    “I have no idea, but Patsy’s big on nutrients and she thinks a balanced diet will help. And before you even ask, I checked with Dad’s doctor and she says eating Pork and Beans Bread toast can’t hurt.”
    “The name’s intriguing. Is it a type of bread that goes especially well with Pork and Beans?”
    “No, it’s bread that’s made from pork and beans!” Lisa gave a little laugh. “You can’t really taste them unless you know they’re in there, but then you can. I’ll make a double batch. That’ll be four loaves. And I’ll bring one in tomorrow morning for you to taste.”
    “I’ll look forward to it. Did Herb tell you any other news I should know about?”
    Lisa thought about that for a moment. “You already know about your mother, don’t you?”
    “What about Mother?”
    “She signed up for a class at the college. Norman’s mom, too. It’s something to do with running a small business.”
    Hannah was surprised. Delores hadn’t mentioned signing up for a business course. “Well, that’s good I guess. But I wonder why she hasn’t told me.”
    As if on cue, the front door opened and Delores Swensen came in. She brushed the snow from her cardinal red coat that went so well with her coloring and hung it on the rack by the door.
    “Hello, dears,” she said giving both of them a smile. “Am I too late for coffee?”
    “It’s never too late for coffee.” Hannah jumped to her feet to pour a mug for her mother.
    “How about a couple of cookies to go with that?” Lisa asked.
    Delores considered it for a moment. “Thank you, dear. I have class tonight and I won’t have time to run home and eat. Do you have anything with chocolate?”
    “Do we have anything with chocolate?” Hannah laughed as she repeated her mother’s question. “Almost everything we bake has chocolate!”
    Lisa glanced over at the large glass jars they used to showcase their cookie selections for the day. “We have Chocolate Chip Crunch Cookies, Fudge-Aroons, one piece of Chocolate Almost Toast, and I think there’s…” Lisa walked over to the counter for a closer look. “Yes. We’ve got two Chocolate-Covered Cherry Delights. One looks a little smushed on top, but it’s still good.”
    “I’ll have the cherries,” Delores decided, sitting down at the table and turning to her daughter. “What are you doing tonight, dear?”
    Hannah wanted to ask why her mother needed to know, but that wouldn’t be polite. It was best to hedge a bit and see if Delores would volunteer the information. “I’m not sure yet.”
    “Then you don’t have any firm plans?”
    “Not really.” Hedging hadn’t worked and it was time to border on the impolite. “Did you have a particular reason for asking?”
    Delores gave a little laugh. “I should have told you up front. But that was nicely done, dear. You weren’t rude, but you avoided committing yourself.”
    “Thank you, Mother. And your reason for asking?”
    “Carrie.”
    “Carrie wants to know my plans for tonight?”
    “No, I do. But it’s because of Carrie that I want to know.” Delores stopped speaking as Lisa delivered her cookies and a fresh mug of coffee. “Thank you, Lisa.”
    “You’re welcome.” Lisa turned to Hannah. “I’ll be in the kitchen if you need me. I want to mix up a batch of Blueberry Crunch Cookies for Grandma Knudson. Reverend Knudson told me she’s a great believer in dark berries.”
    “Do you have any idea what Lisa was talking about?” Hannah asked once her partner had disappeared behind the kitchen door.
    “Yes, dear. Dark berries are all the rage now. Eating them is supposed to be beneficial to eye health.”
    Hannah gave a little shrug. “Is it true?”
    “I don’t know, but I like blueberries and blackberries, so there’s no reason not to eat them. If it helps, that’s wonderful. If it doesn’t, what have I lost?”
    “That’s a good attitude,” Hannah complimented her mother,