Key Lime Pie Murder. Joanne Fluke

would. If I were you, I’d head them off at the pass and make the announcement soon.”

      Claire thought about it for a long moment, and then she sighed. “You’re right. I’ll let Bob do it at the end of August. That’s when a lot of people go on vacation. If we do it the last Sunday in August, you’ll be there, won’t you?”

      “You got it,” Hannah said, thankful that this was only June and she had over two full months to figure out how to get Reverend Knudson’s congregation to embrace Claire with open arms.

      “Stop in tomorrow,” Claire said. “I’ve got in a new shipment, and there’s a matching pants and top set that’s absolutely perfect for you.”

      Hannah wavered. She really couldn’t afford any new clothes, but when Claire said something was perfect, it was. And since Claire always gave her a generous discount, she caved in. “Okay,” she promised. “But this hasn’t been a really flush month.”

      “When have I ever overcharged you?”

      “Never,” Hannah hastened to say. “It’s just that Doug Greerson down at the bank is getting ready to rip out the rest of the checks in my checkbook so I won’t be tempted to bounce one.”

      “It’s that bad?” Claire looked concerned.

      “Well…not quite that bad.”

      “Come in tomorrow and try on that outfit. If you like it, I’ll give it to you at my cost. When you opened The Cookie Jar, my business doubled. People walk up the street to have cookies and coffee, and they look at the display in my window. You have no idea how many of your customers come in to try on something they’ve seen after they leave your place.”

      “Really?”

      “That’s right. And I’m not even counting your mother. Every time she comes in, she buys something.”

      “Mother can afford it.” Hannah glanced at her watch and slipped into a faster gear. “I’ve got to run, Claire. I’m judging the baked goods contest tonight.”

      “Good luck,” Claire said, taking her cue. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Hannah.”

      After Claire left, Hannah glanced around. People were still filing out of the auditorium, and it was time to make herself scarce. There was somewhere she had to go, and she had to do it fast. If she hurried, she’d have just enough time for the clandestine treat she’d decided to enjoy before she joined Willa and Pam at the Creative Arts Building.

      Less than two minutes later, Hannah rounded the corner by the deep-fried candy bar booth. She was slightly out of breath, and she stopped to let her breathing return to a normal rate. There was a friendly-looking woman sitting on a stool behind the counter, and her nametag read RUBY in bright red block letters. No one else was in line at the moment, and Hannah stepped up to place her order.

      “What’ll it be, Ma’am?” the woman named Ruby asked. And that meant Hannah had to come to a decision. She’d been debating the merits of a Milky Way and a Snickers bar all day. She knew full well she shouldn’t indulge in a deep-fried candy bar, especially since she’d be sampling coffeecake, cinnamon bread, and sweet rolls in less than fifteen minutes. But all day long she’d been dreaming about a deep-fried candy bar. It was driving her crazy, and the only way to stop thinking about it was to have one.

      “Ma’am?” Ruby prodded her back to the present, and there was a knowing smile on her face. “It’s hard to choose, isn’t it?”

      “Does the Milky Way have the original milk chocolate? Or is it the kind with the semi-sweet dark chocolate?”

      “It’s the original with milk chocolate. I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

      “You like the milk chocolate best?” Hannah asked, interpreting her comment.

      “You got it right. I don’t understand why they wanted to mess with something that was already perfect.”

      “Neither do I.”

      “I felt the same way when they came out with peanuts in the M&Ms. And I really hate the new Hershey’s Kisses with fruit and nuts. They’re supposed to melt in your mouth without chewing, you know?”

      “I know.” Hannah felt she’d found a kindred soul. “I really shouldn’t have a deep-fried candy bar at all. I’m judging the baked goods contest in less than fifteen minutes.”

      Ruby threw back her head and laughed. “You’re right. You shouldn’t. These things are loaded with calories and you can’t take just one bite. Once you taste it, you have to finish the whole thing. It’s addictive.”

      “How many calories does it have?” Hannah asked, hoping that if she didn’t eat anything except lettuce for the next two days, she could have one without gaining weight.

      “Believe me, you don’t want to know!”

      “That bad?”

      “Worse. I started to figure it out once, but I quit when I got up to a thousand. I figured it wasn’t a real good selling point.”

      “You’re right,” Hannah said, hoping it wasn’t quite as bad as Ruby was making out. “I’ve got to taste one, though. I’ve been dreaming about it ever since I walked past your booth this morning.”

      “Okay. What kind of candy bar do you want?”

      “I’m still trying to decide between the Milky Way and the Snickers. Which one do you…” Hannah stopped speaking and whirled around as she heard someone calling her name. “Uh-oh!” she said with a groan. “It’s my mother!”

      “Caught in the act?” Ruby asked, and something about her smile told Hannah that the same thing must have happened with other customers and other mothers.

      “That’s right. She’s always after me to lose weight, and…”

      “Say no more,” Ruby interrupted her with a wink. “I’ll take care of it for you.”

      Hannah remained silent. It seemed that Ruby was a pro in situations like this.

      “I think I saw her,” Ruby said when Delores was within earshot. “She came past here about five minutes ago, and she headed off toward the Ferris wheel.”

      Hannah winked back, and then she turned to face Delores. “Hi, Mother. Did you happen to see Lisa?”

      “Not tonight.” Delores had looked as if she were loaded for bear, but her eyebrows settled and Hannah knew she was biting back a lecture on saturated fats, empty calories, and elevated cholesterol levels. Ruby had effectively defused the Mother-bomb, and Hannah owed her at least a dozen cookies in return for the favor.

      “I’m glad to see you, dear. But for a minute there I thought that you…never mind.”

      Hannah turned back to Ruby. “Thanks for the information. Those deep-fried candy bars look like real killers.”

      “They are, but there’s no way I could make a living selling deep-fried lettuce.”

      Hannah burst into laughter, but her mother looked intrigued. “I wonder if it would be good.”

      “I’m not sure,” Ruby said. “Maybe not, because lettuce is mostly water. That’s what makes it such a great diet food.”

      Delores stepped a bit closer to the counter. “That’s true.”

      “I’ve had deep-fried broccoli, and it’s delicious,” Ruby continued. “Carrots and sweet potatoes are good, too.”

      Delores nodded quickly “You’re right. Are you with the carnival? Or do you live around here?”

      “I’m with the carnival. I’m married to Riggs. He’s the announcer at the rodeo.”

      “I heard him this afternoon on my way to the Lake Eden Historical Society booth,”