“How was Doc Bennett’s appointment?” Hannah asked, carrying a huge piece of quiche to the microwave to heat it for Norman.
“He said it went just fine. He saw one of Doc’s interns and he got a clean bill of health. He told me that the intern couldn’t believe he was the age that was listed on his chart.”
“That’s great.” Hannah turned on the microwave and came back to get another sip of her coffee at the little table Sally had in the kitchen.
“Is that your Corned Beef Hash Quiche?” Norman asked.
“Yes. Is that all right with you?”
“That’s great with me! I love your Corned Beef Hash Quiche. That and your Quiche Lorraine are my favorites.”
The microwave dinged, Hannah removed the plate and brought it and a fork to Norman. Then she sat back down at the table.
Norman took a bite, smiled at her, and took another sip of his coffee. “You shouldn’t have to get up at three in the morning, Hannah. Why don’t you see if Sally has a room you can use for the week of the fishing contest? It would be a lot easier on you if you stayed out here. Then all you’d have to do is take a quick shower, get dressed, and go downstairs to the kitchen.”
“Sally suggested that,” Hannah said truthfully. “But that would mean we’d have to run back to your house after the contest closed for the day to feed the cats.”
“I don’t mind. I don’t have to get here until seven-thirty.”
“I know, but . . .” Hannah paused and took a deep breath. “I might have another solution.”
“What’s that?”
“Sally thinks they may have another vacant room and you could stay out here, too.”
“But what about the cats?”
“I’m not absolutely positive about this, but Mother’s been saying she’s lonely lately with Doc working so many hours. And she loves to watch the cats play in the garden. She might agree to keep the cats with her if I asked her.”
“But she’s finishing another Regency Romance book, isn’t she?”
“Yes, but there’s a limit to how many hours a day she can work. The cats come in the office with her when she’s there, and they sleep while she’s working. And then Mother takes them out in the garden, under the dome, and watches them play. She told me that it’s very relaxing. Then, when Stephanie drops by after the mayor’s office closes, they sit out there, drink champagne, and watch Moishe and Cuddles play.”
Norman began to smile. “Is there another piece of that Corned Beef Hash Quiche left, Hannah?”
“Yes. Are you still hungry?”
“No, but Doc Knight might be. And we can ask him what he thinks about keeping the cats for a week.”
“That’s a good idea, but I don’t think we should disturb him in the middle of his work day.”
“You’re right. Let me go check his office and see if he’s busy.”
Hannah felt her confusion grow. “You’re going to drive out to the hospital to see if Doc’s busy?”
“No. Doc’s right here. Wally asked him to stay here during the day to take care of any fishing-related accidents that might happen. Sally gave him the empty office across the hall from you, and he’s in there now.”
“I didn’t know that! When did he get here?”
“Just a little while before I did. He was setting up his office when I walked by to come here.” Norman got up from his stool. “I’ll go see if he wants to join us, Hannah. Then we can ask him about keeping the cats.”
Hannah hurried to put on another pot of coffee and got the rest of the Corned Beef Hash Quiche out of Sally’s walk-in cooler. By the time Norman came back, she was ready with a hot cup of coffee.
“Hi, Doc,” she said as Doc came in. “I didn’t know that you were working out here this week.”
“Neither did I, until Wally called me,” Doc said, spying the full cup of coffee and wasting no time in sitting down to take a sip. “I meant to come see you earlier, Hannah, but I was getting organized. Tomorrow’s the first day of the contest, and Wally said we’re bound to get a couple of HRIs.”
“One of them won’t be me!” Norman promised him. “I always wear gloves when I’m fishing.”
“I wish everyone did,” Doc told him. “HRIs are a pain in more ways than one!”
“Excuse me, guys,” Hannah said, holding up a hand. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. What are HRIs?”
“Hook-related injuries,” Doc told her. “You have no idea how careless fishermen can be with fishing hooks.”
“And those barbs can dig in there,” Norman added. “Doc told me he gets at least a dozen HRIs every week during fishing season.”
Hannah shuddered, remembering how sharp the barbs looked on a fish hook. “I’m glad that’s never happened to me,” she said, retrieving Doc’s plate with the quiche from the microwave and setting it down next to him. “Just in case you didn’t have lunch, I heated a piece of quiche for you.”
Doc began to smile. “Smells like your Corned Beef Hash Quiche,” he said, reaching out for the plate. “Thanks, Hannah. I was going to have lunch at the hospital but then Wally called and I came straight out here. Your mother should be here soon. She said she’d finished work for the day and she was coming out early.”
“How is she coming along with the book?” Hannah asked, hoping that her mother was on schedule.
“Great! She worked late last night and she was still working when I got home. Did Michelle call you about tonight, Hannah?”
“She called Andrea, and Andrea told me.”
“Good.” Doc turned to Norman. “You’re coming, aren’t you, Norman?”
“Coming to what?” Norman asked.
“Sorry, Doc,” Hannah said quickly. “I haven’t had the chance to ask him yet.” She turned to Norman. “Michelle wants all of us to meet up in Dick’s bar tonight. Dick’s has a couple of new appetizers for us to try.”
“I’m in,” Norman said quickly. “Hannah’s going to stay out here and we’ll run back to my place to feed the cats first, but I always enjoy Dick’s appetizers.”
“I talked to Dick earlier,” Doc said quickly, a huge smile spreading across his face. “Dick said they were making Scotch Eggs tonight just for me!”
It was Hannah’s turn to look confused. “I thought Scotch Eggs were deep-fried.”
“They are . . . usually,” Doc told her. “Dick found a recipe for Scotch Eggs that are baked in the oven, and he wants to try it tonight. Sally said he made it for her a couple of nights ago and it was phenomenal.”
Hannah smiled. “If Sally said it was phenomenal, it must be.”
“I saw Sally on the way in here and she mentioned the Scotch Eggs,” Norman said. “She said she’s going to help him behind the bar tonight and she’s making her recipe for Special Boursin Cheese-Filled Mushrooms.”
“No dinner for me,” Hannah declared, resisting the urge to lick her lips. “I love all of Sally’s appetizers!”
“What time can you leave to go feed the cats?” Norman asked Hannah.