“Could we?” Andrea looked almost pathetically eager. “I think I’m starving, Sally.”
“Then go fill a plate, find an empty table, and enjoy yourselves. You girls worked hard this morning and you deserve a meal break. We only have a couple more hours to go and you two are through for the day.”
“Are you sure?” Hannah asked.
“I’m sure. Get out of here and eat. And let me know what you think of the Breakfast Enchiladas.”
It was time to reveal her small theft, and Hannah drew the two nearly empty pans out from under the buffet table. “We planned on it, Sally. And I saved two apiece for us.”
“Good! I’ll take that as a compliment. Let me know how you like them.”
“We will,” Hannah promised, handing Andrea a plate. “Thank you, Sally. I’m really looking forward to this breakfast.”
Hannah and Andrea filled their plates and turned around to find a table when Norman stood up. “Hannah! Over here!” he called out to her. “We have two empty chairs for you.”
“Norman to the rescue,” Andrea said, following Hannah to the table. “You know . . . you really ought to . . .”
“Not now,” Hannah said, setting down her plate and greeting his tablemate. “Hello, Doc.”
“Hi, Hannah. I hope you tried the Breakfast Enchiladas. They’re really terrifi—never mind. I see you held out some for yourself.”
Hannah laughed. “Of course. Andrea and I have been filling those pans all morning and the scent of those Breakfast Enchiladas was just about killing us. I really had to work to keep myself from reaching out, snatching one, and ducking down behind the buffet table to scarf it down.”
Norman laughed. “If I’d been back there, I think I would have done it. They’re great, Hannah. Did you make them?”
“All three of us did. Sally perfected the recipe and Andrea and I put them together and baked them.”
“Well, you did a great job,” Doc praised them. “Tell Sally to put them on the breakfast buffet again and I’ll roust Lori out of bed and bring her out here. I know she’d love them.”
“You’re probably right,” Hannah agreed, forking her first bite of the Breakfast Enchilada. “Mmmmm!”
“Would you ladies like coffee?” one of the waitresses asked, coming up to the table.
“Mmmmmm,” Hannah replied, still chewing.
“Yes, please,” Andrea, who had already swallowed her first bite, told her. “Hannah drinks it black and I like mine with a little cream.”
“How’s Sonny?” Hannah asked Doc when she could talk again.
“Better than I expected,” Doc told her. “He was pretty chipper this morning when I went to see if he needed anything and he went out on the fishing boat with Joey.”
“He certainly wasn’t chipper last night!” Norman said, frowning a bit. “Do you think all that drinking he did will catch up with him later?”
“I don’t know, but we’ll see. It’s like I told the girls this morning. I think he’s used to binge drinking and he’ll probably get through this episode without any problems.”
“That’s more than a little scary,” Hannah commented.
“It is,” Doc agreed. “Let’s just hope that he can do everything he’s supposed to do for the fishing competition today. I’ll be around for the weigh-in at one this afternoon and we’ll see.”
Norman rose from his chair. “Speaking of weigh-ins, I’d better get out there if I’m going to catch any fish. Do you have any tips, Doc?”
Doc laughed. “Not unless you run into a school of suicidal Walleyes.”
Andrea looked surprised. “Are there suicidal fish?”
Doc laughed. “I think every fish I’ve ever caught was suicidal, because I sure don’t have any talent as an angler. It’s too bad Bill couldn’t be here, Andrea. He was quite a fisherman in his day.”
“He was?” Andrea looked surprised. “I didn’t know that!”
“Just ask him and he’ll tell you about the big one he caught that somehow managed to get away. He’s told me that story before, and every time he tells it, the fish gets bigger and bigger.”
Norman, Hannah, and Andrea laughed. Doc was pulling their legs and it was funny. “How about you, Doc?” Andrea asked. “Did you ever catch any really big fish?”
“Hundreds. Just buy me a shot of scotch whiskey and I’ll tell you all about it. And now, you two had better get back to work and Norman had better get out on the lake to see if he can win this tournament.”
“Do you think you stand a chance?” Andrea asked Norman as they stood up to leave the table.
“About as much as a snowball in Hades,” Norman replied, grinning at her. “I’ve never been a great fisherman, but I really enjoy being out on the lake. And that’s why I’m here.” He turned to Hannah. “Do you want to go out on the lake with me when you get off work this afternoon?”
“I do,” Hannah said quickly, making up her mind immediately.
“But how about your afternoon nap?” Andrea asked, looking slightly worried.
“I’ll forgo it today,” Hannah told her. “I’ve never seen a suicidal fish before, and I want to be there to save its life and throw it back into Eden Lake.”
*
Hannah yawned as she changed into jeans and a sweatshirt. It was a warm day, but it was always a bit chilly on the water. She pulled her hair back in a makeshift ponytail, picked up a cloth hat with a brim, and hurried down the stairs to meet Norman.
They’d agreed to meet in the lobby, and Hannah found Norman waiting for her. “Sorry that I’m a little late,” she apologized. “I went back to the kitchen to pack up a couple of sandwiches and some cookies.”
“Thanks, Hannah,” Norman said, looking slightly amused. “I don’t think I’m going to get hungry.”
“Maybe not, but I brought something just in case. Sally had some of her Pear Cobbler left so I wrapped up a couple of pieces for us.”
Norman glanced at the large bag that Hannah was carrying. “We’ve only got a couple of hours left on the lake before the end-of-day weigh-in. I really doubt we’ll be able to eat everything you brought.”
“Oh, this isn’t all food.” Hannah gestured toward the bag. “I’ve got a lightweight jacket, an extra pair of sunglasses, and some sunscreen in there.”
“It’s a cloudy afternoon, Hannah,” Norman reminded her.
“I know, but you can get sunburned on cloudy days, too.”
“You’re right about that,” Norman agreed. “When I was a kid and I went fishing with my dad, I got the worst sunburn of my life.”
Hannah gave a little nod. “The same thing happened to me. It was a hot day and I was wearing my bathing suit at the time. I got a sunburn so bad, I couldn’t wear any clothes except my bathing suit for three days!”
Norman slipped an arm around her shoulders and they walked down to the lakeshore. “I’m glad you’re going with me, Hannah,” he told her as she climbed into the rented fishing boat.
“It’s a beautiful boat,” Hannah told him, heading for one of the bucket seats in the front. “Do you want me to untie us from the dock?”
“Yes, if you don’t mind.”