Chapter Fifteen
When Hannah reached the landing after ascending the covered staircase that led up to her condo, she was exhausted. It had been a terrible afternoon, but thankfully it was over. All she had to do now was make a sandwich for her dinner, and think of something to prepare for Mike when he came over to interview her at nine this evening.
Hannah stood on the bridge that ran between her condo and the condo across the way and wished that she hadn’t agreed when Mike had said he’d come by at nine to take her statement. All she really wanted to do was relax and enjoy the slight breeze that blew across the manicured grounds below without commitments for the remainder of the night. The sun had dropped behind the row of tall pines that hid her condo complex from the road, the temperature had lowered a good ten degrees, and the mosquitoes hadn’t found her yet.
As she stood there breathing deeply and feeling calmer, she watched the clouds make their majestic progress across the azure of the sky. There was something so comforting about dealing with nature instead of with people, even people she loved. You could watch nature change from one moment to the next and know that you didn’t have to attempt to influence it in any way.
There was a high-pitched whine that buzzed past her ear and Hannah knew her nature respite was over. One mosquito had found her and that was enough. Within thirty seconds the first mosquito would ring the dinner bell and bring hundreds of friends and relatives to the buffet table.
Hannah wasted no time thrusting her key in the lock and opening the door. She stepped back, braced herself, and caught the feline who hurtled himself into her arms. “Hi, Moishe. Did you miss me?”
The answer was a purr so loud that she knew he’d been waiting for her at the door. She stepped in, kicked the door shut behind her, dropped her purse in the chair by the door, and carried Moishe to his favorite perch on the back of the living room couch. This wasn’t easy. The last time she’d taken him to see his vet, Moishe had tipped the scales at twenty-two pounds. Between dragging Doctor Bev out of Miller’s pond, refilling the flour and sugar bins down at The Cookie Jar this morning, and carrying Moishe across the living room, Hannah figured she’d accomplished enough weight-lifting for the week, or perhaps even for the month.
As soon as she’d checked Moishe’s water bowl and poured herself something cold to drink, Hannah went back into the living room to see if there’d been any calls. The red light was blinking on her answering machine, and she pressed the button to play her messages.
“Hannah. It’s Norman. They just told me.”
There was a pause that was just long enough for Hannah to wonder why Norman sounded upset and then to realize that he was referring to Doctor Bev’s death.
“I’ve been so worried. How are you?”
Again, it took Hannah a moment to figure out that he was talking about how she’d discovered Doctor Bev’s body.
“It must have been horrible for you,” his voice went on.
“Mike told me you gave her mouth-to-mouth for twenty minutes before anyone arrived.”
Hannah thought about that. It hadn’t been awful except in retrospect. When she’d been engaged in the act of attempting to resuscitate Doctor Bev, she hadn’t thought about anything except forcing air into her lungs to get her to breathe again.
“You deserve a medal,” Norman’s voice continued. “I talked to Andrea a couple of minutes ago and she said Doctor Bev was really nasty to you on the Petersons’ porch. I’m sorry, Hannah. It’s my fault you had to go through all that.”
Guilt time, her mind announced. Norman’s been worrying about you for hours and you haven’t given him a thought.
“Anyway, please give me a call when you get home. I want to hear your voice and know that you’re all right. And if there’s anything I can do for you, please, please let me know. I love you, Hannah.”
He loves you more than you love him, her mind accused her. That’s crystal clear. He called you the moment he heard about Doctor Bev. You should have called him from the hospital, but you didn’t even think about it.
“I was a little too busy at the time,” Hannah argued out loud. “And you’re right. I didn’t think about it. I didn’t think about anything at the time. I was in shock.”
A likely excuse!
“It’s no excuse!” Hannah shouted. “It’s the truth!”
“Rrrrrow!”
Hannah looked up to see Moishe regarding her curiously. Or perhaps it was an anxious expression. It was difficult to tell with a cat.
“I’m okay,” she told him, and he lowered his head to rest on his paws again. In no time at all his eyes had closed to slits and he was purring softly.
It took a total of five minutes to change her clothes, toss the ones she’d worn when she jumped into Miller’s Pond into the washer, and carry her lemonade back out to the living room again. She sat down on the couch, listened to make sure the load in her washer was balanced and not thumping unevenly, and reached for the phone. Her fingertips had just touched the receiver when it rang.
“Hello,” she answered, wondering if it was Norman and mental telepathy was at work. But that wasn’t the case because it was Andrea.
“Hannah?” Andrea asked a bit tentatively.
“Yes, Andrea.”
“I know you probably just got home and you’re resting, but . . . can I drive out to see you?”
Hannah didn’t hesitate even though she still had to think of something to make for Mike to eat. “Sure,” she said.
“I’ve got something for you, but I have to stop on the way to pick up some milk for tomorrow. Do you need anything?”
“I’m not sure I . . .” Hannah stopped speaking and began to smile as visions of pancakes swimming in butter and syrup danced through her head. Mike loved breakfast any time of the day or night, so she’d make pancakes and sausage. Mike also loved dessert and she was sure she had some cookies in the freezer. Teamed with the ice cream that she knew was there, they would make a fine dessert.
“Are you there, Hannah?”
“I’m here. I was just thinking about what I needed. Can you pick up breakfast sausage, quick-cooking oatmeal, milk, and maple syrup?”
“Sure. I’m writing a list. Anything else?”
“Where are you going?”
“The Quick Stop. The Red Owl’s already closed.”
“Do they have any fresh fruit out there?”
“Nothing fancy, but the last time I was there they had oranges and apples.”
“That’ll do just fine. I’ll need an apple.”
“Just one?”
Hannah considered that for a moment. If Andrea hadn’t eaten, she’d invite her to stay. And then there was Norman. When she returned his call, he might want to drive out to talk about Doctor Bev’s death. That would be dinner for four. And heaven only knew who else would call. She’d better plan for six, just in case.
“Hannah?”
“Sorry. I was trying to plan things. Better bring two apples, just in case. And you’d better bring enough breakfast sausage for six.”
“You’re expecting company?”
“Not exactly. I’m anticipating company. I never know what’s going to happen when I start to cook.”
“That’s because you’re such a good cook and everybody wants to come to your place to eat. I’ll see you in about forty . . . Hold on. I’ve got another call coming in.” Hannah held on and in less than a minute Andrea was back on the line. “That was Norman. He tried to call you, but your line was busy.”
“Of course it was busy. I was talking to you.”
“I know. That’s what I told him. You really ought to get call-waiting, Hannah.”
Hannah wisely said nothing. Her sister had been trying to talk her into getting conference calling, call-waiting, and automatic this and that ever since she’d first moved into her condo.
“I told Norman you’d call him back just as soon as you got off the phone with me. That’s okay, isn’t it?”
“That’s exactly what I was planning to do.”
“Good. I thought he sounded a little funny, but maybe we had a bad connection. I’m leaving now and I’ll be there in less than forty-five minutes.”
Hannah hung up the phone, got herself another glass of lemonade from the huge jug she kept in the bottom of her refrigerator, and returned to the couch. It was time to call Norman.
“Hannah,” Norman said, sounding pleased that she’d called. “I tried to call you earlier, but you were talking to Andrea.”
“I know. Andrea told me. I got your message, but Andrea called just as I was about to pick up the phone to return your call.”
“Are you all right?”
“I’m okay. How about you? That was really a shock.”
“Yes, especially since I was in the car with her less than four hours before it happened. She asked Tracey to go for a ride with her, and I didn’t think she should go alone, so I went along to chaperone her.”
“I know all about it. Tracey told me this afternoon.”
“I don’t think you know the whole story. Once Bev dropped Tracey off at the real estate office, she drove out to the Lake Eden Inn and insisted that I take her to lunch.”
“Dentist-napping?”
“That’s about what it amounted to. I wouldn’t have gotten in the car in the first place if it hadn’t been for Tracey.”
Norman sounded so sincere, Hannah nodded even though she knew he couldn’t see her. “I know that, Norman.”
“You know that Bev and I were through, don’t you?”
“I know.”
“She stopped by the clinic this morning and called me from her cell phone. She asked me to go for a ride and I told her I didn’t think it would be appropriate.”
Hannah smiled. That sounded like Norman. “What did she say to that?”
“She said it was just a ride and anyone could go along. She just needed someone local to show her the back way to the lake. I said okay, and I sent Doc Bennett out to show her the right road.”
“Oh, boy!” Hannah said under her breath. She had no doubt that Doctor Bev had been as mad as a wet hen. And at that moment, something else occurred to her. “You said you went to lunch with her. Tell me about that.”
“There’s not much to tell. Ask Sally and she can tell you how uncomfortable I was. I didn’t want to say anything that could possibly be misconstrued.”
“I understand that, but how about lunch? Did Doctor Bev have a lot to drink?”
“Just sparkling water. She said it was too early in the day and Roger had gotten her into the habit of having martinis at five.” Norman stopped speaking for a moment and Hannah knew the wheels were spinning in his mind. “You were thinking that she had too much to drink at lunch and that’s why she had the accident?”
“Yes.”
“Well, that’s not it. She didn’t have anything alcoholic, at least not at lunch. And she didn’t eat either. What puzzles me is Bev was a very good driver. As far as I know, she’d never had an accident before this. It makes me wonder if something went wrong with the car.”
“You must be very upset, Norman.”
Norman sighed so deeply that she heard it clearly over the phone. “I’m not very upset. And maybe that should be upsetting in itself. I don’t feel anything for her anymore, Hannah. I wrote Bev off that last night I confronted her in the Cities. When I danced with her at the grand opening of the hotel, she was like a stranger to me. I felt no connection at all. Does that make sense to you?”
“It makes sense. She wounded you in the past so you put on your protective armor. You squelched any feelings you might have and felt nothing.”
“That’s exactly it. Do you think that’s bad?”
Hannah realized that Norman sounded sad and a little anxious. It was clear to her that he needed a friend. “I don’t know. Have you eaten yet?”
“Eaten?” Norman gave a little laugh. “Now there’s a real non sequitur!” There was a long pause. “You know, I don’t remember eating. And all I had was coffee at lunch. I don’t think I’ve eaten since breakfast.”
“Well, get in the car and come out here. Andrea’s driving out, and Mike’s coming over later to take my statement about the accident. I’m going to make pancakes and sausages for everybody.”
“Are you sure you’ll have enough?”
“I always have enough,” Hannah promised. “Come out here, Norman. I really want to see you. And bring Cuddles if you want. She’s always welcome.”
OATMEAL APPLE PANCAKES
Hannah’s 1st Note: This recipe calls for you to mix everything up in a food processor. If you don’t have a food processor, you can use a blender. You could also use a food grinder to grind up the oatmeal and then mix everything up by hand. I think you could also substitute instant oatmeal , (the kind in little packages that you make in the microwave), for the quick-cook oatmeal and then mix everything up by hand.
1 small apple (I use Fuji or Gala—if you use
Granny Smith or any other tart green apple,
you’ll have to sprinkle the apple slices with sugar
before you add them to the pancakes)
1 Tablespoon lemon juice
? cup all-purpose flour
? cup quick-cooking oatmeal
2 Tablespoons white (granulated) sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
? teaspoon baking soda
? teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
? teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
? cup buttermilk or regular whole milk
2 teaspoons vegetable oil
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vegetable oil (for frying the pancakes)
2 teaspoons salted butter (for frying the pancakes)
Hannah’s 2nd Note: I’ve made these with buttermilk and with regular whole milk. Both ways are very good. If you want to try the recipe with buttermilk and you don’t have any in your refrigerator, you can easily make a substitute. Just pour 2 teaspoons of lemon juice OR 2 teaspoons of white vinegar into a measuring cup and fill the cup to the three-quarter mark with whole milk. Just let it stand on the counter for 5 minutes and it will be ready to use in this recipe.
Peel and core the apple. Cut it into very thin slices, place them in a bowl, and sprinkle them with the lemon juice. Toss them around a little with your fingers so that all the slices are coated with the lemon juice. (This will keep the apple slices from browning while you make the pancake batter.)
Place flour, oatmeal, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a food processor and process with the steel blade for 10 seconds.
Add the vanilla extract, buttermilk, vegetable oil, and egg to the dry mixture in the food processor. Process for 30 seconds or until everything is smooth and well blended.
Heat two teaspoons salted butter and one teaspoon vegetable oil in a frying pan over MEDIUM HIGH heat, or until a small amount of water sizzles and “dances” on the surface of the pan.
Use a quarter-cup measure to scoop out the batter and pour it onto the surface of the pan for each pancake.
Place 5 or 6 slices of apple on the top of each pancake. Push them down slightly into the batter with your fingers, but be very careful not to burn yourself!
When the outside edges of the pancakes show little holes where bubbles have formed and popped, but not filled in with batter again, flip the pancake over and brown the other side. If you can’t tell if there are holes on the outside edges, just lift one edge of the pancake with your spatula and peek to see if it’s golden brown on the bottom. If it is, flip it over. It it’s not, give it a minute or two longer, and then flip it over.
Fry the second side of the pancake until it’s golden brown.
Serve the Oatmeal Apple Pancakes hot off the pan with butter and syrup.
Hannah’s 3rd Note: If there are any apple slices left over, sprinkle them with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg and use another teaspoon of butter to fry them until they’re tender. Just put them in a bowl and you can serve them as a side dish with your pancakes.
Lisa’s note: I’m going to try these with well-drained crushed pineapple in the batter. I’m also going to try them with banana slices instead of the apple slices. Banana and oatmeal is a wonderful combination!
Yield: approximately 6 quarter-cup pancakes