any attention to me. And later, when I judge the pies, I might spill something on it. Itâs gorgeous, Lisa. When Claire says she has something that would look great on you, she means it.â
âI know. She picked out the dress I wore for the wedding. And that reminds me of Marge. Just so you wonât be surprised, Marge submitted a pie for the baked goods contest tonight.â
âShe did?â Hannah was surprised. Marge baked wonderful cakes, but she wasnât known for her pies. âWhat kind of pie did she bake?â
âShe used one of Momâs apple pie recipes. I couldnât do it myself because Iâm your partner and that makes me a professional baker. But Marge tasted it, and she thought it was so good she wanted to enter it.â
âI can hardly wait to taste it. But Lisaâ¦I canât give it any special consideration just because itâs your motherâs recipe.â
âI know that, and so does Marge. We just wanted to tell you that it was coming.â
âThanks, Lisa.â
âHerb and I are going out to the fair at six with Marge and Dad. Do you want me to take the boxes of cookies to the Cookie Nook booth?â
âThat would be great.â Hannah was glad to be relieved of the task. âThen Iâll have time to stop by the hospital and bring Edna some cookies.â
âIâll pack them up for you. How many do you need?â
âSix dozen assorted ought to do it.â
Lisaâs eyes widened in surprise. âThatâs a lot of cookies for just one person.â
âOh, it wonât be just one person. I told Docâs secretary Iâd bring cookies, and sheâs probably told the nurses by now. Theyâll be in and out of Ednaâs room until the whole six dozen are gone. Ednaâs going to get round-the-clock nursing care, even if she doesnât need it.â
Chapter Eight  Â
H annah couldnât seem to keep the smile off her face. Michelle had taken second place in the bathing suit competition, and she was proud of her baby sister. That was enough to make anyone smile, but she had a second reason. Hannah was having a great time tasting pies. She liked them almost as much as she liked cookies.
All in all, it had been a good day. Hannah cut off the tip of an entry, a piece of peach pie with a little vanilla custard in the filling. The crust was tender and flaky, the peaches still held their shape and werenât overbaked, and the custard was so rich and creamy it could have gone solo and starred in its own pie.
âI take it you like this one?â Pam asked, pulling Hannah out of her reverie.
âYes, itâs delicious.â
âWe could tell. You were practically purring when you tasted it.â Pam turned to Willa. âWhat do you think?â
âIâm still deciding. I need another taste to be sure.â Willa ran one hand through her hair, a gesture Hannah had seen her make before when she was considering the merits of a particular entry. But instead of causing her hair to tangle, as it had in the past, Willaâs new layered haircut bounced right back into place.
âHave I told you I like your new haircut?â Hannah asked.
âYes. I told Bertie I wanted a new look, and this is what she came up with. I really like it, too. And itâs a good thing I do, because Iâm going to be eating nothing but peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the next month and a half.â
âThatâs a new outfit, isnât it?â Pam asked, turning from the sideboard, where she was cutting into the next pie, to look at Willa.
âYes. Everybody down at the Cut nâ Curl said my new look wouldnât be complete without a new outfit. I bought it this morning right after I got my hair done.â
âItâs a gorgeous dress,â Hannah said a bit enviously, âand itâs perfect for you. Claire has something like it down at Beau Monde
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