Peach Cobbler Murder Read Online Free Page B

before. “That’s one of the reasons I love you, Hannah. You’re always thinking of other people, even when you’re in trouble.”
    â€œBill and I talked before he went back to the station.” Andrea gave Hannah’s hand another squeeze. “If you need to borrow money, we’ll take out a line of home equity on the house.”
    Hannah was so touched it took her a moment to find her voice. “I couldn’t ask you to do that, not when I know that Vanessa can afford to run their business at a loss for a whole year. Don’t even consider it. You and Bill and the kids come first.”
    â€œI’m not married and I don’t have kids,” Norman said. “I’ve got some savings and I’ll lend you enough to tide you over.”
    â€œThank you, but no,” Hannah said forcefully enough to erase all doubt that she’d change her mind. “Both of you are really sweet to offer, but throwing money at the problem won’t help. If our business at The Cookie Jar doesn’t pick up by the end of the month, it’s not going to pick up at all.”
    â€œWhat are you going to do if it doesn’t?”
    â€œLiquidate. We’ll sell the capital assets and I’ll give Lisa her share in cash. She’ll be able to find something else, and even if she doesn’t, Herb’s got a good job.”
    â€œBut that’s just awful! Mother’s got money. She could…” Andrea stopped in mid-sentence after one glance at Hannah’s expression. “Okay. Forget that. There’s no way you want to ask Mother. But family is supposed to stick together and…I don’t know what else to do! If I could figure out a way to get rid of Shawna Lee and Vanessa, I’d do it in a flash!”
    There was a note of panic in Andrea’s voice that worried Hannah. Her younger sister was really upset. “Take a giant step back and wait for the Southern Peach Cobbler. If it’s good, we have cause to worry. If it’s not, we can relax a little. Then the Magnolia Blossom Bakery is just a flash in the pan and our customers will be back when they get tired of inferior baked goods.”
    As if on cue, Lisa appeared bearing four bowls of Peach Cobbler with vanilla ice cream melting in rivulets on the top. “Here you go. I hope you hate it!”
    Hannah laughed. Lisa, who never said anything bad about anyone and seldom criticized anything, was already giving the signature dessert a thumbs-down. “Did you taste it?”
    â€œI had a bite in the kitchen, but don’t let that influence you. Make up your own minds.”
    Andrea raised the spoon to her mouth and took a bite. “This is really good ice cream.”
    â€œIt’s Bridgeman’s. Taste the cobbler.”
    Andrea spooned up a bite of cobbler and tasted it. She chewed, swallowed, and shrugged. “It’s funny, but I’ve got the strangest feeling I’ve tasted this somewhere before. And before you ask, today’s the first time I’ve ever been in the Magnolia Blossom Bakery.”
    â€œBut what do you think of it? Is it good?”
    Andrea frowned slightly. “There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s…okay.”
    â€œJust okay? ” Hannah asked, feeling pleased when Andrea nodded. She tried a spoonful for herself and decided that her sister was right. It was generic peach cobbler, acceptable, but no better than that. “What do you think, Norman?”
    â€œIt tastes like the peach cobbler you’d get at a twenty-four-hour coffee shop. There’s nothing really wrong with it, but I wouldn’t go out of my way to order it again.”
    â€œThen we all agree,” Hannah said, giving a little sigh of relief. “But this place is empty and theirs is full. If it’s not the baked goods, why have all our customers deserted us for the Magnolia Blossom?”
    â€œDo you think it’s the outfits they wear?”