"A diet anything will be fine. I drank enough coffee on the plane."
Hannah rushed to the kitchen to get Norman's drink and when she came back, he was sitting on the couch with Moishe cuddled in his lap. Her cat definitely had his priorities straight this time around. She set Norman's soft drink on the coffee table and took her usual seat at the opposite end of the couch. "So what are you doing back in Lake Eden so early?"
"Andrea paged me at the convention to tell me about Sheriff Grant's murder. When she mentioned that Doc Knight had confined her to the house, I decided to come back right away in case you needed me."
"I'm glad you did. I do need you," Hannah said, smiling widely.
"Great." Norman looked pleased to hear that. "What do you want me to do?"
Hannah took a deep breath and blurted out what she'd been thinking ever since Mike had told her about the empty briefcases in Sheriff Grant's home office. "You know Nettie Grant, don't you?"
"Yes. She had some trouble with an impacted molar last year."
"Well, she went to visit relatives in Wisconsin and I need to break into her duplex to search Sheriff Grant's home office for clues. You'll help me, won't you?"
"That's illegal, isn't it?"
"Yes, but we can't let a little technicality like that stop us, not when we've got a murderer to catch. So, will you help me?"
Norman took a deep breath and let it out again. "I'll have to. There's no way I'm going to let you do it alone. When do you want to break in?"
"The sooner, the better. I'd say tonight, but I think we'd better do it in the daylight. That way we won't have to use flashlights and take the chance that a neighbor might spot us. How about tomorrow morning?"
Norman looked reluctant, but he agreed. "Okay."
"Good. You're just wonderful to come back early, Norman. I hope you didn't miss much of the convention."
"That's okay. It was boring anyway."
"Oh," Hannah said, wondering if that description included Norman's ex-fiancйe, the dentist. "How about something to eat? I know plane food's not much to write home about."
"Now that you mention it, I am a little hungry. Do you want to go out for a hamburger?"
Hannah shook her head. "No, thanks. I've already eaten, but I'll make you something here. How about a Hole in One?"
"What's that?"
"Something simple I used to fix for my college roommate when we'd stay up late studying. Basically, it's a fried egg and pan toast."
"That sounds good. Do you need any help?"
"No, it's a one-person job. Find something you want to watch on television and I'll be back with your food in a jiffy."
Hannah was smiling as she went off to the kitchen. It was great to have Norman back again. Suddenly everything seemed easier and the heavy weight she'd been carrying around on her shoulders felt lighter by half. That must be the way wives felt when they shared problems with their husbands. Did that mean she should forget Mike and marry Norman?
Making the Hole in One didn't take long. When Hannah came back into the living room with Norman's food, she found him playing the movie she'd been watching with Mike earlier. "Here's your food, Norman."
"That looks good!" Norman said with a smile, putting the movie on pause.
"It is. I still fix it for myself once in a while. I didn't realize you liked cop movies."
"I don't, not usually," Norman gave her a sheepish grin, "but this one is so bad, it's actually enjoyable."
"Let's watch it then." Hannah settled down on the couch next to him and started the movie again, not bothering to mention that she'd already seen the first half with Mike.
The dialogue was trite, the violence was gratuitous, the plot was nonexistent, and the characters were unlikable, but Hannah found that she was enjoying the movie immensely. Perhaps it was the dйjа vu of it all, the fact that she'd already seen these badly acted scenes with Mike and could almost repeat the clichйd dialogue word for word. Maybe it was because Norman laughed every time one of the actors said something insipid and he was obviously having a good time. It could have been the fact that Norman moved closer to her once he'd finished his meal and draped a friendly, protective arm around her shoulder. But probably it was because Norman was her best friend and much more.
"The end," Norman said when the movie was over.
"And it's about time!" Hannah said with a sigh. "That was the worst movie I've ever seen."
"It was almost as bad as Seattle without you. Every time I saw something funny and I turned to tell you about it, you weren't there."
"I felt the same way." Hannah wasn't surprised when Norman kissed her, but she was surprised at her enthusiastic response. It felt so good to be in his arms again. Being with Norman made her feel safe, and comforted, and contented.
Moishe gave a pitiful yowl and Norman released her. They both turned to find him sitting on the back of the couch staring at them with unfathomable yellow eyes. "Is he jealous?" Norman asked.
"I don't think so." Hannah decided not to mention the fact he'd been deposed once tonight and was probably afraid it would happen again. "He's probably tired and he's waiting for me to turn down the bedcovers."
"Speaking of tired, that's me," Norman said, glancing at his watch. "I'd better call Mother and tell her I'm back in town. If I don't, she might shoot me as an intruder when I come in."
"But isn't your mother in bed by now?" Hannah asked.
"I don't think so. It's only nine-thirty and she usually doesn't go to bed before ten."
"It's eleven-thirty, Norman." Hannah pointed at the clock on top of the television set. "Your watch must still be on Seattle time."
"You're right. I didn't think to change it. It's definitely too late to call Mother. I guess I'll just have to hope I don't scare her to death when I come in."
"Why take the chance that you'll upset her? Just stay here for the rest of the night and go home in the morning."
Norman turned to her in pleased surprise. "You mean… stay here? With you?"
"Sure. The bed in the guestroom's all made up."
"Oh," Norman said and he didn't look quite as pleased as he had before. "Thanks anyway, but I'd better go home. I wouldn't want any of your neighbors to see me leaving in the morning. They might get the wrong idea."
After Norman had left, Hannah went through her nightly ritual of locking the door, double-checking the windows, and turning off the lights. As she got dressed for bed, she wondered whether Norman would have stayed if she hadn't made it clear he'd be sleeping in the guestroom. He'd certainly never asked to stay with her, the way Mike had. But just because he hadn't asked didn't mean he didn't want to.
Hannah sighed and climbed into bed alone. She was alone for about three whole seconds. Then there was a thump that shook the mattress, and a rumbling purr as Moishe curled up on the expensive goose down pillow she'd bought for him so he wouldn't steal hers in the middle of the night.
"You’re good company," Hannah told him, reaching out to stroke his fur three times before pulling back her hand. Moishe permitted a limited amount of affection, but any more than three pets and he'd move to the foot of the bed.
Hannah pulled up the covers and snuggled in for the night, thinking about the two men she'd entertained in her living room. Both of them had kissed her and she'd enjoyed it, although their embraces were different. Kissing Norman was like taxiing to a stop at the airport after a turbulent flight. It made her feel comfortable and safe. And kissing Mike was like trying to break the land speed record. It was exciting and thrilling. Did she prefer comfort and safety to excitement and thrills? Hannah sighed and buried her head in her pillow. It was hard to choose when she wanted it all.