had spent the rest of her college vacations at their new condo in Florida. “Is Janie back for the Winter Carnival?”
“Yes, but it’s not a pleasure trip. Andrea said she’s working for Connie Mac as her personal assistant.”
“Really!” Hannah was impressed. Connie MacIntyre was the star of a popular cable television cooking show, Cooking With Connie Mac. Almost everyone in Lake Eden stayed home from three to three-thirty on Saturday afternoons to watch Connie Mac banter with her guests, give advice on how to improve your marriage, and cook a complete dinner, all in thirty minutes. An attractive woman in her early fifties, everything she touched had turned to gold. Her cookbooks were bestsellers, her chain of kitchen boutique stores was thriving, her television show had a number one rating, and copies of her monthly magazine, Home Sweet Home, were flying from the shelves of the newsstands. The Connie Mac empire, run by her husband, Paul MacIntyre, was a multi-million-dollar industry.
“Janie’s staying out at the inn with all the other Connie Mac people. Andrea and Bill are meeting her there for dinner tonight, and you’re invited, too. Andrea said to tell you that Janie would love to see you again.”
“I’d love to see her, too.” Hannah said, wondering if she’d be up for a fancy dinner out after what promised to be a hectic day.
“There’s one other thing. Mayor Bascomb dropped by to see you. He’s at the barbershop now, but he’s coming back after Gus finishes up with him.”
“Did he tell you what he wanted?”
Lisa shook her head. “Not exactly. He just said he needed to talk to you about something really serious.”
“I hope it’s not a snag in the Winter Carnival plans.” Hannah turned toward the door that led to the coffee and cookie shop. “He’ll probably want coffee. I’ll put it on.”
“It’s all made. I put it up right after he left.”
“Bless you, Lisa,” Hannah said gratefully. “Have I told you lately what a gem you are?”
Lisa gave a girlish giggle, and Hannah was reminded of just how young she was. Howie Levine, Lake Eden’s only lawyer, had broached that subject when Hannah asked him to draft their partnership agreement. Hannah had cut off his objection at the pass by insisting that Lisa was a better worker and manager than most people twice her age. Steady, reliable, and capable of handling any emergency that came their way, Hannah was certain that she’d never regret signing over a third of her enterprise to Lisa.
“Sit down and I’ll bring you a cup,” Lisa offered, motioning to a stool at the work island. “I have a feeling you’re going to need it.”
“Because of Mayor Bascomb?”
“Yes. He was really upset, Hannah. I offered him a warm Peanut Butter Melt and he said he couldn’t eat a thing.”
“Oh-oh. That’s not a good sign.” Hannah gave a deep sigh as she sat down on the stool. Mayor Bascomb had an active sweet tooth and he was wild about her Peanut Butter Melts. For him to refuse to even taste his favorite cookie meant that there was definitely trouble in the making.
Peanut Butter Melts
Preheat oven to 375ºF, rack in the middle position
1 cup melted butter (2 sticks)
2 cups white sugar***
2 teaspoons vanilla
1⁄8 cup molasses (2 tablespoons)
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup peanut butter (either smooth or crunchy, your choice)
2 beaten eggs (just whip them up with a fork)
2 ½ cups flour (no need to sift)
Microwave the butter in a microwave-safe mixing bowl to melt it. Add the sugar, vanilla, and molasses. Stir until it’s blended, then add the baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Mix well.
***If you like a sweeter cookie, add ½ cup more of sugar or roll the dough balls in sugar before baking.
Measure out the peanut butter. (I spray the inside of my measuring cup with Pam so it won’t stick.) Add it to the bowl and mix it in. Pour in the beaten eggs and stir. Then add the flour, and mix until all the ingredients are thoroughly blended.
Form the dough into walnut-sized balls and arrange them on a greased cookie sheet, 12 to a standard sheet. (If the dough is too sticky to form into balls, chill it for a few minutes and try again.)
Flatten the balls with a fork in a crisscross pattern. (If the fork sticks, either spray it with Pam or dip it in flour.)
Bake at 375ºF for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the edges are just beginning to turn golden. Cool on the cookie sheet for 2 minutes, then remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.
My niece Tracey’s Favorite PBJ snack: Spread jam on one cookie and stack another on top. Mother likes PBFs better (that’s fudge frosting between the cookie layers).
Chapter Three
“That’s all you want?” Hannah was surprised when the handsome mayor of Lake Eden nodded. She’d expected a problem of gigantic proportions, but all he’d asked her to do was meet Connie MacIntyre at the Lake Eden Inn at noon today. “Of course I’ll do it, no problem.”
“Thanks, Hannah.” The mayor brushed a nonexistent piece of lint from his jacket and reached out to take a Peanut Butter Melt from the plate Hannah had placed between them on the stainless steel surface of the work island. “You know how these celebrities are. If someone doesn’t meet her and take her on a guided tour, she’ll feel slighted.”
Hannah supposed that he was right. Connie Mac was a star and she’d expect to be treated like visiting royalty. It had been an incredible coup for Mayor Bascomb when a member of Connie Mac’s staff had called to say that she’d be honored to attend their Winter Carnival and bake the official Winter Carnival cake for tomorrow evening’s banquet. Hannah, who seldom took things at face value, suspected that the “Cooking Sweetheart” hadn’t agreed to attend this small-town event purely out of the goodness of her heart. One of Connie Mac’s kitchen boutiques was opening at the Tri-County Mall three days from now, and promoting it at the Winter Carnival was a smart business move.
“Make sure you drive past the venues on your way to town,” Mayor Bascomb instructed between bites of his cookie. “Then take her to Jordan High so she can visit the hospitality hub and see the shuttle sleighs.”
“Will do.”
“Then drive her to the community center and show her the library.
