Double Fudge Brownie Murder (Hannah Swensen series Book 18) Read Online Free PDF Page A

can’t think of anyone who would object to taking orders from her.”
    “That’s settled then. And here we are at the Amante del Sol.”
    “I’ve always wanted to come here,” Delores said, looking out the window as their driver pulled into a circular driveway and joined a line of cars who were unloading passengers. “It’s just gorgeous, Doc! I’m really going to enjoy this.”
    “It’s only three nights, Lori.”
    “But . . . I thought you said we were going to be gone for ten days.”
    “We are. Today’s Thursday. We stay tonight and Friday and Saturday nights. Then, on Sunday morning, a car picks us up to take us to the airport and we fly to Seattle.”
    “Seattle?” Delores looked surprised, but Hannah could tell that she was also intrigued. “Why Seattle?”
    “That’s where we catch the ship.”
    Delores gave a delighted giggle. “ What ship?”
    “The Jewel . It’s part of the Norwegian Cruise Line. I’m taking you to Alaska to see our last frontier. I’ve always wanted to ride on a dog sled and touch a glacier.”
    Delores shivered. “But . . . I didn’t bring a parka!”
    “Oh, yes you did. Claire chose a whole winter cruising wardrobe for you. It’ll be waiting for you when we get to our stateroom. I booked a family suite for us because, knowing Claire, I figured you’d probably need two closets.”
    Delores laughed. “You’re probably right. Will we get to see whales and bears?”
    “Definitely. Moose, too. And maybe even some timber wolves and an elk or two.”
    “Oh, my! I should have packed my camera!”
    “You did. Or rather, Andrea did. It’s in the suitcase in the trunk of this limo.”
    “Thank you, Andrea!” Delores turned to smile at her middle daughter.
    “You’re welcome, Mother,” Andrea responded. “I hope I didn’t forget anything.”
    “I’m sure you didn’t, dear. And if you did, I can always replace it either here or on the boat.”
    “Ship,” Doc corrected her. “They get testy if you call it a boat.”
    “Really!” Delores stared at him in confusion. “Have you been on a cruise ship before?”
    “Never, but after my father died, my mother went on quite a few cruises. She said the salt air was invigorating and when she was on a ship, she felt ten years younger.”
    “This is sounding better and better,” Delores declared. “If we just stay on that ship, will I turn into your teenage bride?”
    “You are my teenage bride. And you’re also my beautiful young lady bride. And my lovely mature woman bride. And . . .”
    “Stop!” Delores interrupted him. “I’m getting older and older and you’ve gone far enough. I absolutely forbid you to even think the word geriatric .”
    Doc burst into laughter and, much to Hannah’s amazement, so did Delores. As far as Hannah knew, her mother had never joked about her age before. She’d always pretended to be younger than her calendar years, but now that she was in love with Doc, she’d dropped the whole pretense. Perhaps it was because her age was clearly written on her medical records and Doc knew precisely how old she was. Or perhaps, just perhaps, it was the fact that she didn’t have to pretend any longer, now that she was about to marry the man she loved.
    Five minutes later, Hannah, Michelle, and Andrea were being whisked up to the eighteenth floor in an elevator that rose so quickly, it almost took their breath away. They walked down a long, beautifully carpeted hallway, following the directional signs until they arrived at the rooms the desk clerk had printed on the sleeve that held their electronic room keys.
    “We’re here,” Andrea said, arriving at the door. “And you’re right next to us, Hannah. You’ve got a single and Michelle and I are sharing a double.”
    For one brief moment, Hannah felt like offering to switch with one of them. It would be nice to have a roommate. But then she opened her door, took one look at her room, and squelched that idea. Her room was huge and it