Read Hanging Hannah for Free Online

“She’s inside, Rhoda. I’ll stick that in the freezer for you. Thanks,” he said, relieving her of the boxes, and he disappeared inside.
    Rhoda, looking smashing in a culotte set, came over to Jane. “Hi, hon. Read any good books lately?”
    Jane smiled. “No.” She looked Rhoda up and down. “Pretty snazzy for a kids’ party.”
    â€œI,” Rhoda announced proudly, “have a date.”
    Penny, who had been fussing with the napkin pile, stopped and stared at Rhoda.
    Doris sat up straight. “Way to go, girl.”
    â€œYes, Rhoda, how wonderful,” Jane said. “May I ask who?”
    â€œYou may,” Rhoda said, beaming. “His name is Adam and I met him at an antique store in Chester.”
    â€œHe works in a store?” Doris asked flatly.
    â€œNo, Doris,” Rhoda said, rolling her eyes, “he was looking , like me.” She smiled and wiggled her perfectly tweezed brows meaningfully. “He’s terrific. This isn’t our first date.”
    â€œWay to go ,” Doris repeated.
    Somehow even Ginny in the middle of the lawn heard this, and suddenly turned toward Rhoda with a bright smile. “That’s fantastic, Rhoda!” She turned back to the kids. “Now everybody got it? Ready . . . set . . . GO!”
    â€œThanks,” Rhoda said to everyone, looking quite pleased with herself. “I’m meeting him for a movie and dinner later.”
    â€œWonderful,” Jane murmured. To her own surprise, she felt a pang of envy. Rhoda’s divorce wasn’t even final and she was already snagging terrific men in antique shops. Jane wondered if maybe she ought to develop an interest in that area.
    â€œWhat’s wonderful?” Daniel, dapper in a blue-and-white seersucker jacket over navy slacks and polo shirt, appeared bearing a small wrapped gift under his arm.
    â€œMy date,” Rhoda said, coming up to Daniel and planting a kiss on his cheek. “Good to see you.” She looked him up and down. “Damn, you’re cute. If you’re ever available, don’t you forget old Rhoda!”
    Jane looked at the easily embarrassed Daniel to see if this had flustered him, but he took Rhoda’s comment with good grace.
    â€œWhere’s Laura—your fiancée?” Jane asked, shooting a pointed look at Rhoda, who gave her a mischievous grin.
    â€œShe went in the front,” Daniel said. “Needed to use the ladies’. Now,” he said, producing a small camera from his jacket pocket, “before I forget, let’s get shots of us for that convention you got us roped into.”
    â€œWonderful think-of-everything Daniel,” Jane said. “I forgot all about it.”
    â€œI knew that,” Daniel said cheerfully, looking around. “How about right over here, in front of Louise’s azaleas?”
    â€œSounds good to me,” Jane said, feeling a flutter of nervousness in her stomach at the thought of the RAT convention and wishing he hadn’t brought it up. She positioned herself in front of the vivid mass of fuchsia flowers while Daniel took her picture; then they traded places and she took his.
    â€œGood, that’s done,” Jane said. “Thank you, Daniel.”
    At that moment Ernie emerged from the inn. He looked preoccupied, and suddenly put on a smile as he stepped out onto the patio.
    Behind him came Laura, smiling innocently. “Hello, hello.” She looked summer stylish in a short lavender dress and a matching wide-brimmed hat that sat at a perfect angle on her light brown hair and complemented her pretty heart-shaped face.
    â€œLove it,” Rhoda said, eyeing the hat.
    â€œThanks,” Laura said. “I thought it might be too—”
    But before she could finish, the wind picked up her hat and carried it high into the air. “Oh, my!” she cried.
    Daniel darted off to fetch it, but before he had reached the middle