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same Samantha Summerfield who’s on
Hello Handsome
?” Lisa asked.
    â€œThat’s right. She’s in Minneapolis visiting her family while the show’s on hiatus. Isn’t that exciting?”
    â€œVery exciting!” Lisa’s eyes were like saucers. “But why would she come here? To Lake Eden?”
    â€œBecause she wants to help our charities.” Stephanie looked smug. “She believes she can help us raise money for a worthy cause.”
    How much of a cut are you giving her?
Hannah wanted to ask. And if that wasn’t it, her second question would be,
What bargaining chip do you have to hang over her head?
But she asked nothing. Stephanie and the mayor wouldn’t tell them anyway. Instead, Hannah locked eyes with Lisa. Her glance said,
Watch out! She wants something!
And Lisa’s return glance replied,
Thanks for warning me. I’ll be careful
.
    â€œNow, not a word to anyone,” Stephanie went on, “not until the news breaks on KCOW television tonight. Agreed?”
    â€œAgreed,” Lisa breathed.
    â€œFine,” Hannah said, not particularly impressed with the sitcom actress who was gracing their charity luncheon with her presence.
    â€œThe charity drive is incredibly important this year,” Stephanie went on. “We need to raise more money than we’ve ever raised before. We have six projects that are red-flagged and we simply have to find the money to fund them!”
    Hannah and Lisa listened as Stephanie gave them an overview. It seemed that the Children’s Home needed a new roof; Jordan High had to update their computer equipment; The Senior Center had a budget that was much too small for their needs; and the Piggy Bank, a fund thatprovided clothing and school supplies for underprivileged children, had completely run out of money. Marge Beese-man, their volunteer librarian, had requested several reference works and a microfiche reader, and although Janice Cox’s preschool, Kiddie Korner, was self-sufficient, she’d asked the combined charity for the money to put in a small kitchen so that she could serve a hot lunch to her students.
    â€œAnd that’s just the tip of the iceberg,” Stephanie told them, ending her recital with a dramatic sigh. “I know times are tough right now, but my goal is to present a truly gala event, a three-day happening that everyone in the Tri-County Area will want to attend.”
    â€œAttend
and
pledge to the cause,” Mayor Bascomb added.
    â€œExactly right. Of course we can’t use the Lake Eden Community Center as a venue. It’s just too small, especially with the crowd that Samantha is bound to draw. Richard and I considered holding it at the Lake Eden Inn, but Dick and Sally are completely booked. I’m just so lucky my Richard came through for me. He spoke to Ken Purvis and since summer school doesn’t start for another two weeks, he’s agreed to let us use the Jordan High auditorium, all the grounds, including the football field and the baseball stadium, and the entire parking lot.”
    â€œDo you really think there’ll be that many people?” Hannah asked.
    â€œI
know
there will be. I’ve already received over five hundred reservations for the opening day luncheon, and more are pouring in every day. And this is before I told anyone about Samantha Summerfield.”
    â€œSo how many are you expecting?” Hannah asked.
    â€œAt least a thousand. I arranged for party tents to be set up on the football field, and the Lake Eden Nursery on Old Lake Road has agreed to bring live plants and flowersto decorate the area. It’ll be like a garden party. And after the luncheon is over?”
    Stephanie turned to her husband and the mayor continued. “Personnel from the nursery are going to sell the plants and give fifty percent of the profits to Stephanie.”
    â€œWell, not to me personally,” Stephanie gave a tinkling little laugh.