"Goodness, no."

"Oh, come on, Shirley, let your feathers dangle a little. Gabriel isn't going to hear about this."

"I don't think we should risk it," she said cautiously. "Really. Shouldn't we talk this out?"

Goodness shook her head. "Are you in or out, Shirley? It's time to separate the wheat from the chaff."

"Ah ..."

Goodness and Mercy started to pull away. "I'm in," Shirley said hastily. "I just hope I don't end up playing a harp for all eternity."

The talk filled the deli all day, until Hannah was sick of hearing about it. Some people, obviously tourists, claimed that the Statue of Liberty had done a 360-degree turn. It was by far the most ridiculous thing Hannah had ever heard.

Someone from the financial district claimed he'd watched the grand lady make the complete rotation. There were said to be news tapes of it as well.

Hannah remained skeptical. Years earlier, some magician claimed to have made the Statue of Liberty disappear. All this talk now didn't impress Hannah. Besides, she had other matters on her mind.

She needed to see Joshua and had been unable to reach him all afternoon. Making phone calls during business hours was difficult for her. Privacy was always at a premium in the kitchen, and she didn't dare risk someone listening in on her conversation.

When she had a free moment, a rare commodity this busy time of the year, she raced upstairs and phoned Joshua's office. Unfortunately he was out, but his secretary promised to give him the message as soon as he returned.

But Joshua couldn't return her call, and they both knew it, so Hannah was left to fret. When she did see him, she wasn't sure she could tell him about what happened.

December was the busiest month for the deli. Her father's meat and cheese trays had a reputation that was citywide. After the normal lunchtime rush, Hannah was left to deal with people who stopped by to order the trays.

She was busy with a customer when she saw Joshua. Although she was desperate to talk to him, this was the worst possible place.

"I think I'll change that from slices of cheddar cheese to Monterey Jack," Mrs. Synder, a longtime customer, was saying.

Hannah bit into her lower lip and watched as Joshua made his way to the counter where her father was making thick pastrami sandwiches.

"Monterey Jack," the woman repeated, louder this time.

"Oh, sorry," Hannah said, and quickly made the notation.

"Do you have Greek olives?"

"Yes. No," she said quickly, correcting herself.

"Do you or don't you?" came the impatient question.

"No, I'm sorry." Hannah forced herself to concentrate on completing the order form.

"How much will that be?"

Grateful that she was close to finishing, Hannah quickly tallied the figures.

"Really? I expected it to be much more than that," Mrs. Synder said, looking pleased.

Hannah immediately refigured the total. She was prime for making a mistake.

"Do you still serve that fantastic cheesecake?" the woman asked.

A male voice answered the question for her. "It's the best in New York."

Joshua.

Hannah's head snapped up. "Thank you," she said, her gaze connecting with his. "My mother makes it herself."

"Throw one in for me, then," Mrs. Synder said, grinning broadly.

"I'll be happy to." Hannah added the cheesecake to the tally. "Everything will be ready for you the afternoon of the twenty-second."

"Thank you for your help."

Hannah's gaze moved past Mrs. Synder to Joshua. His eyes were warm and tender as they met hers.

"Can I help you?" she asked, turning the page on her ordering pad. She could feel the color creep up her neck. Anyone who knew her well would realize that Joshua wasn't just any customer.

"Hello, beautiful."

"Joshua," she mumbled under her breath, "be careful, someone might hear you."

"That doesn't bother me. You are beautiful."

"Thank you. I think you are, too."

He laughed then, but not loudly enough to attract attention. "You phoned me?"

She nodded and chanced a look in her father's direction. She was grateful to see that he was otherwise occupied. Her mother was busy in the kitchen but could appear at any moment.

"You talked to Carl?"

She hesitated, then nodded. "But I wasn't able to break the engagement."

Even from her side of the counter, Hannah could sense Joshua's frustration.

"I couldn't tell him, not then," she hurried to explain. "When I arrived, I learned that he'd been fired from his job. He got in an argument with the headmaster. Carl was depressed and miserable. I couldn't add to his distress."

"What do you plan to do, marry him and make him feel better?"

"Of course not."

"That's what it sounds like, Hannah." His voice was gentle, but she knew he was disappointed.

"I'd never marry Carl. I promise you that. Please, you've got to believe me."