by Beth Byers
The table seemed to gasped in unison as they stared at Nancy.
“That’s enough, Nancy,” Talfryn said. He looked on in shock at his wife, but he couldn’t be surprised, could he? He was married to the shrew. I didn’t buy his reaction. Or, perhaps Fionnula’s either. The reaction at the table said that there had been too much truth in that statement about Fionnula’s bitterness. Maybe she was jealous of the life that Zee had made? Or of Carver? Or of having her choice of Carver and Peter?
“Maybe I did fight to the end,” Fionnula said, gasping. “If you had a heart at all, you might realize what it was like to be in love. It hurt that Kalvin left me. It hurt that he cheated. So, I wanted to hurt him back. You’d do the same if it were Talfryn. Don’t pretend you wouldn’t. The only reason Talfryn hasn’t left you and found a mistress is that you’re too scary to cheat on.”
“Hey now,” Talfryn said softly, “Hey now.”
“Please,” Fionnula snapped. “No one could love Nancy. Even her kids can only do it half the time. Why aren’t your other three kids here, fancy Nancy? What did Bridget say? I’m not burning my time off with you? She didn’t even bother to lie. Unlike Joyce? What was it? I can’t Mom. Not even if you get Grandma to pay for me to go. Except I saw Joyce’s Facebook posts. Isn’t she in New Orleans? That must burn. Having your kid reject you for her boyfriend’s mom? Didn’t you love the post where they had ‘mother and daughter’ time? There Joyce was cozied up to another mother. She isn’t even trying to hide it. Lies to your face and lets the world know that she hates you with each and every post.”
“I thought Joyce was at a work conference,” Talfryn said, suddenly sounding exhausted.
“You all are a pack of animals turning on each other,” Helen said. “I raised you better than this.”
Zee’s mocking laughter was the only reply to that.
Chapter Ten
“You are a rude, terrible, ungrateful,” Helen stood, pressing her hands into the table and as she did, she stumbled without finishing her tirade. Everyone gasped, but before she fell, Fionnula grabbed her.
“Mom? Mom, sit down. Are you ok? Do you need your medicine?”
Helen slapped Fionnula away and reached out a shaking hand to take her glass.
“Medicine?” Zee asked, gaze fixated on her mother.
I saw the yellowed skin again, my eyes focused on her hands where even around her nails was a little yellowed.
“You’re sick,” I breathed. I looked at Zee and realized that she was coming to the same conclusion. “You’re dying.”
Helen shot me a nasty look and slowly pulled a cup of water to her face. She pressed her lips together and said, “My liver is diseased. My kidneys are failing. I have some heart trouble. We have pretty good genetics in general, but—I got a bad mix. It’s just a matter of time now.”
Zee stared at her mother, paling. It must be terrible to realize your mom was dying and that any chance for a relationship that wasn’t embittered was ending as well. I took Zee’s hand.
“I just wanted Zee to be taken care of,” Helen said. “Peter could have done that.”
I shook my head. I didn’t believe it and I didn’t think Zee did either. Helen wanted one more chance to make Zee do what had always been Helen’s plan.
“So you brought Peter out here to finally manipulate Zee into marrying Peter? How?”
“Peter seemed to think he could get Zee alone and talk her into it. He told me he had a plan.”
I looked at Zee who gazed back at me. Neither of us could see it. It wasn’t like this was the 1800s when being caught alone could force a couple into marriage.
“I don’t believe that,” I said. “Not even a little bit. I don’t see how you could either.”
Helen paused and then said, “I thought maybe a promise to a dying mother—”
Zee snorted meanly and I sat back. I looked from face to face. Laney wasn’t shocked by her grandmother’s revelation, but she hadn’t known about her dying. She’d have said so. Clark looked disgusted as did Camise. Fionnula…my gaze flicked over her face and met her gaze. She shrugged a little bit.
But she didn’t make sense. Why would she care who Zee married? Surely this was wrapped up in the impending death and—of course! And the impending inheritances. Peter couldn’t have affected anyone’s inheritance though. Fionnula, no. No it didn’t make sense. Camise and Clark didn’t make sense. Zee would have thrown the money in Helen’s face. I turned to Talfryn and Nancy.
Neither of them were surprised. Talfryn’s jaw was clicking over and over and over. Peter’s death wouldn’t change Talfryn’s inheritance either. He’d get the money. He and Nancy would. If Helen split her money evenly.
“Are all of your children inheriting equally?” I asked Helen but my gaze stayed fixed on Nancy. It was all coming together, and I hated it.
“Currently,” Helen snapped. Her voice was sour, but I didn’t turn from Nancy.
“Peter’s death won’t change Camise, Fionnula, or Zee’s inheritance,” I said flatly.
Nancy paled, swallowing. “You can’t think…”
I glanced at Talfryn. His jaw was clicking over and over and over.
“You killed Peter?” Fionnula demanded with a terrible gasp.
“No, no, no,” Nancy said. “No of course I didn’t.”
Talfryn was a mild man for such a slew of strong sisters. Zee was unconquerable. Fionnula had gotten a bitter vengeance on her ex-husband. Camise, despite being the favorite, had ignored her mother’s wants to admire Zee’s strength and purpose.
Talfryn wasn’t weak.
“How could you?” Helen asked.
“I didn’t! I didn’t!”
“Why would she?” I asked, watching the couple. “Why would Nancy kill Peter?”
I looked at Zee who was staring at her brother and his wife.
“Why would she, you idiot?” Helen said. “I didn’t tell her I was dying. Her or Talfryn. They’re under too much stress. And it was Nancy who wanted Peter to come. She arranged it all and suggested it to me. She knew I still worry about Zee.”
I shot Helen a look that told her I didn’t buy her maternal concern. Helen was no more maternal that a shark.
“It was Nancy’s plan wasn’t it? To bring along Peter?”
“Yes,” Helen said slowly. “And what can she gain out of it?”
“What indeed?”
Nancy met my gaze and she said slowly, “I didn’t kill, Peter. I wouldn’t have.”
“You love him,” I finished for her.
She darted a terrified look at Talfryn and then admitted, “Yes. He was there, supportive, helping. Talfryn had to work. He was always busy.” She probably thought confessing to cheating was better than murder. In another audience, she might have been right. But these people loved Talfryn. They shared blood with him. They had known her for years and watched her manipulate and make him miserable. It was not a kind audience.
“Always gone. Working so hard to provide for you. But it wasn’t enough.”
“It was never enough! I worked endlessly for her and the kids, putting up with her for them. Just like Mom said was right. And then Nancy drove them all away. Only Henry even stuck around and he’d rather be in a tent than the same house as his mother,” Talfryn shouted.
“She let him weasel his way into your home, into your bed,” I told him gently. Over and over and over again, Talfryn’s jaw clicked. My gaze darted to Carver and a slight movement of his hand told me to keep going. “And she brought him here, too. As if your home wasn’t enough. She brought him here and thrust him on your sister. Why?”
“They told me it was over,” Talfryn said. “They said it was just an act of madness. They told me they were sorry. But I found them this morning.”
Ew! That couch was going after all.
“But they weren’t sorry, were they? Nancy had to know her clock was ticking with you. Sooner or later you’d find that same inner steel that Zee has and you’d get fed up. Just like F
ionnula you’d take everything. Just like Fionnula you’d make your wife pay. That’s why she brought him. She lied and then moved him in on Zee. They wanted her money too. They were so greedy.”
Talfryn’s jaw clicked, but he didn’t reply. He was probably telling himself to say nothing.
“But then…”
“What was Peter going to do, Nancy? Just tell Zee the money was at stake? Ask her to fake a marriage and sign a contract, so he’d get half? Better half than nothing, right?”
“I don’t know the details of his plan,” Nancy said, “I can’t believe he’s gone…”
“It makes sense,” Zee said. “It wouldn’t have worked, but Peter was always more confident of his capacity to weasel his way in that he could pull off. At least with me. I guess he figured that if he could manipulate Mum and you, Nancy—even I would give in eventually.”
“Oh Talfryn,” Camise said, “Why didn’t you just divorce her?”
“That was her plan,” he shouted. “Her plan was to divorce me and take half the money. She’d get it too, and the house. We’ve been married forever. She’d have gotten everything she wanted, but none of what she deserved.”
“And then it would be that long-time friend of yours. The one who’d betrayed you living in your home while your ex manipulated your children home there instead of to where you’d be. What you slaved over, he’d have taken it all.”
Talfryn’s jaw had snapped shut again, but it had been enough. I hated how, once again, I could empathize with a murderer. He’d been betrayed for years by his best friend and his wife. He’d worked for years while Peter had moved in on Talfryn’s family. They didn’t just plan on taking all he’d worked for. They’d had their eye on Zee’s inheritance too.
“You’re a nasty piece of work,” I told Nancy.
She cried, moaning, “You don’t understand.” It was a plea for understanding and sympathy. She wouldn’t get any here.
“I’m going to ruin you,” Camise told Nancy, cooly. “Everyone will know what you did to Talfryn. Your children. Your church. Your bookclub.”
“Everyone,” Fionnula echoed. “You’ll go to the grocery store and people will mutter about you. You’ll have nothing left. When we’re done with you.”
“And the lawyer I’m hiring for Talfryn will make sure you get nothing in the divorce,” Zee added. She watched Nancy squirm as Talfryn broke into laughter at the look of horror on Nancy’s face.
“You wouldn’t,” Nancy moaned.
“They would,” Talfryn laughed. “He deserved to die. And you deserve what’s coming to you, fancy Nancy. Turns out they were right in high school. Putting on airs. Pretending you’re better than everyone else. You’re a cheating slut, Nan. You’re a cheating slut and our kids and grandkids are going to hate you for what you’ve done. Just like I hate you.”
“Don’t say another word, Talfryn.” Helen ordered. “You’re a fool. You shouldn’t have said anything.”
Simon rose, walking over to Talfryn as Simon gently said, “Come with me.”
It was Simon who arrested and took Talfryn in. Zee shot me a look, asking for help. I handed her my phone. “Call the lawyer. He’s good.”
Talfryn would serve time. He’d confessed to murder. But he was Zee’s brother. Whatever we could do to make that time a little better was okay by me. In my opinion, he deserved punishment. But I was fine with a low-security prison. It wasn’t like he was a risk to anyone else, and I didn’t like to imagine someone Zee loved behind bars and between cement walls. Maybe a prison camp? I hoped the lawyer we hired would be able to make that happen.
Helen rose regally, taking back her role as matriarch. She cleared her throat and said, “Zapphirah. As always, you are a disappointment.”
My mouth dropped and Laney shot to her feet. Helen held up a hand and said, “I will do what is right by you, as I have always done.”
“I don’t want your money,” Zee said. “I’ve never wanted it.”
“Regardless,” Helen said, turning to walk from my dining room. She paused without looking back and ordered, “Fionnula.”
Zee’s sister shot her a look, muttered, “She’s sick,” and left.
“She’s a ripe cow,” Camise told Fionnula’s back. Camise took her husband’s hand and added, “I love our mother, but she’s horrible to you, Zee. I always have been proud of you for not letting that hold you back.”
Camise and Clark left after giving Zee awkward hugs and shaking hands with Carver.
I turned to Nancy and simply said, “Get out of my house.”
Nancy’s eyes welled, her jaw dropping.
“Now,” I snapped.
Zee placed a piece of pizza on her plate, grabbed the wine that Az had poured for everyone, and said, “Well now. That was…”
“Terrible,” Az finished for her. “We love you, Zee.”
“You can’t really expect me to leave?” Nancy whined.
“Better go,” Zee said. “Before we throw you out.”
Nancy glanced between all of us, looking for a sympathetic eye and found nothing. She whimpered and fled down the hall towards my guest bedroom. I hoped the hotels in Silver Falls were full. With any luck, she’d be on her way out of town within hours.
Carver crossed to Zee, pulling her out of her chair, and laying a passionate kiss on her lips. “Zee. You are even more remarkable now that I see the hole you dug yourself out of. Your family is terrible.”
Laney laughed, a tear-filled squawk and she moved to the end of the table, shoving away Talfryn and Nancy’s plates before Laney paused. She considered and then said, “You know. I’m just going to make sure Nancy goes.”
In a few minutes it was just Az, Zee, Carver and myself.
“What I want to know,” Zee suddenly announced after draining her wine glass and eating another massive bite of the cold pizza. “Is who Az is dating.”
“I’m not dating anyone,” Az said mildly. His blush proved that there was something to know.
“Think about it, Zee,” I said suggestively. She shot me a blank look while Az quickly rose.
I raised my brows at him, silently demanding an explanation.
He stuttered, finally grinding out, “I’ll just go get the dogs.”
He probably couldn’t have escaped me with any other statement, but I wanted my dogs back where they belonged. I watched him almost run out of my house with a smile on my face. He had to come back, the fool. He wouldn’t get away so easily next time.
My gaze met Zee’s and she demanded, “Well?”
“Love is brewing between Az and Maddie.”
Zee’s jaw dropped and a slow grin crossed her face. It didn’t remove all of the horror that had filled the evening, but it was enough to take away the worst of it. She looked at Carver who was staring at her.
“You know,” he said. “I knew your family had to be crazy.”
Zee snorted meanly in agreement.
“It takes a special kind of madness to make someone as layered as you.”
I laughed at that. “Layered is one way of putting a mean shrew with an attitude as blunt as a baseball bat.”
“It makes you all the more amazing,” Carver said, cupping her jaw.
I smiled, staring between the two of them. His gaze was fixed on hers and I could feel the love between them. It was beautiful.
“Marry me, Zee,” he said.
“You want me after that?” She asked meanly.
“I want you more, now,” he said, biting the tip of one of her fingers.
“That kind of crazy doesn't come along every day,” Zee told me with a bit of a snarl. “I guess I’ll keep him.”
The last bit had been soft and sweet. He grinned as he said, “I can’t wait to see the look on your mom’s face when you tell her.”
“Another chance to disappoint her,” Zee said, losing a glimpse of happiness.
“Another chance,” I said, desperately hoping, “For her to get it right.”
“Either way,” Car
ver said, leaning in, “We’ll get it right.”
“Damn straight,” Zee told him, finishing the distance between them and kissing him within an inch of his life.
The End
Hello! Hello! Can I just take a moment to gush over how much I love you for reading my books and giving me a chance? Writing is the best thing ever! Almost as awesome are reviews, and indie folks, like myself, need them desperately! If you wouldn’t mind, I would be so grateful for a review.
The sequel to this book, Lemonade & Loathing will be out soon! You can preorder it here if you’re interested!
FYI, I write under my real name, Amanda A. Allen, as well. If you like books with a paranormal twist, you’ll find I’ve written plenty! Books and updates for both names are available through my newsletter If you’d like to sign up, click here.
If you want book updates, you could follow me on Facebook by clicking here for Beth Byers. Or here for Amanda A. Allen.
Also By Beth Byers
The 2nd Chance Diner Mysteries
Spaghetti, Meatballs, & Murder
Cookies & Catastrophe
(found in the Christmas boxset, The Three Carols of Cozy Christmas Murder)
Poison & Pie
Double Mocha Murder
Cinnamon Rolls & Cyanide
Tea & Temptation
Donuts & Danger
Scones & Scandal
Lemonade & Loathing (Coming July 2018)
Wedding Cake & Woe (Coming August 2018)
The Brightwater Bay Mysteries
(co-written with Carolyn L. Dean and Angela Blackmoore)
A Little Taste of Murder
(found in the Christmas boxset, The Three Carols of Cozy Christmas Murder)
A Tiny Dash of Death
A Sweet Spoonful of Cyanide
