She looked at him for a long time, but finally said, “I suppose we can give it a try and see how it works out.”
Augustus broke out in the biggest grin I’d seen on his face since he’d been back in Byerly. “Thank you, Aunt Maggie. I won’t let you down.”
I could see that he wanted to shake her hand or hug her or something, but he wasn’t sure if he should. Aunt Maggie must have seen it, too, because she said, “All right, go ahead and hug me.” She gave a big sigh as he did it, but I don’t think she minded as much as she let on. In fact, I think she was pretty pleased with the whole situation.
Naturally, Aunt Nora started to cry, but that didn’t stop her from running off to tell Uncle Buddy, Aunt Daphine, Aunt Nellie, and anybody else she could find.
Once she was out of earshot, Aunt Maggie said, “Augustus, I didn’t want to say anything in front of your mama, but I’m telling you right now that I don’t want you high on the job.”
Augustus, Richard, and I nearly choked. Then Augustus said, “I didn’t know you knew,” at the same time I was saying, “I didn’t tell her.”
“Nobody told me. I know reefer when I smell it. You youngsters may have been born in the sixties, but I lived through them.”
Richard laughed so hard I thought he was going to bust a gusset.
There was one more piece of good news that night. The Burnettes were expecting a new arrival. No, Vasti wasn’t pregnant, though anybody could tell from how worn out Arthur looked that it wasn’t from lack of trying. It was Aunt Maggie who was getting a little one.
It turned out that Rusty had slipped out one last time before Bender had him fixed. The result of that final adventure was a pregnant golden retriever. After the way Rusty had helped save her, Aunt Maggie figured the least she could do was take one of the puppies. Between Augustus and the puppy, loneliness was going to be the least of Aunt Maggie’s problems.
Later on, as Richard and I sat watching the family enjoy the party, I said, “It hasn’t been such a bad vacation, after all.”
“ ‘All’s well that ends well.’ ”
I didn’t say a word. I just grinned.
After a minute, he realized what he’d said. “No! I blew it! With only one week, two days, and twelve hours to go.”
I patted him on the shoulder consolingly. “Don’t feel too bad. You did your best.”
Then he perked up. “You know what they say. What’s gone and what’s past help should be past grief.’ The Winter’s Tale, Act III, Scene 2.” He proceeded to quote me as many Shakespearean quotes as he could come up with. I guess he figured that since he’d already lost the bet, he might as well have fun. As for me, it’s a good thing I couldn’t get a word in edgewise, or I might have confessed that I’d missed the Shakespeare, too.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Toni L.P. Kelner is the author of the Laura Fleming mysteries and the “Where are they now?” series. She has also co-edited, with Charlaine Harris, a series of New York Times bestselling fantasy-mystery anthologies, including Many Bloody Returns; Wolfsbane & Mistletoe; Death’s Excellent Vacation; and the forthcoming Games Creatures Play. Her short stories have been nominated for the Anthony, the Macavity, and the Derringer, and she has won the Agatha Award. Under her pseudonym Leigh Perry, she writes the Family Skeleton mysteries.
ALSO BY TONI L.P. KELNER
SKELETON FAMILY MYSTERIES
(writing as Leigh Perry)
A Skeleton in the Family
LAURA FLEMING MYSTERIES
Down Home Murder*
Dead Ringer*
Trouble Looking for a Place to Happen*
Country Comes to Town*
Tight as a Tick*
Death of a Damn Yankee*
Mad as the Dickens*
Wed and Buried*
ANTHOLOGIES CO-EDITED WITH CHARLAINE HARRIS
Many Bloody Returns
Wolfsband and Mistletoe
Death’s Excellent Vacation
Home Improvement: Undead Edition
An Apple for the Creature
Games Creatures Play (forthcoming from Ace)
“WHERE ARE THEY NOW?” SERIES
Curse of the Kissing Cousin (originally published as Without Mercy)
Who Killed the Pinup Queen?
Blast from the Past
*available as a Jabberwocky ebook
THANK YOU FOR READING
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Toni L.P. Kelner - Laura Fleming 05 - Tight as a Tick Page 25
