“JB’s got a big enough ego that he’d want that wing. That’s great for Cody.”
“Yeah, I found Della’s killer and the Bransons will still look like heroes. But I can take the hit if it means freeing Cody.”
“You did good, baby.”
“Hey, y’all.” Fred slung an arm around my shoulder. “Ada and I were just talking about having a Vegas wedding. How about a road trip?”
“Vegas.” Todd’s eyes glowed. Like big blue poker chips.
I chewed my lip. Our last visit to Vegas had ended in an annulled wedding. Vegas and I had a poor history.
“Halo House has gotten too toxic for our tastes.” Ada grinned. “We want a proper wedding. Vegas would be less vice-ridden.”
“You do have a point,” I said. “As your maid of honor, I’d be happy to go. And your vows will stick, unlike mine.”
A road trip with my buddies. Like in college after final projects were due and we needed to blow off steam. I threw myself into a group hug but pulled away at my phone’s ring. I crossed to the doorway where I could keep an eye on my students and speak privately.
“Your cousin is something else,” I said. “She still blames us and my mother, like I told you she would.”
“Step-cousin. I heard. I called her. I told her I dug up that information, not you, and said we’d use it in court if she didn’t drop the charges.”
“What about your job? Won’t you get in trouble?”
“I put it this way: ‘Shawna, I’ll have to testify about how I had to investigate your father’s relationship with the defendant’s mother in order to better understand the case. Thereby revealing information about Billy Branson to a packed courtroom of Halo’s curiosity seekers. And I’ll also have to testify that I love the defendant’s sister and plan to marry her. In fairness to the court.’”
I picked up my phone from where I dropped it on the floor.
“Sugar, you still there?”
“That’s blackmail. You said it wouldn’t be blackmail. And you didn’t even need to do it. JB’ll make her drop the charges because of Miss Belvia’s will.” I glanced over my shoulder to where Todd, Fred, and Ada watched me, then swiveled my gaze to the class, now sketching Rosie’s newest pose. “But you’re willing to jeopardize your career for me? In a court of law?”
“Did you get the last part of what I said?”
I closed my eyes. The babies crawled forward, holding their arms out to me. “Have you thought about what it’ll be like for our children to have relatives who hate each other? Making snide remarks about their parents? Using holidays as a bargaining chip? I have these fears—”
“What fears?”
“Stupid fears.”
“Tell me anyway.”
“We’d have beautiful children, Luke.”
“Of course we will.”
“Your momma would fall in love with them.”
“Of course she will.”
“JB too. They’re just too adorable. One with blue eyes and one with gray—”
“Sugar, you’ve got me in a state here. Your fear is our children will be too adorable?”
I shook my head. “My fear is JB hates me and my family so much, he’ll take those babies from me somehow. Call me an unfit mother or something. Based on my past. That’s how Grandma Jo and Grandpa Ed legally took possession of us.”
“They had to declare your mother unfit.”
“Yes.”
“Listen to me. I will never let that happen to you.”
My eyes flew open. “How could you prevent it?”
“My family comes first.”
My heart sank. “Of course. Wanda is good people, but JB—”
“Cherry, you and our imaginary children are my family.”
I picked my phone off the floor again. In the classroom, Rosie stood on the chaise, one foot on the armrest and twirled her robe above her head. I looked away. Unfortunately, too late.
“You’re willing to put your career and your family on the line?” I took a deep breath. “For the person who causes you to buy heartburn and sleep medication?”
“Yes. Although I probably do need to add blood-pressure meds to that list.”
My heart swelled. And not at the thought of blood-pressure medicine. “Are you asking me to give up any monkey business?”
“I had no idea you were into monkeys.”
“I’m trying to keep them out of my circus tent. I tried hard with Belvia Brakeman, but like Ada said, I can’t help it that odd things tend to happen around me.”
“Sugar, I’m not asking you to give up anything. Except Todd McIntosh as a roommate. Although leaving drug traffickers alone would be a plus.”
“I love you.”
He paused, letting the words sink in. “So are we going to make this real? You’ll take me to Sunday dinner at the farm and break the news to your family?”
“Actually, I may not be available Sunday.” I glanced at my friends. “What do you think about a road trip to Vegas? To celebrate a wedding.”
“Whose wedding?”
“Just bring your best duds.” I grinned. “We’ll see.”
About the Author
A 2015 Georgia Author of the Year Best Mystery finalist, Larissa writes the Cherry Tucker Mystery series. Her family and Cairn Terrier, Biscuit, now live in Nagoya, Japan, but still call Georgia home. Visit her website, LarissaReinhart.com, find her chatting on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads, or join her Facebook street team, The Mystery Minions.
Books in the Cherry Tucker Mystery Series
by Larissa Reinhart
Novels
PORTRAIT OF A DEAD GUY (#1)
STILL LIFE IN BRUNSWICK STEW (#2)
HIJACK IN ABSTRACT (#3)
DEATH IN PERSPECTIVE (#4)
THE BODY IN THE LANDSCAPE (#5)
A COMPOSITION IN MURDER (#6)
Novellas
QUICK SKETCH (prequel to PORTRAIT)
(in HEARTACHE MOTEL)
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Henery Press Mystery Books
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A Composition in Murder (A Cherry Tucker Mystery Book 6) Page 29
