Deal of a Lifetime by T. R. McClure

Author:T. R. McClure
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2017-10-18T04:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

“PASS THE JELLY.” Aunt Hope sat opposite her at the kitchen table, her gaze focused on a piece of dry toast on a saucer.

“So you are speaking to me.” Sera pushed the jar of grape jelly within reach of her great-aunt.

Hope scooped a clump of jelly from the jar and spread it on her toast. She cut the bread diagonally and then set the knife next to her plate. She took a bite, all the while avoiding looking at Sera.

“Then again, maybe not.” Sera rose from her chair and retrieved the iced tea from the refrigerator. “That’s your lunch? Toast and jelly?”

“So in addition to telling me where I should live, now you’re telling me what I can and cannot eat.”

Sera resisted the urge to slam the refrigerator door. “Just concerned about your health.”

“You’re too kind.” Hope’s words dripped with sarcasm, an emotion Sera was surprised to hear from her normally pleasant great-aunt.

She hated that tone of voice. “Aunt Hope, what else can I do?”

“Does Chance know about this?”

“Chance doesn’t care about the farm. Besides, I have his power of attorney.” She filled her glass with tea and put the pitcher within reach of her great-aunt.

“Your father always said you were a smart girl.”

Sera shot her great-aunt a look. “He’s too busy having fun in Nashville, going for the big time, just like Dad. Only I’m not Mom. I’m not content to stay here and plant and plow and pull weeds just so everybody else can get what they want.”

“Chance would not agree. I know he wouldn’t.”

The screen door opened. “Did I hear my name?” Chance stood in the open doorway, duffel bag over his shoulder and carrying his guitar.

Sera’s mouth dropped open. “What are you doing here?”

“What? I can’t come home to visit?” He dropped his duffel bag next to Rocky’s dog bed and leaned the guitar case in the corner. Then he walked over to his aunt and kissed her on the cheek. “I didn’t want to miss Cy’s big Fourth of July party.”

“You don’t know how happy I am to see you.” Aunt Hope rose and returned his kiss. She looked over her shoulder at Sera. “We have a lot to talk about.”

Sera checked through the open door. There was no trace of a car. “How did you get here?”

“April dropped me off.” Chance grabbed a glass from the cupboard.

“April Madison?” Sera couldn’t believe her ears. Chance had been acting strangely lately. But April Madison? The flight attendant?

“Yep.” Opening the refrigerator door, Chance stood staring at the contents. “You two don’t eat much, do you?”

Hope walked over to the cupboard and withdrew a jar. “Here’s some peanut butter. You always liked my grape jelly. We have homemade bread. All the fixin’s for a PB and J.”

“That’ll hold me until we get to Cy’s. He always has a big spread.” Chance poured a glass of iced tea and settled onto Hope’s vacated seat. He grabbed two slices of bread and then stopped. He glanced from one to the other with narrowed eyes.

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