Holiday Homecoming Secrets by Lynette Eason

Author:Lynette Eason
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2019-09-05T15:38:10+00:00

NINE

Jade stared at the television while her mind whirled. She and Bryce sat on either end of the sofa. Mia had tucked herself up against his side while the twins settled for the beanbags on the floor. Bryce seemed quite content to let the little girl snuggle against him, and she caught him casting glances at Mia every so often.

She loved the movie they’d chosen, but she couldn’t seem to focus. Mia’s complete adoration of Bryce threw her. Even the twins had warmed up toward him. When she put the kids to bed, she was going to have to tell him about Mia.

A knock on the door was a welcome distraction. “That’s the pizza!”

The others barely looked away from the screen. Including Bryce. Chuckling, she walked to the door and looked out. And blinked. She threw open the door. “Heather? You came! Get in here out of the cold.”

Once Heather was inside, Jade gathered the woman into a hug. Heather returned it, then stepped back. “I see you’ve got protection out there. What’s going on?”

“Just a precaution.”

While Heather hung her coat on the rack in the corner, Jade explained about the incident at the tree farm.

Her friend gaped. “That’s crazy!”

“Tell me about it. Did you take the laptop over to the captain?”

“No, I couldn’t find it. Which is weird.”

“What’s even more weird is that it was there the day we went looking for him.”

“You went to his house?”

“Bryce and I did. Bryce even suggested Frank’s password would be Heather.”

She huffed a short laugh. “He’d never do something so obvious.”

“Yeah, you’re right. We didn’t figure out the password, but the laptop was there when we left.”

Heather rubbed her head. “I don’t know where it could be, then.” Jade frowned but led her friend into the den. Heather stopped abruptly when she saw the other four.

“Oh no, you didn’t tell me this was like a family night thing. I’m interrupting.” She backed up. “I’m sorry. I’ll just come back later.”

“Absolutely not. We’re going to break out the board games when the movie is over and eat pizza. Join us, please.”

Heather hesitated. Mia got up and ran over to wrap her arms around the woman’s legs. “Stay with us, Aunt Heather. It’ll be fun.”

More hesitation, then Heather sighed and bent to kiss the child’s head. “Well, how can I refuse that?”

“Exactly,” Jade said. “Besides, you are family.”

Two hours later, the kids were tucked into bed, and Heather sat in the recliner, petting Sasha, her eyes distant. Bryce nodded that he was going into the kitchen to give them some privacy.

Jade sat across from her friend. “How are you doing?”

Anger flared in Heather’s eyes before she looked away. “Not good, Jade. I don’t know what to do with myself now. The captain won’t let me work the case, of course. I’m rattling around between two houses, looking for anything that would give us a clue as to who killed Frank, and I—” She spread her hands. “I don’t know what to do.”

“Take up painting again,” Jade said softly.

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