Hyacinth by Chris Keniston

Author:Chris Keniston [Keniston, Chris]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Indie House Publishing
Published: 2019-08-14T16:00:00+00:00

***

Compared to sharing dinner with the family the night before, the gathering of both friends and family for a meal tonight was louder, busier, more chaotic, but just as fun. Alan couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt more at home at a dining table, or laughed more over a meal. Well, not before today. This afternoon, lunch and cat names and one very lovely blonde animal doctor now strolling beside him down Main Street, had definitely been one of the best meals he could remember. Even with the unexpected revelation of his pen name.

“Oh, look.” Poppy pointed up the street at the fire department vehicles parked ahead. “I wonder if Cole is on duty tonight?”

“Cole?” Alan leaned in and whispered to Cindy. He didn’t remember any mention of other members of the family.

“Lily’s fiancé,” she answered back.

Now he remembered. Somewhere in all the conversations during the last two days, the subject of who was engaged to whom had come up and he had taken note of a fireman. In the back of his mind, he’d filed the information as a good reason to do a firehouse thriller. If nothing else the research would give him a valid excuse to come back to Lawford. Soon.

“How are the renovations coming on Violet’s studio?” Poppy slowed her pace to match Rose’s.

“Fortunately, she and Grant aren’t the ones doing the actual work.”

“Excuse me?” Callie raised a brow at her cousin.

Rose rolled her eyes. “I think it’s great that my sister is over the moon in love with a guy who can’t live without her, but so far I have yet to see them stand more than an inch apart from each other, and I’m pretty sure they haven’t eaten a meal alone in weeks. When I called to see if she wanted to hitch a ride up here this weekend, she had to take a rain check because they were going to some cousin of Grant’s birthday party on the Cape.”

“At least she gets along well with his side of the family,” Cindy offered.

“I suppose.” Rose’s agreement sounded less than convincing.

“Besides,” Poppy picked up the pace, “aren’t you always too busy with work?”

One side of Rose’s mouth tipped up in a bashful smile as she repeated, “I suppose.”

“Mm,” Poppy countered, her grin beaming with satisfaction. Sounds of matching notes trickled in the air and Poppy looped her arm with her sister. “They’re starting. We’d better hurry.”

The two sisters took off galloping up the street, Callie pausing long enough to grab onto Rose and drag her behind them, leaving Alan and Cindy walking unaccompanied.

“Hey.” Lily’s voiced sounded over his shoulder seconds before she and a man he assumed had to be Cole came running up beside them holding hands. “Better pick up the pace. Don’t want to miss the beginning or you won’t be able to get near the dance floor.” Not waiting for a response, giggling like a couple of little kids, the two continued up the street at a fast clip.

“What do you say?” He held his hand out to Cindy and mentally crossed his fingers.

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