Never Con A Con Man (An Arizona High Country Mystery Book 1) by Suzanne Floyd

Author:Suzanne Floyd [Floyd, Suzanne]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Published: 2018-04-17T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TEN

Jim hosted a big party every Thanksgiving, but after Max was murdered he had canceled it this year. The gathering would be much smaller with only a few friends and family attending. With two funerals only days before Thanksgiving, and the town’s money still missing, few people felt much like celebrating, especially Jim. The threat of the big box store moving in had people arguing over what would be best for the town.

The small mom and pop stores would all be boarded up, and the downtown would be deserted. Even those in favor of the big store coming here didn’t want to see that happen.

Mona, Drake’s and Bill’s mother, had always shared the holidays with the family when I’d been living here. It wasn’t any different now. Unfortunately, Jane objected to Mona having anything to do with the family.

People were gathered in the great room when I arrived with my dish for the potluck dinner. Propane heaters had been set up on the patio in case anyone wanted to go outside. All conversation in the great room stopped at the sound of Jane’s screeching voice coming from the kitchen. “Why does she have to be here? She doesn’t belong here.”

For a moment I thought she was talking about me. I was still persona non grata as far as she was concerned because I had questioned her about leaving Hannah alone. I couldn’t help but eavesdrop. My feet were rooted to the spot, and her voice was loud enough to carry across the room.

“Keep your voice down. She’ll hear you.” Jim always tried to keep the peace, but it wasn’t working this time.

“Good, maybe she’ll leave. I’m tired of her popping in anytime she wants. You’d think this was still her house the way she just takes over every time she’s here.”

“She doesn’t ‘pop in’, and she might not feel it was necessary to take over if you’d do something around here.” I’d never heard Jim talk to her like that before. Maybe he was getting tired of the way she treated everyone, him included. “She will always be welcome in my home.”

“This is my home, too. Either you tell her to leave, or I will.”

“You’ll do no such thing. She is still Drake’s and Bill’s mother.”

“That may be so, but she isn’t Hannah’s mother. I am. She has no business being here to celebrate Hannah’s birthday. I want her gone.”

Hannah’s first birthday was two days away. Jim had decided to celebrate her birthday along with Thanksgiving. Probably not a good idea, I thought.

“I think everyone has heard enough for one day, don’t you, Jane?” Drake had entered the kitchen from the outside door.

“Shut up, Drake. This is none of your business. You’re as bossy as your mother. This is my house, not yours.”

“This will always be home to all of my children. You need to settle down.” At the crack of a hand hitting flesh, I jerked back. I wasn’t sure what Drake would do next. I didn’t know about the others, but I’d heard enough.

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