Squatter's Rights: An Eastern Shore Mystery by Cheril Thomas
Author:Cheril Thomas
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Tags: Mystery & Detective, Crime, Romance, Suspense, Women Sleuths, Fiction, Thriller
ISBN: 9781733412100
Publisher: Tred Avon Press
Published: 2018-05-23T23:00:00+00:00
Chapter Twenty-Seven
âI came to apologize,â Niki said as they walked back up the driveway. âIt was unreasonable of me to think you wouldnât have questions about everything, even the stuff we donât talk about, like Grandfather. Itâs just hard because some topics have always been taboo.â
âLike your grandfather.â
âLike our grandfather and Granâs drinking.â Niki looked miserable.
âMy mother?â Grace asked.
âYes.â
âAnd Iâm bringing it all to the surface.â
Niki studied the roofline of Delaney House and hugged her fleece vest to her body as if she were freezing in the unseasonably warm November sunshine. âHad to happen sooner or later,â she finally said. âIâve managed to forget how much dirty laundry we have and itâs a shock to have it all dragged out and opened up for speculation by people who werenât a part of it.â
There were areas of Graceâs own life she wouldnât want to hold up for public scrutiny. She said, âIâm sorry. Iâll try to be more sensitive to your feelings, but I have to find out why my mother left and what happened with my father. Itâs awful your family has to go through a police investigation at the same time.â
Niki rubbed her eyes and gave Grace a wan smile. âOur family. Iâll keep correcting your pronouns until you give up and accept us. You are us and God help you, we are you. All the same DNA, Grace. Family.â
It was a shaky truce, but Grace didnât want to argue anymore so she asked if Niki would like to see Emmaâs secret room and the clothes hidden away there.
Two hours sped by while they held an impromptu fashion show, preening and laughing at themselves as they struck poses in front of the tall mirror in the upstairs hall. Emmaâs clothes were all long on Niki and tight on Grace, but each of them found a few items that worked. They were debating the merits of a lemon yellow cocktail dress when they heard heavy steps on the staircase.
âHey, Cousin Grace,â Winston called out. âBryce sent me to find you and see if you want to do a walk about the property. He wants to point out a few trouble spots we found.â
âThatâs what I need, more trouble spots. Want to come?â she asked Niki, who was wearing a cashmere sweater with sleeves that came down over her fingertips.
âUh, sure. Iâll take this if itâs okay. Those scarves, too?â
âAll this stuff came out of the hidey hole Gran kept from us?â Winston asked.
Grace felt like sheâd been punched. Hidey hole? Sheâd had never heard anyone else use the term but her mother.
Winton walked into the secret room and looked around. âI canât believe I missed this,â he said as he picked up a silk scarf from a pile of clothes Niki had just gone through.
Alarm bells went off in Graceâs mind. Winston had already upended the house searching for valuables and now he was holding one of the few things Emma had managed to save.
Niki, apparently, had the same idea.
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