Sweet Tea and Sympathy by Molly Harper

Author:Molly Harper
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Gallery Books

MONDAY MORNING BEGAN with Bob and Margot pulling into the McCready’s parking lot and finding Frankie loading embalming equipment into the funeral home van. Margot cast a sidelong glance at Bob, who didn’t seem at all alarmed that his daughter was absconding with thousands of dollars’ worth of sterilized stainless steel. Of course, Bob seemed to be ignoring the fact that their “upselling” argument had ever happened, so Bob was clearly pretty open to denial.

Margot hopped out of the truck, shuddering as her suit jacket seemed to vacuum seal around her body with the force of the humidity. It was a rare cloudy day on the lake, the water gunmetal gray and flat as a dime. Leslie called out from the Snack Shack, and Bob raised both hands to wave to her.

Shaking her head, Margot picked her way across the parking lot on her needle-thin heels. She was proud that she managed the gravel much more easily than she had when she’d first arrived.

“What are you doing, Frankie?” she called over the noise of several bass boat engines purring at the dock.

Just then, Frankie bobbled a heavy electrical appliance and Margot caught it before it hit the ground. Frankie turned and grinned at her. “Quick hands, cousin.”

Bob bussed Frankie’s temple. “Taking your show on the road, honey?”

“I’m going to the elementary school for Career Day. These are my visual aids.”

Margot glanced down at the appliance in her hand, which she now saw was a wicked-looking saw. The blade was covered by a heavy protective plastic sleeve. Between that and Frankie’s outfit, a black tiered square dance skirt and a black T-shirt covered in neon roller skates, Margot could only produce “What?”

“Mortuary sciences is a viable career option!” Frankie said. “I plan on luring the next generation into the fold with stories both horrific and whimsical.”

“Doodlebug, I know you’re gonna do a great job, but maybe you should leave the skull saw here. I’m sure the school has a ‘no weapons’ policy,” Bob said. “Also, maybe you shouldn’t use the word ‘lure’ when you’re describin’ a presentation for children. While you’re drivin’ a van.”

“You use this on people’s skulls?” Margot whispered. Frankie smiled and nodded. Margot tossed it back to her cousin and waved her hands in the air. “Gah!”

“Oh, take it easy, I’ve washed it since,” Frankie said.

Margot shuddered. “Still.”

“Doodlebug, the saw may be a little bit much for the third graders,” Bob persisted.

“Fine,” Frankie grumbled, dropping the saw into Uncle Bob’s waiting hands. She carefully slid a big, colorfully illustrated foam-board poster labeled HOW A CREMATORY WORKS into the back of the van and closed the door. “Tie my hands.”

“You’ll thank me later! The parents will definitely thank me!” Bob called as Frankie rounded the van to climb into the driver’s seat.

Bob chewed his lip as he watched his daughter fire up the engine.

“I should go with her,” Margot said, her brow creased.

Bob nodded and patted Margot’s shoulder. “Yeah, that would be a good idea.”

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.