The Rom-Com Agenda by Jayne Denker

Author:Jayne Denker
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

* * *

Leah didn’t realize she knew so many swear words, but she employed one after another, and they just kept coming as she combed the house for the fugitive cockatiel. She was grateful she hadn’t opened any windows or doors—the frigid weather ensured that—but where in the world could the bird have gone?

She called to it while wondering if birds answered to humans calling them. She waved around a cracker while wondering if birds actually ate crackers. She tried to whistle and failed. She stood still in each room and waited to catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye.

No bird.

“Where did you go, you little shit?” she muttered, fearing all the while it had done something drastic and tragic, like … flying up the chimney flue?

She dashed into the den and stuck her head up the chimney, but she couldn’t see anything—not even whether the flue was open and large enough for Alyce’s pet to escape anyway. She pulled her head out, stood up, and forced herself to take a steadying breath. Okay, she’d start over, basement to attic. Even though the basement and attic doors had been closed the whole time.

She was in the guest bedroom, still birdless, when she heard voices. The family was back.

Hiding was pointless; her car was in the driveway. She forced herself to go back down to the first floor, all the while praying fervently that the group that had just entered didn’t include Eli.

Of course the first face she saw at the foot of the stairs was his.

What made it worse was that he lit up when he saw her.

“Hey!”

“… Hi.”

“Where have you been? I’ve been trying to get in touch with you. Did you lose your phone or something?” She winced involuntarily, and he blinked, his smile fading. “Of course you didn’t. You just didn’t want to talk to me.”

“Eli—” she started, but was interrupted by the rest of the family entering from the kitchen.

“Wow, this place looks great!” Jenna enthused. “Thanks, Leah. Happy birthday, Mom!”

Alyce Masterson was a tall, rangy woman with a gray bob and the same blue eyes as Eli. She looked around with a sharp gaze. “What have you done to my house?”

Leah’s stomach dropped.

Then the woman broke out a bright smile that also reminded her of Eli’s. “It looks incredible. Thank you, honey,” she said, embracing her daughter and planting a loud kiss on her cheek. She turned to Eli. “Did you go in on this?”

“Uh, no, actually,” Eli stammered, coloring a bit. “I just gave you the sweater.”

“Which I love. So you get a kiss anyway.” And she planted another loud one, this time on her son’s cheek. “Now, who’s this?” And she turned her eagle eye on Leah, who swallowed with difficulty. “You’re the person I really have to thank for this, aren’t you?”

Oh, she wouldn’t be so grateful when she heard about the bird, Leah was certain.

“This is Leah, Mom,” Jenna said. “She’s our friend, and she’s a really good cleaner.

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