The Rose Grave: A Suspenseful Mystery (Echo Rose Book 5) by Thomas Fincham

Author:Thomas Fincham [Fincham, Thomas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-03-22T00:00:00+00:00

FIFTY-THREE

Skip applauded as the curtain closed.

Lew Jr. had a supporting role in his first public performance. The school play was performed in the community center near the Walton’s residence. Everyone in the extended family had attended—even Bud and Janice Stuckley.

Stacey Nelson-Walton, Skip’s ex-wife, and her husband, Robert Walton, were also there. Robert treated Layla, his step-daughter, as if she was his own. Skip, at times, felt pangs of jealousy, but mostly, he was happy that Layla had so much support. The program for the night’s performance listed the Walton Family as a contributor and supporter of the arts.

Robert’s generosity even extended to Lew Jr.

Skip couldn’t complain about that.

“Dad, stand up,” Lucy Malloy said. She grabbed his arm. “It’s not polite to sit during a standing ovation.”

“Of course,” he said. He stood and continued clapping. The curtain opened, and he scanned the cast and crew. Lew Jr. was just to the left of center. He was beaming.

“Isn’t he handsome?” Vivian asked.

“Just like his dad,” Skip replied.

Robert and Stacey were sitting two rows in front of the Malloy’s. Robert turned around and said, “You should be proud. They really put in a lot of work.”

“Hey, Skip!” Bud shouted. He was sitting with his girlfriend, Janice, who was Vivian’s best friend. “Are we taking them out for ice cream?”

“Do you ever think of anything besides food?”

Bud turned to Janice, and she blushed and looked away.

“Behave yourself, Detective Smith,” Vivian said. “And, of course, we’re going for ice cream. It’s a tradition.”

Forty minutes later, the entire group sat together after spending ten minutes debating what flavors they should order.

“I’ve never heard this gang be so quiet,” Janice said.

“Shhhh,” Bud whispered. “There’s a sanctity to eating cinnamon raisin caramel nugget crunch. It’s a Sacrament.”

“Can I get another one, dad?” Lew Jr. asked.

“Of course not,” his mother answered. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Ah, but mom,” he whined, “I didn’t get enough dinner.”

“It’s not my fault you refused to come down until five minutes before we had to leave.”

“But I was practicing my lines,” he said. “It’s not fair.”

“Life’s not fair, little buddy,” Robert said. “But if it’s okay with your mom, you can finish the rest of my waffle cone. I need to talk privately with your dad.”

Lew Jr. waited for his mom’s reply.

“Sure,” Vivian said. “You can have the cone.”

Robert led Skip outside and said, “I’ve got an idea.”

“What’s that?” Skip asked.

“Well, there’s a property my bank owns now. As you probably know, the market’s a bit depressed. Anyway, we don’t want to take it off the books at a loss. The owners walked away. All the paperwork is complete on that. So, I was thinking, since it’s a hundred percent on our books for the foreseeable future, how about you guys consider renting it?”

“That’s an interesting idea, Robert,” he said. “I’ll have to think about it, of course.”

“Look, Skip,” Robert said. “I know you probably feel a little weird, but really, it’s a favor to me as well because I’d know a good family was living there.

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