The Secrets of Stone Bridge 02-A Harvest of Lies by Talty Jen

Author:Talty, Jen [Talty, Jen]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Suspense, American Suspense, Romantic Suspense, Romance
Publisher: Jupiter Press
Published: 2025-12-19T00:00:00+00:00

Ten

The Boone family room sprawled across the back of the main house like an invitation to relax. Oversized leather sofas faced a stone fireplace tall enough for Emery to stand inside, and floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the vineyard beyond. Afternoon sunlight poured through the glass, warming the hardwood floors with a honied glow and catching dust motes that drifted like lazy snowflakes.

It was the kind of space that made you want to kick off your shoes and stay awhile. The kind of place where family gathered, where roots ran deep, where people belonged. Emery wanted that—wanted to sink into this warmth, to trust it, to believe she could be part of something like this. But her father's shadow followed her everywhere, and her own scandal sat like a stone in her chest. How could she let herself belong here when everything she touched seemed to crumble?

Emery perched on the edge of a sofa, Riley's tablet balanced on her knees, while the Boone women arranged themselves around her in a protective circle. Brea claimed the armchair nearest the fireplace, her reading glasses perched on her nose as she reviewed notes. Riley sat beside Emery, occasionally reaching over to swipe through documents. Ashley sprawled on the floor, her back against the ottoman, legs stretched out as if she owned the place. Hasley had claimed the window seat, one knee pulled to her chest, wine glass in hand, despite the early hour.

"Okay," Riley said, tapping her tablet. "Let's run through the key talking points one more time. Your background in art history and chemistry, how that led to wine authentication, your qualifications⁠—"

"She doesn't need to recite her resume," Brea interrupted, looking up from her notes. "The reporter already has all that information. What she needs is to be human."

"Being prepared is being human," Riley protested.

"Being prepared is being robotic." Brea set her papers aside with a delicate touch. She was regal for a woman barely approaching sixty, yet remarkably down-to-earth. It was a contradiction that made her both unique and fascinating. "Emery, sweetheart, have you ever watched a political debate where the candidate answers every question with talking points?"

"Yes?" The word came out hesitantly, but understanding dawned as soon as she said it. Those debates were painful to watch—all performance, no substance. Brea was telling her not to be that. To be herself, messy and imperfect and real.

"Boring as hell, right? Makes you want to throw something at the TV." Brea leaned forward, her eyes danced with mischief. "That's what happens when you're too politically correct, too careful, too focused on saying the right thing instead of the true thing."

"Mom—" Ashley started. “You’re insulting Riley.”

"Let me finish." Brea waved her hand. "Riley, you're brilliant at this social media stuff, and I agree with most of your strategy. But dancing around certain topics, answering questions by being vague or pivoting to safer subjects—that only adds fuel to a fire the whole town is already speculating about. We can’t stop gossip, but like you always say, we can control the narrative.

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