Under The Ice by Aaron Paul Lazar

Author:Aaron Paul Lazar [Lazar, Aaron Paul]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2015-01-29T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 44

At noon on Wednesday, we lined up our suitcases by the kitchen door and were ready for our mini-vacation to Toronto. Mrs. Pierce had just fed the twins, and Johnny jackhammered around the room. This would be his first trip away from home without his mother. He was thrilled, rather than worried. Maddy and Joe agreed to stay at the house to help Freddie and Mrs. Pierce tend to the twins and animals, so the home front would be well tended.

In private, I’d asked Joe to stay over so I wouldn’t worry about undue attention from a certain ex-convict. Although his target was Shelby, having a cop in the house helped me breathe easier. Also, I hoped to give Joe a reason to go outside again. Maddy had successfully escorted him to the day program for the past two days, reportedly with less trauma than when he visited us last. Today and tomorrow, they would hunker down at our place while we shamelessly frolicked in Toronto.

Joe sat at the kitchen table with a mug of coffee. Contentment crinkled his face, and I felt a surge of relief flow through me. He looked good. Well, at least better. The shadows quivering beneath his eyes were not as pronounced today, although he’d reportedly suffered a mild panic attack on his way into our house.

Maddy flounced around the room, smothering Camille, Shelby, Johnny, and Siegfried with hugs and kisses. I grabbed two suitcases before she could collar me and ducked out to my daughter’s van to stow them in the back. Freddie had taken the Jeep to the clinic in the morning, so we’d be able to accommodate our large crew and our luggage.

I came inside to grab the last bags, but Siegfried had already snatched them and was out the door. Maddy looked at me with a faux frown and threw her arms open. “Gustave? Don’t think you’re getting away without a smooch.”

I snorted a laugh. She rarely called me by my full name, and it reminded me of childhood reprimands from my mother.

My inimitable mother-in-law minced toward me and dragged me to her bosom.

I sniffed, testing the air. Her perfume wasn’t as overpowering as usual.

She locked her hands around my neck and planted a big kiss on my cheek. “You have fun, you hear?” she said, light dancing in her eyes. “You need a break. And so does my little girl. No running into bad guys for the next two days. Agreed?”

I shuffled backward, wiping lipstick off my cheek. “That’s the plan.”

Joe grabbed his coffee mug and started toward the pot on the counter.

Maddy noticed, and shrieked. “Joseph? No! I’ll do that for you, Honey Bear.”

I raised an eyebrow and whispered to Camille. “Honey Bear? That’s a new one.”

Joe grinned sheepishly. “Okay, Schnookumberry.” He sat down and handed her the cup.

I covered my mouth so I wouldn’t laugh and leaned down to take Johnny’s hand. “All set, pal?”

His eyes shone and his feet tapped staccato on the linoleum. “I been ready since yestaday.

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