Deadly Devotion (Port Aster Secrets Book #1): A Novel by Sandra Orchard

Author:Sandra Orchard
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Tags: Female friendship—Fiction, FIC022040, FIC042060, Herbalists—Crimes against—Fiction, Suicide—Fiction
ISBN: 9781441241832
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2013-05-31T23:00:00+00:00

A tall, dark-haired woman appeared in their wake. In her casual attire of mint green capri pants and a floral tank top, she looked remarkably elegant, despite having two preschoolers in tow. Even if her munchkins hadn’t rounded the corner yelling for their grandpa, Kate would have instantly pegged the woman as Tom’s sister. Vivid blue eyes obviously ran in their family.

The woman slid a pizza box on the table beside Tom’s. “I see great minds think alike.”

“Hey, sis.” Tom gave her a hug. “I’d like you to meet Kate Adams.”

“Hi Kate, I’m Tess.” She offered a firm, I’m-so-happy-to-meet-you kind of handshake. “You must be the mystery woman who’s keeping the dynamic duo here on their toes.”

Kate laughed. “Yeah, I guess I am.”

“Good for you. These donut-eating cops need the exercise.” Tess snagged Tom’s lawn chair and made a show of getting comfortable as she flashed Tom a teasing grin.

Kate adored Tess already.

Keith plopped his twin grandsons back onto their feet and restrained them with a palm on each head. “This is Timmy.” Keith patted the boy on his left. “And this is Terry,” he said, patting the boy on his right.

Kate hunkered down to their eye level. “Well, hi there. I’m happy to meet you. I’m Kate.”

The boys pulled away from their grandpa and tackled her. “Hi, Auntie Kate,” they squealed.

She swallowed them in her arms, thrilled by the greeting. She’d always wanted to be an auntie.

Tom plucked each boy off by the collar. “Hey, guys, let her breathe.”

Their mother handed them each a plate of pizza at the picnic table. “I hope you don’t mind if they call you auntie. We like them to use a formal title when they address adults.”

“I don’t mind at all. It’s sweet.”

“Guess what their father’s name is,” Keith said with a glint in his eye.

“Ted?”

“Not even close.” Tom plopped onto the end of the picnic bench without offering so much as a hint.

“You two.” Tess gave Tom a swat. “My husband is Xavier. He’s French. But since Tom and I both had T names, we decided to continue the tradition with the twins.”

“Is your husband coming tonight?”

“No, he’s away on business—a buying trip. We own the antique store on Third Street.”

“Oh, I’ve been in there. You have some beautiful pieces. I’m partial to the old books myself. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you there. I always talked with an older woman. Norma, I think her name was.”

“That was my mom.”

Kate felt the blood drain from her face. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t realize.” She glanced from Tom to Keith. She was supposed to be helping take Keith’s mind off his wife, not heaping on more reminders of what he’d lost. Yet neither man appeared disturbed by her faux pas. They actually seemed pleased that she’d known Norma. “I thought your wife looked familiar when I saw her photo,” Kate said to Keith, “but I couldn’t place where we’d met.”

“She lost a lot of weight after those photos were taken.” Tess’s gaze drifted, and a fleeting smile touched her lips.

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