FLOWERS ARE RED by MARY J.WILLIAMS

Author:MARY J.WILLIAMS [J.WILLIAMS, MARY]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Microsoft
Published: 0101-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

"YOUR FATHER MAKES a very good point, Belle."

"He always does. He's a god!" Belle mumbled under her breath.

"What did you say, dear?" her mother inquired from the other end of the dining room table.

"She said—oomph." Belle's younger brother Marshall rubbed his side, sending her a narrowed look. "I won't forget that," he whispered.

"Good," Belle spoke through gritted teeth. "Maybe you'll finally learn to keep your mouth shut."

"Must the two of you always devolve into childish patterns? We are adults. Act accordingly."

As the oldest—and a certified clinical psychiatrist—Dinah carried an air of superiority that should have driven Belle crazy. Where Belle and Marshall had their father's looks, Dinah was the spitting image of their mother. Brown hair streaked with gold and a slender build. When Belle was younger, she tried to copy her sister's regal carriage. Eventually, she gave up. On Dinah, it looked natural—right. On Belle, not so much.

The only thing that saved Dinah from coming off as a snotty-nosed bitch was the twinkle in her coffee-colored eyes. They weren't as close as some sisters, but the bond was strong and the love undeniable.

"Belle can take care of herself, Mom." Marsh loaded his plate with another helping of mashed potatoes. "Besides, the police don't have any proof that the vandal had a personal agenda. Right, Dad?"

"I spoke to the police commissioner just before we sat down."

Belle wiped her mouth, hiding her smile. It wasn't that her father was a name dropper. But she wondered if he realized how unusual it was to have a powerful city official on speed dial. Since he was friends with everybody from the head of the city council to the mayor, she doubted it.

"I must call Miriam. It's been ages." And Penelope Richards knew all the wives. "What did Herbert say, dear?"

"The officers assigned to the case are still going over the security footage. He promised to call as soon as they know anything."

"Until then, I plan on living my life as I always have." Belle's stance on this was firm. For her family's—and her own—peace of mind, she added, "With increased caution and awareness."

"The chances are slim to none that this was personal," Dinah said, delicately taking a tiny piece of chicken Kiev into her mouth.

"Is this your personal or professional opinion?" Marsh asked with mock seriousness.

"Professional, smartass. Personally, I would prefer Belle stay with Mom and Dad. However, it would be impractical on every level. She's a grown woman with her own life. More important, living in fear is not living."

"Amen, sister." Belle applauded Dinah. "What was the point of providing your daughter with an expensive Ivy League education if you refuse to heed her learned opinion?"

"I'm not refusing, Belle." Her father wasn't used to having the minority opinion. "I want you safe. End of discussion."

"I don't think so." With her father, Belle knew when to pick her fights. On this one, she was entrenched to the bitter end.

"Dinah is correct, Elias." Bertram Cornwall, Dinah's husband, calmly interjected his opinion. Also a psychologist, he was a respected profiler for the FBI.

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