Grave Shift by Blanche Day Manos

Author:Blanche Day Manos
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: mystery, women sleuths, arkansas, cozy mysteries, christian mysteries, oklahoma mysteries
Publisher: Pen-L Publishing

Chapter 20

The aroma of freshly brewed coffee greeted me as I came downstairs the day after the earthquake, but that was all that was normal about the morning. My mother stood in front of her sink looking at the dilapidated cabinets with tears in her eyes. I saw no sign that she was preparing breakfast.

I put my arm around her. “It’s a real mess, isn’t it?”

She nodded without speaking.

“Why don’t we have a cup of coffee to sort of get our eyes focusing properly and then go to Dilly’s for breakfast?”

She sighed. “That’s about the only thing to do, Darcy. Everything inside the house is torn up and I don’t really have the heart to tackle it. Maybe I’ll feel better after some of Artie’s pancakes.”

“And, Mom, if the inspector says there has been extensive damage to the foundation and supports, it might be a good time to think about moving to a newer house, don’t you think?”

Mom glared at me. “Now Darcy, we’ve been all through this. The house is old but then I’m no spring chicken any more either. Would you want to throw me out if I had a car wreck and needed a lot of expensive surgery? No? I don’t want to throw out this old house either. I’ve got a lot of good memories of your dad wrapped up within these walls.”

Was there ever anybody as hardheaded as Flora Tucker?

Much of Levi must have had the same idea we had, because the parking lot at Dilly’s was full. Thankfully, the cafe looked intact. A fallen tree lay near the parking lot. I would guess it had once been across the lot but had been dragged away to make room for customers. Artie waved us to a booth that had just been vacated. Tony wiped off the table and with a flourish handed us the breakfast menu.

“Glad to see you two are all right,” Tony said. “Levi was lucky that we didn’t have more damage. There’s a crack running up the wall of the kitchen but that’s all we’ve seen, so far.”

I sat down and relaxed. I loved this place.

We were halfway into our pancakes when Zack Crowder ambled over to our booth. I smiled at this young man who was a third or fourth cousin, I wasn’t sure which.

“Darcy, Aunt Flora, do you mind if I sit down?”

I scooted over to make room. “Would you like some coffee? I don’t see much of you anymore. Your mom said you are driving a truck. Who are you driving for?”

Zack frowned. “I drive for this one and that.”

Tony came by with the coffee pot to refill our cups. “Gary Worth, is who I heard,” Mom said.

I popped another bite of crusty brown pancake into my mouth. “Your mother was worried about you the other day. Do you drive out of town?”

He was silent and Mom tapped my foot with her toe.

I shook my head at my mother. So, okay, maybe it was a nosy question but a

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