Mayhem & Mistletoe (Isaac Taylor Mysteries Book 8) by Lashell Collins

Author:Lashell Collins [Collins, Lashell]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2022-02-25T05:00:00+00:00

16

Chaos reigned at the Taylor residence the following morning.

A house full of early risers meant things were already hopping by the time Isaac got out of the shower. He dressed in a nice pair of dark blue jeans and a black sweater. Then he clipped his badge to the front of his belt, grabbed his holstered gun and left the bedroom.

The instant he stepped into the hallway, he was bombarded by smells, sounds, and sights that had him equally amused and on alert.

Toast and coffee.

Sidney running.

Alfred Hitchcock screeching.

Simon laughing.

Heather apologizing.

His blood pressure spiked.

Isaac double timed it down the hall and through the living room, following in Sidney’s wake. A glance off to the left showed him Simon in the kitchen cooking scrambled eggs and toast for all of them.

In the sunroom, Heather stood on a yoga mat with her hands out in supplication. She was barefoot and decked out in workout gear, and her shoulder-length hair was pulled back into a ponytail. In the morning light flooding through the sunroom windows, with her face on full display, Isaac could easily see the family resemblance between her and his wife.

Sidney stood at the Christmas tree, fighting with branches, needles, and breakable ornaments, attempting to extract a fluffy, uncooperative cat from the trunk at its center.

“Oh, God. I am so sorry! I didn’t even see him follow me in here.”

Heather sounded forlorn, almost like she expected to be asked to leave once they got the cat out and saved the tree.

“It’s not your fault, Heather. You didn’t know.”

Sidney’s voice was tight with frustration and strain, and Isaac could tell that she was losing the battle with the cat.

“I neglected to tell you that he has an unhealthy obsession with the tree, so we’ve been really careful to keep the doors closed whenever we come in here.”

“Oh, I hope he doesn’t ruin anything,” Heather wailed. “If he does, I’ll replace it, I promise!”

Isaac sighed and stepped in.

“It’s all right, Heather,” he said, reaching in over Sidney’s head and taking over the effort. “This is not a big deal.”

He pulled the large ball of fluff out of the tree and cradled him like a football. Then bent to kiss Sidney’s lips.

“Come on, Mr. Troublemaker,” he said to Alfred Hitchcock. “That’s enough Christmas for you today.”

He made sure to close the sunroom doors behind him and set the cat down near his collection of little stuffed mice. The aborted tree climb resulted in a toy mouse massacre, and Isaac chuckled as he left him to it.

“Police Detective and Ace Cat Extractor.” Simon sounded amused as he handed Isaac a plate of eggs and toast.

“Thanks.” Isaac took the offered plate and poured himself a cup of coffee. Then he sat down at the dining table and dug in.

“I really am sorry.”

Sidney and Heather came in from the sunroom, and Isaac could tell with one glance that Sidney was getting stressed.

“Stop apologizing, Heather!”

Isaac whipped around to face the action.

Sid sighed and turned around to look at her sister.

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