Saints Preserve Us, a Cozy Mystery (A Ronnie Lord Mystery, #1) (The Ronnie Lord Mysteries) by L.K. Ellwood

Author:L.K. Ellwood [Ellwood, L.K.]
Language: eng
Format: azw3
Publisher: DLP Books
Published: 2009-10-18T16:00:00+00:00

Thirteen

Dinner at the Hayes house, when company did not call, was a very casual affair. Elbows rested defiantly on the dinner table as enthusiastic young boys out-shouted each other for top billing on the daily recap of school adventures and Boy Scout activities. Not that Gina and Bill encouraged the atrocious manners, but both seemed more content that the family ate together as a unit at the table and not on trays in front of an active television, mindlessly shoveling their food into gaping mouths and staring zombie-like at Alex Trebek the way most families in the neighborhood did these days.

When her work schedule ran into night classes, Ronnie normally opted to pick up a sub sandwich and chips to eat in her room. However, since that was not the case this semester, Gina set an extra plate at the table, leaving her sister to grudgingly contend for elbow room between her raucous nephews.

“How was work, Aunt Ronnie?” asked the younger of the boys, causing Ronnie to raise an eyebrow at Elliott’s sudden display of manners. Such concern for her welfare could only mean that the boys would be angling to watch her television tonight.

Ronnie sliced away a bite of pork chop. “My class went smoothly, thank you for asking, Elliott,” she answered to the boy’s bright smile, then launched into minute details of the English literature final exam and what she had hoped her students had gotten out of interpreting the symbolism of vision in Chaim Potok’s The Chosen. As she looked up from her plate in conclusion she saw the smile was intact, but all interest in the boy’s eyes was long gone. Even Bill looked flabbergasted; immediately he shifted the topic to sports.

“I wish you wouldn’t vex the boys like that,” Gina told her over the sink as she rinsed and Ronnie dried. “Maybe you should cut down on the coffee at work.”

“What?” Ronnie said with mock hurt. “For your information, coffee is the only reason I haven’t ended up running away from my job screaming. Anyway, your kids are homeschooled, so they should have read The Chosen by now. Hell, they should know more about literature than most of my students. How are their final exams coming?”

“Pretty good.” Gina was confident. “All the papers will be squared away soon so I can start planning the new curriculum. I’d like to get an early start late this summer, will you be around to help with the Latin?”

Ronnie nodded. Though German was her foreign language forte, she agreed to help with the boys’ Latin instruction if only to strengthen her own knowledge of it. “I’m only teaching first summer session this year, and two classes at that, so don’t be surprised if you start seeing smaller checks for my rent in the next few weeks.”

“Don’t worry. Bill doesn’t see that money anyway,” Gina said. Inching closer to her sister, she flicked a clump of soap bubbles in her hair. “Any plans for all that time off?”

Ronnie, slightly annoyed, wiped away the bubbles and concentrated on the same dish.

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