Small-Town Secrets. Linda Randall Wisdom

the women called her name. “Thank you again, dear,” she said to Bree as she took her leave.

      Bree walked out to the truck with the box nestled in her arms.

      She disarmed the vehicle alarm and set the box on the floor of the back seat. She expected to see Cole Becker in the area and found herself feeling strangely disappointed that she didn’t.

      “I am not going back there!” Sara’s strident voice could be heard as Bree pulled the Expedition into the garage.

      She could hear every word even with the vehicle’s windows closed.

      Jinx whined and pawed at the back of the seat.

      “I hear them, too,” Bree said with a deep sigh.

      “What are you complaining for? I was the one who got the dork of the year award,” David yelled back.

      “When’re we gonna eat? I’m really hungry!” Cody wailed.

      Bree shut off the ignition and pulled the key free. Her fingers hovered over the garage door opener button.

      “Maybe we should go out for a hamburger,” she mused. Before she could give in to her first thought, she pushed the button. As she climbed out of the SUV, she listened to the whir of the garage door sliding downward.

      When Bree opened the back door, the first thing she noticed was the sudden silence that dropped over the room. Then the spicy scent of garlic and oregano tickled her nose.

      “Spaghetti?” she asked, walking through the room. “It smells good. Thanks for starting dinner, Sara.”

      The girl shrugged her shoulders.

      “Mom?” Cody was right on her heels as Bree headed for her bedroom.

      “Give me a minute.” She pulled her lock box off the closet shelf and deposited her weapon inside. “What is it, honey?”

      “I got to feed the parakeet today,” he told her.

      Bree dropped onto the bed beside him and wrapped her arms around him.

      “So it’s not so bad, after all?” she asked.

      He gave a fleeting grin and shook his head. Before he could say anything, shouting erupted from the kitchen.

      “I don’t give a—!” David yelled at his sister.

      “Cuss jar,” Cody whispered, burrowing closer to his mother. “That’s a dollar word.”

      Bree urged him onto his feet and together they walked back to the kitchen. She found brother and sister facing off in what she knew was only the beginning.

      “Did you pay your dollar?” she asked her stepson.

      David muttered something under his breath as he reached into his pocket, then pulled the cork top off a large earthenware jar with Cuss Jar engraved on the front.

      “Add another dollar to it,” Bree instructed.

      “He’s being a sh—!” Sara’s complaint was cut off by Bree’s upheld hand.

      “Dollar from you, too. Want to go for two?”

      “But I didn’t say it!”

      “No, but you were ready to.” Bree pulled open a cabinet door and withdrew a bag of dog kibble. She filled the large plastic dish set by the refrigerator. Jinx wasted no time heading for his bowl. “Dare I ask if anything good happened today?”

      Sara swiped her hand across her eyes. “They’re all lame at school,” she complained.

      “You’re the one who’s lame,” David muttered.

      When the kitchen timer dinged, Bree felt as if she was listening to the gong announcing the next round in a championship fight.

      “David, drain the spaghetti and pour the sauce over it, please,” she directed. “Sara, you want to get the garlic bread out of the oven?”

      Bree watched her stepson set the bowl on the table as they all sat down.

      “It looks good,” she said cheerfully.

      Her rule regarding no battles at the table held true. The children’s conversation was chillingly polite.

      After dinner, Bree loaded the dishwasher while the three children disappeared into their rooms to do their homework.

      She enjoyed the peace and quiet in the kitchen as she rinsed off dishes and placed them in the machine. For the next half hour, her only companion was Jinx, who lay sprawled on the floor.

      “If I could get you to do the dishes, you’d be the perfect partner,” she informed the dog.

      She should have known her quiet time wouldn’t last long.

      “Mom!” Sara yelled. “Where’s my pink lace top? I want to wear it tomorrow.”

      “Mommy!” Cody joined the chorus.

      Bree threw up her hands. She looked down at the dog, who looked back at her with a quizzical expression on his face.

      “Who are these children and why do they call me Mom?”