Page 71 of Pin-up Girl

“My boyfriend wants me to tell you that you’re best and he loves you,” Alys said.

“I…” Risa’s eyes darted away from Alys’s face.

Alys grinned. “He loves everyone who makes him cake. He’s just that kind of guy.”

“Okay.” Risa’s smile was hesitant. “Then tell him… thank you and he’s welcome.”

Everyone said Good Night and headed out, including Sylvie who gave me a quick hug and thanked me.

Neva lingered as Risa was putting the last box in her car.

I braced myself for a lecture.

“I heard from Grandma that you’re engaged. Congratulations,” Neva said.

Was this that simple?” Thanks. I’m trying not to make a big deal out of it while we’re planning Sylvie’s wedding.”

“What’s his name? What does he do?” Neva sounded genuinely interested.

Which made me suspicious. “Brodie is in textiles. He owns his own company.”

“Huh.” Neva’s pause stretched on too long to be comfortable. “Who’s Clint?”

My blood ran cold, but I kept the reaction from my face. “A guy in town.” Why? I wouldn’t ask. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of caring why she wanted to know.

“Did you know that all of our family insurance policies cross my desk when they’re updated? Just to make sure everything is on the up and up?”

That was a thing? How the fuck did I forget that Neva was one of the relatives who worked there? “Huh. Interesting.” I was too frozen to sound anything other than bland.

“Does your fiancé know you got married just a few weeks ago?” Neva asked.

No, no, no, no, no. I couldn’t let her cancel my policy. Clint and Dee needed this. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. “If a marriage had to be perfect for a policy to be valid, you’d lose ninety percent of your customers.”

Neva smiled. “I don’t care what you’re doing or why, but you owe me for keeping your secret.”

“Owe you what?” I’d agree to a lot, to keep Dee healthy.

“I don’t know yet, but when I figure it out, you’ll know too.”

Sickness rolled inside, carried on too much cake and a night of stress. I forced a smile. “Sounds good. Have a wonderful night.”

20

clint

The day after Regina gave me the news she was moving, when she and Dee were supposed to be at Lagoon, Dee called me.

I was surprised to see her do anything but text, especially when she should be riding coasters. “Is everything all right?” I shouldn’t lead with that, but I couldn’t help myself.

“Everything’s awesome.” Dee’s grin was audible. “We’re having so much fun. Will you come up to Mom’s tonight and have dinner with us?”

The shift from the amusement park to something Dee never wanted to do nearly gave me whiplash. Regina and I tried to get along in front of her, but it had been a few years since she asked for all three of us to spend time together. “Did you ask Mom?”

“She says it’s okay with her if it’s okay with you.”

Given how hard Regina worked yesterday to keep me from visiting too soon, that sounded odd, but Dee tended to be an honest kid, and I didn’t want to give her the impression I thought otherwise. Besides, I did want to visit, and I wanted to deliver the monitoring gear from Brodie.

“Dinner sounds like fun,” I said. “I’ll see you both tonight.”

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