Page 26 of Dirty Secrets

Jocelyn suddenly breaks off the kiss, as if she’s just remembered we’re surrounded by people.

“Yeah, maybe that should stay our little secret for now,” I whisper. As I turn her back toward the camera, my palm slides down to grab her perky ass.

She elbows me while giggling. “Always a dirty boy,” she exclaims loudly.

Everyone around us bursts out laughing, and the photographer probably gets the best shot ever.

“Yes. Yes, I am.”

EPILOGUE TWO

JOCELYN

* Three Years Later *

Looking around at the circle of faces who are now family, I’m filled with a wave of gratitude. And to think that none of this would have happened if I hadn’t taken that summer job for Professor Hewitt!

We never did find out what he ended up doing with all of that research data. It’s certainly never been published. Harper thinks he either realized it was too much to sift through and gave up, or decided that the data didn’t support his theory. Nikki’s opinion is that he just wanted to give easy summer jobs to the students he liked and get them out into the country for a month. Either way, it truly bonded us as friends.

And now, sisters-in-law.

We’ve been to lots of barbecues at Walker’s dad’s house. His parents, Adam and Lily, love having company over. Like the rest of the family, they have a giant, beautiful house tucked away in the woods, out of sight of the road. Their huge patio with several long picnic tables is a lovely spot for big get-togethers, whetherthey’re a special occasion like a birthday, or just a chill Sunday afternoon hangout like today.

I always appreciate that my mother-in-law wrangles all of the kids into the living room right after we eat. She makes a pillow fort so the babies and toddlers can all have a little nap while she fusses over them.

Tonight feels different. When Adam taps his beer glass on the table to focus our attention, I know something's up.

“Family. My father has something to say.”

Shane stands, grinning ear to ear. “Jesus Murphy, Adam, say it like that and they’re gonna think I’m about to croak or some damn thing.”

Everyone laughs, as he waves his glass of whisky toward all of us before downing the last swig with an appreciative smile. “That’s the ticket. Nobody in Old Hemlock Valley seems to realize that a bunch of mechanics can always afford the good stuff.”

Adam chuckles. “It’s true, Dad. All of these years, and nobody has ever really asked why we have the big houses, the fancy cars, and everything we need. They're just glad that we all maintain the volunteer firefighter trucks for them.”

Harper, Nikki and I all look at each other. We’ve kind of known from the start that the Dirty family has some kind of money, but it’s never been spoken about openly.

“These nice girls…” Shane waves in our direction. “When they first came here, they were doing research on the town. They saw that my dad and uncles bought up huge chunks of land around here. Well, that’s the secret to wealth, folks, pure and simple: buy land, wait decades, then sell off a bit now and then when there’s a big demand for it.” He chuckles. “I’m kidding. That was only possible a hundred and forty years ago. Never mind.”

We all laugh, as Adam shakes his head. “Yes, there were some sales in the sixties, then again in the eighties.”

Shane points at his grandsons. “We didn’t want the money to change you. And it hasn’t. You turned out to be fine men who have all chosen fine women. Now you’ll be raising fine children.” He beams again. “So our evil plan has worked, apparently.”

“Doesn’t really sound evil to me,” Walker chuckles, squeezing my knee.

“When you all got married, we forked over some of that cash to you. You all made it disappear responsibly. Investments, education funds, little home improvements. Nobody went mental, is what I’m saying.”

We all nod, as Carson says, “You know we’re not like that.”

“Exactly. And you’re not going to throw anything off balance.” Shane’s fingers spread across the picnic table. “You know how everyone kind of justknowsthat the Wolfes are rich, but nobody talks about it?”

We all nod, murmuring, “Yeah.”

“Here’s the thing.” Shane’s smile is both wicked and adorable. “We’re related to them. Adler Wolfe and Aiden Dirty were first cousins. They rounded up more cousins and uncles and dragged a boatload of them from Ireland to America. Then they founded Old Hemlock Valley. But Aiden didn’t want any fanfare, so he kept quiet about his involvement in it.”

Nikki snaps her fingers. “That’s why Josh defended you three that time in the diner.”

“And why Carver Wolfe always makes a point of greeting the Dirty boys when we’re downtown,” Harper says.

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