Page 103 of What Doesn't Kill Her

“ThunderFlash. She’s ThunderFlash. We took a detour to Yearning Sands to get a shower and then to the hospital to get Kellen’s stitches removed.” Max lifted Kellen’s arm and showed his mother the slash the bullet had left behind. He mentioned nothing of the MRI and the specialists whom Dr. Frownfelter had called in.

Verona looked them up and down. “Where did you get those clothes? Don’t tell me—at the resort. Dressed like that, you’ll fit in with the tourists. I’ll fix a special meal to welcome you home.” Verona’s expression grew deeply thoughtful. “Yes, I think a celebration dinner is called for!”

Max and Kellen watched her turn and hurry toward the house.

“It’s only noon. What’s going to take her six hours?” Kellen asked.

Max laughed deep in his chest. “Are you challenging my mother?”

“Not at all! It was more of a rhetorical question.” She deliberately bumped her hip into his.

He deliberately bumped back. “Want to help me shower?”

“I don’t know. When we tried sharing a shower at Zone’s, we got stuck.”

Max cackled. There was no other word for it. He cackled. Then he sighed. “Oh, hell. Here comes Arthur. Arthur Waldberg, the new winery manager.”

ARTHUR WALDBERG:

MALE, 5'7", 140 LBS, DESCENT: MEDITERRANEAN? MIDDLE EASTERN?, DARK CURLY HAIR, BROWN EYES. DRESSED FOR BUSINESS IN NEW YORK CITY. MOOD: CONFIDENT, PLEASED WITH HIMSELF.

Huh.

“Sir! You’re back!” Arthur hurried up and extended his hand.

“Call me Max.”

“Of course, sir.” Arthur offered his hand to Kellen. “You’re Rae’s mommy. Miss Adams, I’ve heard nothing but your praises sung since my arrival.”

Kellen lifted her eyebrows at him.

“From Rae,” he qualified. “The two of you have had quite an adventure.”

“We’re glad that it’s over,” Kellen replied.

“I’m not so sure Rae would agree,” Arthur said.

Max and Kellen moaned in unison.

Arthur laughed. “My children aren’t the least adventurous. Thank heavens they don’t take after their father.”

Kellen added a note to his dossier.

ARTHUR WALDBERG:

BELIEVES HIMSELF TO BE ADVENTUROUS. SEEMS OUT OF CHARACTER WITH APPEARANCE.

“What do you think of the changes?” Arthur waved at the winery. “I plunged right in, hired reliable help to replace the staff you lost to Whistling Winds Winery. Temporary staff, of course, pending your interview and approval. Your vintner agreed to take on a talented young person as his apprentice.”

“You convinced Freeman Townsend to take on an apprentice?” Max was incredulous.

“Not me. The apprentice convinced him with a combination of talent, fresh ideas—and lavish admiration.”

“Wow. I can’t wait to meet him.”

“Her. Jessie Glomen.”

Max shook his head in disbelief. “A female convinced that old misogynist to... Now I really can’t wait to meet her.”

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