Page 69 of The Usual Family Mayhem

Bummer. I say let Gram loose.

“Come on in and join us.” Celia motioned to Harlan then to me. “Kasey?”

Celia had to know how much this sucked for everyone, including Celia. Only Harlan had the power to ruin a dessert and tea break. His presence put me on edge and guaranteed I wouldn’t be able to eat much.

The four of us sat down. The baking frenzy in the annex had calmed down about an hour ago when the assistants left for the day. Gram had insisted she could finish up. Of course, she hadn’t expected the turmeric incident or for Harlan to descend on her.

With the tea poured and the plates passed around, I fought to come up with a nice, neutral conversation topic.

“This is delicious.” He sipped tea, leaving the piece of pie in front of him untouched.

Strike two. First the surprise visit and now the failure to dig in to dessert.

Whatever thought ran around in his little mind was going to come out and really suck. I’d bet the $634 in my checking account on it.

“I should be upset, you know.” He delivered the comment in a light, conversational tone.

I knew better than to be fooled. He had an agenda. He’d made that clear when he suggested Jackson rekindle his romance with Anna. The adrenaline pumping through me said Harlan’s seemingly innocuous comment about the tea was a windup. He was easing us in, which would make the hit so much harder.

Gram took the bait. “About what?”

“You’re keeping such a big piece of news from me.” He glanced in my direction then looked at Gram again. “You could have come to me for help. I would have been happy to step in and guide you.”

He shot another glance in my direction. This one lasted a bit longer, delivered with a hint of a challenge.

Oh, shit.

Celia frowned. “Guide us where?”

“What are you talking about?” Gram’s voice suggested she wasn’t in the mood for Harlan’s riddles.

That made two of us. Letting him play his game could lead to a dark place. I tried to pivot. “Maybe we should enjoy the tea?”

“Harlan should explain first,” Gram said.

Yeah, I figured that derailment wouldn’t work.

Harlan set his teacup down nice and slow. Made a big, dramatic scene of it, ensuring he had our collective attention.

Then he lowered the boom. “The sale.”

Gram snorted. “Excuse me?”

“What sale?” Celia asked at the same time.

I was in hell.

Harlan picked up that stupid little cup again and sipped the tea like he was at a cotillion. “There are rumors. This type ofinformation finds its way to me because of my position in town and my work with people in power.”

It looked like his ego had arrived.

“Are you enjoying your tea?” Harlan asked me.

I waited for the floor to open up and suck me down. Make thathoped. I hoped for that to happen.

Now the unwanted visit made sense. This was a message for me. He was coming for me in his usuallook how important I amway, not caring who he took out with his shot.

“Harlan, what are you talking about?” Celia refilled his cup. “What sale?”

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