Page 126 of Montana Manhunt

“You stay healthy.”

Grant chuckled. “I’m so going to enjoy teasing you about this once you tell the teams.”

“Do your worst. I can take it.” Noah pulled out a chair for Violet and one for Rayne. “Rayne, what can I get you?”

“Just water for me.”

Rosalie and James strode into the room. He escorted her to a table across the room from Violet and her friends. Following a quiet conversation, James poured two cups of coffee and carried one to Rosalie, joining her at the table.

Noah handed four bottles of water to Grant and inclined his head to the table where Violet and Rayne waited. He prepared acup of tea for Violet and took it to her. “Are you sure you don’t need a snack, baby?” he murmured.

She shook her head. “I can’t deal with it right now. I’ll eat something afterward.”

“If we don’t see something we like on the drive to the hotel, we’ll order room service again.”

After finishing her tea and polishing off the water, Violet sat back and let the tension bleed off for a couple of minutes. She opened her eyes to see her aunt glaring at her again.

“I’m ashamed of you,” Rosalie snapped. “You dress as though you chose clothes from the bargain bin at a big box store. You’re an embarrassment to the Trevelyan name.”

Amusement filled Violet. What irony that the outfits she purchased for today and tomorrow were the most expensive clothes she owned, easily three times the cost of her normal wardrobe selections.

Noah held out his hand to Violet, helping her to her feet. He nudged her toward the doorway.

Violet paused at the threshold and glanced back at her aunt. “I’ll pass your opinion on to the owner of The Boutique.”

Rosalie’s cheeks flushed at the mention of the most exclusive women’s clothing shop in the county.

The operatives returned to the viewing room and resumed their places.

“Are you ready to receive more visitors?” the funeral director asked.

“Yes, sir.”

“Uh, should we wait for your aunt?”

“She’ll be along soon.” Couldn’t imagine Aunt Rosalie passing up the opportunity to play the role of grieving aunt. Too bad the sentiment she projected wasn’t real.

The next group of people who entered the room included a woman Violet didn’t recognize. Tears streamed down her cheeksas she approached the casket. When she pulled herself together, the woman ignored Rosalie and instead turned to Violet. She shook her head slightly. “Camilla told me the two of you were twins. The resemblance is uncanny.”

Violet held out her hand. “I’m Violet. Thank you for coming.”

“I’m Melanie Raines. Camilla worked for me.”

She smiled. “It’s great to meet you, Ms. Raines. Since you spent so much time with her, I’d love to talk to you about my sister. Would you have time to speak to me tonight?”

“I’ll make the time.”

“I appreciate that. We should finish about 8:30 tonight. Would you meet us at the coffee shop on West Main?”

“Sounds perfect. That will give me time to feed my son and make sure he has what he needs for school tomorrow.”

“Would it be easier if we met tomorrow morning?”

Melanie shook her head. “Tonight is fine. My son is seventeen. He’ll tell you he can take care of himself, and he can. I just want to spend as much time with him as possible. He’ll be leaving for college next year and I won’t have this opportunity.”

“I understand. I promise we won’t keep you long.”

“I’ll see you in a few hours.” Melanie hugged Violet, spoke to Rosalie for a minute, then left.

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