Page 180 of Cold Case, Warm Hearts

Becca thought her grandmother looked tired. “Maybe you should sit down,” she said.

“I’m fine, Becca, just fine.” Gram patted her hand. “It’s just hard to admit I was so stupid.”

“How did everyone else feel about Dad and Mom coming back?”

“Tate was upset. He thought he was only coming because he’d heard I had a heart attack and wanted to make sure he was in line to inherit.”

“You had a heart attack?”

Gram nodded. “Just a mild one then, but the kids fretted. I’m fine, of course.”

“That’s what you always say,” Becca said, smiling. She remembered that much about her grandmother. “Do you think Tate would have killed my parents?”

“Oh, goodness no! Tate wouldn’t hurt a flea. He’s much too weak to run the risk of getting caught.” Gram smiled wryly.

Becca wasn’t so sure. She’d seen his anger with Shayna earlier in the day. And he seemed obsessed by money. “What about—Max?” She hated to even ask about her boss. She was beginning to like him more and more, even in the few days she’d been around him.

Gram paled. “He and Mason argued that last night.”

Becca gulped. “What about?” This wasn’t what she wanted to hear.

“My lawyer came that day too, to begin drafting a new will.” Grams looked at Becca piteously. “It did no good to tell them all I’d made those plans before your father called. It had nothing to do with their visit.”

“What did they fight about?”

“Max wanted your father to understand Molly was to receive Laura’s share, an equal share with you and your siblings, not something lesser.”

“I’m sure Dad was fine with that.”

“Actually, no he wasn’t. He thought the four of you should share equally. He didn’t want anything for himself, but for the grandchildren to have what I left. The three of you and Tate. With Laura gone, he didn’t think Molly had a share as a great-grandchild.”

“This is terrible to be fighting over your property, Gram,” Becca whispered. “I never would have thought my father would have any part of that.”

Gram smiled sadly. “When it’s your children involved, you do a lot of things that might surprise you. And it’s a lot of money.”

“What about Shayna? She likes to spend money.”

Gram shook her head. “Shayna loves me. She’s not as brittle as she appears at first. She’s a lonely child looking for love and acceptance.”

“I don’t want your money, Gram,” Becca burst out. “Give it all to Molly and Tate. Jake and Wynne won’t care about it either.”

“Jake and Wynne. Where are they?” Gram’s voice held a note of longing.

“Chomping at the bit to see you too. Jake is away on a dig, and Wynne is finishing up a marine project. They plan to come next month for sure.”

“I want to see them,” Gram said. She inhaled deeply. “I can’t believe Max—or any of my family—would have any part in killing your parents.”

“What about Bobby?”

Gram frowned. “Robert? You’ve been listening to Max. He hates poor Robert, but the man is just trying to help his mother have a nest egg.”

“What about Mrs. Jeffries? She gives me the creeps. She always has.”

Gram laughed. “She’s been with me forever, Becca. No, there’s no one. I’m still not convinced they were murdered. Why do you think so?”

“I can’t explain it, but I just know.”

“Accidents happen, Becca. Terrible accidents,” her grandmother said gently. “Sometimes we just have to accept those things as God’s will.”

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