Page 32 of Deadly Deception
“Nana, this is Erasmus Boone. Boone, this is my nana, Violet Klein.”
Hands clasped behind his back, Boone gave a deferential nod and said, “Ms. Violet, it’s nice to meet you.” Boone’s easy, southern drawl softened the edges of Nana’s name.
“Ms. Violet, how come when you say my name it sounds sugary sweet, and when that man at the bank says the same, it sounds like I’m in trouble?” Nana gave Boone a wide grin. “You can call me Nana or Ms. Violet, whichever you’re more comfortable with. Now, come on in and take the chill off.”
Nana swept us inside and we quickly shuffled out of our coats. Nana always kept her house toasty warm. I’d probably be sweating soon, but the temperature would be to Boone’s taste.
“Come on into the light, so I can get a better look at you.” Nana waved us into the kitchen and toward some heavenly smells. Without thought or question, Nana cupped Boone’s face, placing her palms directly on his skin. Boone’s eyes widened in surprise, but Nana didn’t pull away. “My, my, aren’t you a handsome one. Found yourself a little southern eye candy.” Nana gave me a salacious wink before pulling away from Boone. “Oh, the look on your face, Franklin.” Nana merrily cackled. “I might be up there in years and my eyesight might not be what it once was, but I can still recognize a handsome face when I see one.”
Boone’s pale cheeks flushed crimson. I’m not sure what either one of us would have said because just then, my brother Evan burst into the kitchen. “Franklin!” Evan boomed, his voice, as always, far louder than needed. “God, it’s been an age. How in the hell have you been?” Not waiting for an answer, Evan charged forward and followed up Nana’s hug with an even more breath-stealing one. I’d never considered myself a small man, but my younger brother made me feel diminutive.
“C-can’t b-breathe.”
Evan dropped me and patted me so hard on the shoulder he almost sent me careening into the kitchen table. “You always were a lightweight.”
“Boys,” Nana scolded, making me feel like I was twelve all over again.
“And who’s this?” Evan glanced from Boone to me and waggled his eyebrows. “Gotta say, big brother, it looks like you’re dating above your paygrade. How in the hell did someone like you snag a looker like this?”
“I…” Boone’s flush deepened. “Franklin is very handsome,” Boone defended my physical honor.
“Maybe he’s as blind as Nana,” Evan playfully said. “Is that a necromancer trait?”
I held my breath, waiting for Boone’s response. Knowing my brother, I understood he was just teasing, but did it read that way to Boone?
“No,” Boone answered. Twirling a finger by his temple, he said, “Our mental stability is sometimes questionable, but we see just fine.” Boone’s grin and Evan’s answering boom of laughter let me know they were on the same page when it came to inappropriate humor.
“Great, now we’ve got two of them.” My sister Lynn lounged in the kitchen doorway, a glass of red wine in one hand while the other rested against her thigh. Lynn and I’d inherited our father’s ginger features. Lynn’s hair was a deeper red than mine and hung past her shoulders. She had a light smattering of freckles over her nose and cheeks, and her skin absolutely hated the sun. Evan took after our mother’s German genes. My older brother, Erik, was a mix of both. He and his wife lived in Phoenix and wouldn’t be at our impromptu family gathering.
“Hey, Lynn,” I greeted, closing the distance between us and giving her a hug. “Is Glen here? What about the girls?” I hadn’t seen my nieces in a little over a year. They’d most likely grown another one to two inches in that time.
Lynn took another large drink of wine. Her skin was flushed, and I wasn’t sure if it was from the alcohol or Nana’s warm kitchen. When Lynn wouldn’t meet my eyes, I knew it wasneither. “Glen and the girls couldn’t make it.” Lynn’s gaze flicked Boone’s direction before landing on her feet.
I stiffened, the implication clear. “Couldn’t come, huh?” I’d never had much use for Lynn’s husband. But she’d chosen him, and I’d always tried to make the best of the situation. It was her life, not mine, and I’d always tried my best to be supportive.
“Drop it,” Lynn said under her breath.
“For now,” I agreed, but knew Lynn and I’d be having an important and most likely unpleasant conversation later. Thankfully, Boone appeared ignorant of our mostly unspoken words.
“Hello, Miss Lynn, it’s nice to meet you. I’m Erasmus.” Boone didn’t hold out his hand and Lynn didn’t try and tempt him into a handshake.
“It’s nice to meet you, Erasmus.” Lynn’s smile was forced, her lips a little too thin and taut for the sentiment to be true.
“So, what’s for dinner, Nana?” Evan clapped his hands, rubbing them together. “I’m still a growing boy, you know.”
Nana tossed a wooden spoon at Evan’s head. “Yes, but which way you’re growin’ is the question.”
Evan covered his heart with his hand. “Nana, I’m hurt.”
“Bah, more nonsense. Erasmus, do you see what I’ve had to put up with all these years?”
Boone’s laughter was sincere and joyous. “I do. I’m beginning to think you might qualify for sainthood.”
“Finally, someone who understands.” Nana reached over and gave Boone a one-armed hug. Lynn stiffened and her grip on her wine glass tightened. Evan just picked up the wooden spoon and made his way to the stovetop, dipping the spoon into the pot and humming his appreciation when he tasted Nana’s homemade marinara sauce.
Nana’s slap to Evan’s arm did little to dissuade him. Instead, he leaned over and kissed Nana on her temple before loweringthe spoon and retreating to the refrigerator, rifling around until he found a few cheese slices to nibble on.
Conversation was light, mostly questions fielded by Evan with a few follow-up comments from Nana. Boone smiled and laughed, and I could tell it wasn’t forced. Lynn remained distant. Her lips would occasionally tilt up at the edges, but mostly she stood there, practicing her resting bitch face. Lynn was a year older than me. We’d practically grown up in each other’s back pockets. I’d harassed the hell out of her when we were younger, but we’d always been fond of each other. Lynn’s marriage strained that fondness but hadn’t destroyed it. Her actions tonight just might.
