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She conceded. “Fair enough, and bitching. I don’t have time for a date, much less a relationship.”
“Ah, I see, you’re scared. That’s understandable. It’s too bad though. I always liked him.”
“Since when do you take such an interest in my love life, anyway?”
“Since you married a twat after I told you he was no good.”
Struck dumb, Sophie’s mouth fell open. That was a low blow. Keefe rarely interfered, but that had been one of the few times he had—and she hadn’t listened. And damn him for bringing it up!
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
His apology came too late. Sophie rolled up her lip, took a deep breath, and let it rip.
Chapter4
Sylvia stoodat the stove wearing a yellow apron that read ‘Momma in the Making,’ pretending to stir the pot—when really, she was just keeping Sondra the hell away from the food.
It was getting harder and harder to keep the secret of Sondra slowly poisoning everyone, one by one. Or, if you counted the made-with-love lasagna incident, six at a time—which, when you think about it, was rather impressive.
And they all loved Sondra. Wouldn’t trade her for the world.
But Simon really needed to tell her.
Yesterday, they’d barely intercepted a batch of muffins she baked for Darcie. As it was, poor Bootstrap wasn’t so lucky. The dog adored treats, and Sondra, being the softie she was, had snuck him a few bites of blueberry muffin. Poor thing spent the next two hours making emergency trips outside into the freezing cold.
Sylvia shook her head as Sondra, who was standing at the counter, recounted the mysterious wedding present left for Nan and Shamus. “…Anyways, Simon said they insisted on driving themselves here and that they looked like they had a grand time and all, but then they opened up a gift—a painting of some sort—and then they shoved him out the door!”
“That is strange,” Sylvia replied thoughtfully.
“Are you sure I can’t help you with the cooking? A dry roast is the devil’s work. That’s what Shamus says.”
Sylvia heard two car doors slam and yelling from outside. It must be the twins had arrived. They were always fighting about something. Now, to keep Sondra away from this food for two minutes. “No, no Sondra, love. Why don’t you go and sit with Darcie? I’m sure she’d be glad of your company and she might need something.”
Sondra, none-the-wiser, smiled, turned, and walked away. Sylvia sighed in relief. Mission accomplished. Now, to see to the twins.
“Ouch! Dammit, Soph! Would you knock it off?” Keefe cried as the front door of Connor’s house quickly swung closed in his face, courtesy of his very pissed off sister.
“How about you knock it off?”
Keefe pushed the door open, then closed it behind him. Sophie, who was taking her shoes off, glared at him. “Come on. You can’t really be that upset.”
She stood up with one shoe in her hand, ready to knot him with it. “Can’t really be upset? I’m just getting started! You had no right!”
“Don’t you throw that shoe at me! He’s my friend too, you know?”
Having already heard the commotion, Sylvia met them at the door to break up the bickering and just in time, too. Sophie was gearing up for a brawl by the look of things. Without raising her voice even a little, she instructed Sophie to put her shoe down. Sophie sneered at Keefe, stuck her tongue out, then placed it on the floor.
“Hooligans, the pair of you,” Sylvia said, shaking her head.
“Would you stop?” cried Keefe when Sophie jabbed her elbow into his ribs.
“You stop!”
“No! You stop!”
They both stopped when Sylvia’s laughter was the loudest thing in the room. “You two! It’s like you’re kids again. The pair of you have been bickering and fighting since before you were born. I’d never seen a woman get knocked down by her own unborn twins until I saw your poor mother! You two would be kicking at each other like crazy. What’s the problem this time?”
“Hi, Aunt Syl’! Looking beautiful as always!” Keefe said brightly. “Sophie’s mad at me.” He bent down to hug his aunt—who, compared to his six-foot-one height, was practically a dwarf—and lifted her off her chubby little feet. “I called my friend Liam today.” He sat Sylvia back down with a kiss on her cheek.
