Page 74 of Forbidden Secrets
“Oh, the farm would be beautiful for a wedding.”
“Wouldn’t it?”Antonia clasped her hands together.“Mateo said the only way he’d have it there is if they can hire enough staff that the McGrath clan can enjoy the event as guests.”
“That’s thoughtful of him.”
They continued chatting, catching up with each other’s lives.Antonia hugged her again as Melanie was leaving.“Next time you come in, bring your little girl.She needs to meet all her people.”
“I will.”
Returning to the boardwalk, Melanie knew it was a rare gift to be able to make people feel loved no matter how many years they’d been apart.
Turning into the narrow walkway between Retro Days and Three Sisters Bakery, Melanie caught the scent of roasted coffee and almost gave in, but she kept walking.She spotted Delaney and Walker beside their SUV in the rear lot.
“Hey, there,” she called.
Delaney looked up from strapping a baby into a stroller.“Hey, Mel.”
The little girl looked at her wide-eyed and held up a drool-covered toy key ring.
“Hello, sweet thing.You must be Harper.I’ll let you keep that,” Mel said with a smile.“How’s that tooth coming?”she asked Delaney.
“The tooth broke through last night,” she replied.“Right now, we’re getting a brief break from the crankiness.”
“It feels like once that first one shows up, they’re teething forever.”Melanie remembered those days.
Walker slung the diaper bag over his shoulder.“I was hoping it gets easier.”
“The older they get the better they handle it, if that helps,” Melanie said.“You guys out shopping?”
“Coffee first, then shopping,” Delaney answered.She glanced at Walker.“We’ve got an update on our detective work.”
Melanie perked up.“So do I.”
Walker scanned the lot.“Why don’t you join us at the bakery and we’ll swap notes?”
“Absolutely.”
A few minutes later, they were tucked into a corner table at the back of Three Sisters Bakery, away from listening ears.Delaney settled Harper in a high chair with a teething biscuit while Melanie wrapped her hands around a mug of hot tea.
“I forgot how cold it gets here.Addy and I are definitely in need of gloves.”
“Add sturdy lined boots to your shopping list,” Delaney added.“You’ll thank me when the snow hits.”
“Laney’s right about the boots,” Walker said, then nodded toward Melanie.“All right, let’s hear what you found out.”
“Okay.I had an interesting conversation with Greg Delano last night.He’s not a happy man.”Mel told them Greg’s story of the night of the bootlegger and Rhonda’s subsequent pregnancy.“He thinks she told Josh Lockwood the baby was his,” Melanie told them.“That said, I don’t know how any of this is relevant to our investigation.”
“It gives us a more complete picture,” Delaney said, brow furrowed.“Rhonda was a senior that year, and she didn’t come back after winter break.There were rumors she was pregnant and doing adult-ed to graduate.”
Melanie shook her head.“It’s always women who pay the price for an accidental pregnancy.”
She pointed to Walker.“Okay, your turn.”
He ran a hand over his beard.“I spoke with Martha Watkins this morning.She was Grafton’s secretary back when he was sheriff.Her help was key to uncovering that he falsified the DNA report.”He sipped his coffee.“She told me something new.When Grafton was still a captain, there was a rumor he was having an affair.”
“How long ago?Who with?”At Walker’s raised brow, she held up both hands.“I’ll shut up.”
He flashed his lightning grin, reminding Melanie why the young Walker McGrath had made all the girls swoon.
