Page 15 of Coven of Corpses

“What’s that mean?”

“It would have been nice to know about this storage unit before this week. Dave and I could have been going through this stuff the last few years and sorting or trashing it.”

Greg looked a bit scolded. “I thought you knew about it.”

“Nope. Had no idea until the funeral when you and mom informed the five of us we’d all be looking through Grandma’s belongings.”

“What did you think happened to everything in her house?” Alice said.

“I thought you sold it or donated it or something,” Cody said. He looked around the storage unit—so many boxes, so much crap—at each of his brothers. “Did you guys know about this place?”

They all replied in the negative.

Cody gave his parents raised eyebrows. “I know you were already in Colorado when we moved Grandma into Parson’s Pines, but you never told us you were renting a storage unit the size of her house to pile all her belongings inside.”

“It’s nowhere near the size of that house,” Alice said with a huff. “Trust me. Your father and I, and his sister Marlene and her husband, moved all of these things here. You boys were all busy with your lives, so we didn’t ask you to help.”

“Speaking of which, where is Aunt Marlene?” Brady didn’t look up as he turned another page of the photo album. “Shouldn’t she and our cousins be helping?”

“They had prior commitments they needed to return to Georgia for right after the funeral,” Greg said.

“Probably another beauty pageant for Amanda,” Dave said. He held up a maroon corset and smiled. “Hey, Roman, want this for Madison?”

As Roman scowled at their brother, Cody had to agree with Dave. Their cousin Amanda was beautiful and had won a few local pageants. So far it hadn’t seemed to go to her head, and he hoped she could stay grounded a little longer.

Greg pulled another chair up beside him. “How are you doing, son, really?”

Cody gave him a long look. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

“You sure?” He leaned in and lowered his voice. “Do you need money?”

“We all heard it, Pops,” Grant said. “Good try at the lower voice, though.”

“All of you mind your business.”

“That’s really nice of you, Dad, but Demmy and I are doing fine.” Roman snorted, and Cody jerked his head up. “Got something to add, Romes?” He used Grant’s nickname because he knew it bugged him.

Roman tried for wide-eyed innocence as he looked up from a suitcase that appeared to be filled with lingerie. “What? It’s dusty in here. I sneezed.”

“Didn’t sound like a sneeze,” Dave said. “Sounded like a derisive snort.”

“Derisive?” Roman snorted again. “You’ve been living back here with Cody too long.”

Cody and Dave exchanged puzzled looks.

“What’s that mean?” Cody said.

“Boys…” Alice warned. “Do not start.”

“No, Mom. I want to know what it means, too,” Dave said. He folded his arms and fixed Roman with an icy glare. “What did you mean by that?”

“I didn’t mean anything.” Roman was quiet for a couple of beats, and then said, “It’s just that since you moved back here, you’ve changed. You’re different.”

“Different as in happy, right?” Dave pushed his glasses up his nose and ran a hand over his brunette beard. “Because that’s what I finally am. Which you would know if you ever bothered to call any of us and check in.”

“He calls me,” Brady said, then looked up and made a face. “Sorry.”

“Of course he calls you,” Dave said. “He’s grooming you to be a younger version of himself.”