Page 37

“You’re right, Bella. Big turtles are called tortoises, and I’ve never had one come to my clinic. Joy works with me. Have you properly introduced everyone?” Roxie asked.

Bella looked up at me with big eyes. “Oh. I’m Bella Clark. These are my cousins. This is Holden O’Malley, Zephyr O’Malley, and Andrew Avery,” she said, pointing to the three boys.

I smiled. “It’s nice to meet y’all.”

“Joy baked a swirly cake. It’s partly yellow and partly chocolate,” Graham spoke up.

All four of the children spoke up at once.

“She did?”

“Yay!”

“I love chocolate.”

“If you let her finish eating, she will probably cut you a piece,” Trenda told the kids.

“Are you going swimming? I like your swimsuit. It’s pretty.” I loved Bella’s smile.

I looked over at Trenda, who just rolled her eyes. Apparently, there was no stopping Bella.

“Yes, she’s going swimming after dessert,” Graham answered for me.

I glared at him.

“What? You can’t wear a swimsuit like that and not get it wet.”

“Fine,” I huffed.

Trenda and Roxie stood up at the same time. “Come on, you four. Let’s get you some food,” Roxie pointed at the kids.

Bella followed her mother, and Roxie held her hands out to the three boys as they hustled to the food table, and I took a moment to catch my breath. Simon winked at me. “She’s a wonder.”

“She is that,” I agreed. “How do you keep up?”

“Lots and lots of caffeine.”

Again, the table burst out laughing.

Graham and I carried pieces of cake over to the matriarchs of the party who had comfortable chairs under a shade tree. Piper and Emmie followed us, each of them holding a drink. He’d asked their preference, and all three of them had requested a small slice of my chocolate and pineapple cake.

“Joy, you look pretty as a picture,” Auntie Gladiola said as I sat down at her feet. Somebody had made sure that Miss Laverne, Little Grandma, and my Great Aunt Gladiola each had trays to properly feast as they looked over the activities. “Now tell me about your young man.”

Emmie almost snorted sangria through her nose.

Served her right.

“Haven’t you met Graham Wallace yet, Gladdie?” Miss Laverne asked. “He’s been lunching at my house for over a year now. Brings me red vine licorice.”

“Oh, you work for Onyx Security. Are you former Special Forces?” Little Grandma asked. Nothing got past my great-great-grandmother. She was sharp as a tack.

“What branch?” Piper asked. “My brother Drake is an active SEAL at Coronado.”

“I know,” Graham said as he handed out the last plate of dessert to Little Grandma. Emmie glanced over at me. She noted how he didn’t answer either Little Grandma or Piper’s question. Little Grandma let it drop.

“He drives a motorcycle,” Miss Laverne said. “A loud one. With silver piping.”

This time, Piper snorted.