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Miss Laverne gave Joy a long, considering look. “That’s okay, dear. I know you had good reasons,” the older lady said gently, and I wanted to kiss her. “How can I help?”
“I’m worried about you,” Joy blurted out.
“Why on Earth would you be worried about me?” Miss Laverne smiled wide. “I’ve lived here all my life. This is the house I was born in and where I grew up. My mama left it to me when she died. Ain’t nothing bad ever happened to me here, and nothing ever will.”
I watched as Joy’s fingers clenched tighter and tighter during Miss Laverne’s speech. “Yeah, but you never had a crazy man out to get you.”
“It’s okay. From now on, I’ll lock my door.”
I snorted a laugh. “So that’s what’s finally gonna get you to lock your door, huh?”
“Well, when somebody from England comes to terrorize our Joy, darn tootin’ I’ll lock our door. Now, Graham, what are you and your young friends going to do about all of this? I assume you’re working with Sheriff Rivers. You better call him.”
“I will. And I’ll be staying here with the both of you, and Joy will start working the day shift.”
Joy jerked around in her seat and glared daggers up at me. “For the last time, I’m not going to ask Roxie for any favors. She needed a tech at night, not for days. I’ll continue to work nights until I can find a job that lets me work days.”
Miss Laverne let out a quiet laugh, and Joy turned to look at her. “What?”
“Aw, honey. You know that’s not how Jasper Creek works.”
Chapter Twenty-One
We were just finishing up dinner when I heard the rumble of trucks pulling up outside. It was definitely more than one. I looked up at Graham, and he didn’t look surprised.
“Who’s that?”
“Should be Simon, Roan, and Hart. And if I had to guess, Roxie.”
“Oh good. They’ll be just in time for dessert,” Miss Laverne said as she got up from the table. She picked up her plate, but I stopped her.
“You know the rules.” I smiled. “You did all the cooking. I’ll clean up. Graham will let everybody inside. Why don’t you go with him?”
“That sounds lovely.” She followed Graham out to the other room, and I started clearing the table. I was in the kitchen, pulling out the leftover chocolate cake, when Roxie and Ava burst into the kitchen.
“What the fuck?” Ava shouted.
“Ava! Lower your voice. Miss Laverne will hear you.”
“What the ever-loving fuck?” Ava whisper-yelled. “Some asshole from London followed you to Tennessee?”
“How did you find out so fast?”
“Hart told Brent, then he told me,” she explained.
I looked over at Roxie, and she shrugged. “Graham told Hart. And he did tell Brent. These guys gossip worse than a sewing circle.”
“No wonder you were so freaked about the flowers. I would have plucked off all the petals, then put the stems through the shredder.” Ava went to the cabinet and started pulling out plates.
I giggled. It felt good. Really good.
Roxie peered over my shoulder. “Did you bake that cake with sour cream?”
I stood up straight. “Is there any other way?”
“And dark cocoa?”
“Damn straight.” I grinned.
