Page 75 of The Secrets We Treasure

The front door burst open. “Hello!” Laci called. “Are y’all gonna sit out there all evening or come inside? We’re waiting for you.”

Greer arched an eyebrow as he looked at Treasure. “We? She’d better not have invited any of her charity people.”

“Hello!” Laci grumbled. “Are y’all deaf?”

“Hold your horses. We’ll be right there,” Greer yelled with fire in his eyes. He zeroed in on Treasure. “Go ahead.”

She forced a smile. “It can wait. I’ll tell you the rest afterward.”

He furrowed his brows. “Are you sure?”

“Yeah.”

He searched her face. “It sounded serious. Do I need to be concerned?”

“We’ll talk later.” She released his hand and leaned down to grab her purse, which was resting at her feet.

“Okay,” Greer sighed. “Let’s do this thing.”

“What a day this has been,” she muttered to herself as he came around and helped her out of the cart. She hated to think what would happen next.

Greer placed his hand on the small of her back, leading her to the entrance. His nearness was comforting. “We’ll get through this,” he whispered in her ear.

She nodded, hoping he was right.

“Come on in,” Laci said as they walked up the steps. The corners of her lips turned down as her gaze moved from Treasure to Greer. “Is everything okay?”

Treasure nodded, her anger resurging. How could Laci have said those terrible things about her? And all that stuff Laci said about Waylon wanting her to have the house and his late wife’s siblings poisoning the minds of Waylon’s kids. Were they blatant lies? Greer was right about one thing. Treasure had been away for too long. She and Laci spoke over the phone a couple times a week on average, but they’d not spent much time around each other.

Amusement glittered in Laci’s eyes. “Are y’all fighting already? Trouble in paradise?”

“Something like that,” Greer said, his voice hard as steel.

Laci stepped back. “Come on in. There are some folks I want y’all to see.”

Greer hardened his jaw.

“We’re not up to socializing with other people tonight,” Treasure said stiffly. “Maybe we should come back another time.” A headache was throbbing across her forehead. Merely looking at Laci caused her animosity to grow.

Laci gave Treasure a quirky grin. “This won’t take long.”

Treasure’s senses went on full alert. What was Laci up to?

“This way,” Laci said cheerfully as she ushered them into the palatial great room. It took Treasure a second for her brain to process what she was seeing. Her knees went weak as she stumbled back.

“Easy.” Greer caught her arm.

It was Treasure’s worst nightmare coming to light before her very eyes.

For sitting on the couch were Francie Nash and Josette Chasing!

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