Page 42 of A Flower for Angus

Vince grinned. “Not particularly, but it’s your nickel I’m playing on now. I’m just giving you my honest opinion.”

“Then I’d like ye to hang around a few more days just to be on the safe side, and check into mob connections between Chicago and Scotland.”

Vince’s eyes gleamed. “That’s pretty generous of you.”

“She’s my employee and I do what I can for those who work for me.”

“I’ll see what I can find out and get back to you.” Vince stood up and shook hands with Darro.

Darro stood up too. “Ye’re welcome to stay for breakfast if ye like. I think Lucerne is teaching Poppy a full English breakfast if that’s still on for this morning.”

Vince’s eyes bulged. “Would I ever. I haven’t tried one of those yet, it’s been on my list.”

“Ye won’t find any better than Lucerne’s,” Angus bragged. “Darro got lucky when he married that little lass.”

“Luck had nothing to do with it,” Darro mocked.

“It wasn’t yer good looks or yer personality, so I’m still tryin’ to figure that one out,” Angus hooted.

They all laughed and headed for the house.

***

THE NEXT WEEK WENTby like a blur for Poppy. Phone calls, decisions to make, and sorrow all played a part in her not sleeping well. Lucerne tried to relieve her from her housekeeping duties but it was the only thing that kept the worry at bay.

Some success came out of all the doom and gloom...she learned how to make good pie crust. That one had always escaped her. Besides that, the house was full of the scent of her home-made yeast rolls and pies, much to the delight of Darro’s crew with whom the boss shared what the family couldn’t eat.

For Poppy, the simplicity of daily life with Lucerne’s Scottish cooking classes, keeping house, and playing with the children soothed her jangled nerves and kept her mind occupied.

After speaking with Edna, it was decided that Adrian would be cremated like his father and his ashes placed in the family mausoleum in the cemetery next to his dad. There would be a memorial later on in the year, which Edna would organize with the help of one of her nieces.

Adrian didn’t have a will, which was no surprise. Mack had convinced her that an immediate audit of the corporation was standard procedure and needed to be done now that the reins were in her hands. Funds for Edna weren’t near as healthy as Julian had left since Adrian had taken over. She’d followed his advice and told him to make it happen. She had no clue how to run a corporation and would have to promote someone from within or hire someone. Now they were waiting for the audit results. Poppy rubbed her forehead at the nagging headache that seemed to come and go since Adrian had been killed.

Mack wanted her to return to America and run Julian’s corporation herself. Without someone at the helm, it was floundering. He was afraid that the audit would reveal that Adrian had drained a lot of the company funds to pay for his gambling habits. The investments that were really showing a good profit were the ones Poppy had advised on and inherited. Without Adrian’s hand in the till on those, they were flourishing. Had Julian known about Adrian’s gambling habits and embezzlements? Was that why he’d designed the will the way he had?

Vince was still staying with Jamie at the moment, but had given the all clear here. His partner hadn’t heard anything on the streets of Chicago about Poppy being targeted, and he hadn’t found any connections in Scotland that might be of concern. If Adrian had hired someone, the word of his death would have made it to all ears involved by now and it was no longer a live contract. Simple mathematics. No money to be paid—no hit.

She hoped.

“Are ye goin’ to make the scones or just keep on kneadin’ that big ball of dough?”

Poppy started and turned around to see Angus and Lucerne grinning at her. “I-I didn’t hear you come in,” she replied. She gave a brittle chuckle. “You are right, I’m worrying this to death, aren’t I?” Her hands trembled as she reached for some butter to pat the top of the ball.

“I’ll take over that, Poppy,” Lucerne said gently, moving Poppy aside. “Angus wants to take ye out today, and Darro and I agree that ye need the break.”

“That’s right. Ye’ve been wantin’ to see Loch Ness, so that’s where we’re goin’ to spend the afternoon. Mayhap pick up some lunch from The Waterfront and take with us.”

Poppy started to argue but the steel in Angus’s brown eyes made her think better of it. He was a stubborn man and she’d learned to recognize when he meant what he said. He might pose his decision as a question, but after a few not-so-gentle spanks to her backside now and then, she’d learned when to just give in. Especially since it was always out of concern for her.

She smiled and nodded her acceptance. There was no good reason not to. “Alright, that sounds lovely. Let me change my clothes and I’ll be right out. Should I bring a swimsuit?”

Angus smiled back. “Ye don’t want to swim in Loch Ness, it’s verra cold and deep and there’s other things that swim there.”

“Like the Loch Ness monster?” Poppy asked flippantly, shivering slightly at his ominous tones.

“Aye, Nessie, among other things,” he teased. “We can take a boat ride out onto the Loch though if ye like.”

“I’d like that. Be right back.”

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