Page 77 of Last Call

Pete hesitated to leave.

“Pete,” Ida said. “Don’t forget who the mother is here.”

Pete leaned close and kissed Ida’s cheek. “Call me when you know something.”

“I will. Now, go on. Get out of my doorway.”

Pete chuckled, relieved to see Ida returning to her usual humor.

Ida closed the door. “Shit. God help me if Mary Branigan appears.”

Carol looked up to find Riley walking into the pub with Beth.

“Thank God!” Carol called out.

“Why are we thanking God?” Riley asked.

“Adults.”

“Don’t tell me the preschool instituted a pub crawl?” Riley joked.

“Close enough. You just missed Fallon and Dave.”

Riley nodded.

“And just what is Fallon plotting?” Carol asked Riley.

“Plotting?”

“Uh-huh. She’s up to something,” Carol said. “She came in here for lunch and then didn’t sit long enough to eat it. She checked on the kegs, looked in the freezers, and asked Don if he thought the kitchen was big enough. She’s up to something.”

Riley shrugged.

“Mm-hm,” Carol said. “What brings you two in before Happy Hour?” she asked, working to fill two margarita glasses.

“We’re both kidless,” Beth said.

“Pete took the kids to the pond,” Riley explained

“All three of them?” Carol asked.

Beth nodded.

“By himself?”

Riley chuckled.

“Good thing Evan is there to supervise,” Carol said, handing her friends their drinks. “Wait. Pete isn’t working?”

“His new mechanic started this morning,” Beth explained.

Carol blinked. “New mechanic?”

“I haven’t met her yet,” Beth said. “He said something about her being Mr. Avery’s daughter.”

“He hired Avery’s kid!”

“Um. Who is Mr. Avery?” Riley asked.

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