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Charley:She’d be amazing with the arts and entertainment questions
Joey:And I heard she studied history at college, so I bet she’d kick ass in that, too
Charley:We’d be unstoppable. Especially if Sabina doesn’t leave when the baby comes
Joey:Sabina is too competitive to quit, are you kidding?
Asher:Do you even need me for this conversation?
Both women answered “no,” in capital letters.
Ellie laughed. “I’ll have you know that I am pretty good at pub trivia.”
“I don’t doubt it. It gets pretty competitive around here, though. Just a word of warning.”
She believed him. The Warwicks all had a competitive streak. Except for maybe Asher. And Ryan. “I want to read your grandfather’s next,” she said, curious about what the patriarch of the family, and former president of the United States, would say about her.
Gramps:Interesting text from Sofia just now. Is it true?
Asher:Yes, it’s true. Ellie and I are seeing each other
Gramps:Did you know I met her before she ever came to Mystery Lake?
Asher:No, you never said
Gramps:It never came up. It was years ago. Shortly after her first Oscar. I was at a party fundraiser in LA and she and her dad were there. Lovely family. She reminded me of your grandmother
Ellie blinked back the moisture in her eyes. The other texts had been funny. AndSOWarwick. But William’s touched her heart. She remembered every moment of meeting him. She’d just turned twenty-one. A baby, really. But he’d been so kind and funny. She’d been charmed by him, as many were. But most importantly, how he’d treated her father had earned him her unwavering respect. She knew for a fact that that night was one her dad would always remember. It was the night that he, an uneducated immigrant, spent twenty minutes talking to a former president of the United States about everything from carpentry to raising kids. In many ways, Asher—humble, intelligent, and unassuming—was more like his grandfather than any of the other cousins.
And his reference to Genevieve Warwick. It was no secret how much the couple had loved each other. How much William still loved and respected his wife, even in death. That she reminded him of her touched her more deeply than she ever would have thought.
“Are you crying?” Asher asked.
“Yes. And don’t make fun of me. That’s just about the sweetest thing anyone could say,” she retorted.
In response, he picked up a dry washcloth and handed it to her. She dabbed her eyes, sniffed, then set it down.
“Okay,” she said on an exhale. “On to the next one. Let’s see your dad’s.”
“You asked for it,” Asher muttered, then opened the thread.
Dad:I heard you and Ellie are playing house. In every sense
Asher:You heard right
Dad:Nice that the news came from Sofia
Asher:Sarcasm, Dad. Really?
Dad:All I’m saying is that it would be nice if my oldest son had deigned to inform me that he’s serious enough about a woman that the whole family knows
Asher:Ha. You just don’t like the fact that Sofia one-upped you with being the first to know
Dad:She’s going to hold this over me forever, son
Asher:Yes, she is
Dad:On a more serious note. I like Ellie. She’s a keeper. Don’t toss this one back
