Page 84 of Fish out of Water
“Jesus Christ.” I stepped into the room, Julia coming right with me, the statue still clutched in her hand.
My mother turned to face me. “Well hello to you too.”
“What in the hell are you doing?” I slid the safety on my pistol into place before setting it on the counter.
“I’m looking for a coffee filter.” She went back to hunting through the drawers and cabinets. “You’ve moved everything.”
“I haven’t moved anything.” I stepped in beside her and flipped open the cabinet where she put the filters when I moved in. “They’re still in the same place they’ve always been.”
“I don’t remember putting them there.” She pulled one free and tucked it into the coffee maker before adding in a pile of grounds.
“How much coffee are you making?”
“Enough for everyone.” She turned to Julia and gave her a wide smile. “Hello.”
Julia lifted the hand not holding the bronze and gave my mother a little wave. “Hello.”
“Who’s everyone?” I knew the answer. Felt it in my soul.
I was still hoping to be wrong.
“You know I can’t go anywhere without your grandmother.” My mother slid the filter holder into place and switched the machine on. “She’s in the bathroom. Took her water pill as soon as we got off the plane. Had to race to the bathroom the second we got here.”
“You couldn’t let me know you were coming?”
“Well, it normally doesn’t matter.” Her attention went back to Julia. “I’m happy to see that this time we finally interrupted something.” She gave Julia an exaggerated wink.
“Granty, I—” My grandmother came to an abrupt stop as she walked into the kitchen. “Well, well, well. What do we have here?” She looked Julia up and down as she came to my side. “Aren’t you a pretty thing.” My Nonna nudged me with one elbow. “She’s a looker, Granty. It took you a while, but you sure knocked it out of the park.” She pointed to the statue in Julia’s hand. “And she’s got good taste.”
Julia looked at the bronze like she just remembered she had it. “It seemed like it could do some damage.”
My grandmother pointed Julia’s way. “This one’s got moxie.” Nonna beamed at the woman who was probably regretting so many things right now. “I like her.”
Chapter Seventeen
Julia
I SHOULD HAVE known waking up in Grant’s bed would end up like this.
Maybe not this exact scenario, but definitely more than a leisurely morning sipping coffee and enjoying each other’s company.
The younger of the two very glamorous women staring at me grabbed a plastic container from the counter, flipped the lid open and held it my direction. “Would you like a scone?”
I mean, who wouldn’t?
I took one from the lineup. “Thank you.”
“Thankyou.” She offered me a wide smile. “I’ve been waiting for my son to finally find what he was really looking for.” She turned to the coffee setup that suddenly made a lot more sense.
Actually just about everything about his house made a lot more sense now.
“Mother, please.” Grant shoved the thumb and fingers of one hand into his eyes, rubbing a little too hard for it to be comfortable.
“I’m just saying.” She turned back my way with a cup of coffee. “Cream?”
I didn’t know what else to say so I just nodded.
“Here.” Grant’s grandmother snagged the statue from my hand. “I’ll put this back.” She paused as she passed Grant. “We should get her a gun.”
