Total pages in book: 103
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 99604 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 498(@200wpm)___ 398(@250wpm)___ 332(@300wpm)
Nana smiled, eyes gleaming. “I could call Father Liam. He owes me a favor.”
“Please don’t.” I stepped back, clutching the muffin like it might protect me. “You two planned this.”
Nana widened her eyes innocently. “Planned what?”
“You know what,” I coughed out. “This. The tag-team ambush.”
Nonna stirred her coffee. “We only worry because we love you.”
That made it worse.
“I’m going to…check on Tessa.” I retreated before either of them could mention children or china patterns.
At the counter, Tessa waited. “That bad?”
“They ran me off with wedding questions,” I muttered, tearing into my muffin. “They asked about dates, dresses, and priests.”
She winced. “Oof. You got the big guns.”
I glanced back at the booth. Both grandmothers were watching me, still smiling—sweet, calm, and absolutely victorious. Fond too, which somehow made it worse.
“Yeah,” I said softly. “They knew exactly what they were doing.”
The air around our grandmothers had shifted, becoming heavier now, holding the kind of weight that made me uneasy.
Nonna Albertini reached into her purse and pulled out a thick cream-colored envelope. The stationery looked expensive and was stiff and embossed. She set it down between them without a sound.
Nana O’Shea watched her for a long moment, then reached into her own elegant green handbag. Out came another envelope, gold-trimmed, thick paper. She placed it in front of Nonna.
They traded envelopes.
Neither smiled. They unfolded the notes at the same time, and I felt something inside me tighten. Their faces changed almost immediately. Nana’s mouth flattened, her brows drawing together as though she’d swallowed something sour. Nonna’s chin lifted slightly, eyes flashing before she forced her expression back to neutral.
Tessa whispered, “That’s not good.”
“Definitely not good,” I murmured, my pulse picking up. “We need to know what’s on those cards.”
“I vote no,” Tessa said under her breath.
The smell of coffee hung thick in the air while rain tapped softly against the windows. The sound filled the quiet like a heartbeat. The grandmothers refolded the cards and handed them back to each other to slip into their purses. So they just wanted to read each other’s notes?
My curiosity burned hot enough to drown out common sense. “Come on.” I slid off the stool.
Tessa groaned. “Do we have to?”
“Yes. We absolutely do.”
We made our way across the restaurant and around tables to reach the booth. Both grandmothers looked up as we approached, composed again. Their coffee sat untouched.
I stopped at the edge of the table. “Okay, what are on those fancy notes you just opened?”
Nonna blinked, the picture of calm. “What was what, cara mia?”
“That little note exchange. Thick envelopes. Matching stationery. You’re both frowning like you just read bad news,” I whispered, unable to find more volume.
Nana lifted her cup, buying time. “Just correspondence, dear.”
“Between each other?” I asked, eyes narrowing. “In person? At breakfast? With matching stationery?”
Neither answered.
Tessa cleared her throat. “Are you at least going to tell us what this is about?”
“No,” Nonna said simply.
Nana set her cup down gently. “It’s better that way. Please don’t concern yourselves with this. We know what we’re doing.”
My frustration bubbled up. “Do the grandpas know that the two of you are even meeting?”
“Absolutely not,” Nonna replied.
Nana nodded. “We’re all going to keep it that way.”
I glanced between them. “You’re serious.”
“As heart attacks,” Nonna said softly.
They went back to their coffee, shutting down the conversation like a door slamming in my face.
My shoulders stiffened. “You’ve both taught us that we always rely on family.”
Nonna arched an eyebrow. “We do, and right now, there’s nothing to worry about.”
Right now? I swallowed. “Is something coming?”
A look passed between them. One I couldn’t interpret.
“No,” Nonna finally said.
Why didn’t I believe her? “Does this have anything to do with the theft at your store, Nana? With the dynamite?”
Nana snorted. “No. I promise. This has nothing to do with that situation.”
Nonna sat back. “Wait a minute. Are you sure?”
Nana rolled her green eyes. “Seriously? Come on, Elda. No way with the dynamite or the theft. Doesn’t make sense with, the, ah, whole situation. Think about it.”
Nonna patted her massive purse. “You’re right. Speaking of the theft, Three Hens Investigations would like to take on your case. On the house, since we’re family.”
Tessa took a step back. My knees shook but I didn’t move. Since they were family? Sure, they were, but I’d never heard either one of them acknowledge it. They were always polite, even kind, with each other, but still. “Um, Nonna? I think Aiden and the ATF are already working hard on the case.” I didn’t want my grandmother chasing somebody who felt fine planting old dynamite.
She shrugged. “Of course, and the ATF is good at finding explosives and such. The theft will be secondary to their investigation. You know that.”
Nana squinted up at me. “Is that true?”
I gulped. “Well, yes. But if they find the person who had the dynamite, they’ll find the thief. I think you should let them do their job.”