Read Online A Family Affair: Spring: Truth in Lies, Book 2 by Mary Campisi - Free Book Online
Authors: Mary Campisi
Ads: Link
about your father.” She shook her head. “Damn shame. He was a good man.”
“Yes, he was.” For a small town, there were still a lot of people she hadn’t met. Miriam knew the whole town but hadn’t seemed particularly eager to thrust Christine into Magdalena society , and Nate certainly hadn’t jumped to provide a bounty of introductions, not when he still got looks from women he’d dated—or whatever he’d done with them. He’d told her he’d lived here all of his life, and most of the people annoyed the hell out of him because they couldn’t mind their own business. They poked, prodded, asked too many damn questions that were none of their business. Yes, he did have a point, but a sentiment like that just wasn’t human. Christine glanced at Pop Benito who stood next to her, smiling. Miriam and Nate could keep to themselves because she had her own Magdalena Welcome Wagon right beside her.
“Christine’s in business,” Pop said. “She’s renting an office next door to Barbara’s Boutique and Bakery.”
Of course, Mimi must already know that, being the mayor and all. She eyed Christine over her lime reading glasses. “I heard you helped Richard Voormen get a loan and gave him a budget.”
How had she heard that? “Well, I can’t really say.”
The woman waved a hand in the air. “Don’t need to. I’m friends with the boy’s aunt and she told me all about it. Says there might be hope for him yet.”
“See there?” Pop nodded. “Christine’s a financial whiz.”
“Good to know. Now, go grab yourself something to eat. I brought those sugar cookies you like and there’s hibiscus tea over there, too. And Ramona brought sweet rolls.” Mimi excused herself and moved toward the oblong table.
“That didn’t go very well.” Christine said in a low voice. She’d had more success in a boardroom filled with top executives than she did with the mayor of Magdalena.
Pop shrugged. “It ain’t over yet. Give it time to percolate. Now, let’s get some sugar cookies.”
The meeting began and ended with plans to plant flowers in the wooden boxes alongside the business locations downtown and in the hanging baskets near the coffee shop. Suggestions for specific flowers were given and noted, votes were taken, and petunias, impatiens, alyssum, and tuberose tuberous begonias were the winners. There were nine people in attendance, including Pop and Christine. Will Carrick was the only other male. He owned a stretch of land outside of town and the society used a patch of his property to grow and harvest perennials. When Mimi Pendergrass introduced Christine, the members mouthed their welcomes, some even smiled, but the wariness in their eyes said they didn’t know Christine Desantro any more than they knew Christine Blacksworth.
The majority of The Bleeding Hearts Society monthly meeting had nothing to do with planting, propagating, or harvesting. In fact, it had nothing to do with anything related to plants. It did , however, have to do with Will Carrick’s niece, age fifteen, sneaking out after curfew, threatening to run away, disrespecting the rules of the house. In other words, being a teenager.
“What can you do about it?” Will rubbed his temples with callused hands. “My sister is beside herself with worry that Megan is just going to take off one day, and if she does she’ll have gotten into deep trouble.” Code for pregnant.
“Where’s her father?” Christine asked.
They all looked at her as though she’d asked about running a highway through their town.
“Gone,” Ramona Casherdon said between pinched lips.
“Amen to that,” Will muttered.
“It is so hard to be a parent today,” Wanda Cummings said. “Almost worse to be a grandparent and witness it all.” Pop had told Christine that Wanda had eight children and sixteen grandchildren, all living within a ten-mile radius of Magdalena. “Do you think we can invite someone to speak at the library about troubled teens?
“Yes, he was.” For a small town, there were still a lot of people she hadn’t met. Miriam knew the whole town but hadn’t seemed particularly eager to thrust Christine into Magdalena society , and Nate certainly hadn’t jumped to provide a bounty of introductions, not when he still got looks from women he’d dated—or whatever he’d done with them. He’d told her he’d lived here all of his life, and most of the people annoyed the hell out of him because they couldn’t mind their own business. They poked, prodded, asked too many damn questions that were none of their business. Yes, he did have a point, but a sentiment like that just wasn’t human. Christine glanced at Pop Benito who stood next to her, smiling. Miriam and Nate could keep to themselves because she had her own Magdalena Welcome Wagon right beside her.
“Christine’s in business,” Pop said. “She’s renting an office next door to Barbara’s Boutique and Bakery.”
Of course, Mimi must already know that, being the mayor and all. She eyed Christine over her lime reading glasses. “I heard you helped Richard Voormen get a loan and gave him a budget.”
How had she heard that? “Well, I can’t really say.”
The woman waved a hand in the air. “Don’t need to. I’m friends with the boy’s aunt and she told me all about it. Says there might be hope for him yet.”
“See there?” Pop nodded. “Christine’s a financial whiz.”
“Good to know. Now, go grab yourself something to eat. I brought those sugar cookies you like and there’s hibiscus tea over there, too. And Ramona brought sweet rolls.” Mimi excused herself and moved toward the oblong table.
“That didn’t go very well.” Christine said in a low voice. She’d had more success in a boardroom filled with top executives than she did with the mayor of Magdalena.
Pop shrugged. “It ain’t over yet. Give it time to percolate. Now, let’s get some sugar cookies.”
The meeting began and ended with plans to plant flowers in the wooden boxes alongside the business locations downtown and in the hanging baskets near the coffee shop. Suggestions for specific flowers were given and noted, votes were taken, and petunias, impatiens, alyssum, and tuberose tuberous begonias were the winners. There were nine people in attendance, including Pop and Christine. Will Carrick was the only other male. He owned a stretch of land outside of town and the society used a patch of his property to grow and harvest perennials. When Mimi Pendergrass introduced Christine, the members mouthed their welcomes, some even smiled, but the wariness in their eyes said they didn’t know Christine Desantro any more than they knew Christine Blacksworth.
The majority of The Bleeding Hearts Society monthly meeting had nothing to do with planting, propagating, or harvesting. In fact, it had nothing to do with anything related to plants. It did , however, have to do with Will Carrick’s niece, age fifteen, sneaking out after curfew, threatening to run away, disrespecting the rules of the house. In other words, being a teenager.
“What can you do about it?” Will rubbed his temples with callused hands. “My sister is beside herself with worry that Megan is just going to take off one day, and if she does she’ll have gotten into deep trouble.” Code for pregnant.
“Where’s her father?” Christine asked.
They all looked at her as though she’d asked about running a highway through their town.
“Gone,” Ramona Casherdon said between pinched lips.
“Amen to that,” Will muttered.
“It is so hard to be a parent today,” Wanda Cummings said. “Almost worse to be a grandparent and witness it all.” Pop had told Christine that Wanda had eight children and sixteen grandchildren, all living within a ten-mile radius of Magdalena. “Do you think we can invite someone to speak at the library about troubled teens?
Similar Books
