Read Online Deadly Decision by Regina Smeltzer - Free Book Online Page A

Let the kids get to know you first; that’s all I ask.”
    She looked out the window, her expression hidden.
    “OK?” I urged.
    “I’m disappointed you feel like you can’t tell them who I really am.”
    By the time I pulled into the drive way the pit in my stomach had grown roots. Barbara had not agreed to keep silent. Trina stood waiting on the porch. I helped Barbara out of the car and guided her to the newly repaired front steps.
    “Barbara! I’m Trina,” she said, grasping Barbara’s hand. “I’ve been looking forward to meeting you. I hope your flight went well. Are you tired?”
    “Honey, how about some iced tea on the porch?” I asked. “It’s a beautiful day, we should enjoy it. Where’s Ted?”
    “In the shower.”
    “I’m fine,” Barbara said, “but if you want some tea, Bill.” She turned to Trina. “I’m anxious to see this house I’ve heard so much about.” She took Trina’s arm and the two women headed through the front door.
    “You should have seen it when we first moved in…”
    The door closed, muffling their conversation. I raced to the car, and pulled Barbara’s suitcase from the trunk. It was big enough for three women. I lugged it up the porch steps, anxious to follow them into the house. Barbara alone with Trina. My stomach surged.
    Getting Barbara to the attic alone without Trina or Ted was going to be hard, but I had a plan. I needed to delay the tour of the upstairs as long as I could. I had counted on spending a good half hour on the porch. Already we were ahead of schedule, not a good thing. The pit grew branches and crept into my throat. It was going to be a long night.
    “These old houses have such great bones. People can’t afford to build places like these anymore.” Barbara glanced my way when I came in. “Trina’s been showing me the family tree in the old Bible. Amazing.”
    Ted appeared, smelling of soap, his fine blonde hair still wet but neatly combed. He extended his hand to Barbara.
    “I’m in love with your house.” Barbara accepted the outstretched hand.
    “We’ve really been working hard. The biggest job was cleaning out the trash. Lots of old magazines and papers, but probably Trina’s told you all about that.”
    “She said you made a hundred trips to the dump.”
    “I don’t know if it was a hundred,” Ted said, rubbing the back of his neck, “but for a few days that’s all I got done, going back and forth.”
    “Do you have a trailer?”
    “We used the pickup truck that belonged to a previous tenant.”
    “Oh, the sandy-haired skinny kid—”
    “That’s him.” Trina laughed. “That’s how Dad would describe him anyway.”
    “Your dad told me all about him,” Barbara said. “I don’t think he likes him much,” she whispered.
    “Oh, Mitch is a good enough guy,” Ted said. “He just takes some getting used to.” He strained as he lifted the bulky suitcase. “I’ll take this upstairs.”
    “Your house is special,” Barbara said. “I can feel a—”
    “Wait ‘til you see Ted’s paintings,” I said. “Trina, aren’t there some pictures we can show Barbara?”
    “Dad, I didn’t think you liked Ted’s work.”
    “Of course I like his work. Who wouldn’t?”
    Ted’s muffled voice came through the stair railings, “I’ll take Barbara on a tour of my workshop later if she wants.”
    I hadn’t planned on Ted overhearing my remark.
    Too quickly we finished touring the downstairs. Next Trina led us to the stairs. “This is called a ladies’ staircase because it is in the back of the house. That way, gentlemen could not see under ladies hoop skirts like they could if the stairs came down in the front of the house. The men waited in the parlor, you know.” As she continued her monologue, I glanced at my watch, wondering how many minutes I could waste discussing bathrooms.
    We visited all the bedrooms and baths. Ted joined us halfway through. I checked my watch. Only twenty minutes gone by. Normally Trina