Read Online Dry as Rain by Gina Holmes - Free Book Online

neighbors I referred to as D.I.N.K.s —double income, no kids.
    Neighbor Brenda Harrington laid her pruning shears beside the boxwoods in front of her house and tugged on the sun visor framing her pasty forehead. Her husband, Bram, pulled off suspiciously dirt-free gardening gloves. They both wore jeans that were made to appear worn, with deliberate factory-made tears and uniformly frayed cuffs.
    The Harringtons met us at the end of the walkway, wearing grins that looked as fake as mine felt. “Kyra, Eric,” Brenda cooed. “It’s good to see you both.”
    â€œGood to see you, too,” I lied, trying to nudge Kyra up the stairs by her elbow before these two phonies could say more than her mind could safely process.
    Instead of appreciation, Kyra ripped her arm away from me and scowled.
    Brenda shifted her weight to one leg and tilted her head to the side like a dog. “I can’t remember the last time I saw you two together. We were really worried that you’d be selling soon and we’d be getting new neighbors.” She looked at her husband. “Isn’t it nice to see them together, honey?”
    As usual, Bram had pasted his hair with too much gel and hairspray, giving him a Ken-doll appearance. “It really is.”
    If they said together one more time . . . I cleared my throat and tried, once again, to encourage Kyra up the stairs.
    She batted my hand away and scowled harder. “You know Eric works a lot.” There was an unmistakable defensiveness in her tone.
    Both Bram and Brenda tucked a thumb into their front pockets at the same instant as if they had choreographed the move. I wouldn’t have been at all surprised to learn they had. Their whole life seemed choreographed to me.
    I stepped in front of Kyra like a human shield. “If you’ll excuse us. My wife was in an accident and—”
    Kyra stepped out from my shadow just as the couple gasped. Bram’s eyebrows fell in an exaggerated dip while Brenda’s hand flew to cover her mouth. “Oh no! Are you okay?” Her gaze jetted over Kyra’s body, searching for evidence of injury.
    â€œShe’s fine,” I said, “but she has a concussion, so her memory is a little hazy. I’m sure you understand that I want to get her inside and lay her down.”
    Kyra nodded solemnly, looking relieved for the out.
    â€œOh, of course, of course,” Brenda said. “I just wanted to remind you that our godchild, Adel, is competing with her pony club this Friday evening. Kyra, you had said you’d try to make it, but now that you two are,” she paused, giving Bram a private look, “well, it sure would be nice to have you both there.”
    â€œWe’ll look at our schedules,” I said, knowing we’d both have something, anything, to do that night.
    â€œFair enough, neighbors.” Bram took his gloves from his back pocket and slid them back on.
    I waved a good-bye, but the couple just stood there.
    â€œWell, okay then,” Kyra said, waiting, like me, for them to get the hint.
    When they didn’t, I ushered her inside, leaving them standing alone on the sidewalk. I shut the door and peered through the peephole. They were still standing there staring up at the door as if they expected it to fly open and be invited in. I shook my head and turned around.
    Kyra rolled her eyes. “Why do they think we would want to spend an entire day watching that spoiled brat—not only of no relation to us, but of no relation to them—prance around on her stupid pony with her nose stuck up the sky’s butt?”
    Heading for the kitchen, I heard her footsteps following behind me. I poured myself a glass of water from the tap and leaned my back against the counter. “They’re something else,” I said between sips.
    She pressed her body against mine and played with a button on the front of my shirt. I would have backed away if the