Read Online Family Case of Murder by Vanessa Gray Bartal - Free Book Online Page B

all?”
    “No,” Riley said, surprising Lacy with her candor. “I don’t ever ignore what the paper says because eventually feelings fade and all that’s left is the list of why you should or shouldn’t work with someone. You’re not acting like you. It’s weird.”
    “Thanks,” Lacy said.
    “I didn’t say it was bad, just weird. It’s like this whole new Lacy, one who is kind of carefree. And since you’ve always been buttoned down and boring, it’s a lot to wrap my mind around. Kind of like the fact that Grandma has a serious boyfriend. Gag, what’s that about?”
    “You’ll love him,” Lacy said. “You should come home and meet him.”
    “It’s Mr. Middleton,” Riley said. “I’ve known him for years. No, thank you.”
    “It’s not like that, Riley. He’s different.”
    “He’s not Grandpa,” Riley said, echoing their mother’s sentiments. Frannie and Mr. Middleton had come to a tacit peace, but she was in no way a big fan of her biological father. Of course she didn’t know he was her biological father, and neither did Riley, so Lacy tried to keep that in mind and cut her some slack.
    “I’m telling you, he’s great. I couldn’t love him more if he were our grandfather. And Grandma’s happy for the first time since Grandpa died. It’s cute to see them together, the way they dote on each other. I’m happy for them.”
    Riley’s nose wrinkled in disgust. “If you say so, but, ew. Old people shouldn’t date. It’s weird.”
    “It’s not like you suddenly stop feeling and needing things when you’re old,” Lacy said.
    “Think about what you’re saying, Lacy. It’s those needs that are grossing me out. Do you think they…”
    Lacy smacked her hands over her ears. “Riley, gross! This is Grandma we’re talking about. No, ew, she would never. Gag.”
    “You’re the one who said old people have needs,” Riley pointed out.
    “Not like that. Can we please change the subject?”
    “Let’s talk about you and Jason some more,” Riley said.
    Lacy stood. “I’m tired.”
    “Fine, then let’s talk about Robert’s family.”
    Lacy sat. “Oh, my word, it’s like they all got a weekend pass from the asylum and decided to meet here. Except Aunt Enid. She seems normal.”
    “You realize you’re talking about a woman who lets her monkey share her bed.”
    “No she doesn’t,” Lacy said.
    Riley nodded. “Yeah, she does.”
    “I just threw up in my mouth a little,”
    “You want to know the best part? Since the monkey loves me so very much, Aunt Enid has already decided that he’s mine when she dies. And you know what else? Capuchin monkeys can live thirty to forty years. Her monkey is ten. That means I could still have a monkey when my children graduate high school. And Robert said it will have to sleep in our bed with us since it’s used to sleeping with Aunt Enid.”
    Lacy laughed. “He was kidding, Riley.”
    “How do you know?”
    Because I know him, Lacy wanted to say, but she refrained. “Because no reasonable prospective bridegroom is going to share his bed with a monkey.” She shook her head. “There are some phrases you think you’ll never say in your life; that was one.”
    “Have you noticed that Mom and Dad have been fighting a lot lately?” Riley said.
    “I knew there was something going on, but neither will talk about it with me.”
    “Me, neither. I don’t want them to get divorced.”
    “They won’t,” Lacy said, but the nervous butterflies in her stomach made her words less convincing. Her parents wouldn’t get divorced after thirty years of marriage. Would they?
    “Relationships are hard,” Riley said. “Do you think it’s possible to stay together forever?”
    Lacy wondered if all wasn’t rosy in Robert and Riley land, but there was no way she could ask even if she wanted to, which she didn’t. She was trying to be the bigger person about the situation, but she had her limits. “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never had a lasting