Read Online Murder Of A Snake In The Grass by Denise Swanson - Free Book Online
Authors: Denise Swanson
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got her breathing back to normal, she stared at the petite woman kneeling at her feet. Not a wave was out of place in May’s short salt-and-pepper hair. She was dressed in black bicycle shorts and a matching tank top, and a red sports bra peeked out from the armholes and neckline. Spotless white sneakers gleamed on her size five feet. When had her mother started dressing like someone in a Nike commercial?
May looked up from her squatting position. “Why are you holding a baseball bat?”
“Because you scared me to death! I thought you were a prowler.”
“Where’s the shotgun your dad gave you? That little piece of wood won’t save you from a robber.”
Skye ignored May’s question and asked one of her own. “How did you get in here?”
“I used my key, of course. Good thing you didn’t have the chain on.” May jumped up holding a soggy mass of paper towels.
“I’ve asked you not to use your key except in an emergency.”
“I came over to fix you breakfast.”
Skye held her temper and focused on the red numbers on the microwave. It was only seven a.m. “What makes breakfast an emergency?”
“I heard this morning at exercise you had a rough night last night.”
Skye hesitated. How much did her mother know? “You mean finding the body?”
May paused. “What else could I mean?” She carefully put down the new eggs she had been holding. “Does the other thing have anything to do with the gift shop you seem to have opened in your living room?”
Skye sank into a chair and buried her face in her hands. Great, now she would have to explain Luc.
“How do you want your eggs?” May had gone back to the important issue, cooking.
“I only want tea and toast. Real food this early makes me queasy.”
May turned from the stove. “Are you pregnant?”
“Of course not! Why would you ask such a thing?”
“I thought maybe that’s why Simon was showering you with gifts. That nonsense in there is from him, isn’t it?”
“Not exactly.” Skye looked at the expression on her mother’s face, and it scared her more than when she hadthought May was an intruder. “Uh, do you think I could have a cup of tea before I get into it?”
May poured and handed Skye a mug. Skye tore open two packets of Sweet’N Low and added them to the Earl Grey, then took a cautious sip. The hot liquid helped her focus.
“You sure I can’t fix you some pancakes or French toast?” Skye shook her head. “Oatmeal, you should have oatmeal every morning. It sticks to your ribs.”
Skye looked down at her curvy figure. “What I eat seems to stick there just fine as it is.”
“So, what’s going on with the stuff in there?” May gestured toward the great room.
“I guess I’d better start from the beginning.” Skye explained the week of Luc’s calls and gifts, and how she couldn’t tell Simon until after the opening ceremony of the bicentennial. Then she told May about Luc, Frannie, and Justin showing up on her doorstep. She concluded with, “So, Luc is staying at Simon’s, and it looks as if Gabriel Scumble was murdered.”
May had been silent during Skye’s story. As it ended, she asked, “There’s only one thing I don’t understand.”
“What’s that?”
“Why have you let that
bastard
talk his way back into your life? He near about destroyed you the last time. And how about Simon? You think he’s going to wait around while you mess with an old boyfriend?” May heaved a giant sigh. “Have you considered that if you do make it up with Luc, that means leaving your family and living in New Orleans again? I’ll never see my grandchildren.”
Skye was stunned. She’d never heard May say “bastard” before. “I… uh … the thing is, I need closure, and I do want to help if Luc establishes that foundation he’s talking about.”
“Closure, my eye. You’re still blinded by his money and because he’s a big shot.”
“That’s not true. He says he’s changed. Isn’t it possible I could
May looked up from her squatting position. “Why are you holding a baseball bat?”
“Because you scared me to death! I thought you were a prowler.”
“Where’s the shotgun your dad gave you? That little piece of wood won’t save you from a robber.”
Skye ignored May’s question and asked one of her own. “How did you get in here?”
“I used my key, of course. Good thing you didn’t have the chain on.” May jumped up holding a soggy mass of paper towels.
“I’ve asked you not to use your key except in an emergency.”
“I came over to fix you breakfast.”
Skye held her temper and focused on the red numbers on the microwave. It was only seven a.m. “What makes breakfast an emergency?”
“I heard this morning at exercise you had a rough night last night.”
Skye hesitated. How much did her mother know? “You mean finding the body?”
May paused. “What else could I mean?” She carefully put down the new eggs she had been holding. “Does the other thing have anything to do with the gift shop you seem to have opened in your living room?”
Skye sank into a chair and buried her face in her hands. Great, now she would have to explain Luc.
“How do you want your eggs?” May had gone back to the important issue, cooking.
“I only want tea and toast. Real food this early makes me queasy.”
May turned from the stove. “Are you pregnant?”
“Of course not! Why would you ask such a thing?”
“I thought maybe that’s why Simon was showering you with gifts. That nonsense in there is from him, isn’t it?”
“Not exactly.” Skye looked at the expression on her mother’s face, and it scared her more than when she hadthought May was an intruder. “Uh, do you think I could have a cup of tea before I get into it?”
May poured and handed Skye a mug. Skye tore open two packets of Sweet’N Low and added them to the Earl Grey, then took a cautious sip. The hot liquid helped her focus.
“You sure I can’t fix you some pancakes or French toast?” Skye shook her head. “Oatmeal, you should have oatmeal every morning. It sticks to your ribs.”
Skye looked down at her curvy figure. “What I eat seems to stick there just fine as it is.”
“So, what’s going on with the stuff in there?” May gestured toward the great room.
“I guess I’d better start from the beginning.” Skye explained the week of Luc’s calls and gifts, and how she couldn’t tell Simon until after the opening ceremony of the bicentennial. Then she told May about Luc, Frannie, and Justin showing up on her doorstep. She concluded with, “So, Luc is staying at Simon’s, and it looks as if Gabriel Scumble was murdered.”
May had been silent during Skye’s story. As it ended, she asked, “There’s only one thing I don’t understand.”
“What’s that?”
“Why have you let that
bastard
talk his way back into your life? He near about destroyed you the last time. And how about Simon? You think he’s going to wait around while you mess with an old boyfriend?” May heaved a giant sigh. “Have you considered that if you do make it up with Luc, that means leaving your family and living in New Orleans again? I’ll never see my grandchildren.”
Skye was stunned. She’d never heard May say “bastard” before. “I… uh … the thing is, I need closure, and I do want to help if Luc establishes that foundation he’s talking about.”
“Closure, my eye. You’re still blinded by his money and because he’s a big shot.”
“That’s not true. He says he’s changed. Isn’t it possible I could
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