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Authors: Denise Swanson
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hurt-filled eyes. “It makes things too complicated.”
Simon held her loosely and stroked her hair. “I’m not going to push you. I know after what your ex-fiancé did, you don’t trust men.”
“I really, really want to keep dating you, but I also want to be fair.” Skye could feel a tear etch its way down her cheek.
“Okay, I really, really want to keep dating you, too. But maybe it would be better not to make it an exclusive thing.” Simon wiped her tear away with his finger.
Who was he planning to ask out? Skye pasted a smile in place. “I’m sure that would be for the best. We just won’t take each other’s time for granted anymore.”
“Good.”
With one last hug, she forced herself to slip out of his arms. Her smile was shaky as she pointed to the table. “What’s all this?”
“Chinese takeout. I know how much you like it.”
“But there aren’t any Chinese restaurants in Scumble River.”
“I drove to Kankakee and got it from your favorite place.” Simon smiled.
“Imperial Dragon?” When he nodded, she went over to the bags and sniffed. “Let me guess what you got. Empress chicken, hot and sour soup, crab rangoon, and shrimp fried rice?”
“And a bottle of plum wine.”
“I’ll get the plates and glasses. Then you can tell me what my awful relatives have been doing to you today, and I’ll tell you what the awful citizens of Scumble River have been doing to me.”
CHAPTER 6
Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, What Have You Seen?
Bingo! She had forgotten all about Bingo. Skye slammed down her cup of Earl Grey tea. Her grandmother’s cat had been locked up alone with no fresh food or water since Monday night, and here it was already Wednesday morning.
She grabbed the phone and dialed her mother, who answered on the first ring. “Mom, did anyone take Bingo home with them?”
“Good morning to you too. And, no, I don’t think anyone took the cat. Why?” May was not an animal lover, and had made it clear throughout Skye’s life that four-legged creatures belonged in the barn or pasture, not in the house.
Gritting her teeth, Skye asked, “Did anyone go over yesterday to feed him and clean his litter box?” She had a difficult time accepting her mother’s attitude toward pets.
“I doubt it. The police have the house sealed, remember?”
“Well, we can’t leave him in there to die of thirst or starvation. I’ll call Wally and see if I can pick up Bingo this morning.” Skye put her mug in the sink and rinsed it out.
“You’re not going to keep that animal, are you? He’ll shed on everything.”
“Technically, he’s property of the estate. Do you know what Grandma’s will says?” Taking the dishcloth, Skye wiped up the table.
“Everything is in a Bypass Trust, so she really didn’t have a will.”
Skye grabbed a pad of paper and a pen from a kitchen drawer. “What’s a Bypass Trust?”
“Grandpa put everything into a trust, so Grandma wouldn’t have to pay inheritance tax when he died. After his death, all income from the estate was paid to Grandma, but the property itself is jointly owned by me, my sisters, and brother.”
Skye sat down and made a note of that on her tablet. “Okay, so you’re saying that Grandma didn’t own the estate anymore, but she received the profits from the farm.”
“Right.”
“But although you guys own the property, it wasn’t worth much to you as long as Grandma was alive.”
“Right.”
Skye tapped the pen on the table. “Then who is the trustee?”
“Your Uncle Dante.”
“Shit.”
“Watch your language, young lady.”
Standing up, Skye moved toward the wall phone. “Could you call Uncle Dante and see if it’s okay for me to pick up Bingo? If not, find out who’s taking care of him and when they’re going to do it. I’ll call Wally and clear things on that end.”
Dante awarded Skye “temporary” custody of the cat, pending a valuation by an expert. He didn’t seem aware that a used cat was a
Simon held her loosely and stroked her hair. “I’m not going to push you. I know after what your ex-fiancé did, you don’t trust men.”
“I really, really want to keep dating you, but I also want to be fair.” Skye could feel a tear etch its way down her cheek.
“Okay, I really, really want to keep dating you, too. But maybe it would be better not to make it an exclusive thing.” Simon wiped her tear away with his finger.
Who was he planning to ask out? Skye pasted a smile in place. “I’m sure that would be for the best. We just won’t take each other’s time for granted anymore.”
“Good.”
With one last hug, she forced herself to slip out of his arms. Her smile was shaky as she pointed to the table. “What’s all this?”
“Chinese takeout. I know how much you like it.”
“But there aren’t any Chinese restaurants in Scumble River.”
“I drove to Kankakee and got it from your favorite place.” Simon smiled.
“Imperial Dragon?” When he nodded, she went over to the bags and sniffed. “Let me guess what you got. Empress chicken, hot and sour soup, crab rangoon, and shrimp fried rice?”
“And a bottle of plum wine.”
“I’ll get the plates and glasses. Then you can tell me what my awful relatives have been doing to you today, and I’ll tell you what the awful citizens of Scumble River have been doing to me.”
CHAPTER 6
Pussy Cat, Pussy Cat, What Have You Seen?
Bingo! She had forgotten all about Bingo. Skye slammed down her cup of Earl Grey tea. Her grandmother’s cat had been locked up alone with no fresh food or water since Monday night, and here it was already Wednesday morning.
She grabbed the phone and dialed her mother, who answered on the first ring. “Mom, did anyone take Bingo home with them?”
“Good morning to you too. And, no, I don’t think anyone took the cat. Why?” May was not an animal lover, and had made it clear throughout Skye’s life that four-legged creatures belonged in the barn or pasture, not in the house.
Gritting her teeth, Skye asked, “Did anyone go over yesterday to feed him and clean his litter box?” She had a difficult time accepting her mother’s attitude toward pets.
“I doubt it. The police have the house sealed, remember?”
“Well, we can’t leave him in there to die of thirst or starvation. I’ll call Wally and see if I can pick up Bingo this morning.” Skye put her mug in the sink and rinsed it out.
“You’re not going to keep that animal, are you? He’ll shed on everything.”
“Technically, he’s property of the estate. Do you know what Grandma’s will says?” Taking the dishcloth, Skye wiped up the table.
“Everything is in a Bypass Trust, so she really didn’t have a will.”
Skye grabbed a pad of paper and a pen from a kitchen drawer. “What’s a Bypass Trust?”
“Grandpa put everything into a trust, so Grandma wouldn’t have to pay inheritance tax when he died. After his death, all income from the estate was paid to Grandma, but the property itself is jointly owned by me, my sisters, and brother.”
Skye sat down and made a note of that on her tablet. “Okay, so you’re saying that Grandma didn’t own the estate anymore, but she received the profits from the farm.”
“Right.”
“But although you guys own the property, it wasn’t worth much to you as long as Grandma was alive.”
“Right.”
Skye tapped the pen on the table. “Then who is the trustee?”
“Your Uncle Dante.”
“Shit.”
“Watch your language, young lady.”
Standing up, Skye moved toward the wall phone. “Could you call Uncle Dante and see if it’s okay for me to pick up Bingo? If not, find out who’s taking care of him and when they’re going to do it. I’ll call Wally and clear things on that end.”
Dante awarded Skye “temporary” custody of the cat, pending a valuation by an expert. He didn’t seem aware that a used cat was a
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