her car had been the generosity of her family. She’d worked hard and scrimped to pay off her obligations, but that fear of losing everything again hadn’t gone away.
Now that she and Wally had combined salaries, they were comfortable and could afford a few luxuries. In fact, they could actually have almost anything they wanted, because although no one from Scumble River knew it, Wally’s father was a millionaire. And Wally’s mother had left him a hefty trust fund when she died. Skye had only recently found out about his affluence herself.
Because he wanted his wealthy background and hefty bank account to remain a secret, Wally had always been careful to live within his means. And if anyone noticed that his father seemed to have more money than he should, the story that Wally had carefully spread around town was that Carson Boyd’s boss was a very generous billionaire.
It was probably silly to refuse the help, and after the baby came she’d need even more, but—the microwave beeped, interrupting Skye’s inner debate. Taking out their meal, she put the dish on the table and Wally fetched the salad. As they sat down to eat, Skye still hadn’t made a decision.
Digging in to their dinner, Skye felt a warm body press against her calf. Glancing down, she saw that Bingo had mysteriously appeared out of nowhere and wasgazing up at her with a pitiful expression of hunger on his furry little face. She snickered and said to the cat, “You’ve already had your supper.”
“It’s the law of dinner-table attendance.” Wally chuckled. “Cats must be present at any meal where there is anything even remotely appetizing being served.”
“Well, Bingo’s not getting any scraps.” Skye shook her finger at the beseeching feline. “His vet says he’s gaining weight again and somebody must be feeding him extra.” She tilted her head at Wally. “Either it’s you or Dorothy, because it isn’t me.”
“I plead the Fifth.” Wally kept his eyes focused on his plate.
“Tell that to the veterinarian at Bingo’s next checkup.” Skye ate a couple of bites, then asked, “Did Blair’s folks ever return your call?”
“Yes. Just as I was leaving the station, which is why I was late.”
“When are they flying out here to pick up their daughter’s body?” Skye asked.
“They aren’t.” Wally shook his head. “It seems they were estranged from Blair. Once the ME releases her, they’ll arrange her burial, but that’s it.”
“Oh.” Skye put down her fork. The polenta had formed a lump in her stomach. “Did they say what happened to make them feel that way?”
“They refused to discuss it. All they would say was that her actions had forced them to disown her.”
CHAPTER 10
TMI—Too Much Information
A fter they’d eaten, Wally went upstairs to change out of his uniform, and now, as he entered the sunroom where Skye was sitting, she asked, “What in the world did she do?”
“Who?” While they cleaned up the kitchen, their conversation had turned to family and household matters, so at her abrupt question, Wally looked puzzled.
“Blair.” Skye chewed the inside of her cheek. “I’ve been trying to think of what I could possibly do that would make my parents not only disown me, but refuse to bring my body back home.”
“All Mr. Hucksford would say was that his daughter’s behavior was unacceptable to them.”
“Hmm.” Skye thought about all that statement could imply. “What do Mr. and Mrs. Hucksford do for a living?”
When Wally headed for his recliner, Skye tugged him down onto the settee and cuddled against the soft fabric of his T-shirt, inhaling the scent of Downy.
“He’s the principal of Hucksford Christian Academy and she’s the kindergarten teacher,” Wally said. “Blair’ssister, Bernadette, is the school secretary, and her husband is the PE instructor.”
“So it’s a family endeavor.” Skye pursed her lips. “Maybe the estrangement was because Blair took a job at a
Now that she and Wally had combined salaries, they were comfortable and could afford a few luxuries. In fact, they could actually have almost anything they wanted, because although no one from Scumble River knew it, Wally’s father was a millionaire. And Wally’s mother had left him a hefty trust fund when she died. Skye had only recently found out about his affluence herself.
Because he wanted his wealthy background and hefty bank account to remain a secret, Wally had always been careful to live within his means. And if anyone noticed that his father seemed to have more money than he should, the story that Wally had carefully spread around town was that Carson Boyd’s boss was a very generous billionaire.
It was probably silly to refuse the help, and after the baby came she’d need even more, but—the microwave beeped, interrupting Skye’s inner debate. Taking out their meal, she put the dish on the table and Wally fetched the salad. As they sat down to eat, Skye still hadn’t made a decision.
Digging in to their dinner, Skye felt a warm body press against her calf. Glancing down, she saw that Bingo had mysteriously appeared out of nowhere and wasgazing up at her with a pitiful expression of hunger on his furry little face. She snickered and said to the cat, “You’ve already had your supper.”
“It’s the law of dinner-table attendance.” Wally chuckled. “Cats must be present at any meal where there is anything even remotely appetizing being served.”
“Well, Bingo’s not getting any scraps.” Skye shook her finger at the beseeching feline. “His vet says he’s gaining weight again and somebody must be feeding him extra.” She tilted her head at Wally. “Either it’s you or Dorothy, because it isn’t me.”
“I plead the Fifth.” Wally kept his eyes focused on his plate.
“Tell that to the veterinarian at Bingo’s next checkup.” Skye ate a couple of bites, then asked, “Did Blair’s folks ever return your call?”
“Yes. Just as I was leaving the station, which is why I was late.”
“When are they flying out here to pick up their daughter’s body?” Skye asked.
“They aren’t.” Wally shook his head. “It seems they were estranged from Blair. Once the ME releases her, they’ll arrange her burial, but that’s it.”
“Oh.” Skye put down her fork. The polenta had formed a lump in her stomach. “Did they say what happened to make them feel that way?”
“They refused to discuss it. All they would say was that her actions had forced them to disown her.”
CHAPTER 10
TMI—Too Much Information
A fter they’d eaten, Wally went upstairs to change out of his uniform, and now, as he entered the sunroom where Skye was sitting, she asked, “What in the world did she do?”
“Who?” While they cleaned up the kitchen, their conversation had turned to family and household matters, so at her abrupt question, Wally looked puzzled.
“Blair.” Skye chewed the inside of her cheek. “I’ve been trying to think of what I could possibly do that would make my parents not only disown me, but refuse to bring my body back home.”
“All Mr. Hucksford would say was that his daughter’s behavior was unacceptable to them.”
“Hmm.” Skye thought about all that statement could imply. “What do Mr. and Mrs. Hucksford do for a living?”
When Wally headed for his recliner, Skye tugged him down onto the settee and cuddled against the soft fabric of his T-shirt, inhaling the scent of Downy.
“He’s the principal of Hucksford Christian Academy and she’s the kindergarten teacher,” Wally said. “Blair’ssister, Bernadette, is the school secretary, and her husband is the PE instructor.”
“So it’s a family endeavor.” Skye pursed her lips. “Maybe the estrangement was because Blair took a job at a
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