Dangerous Passage (Southern Crimes Book #1): A Novel by Lisa Harris Page B

some vinaigrette onto her salad and took a bite. It was so easy for her mother to make her feel as if she were transported back to seventeen, when her father had to meet and approve of every boy who looked at her with even the slightest glint of interest in his eyes.
    She rested her fork on the edge of the salad plate. “It’s only been two dates, Mama. It’s not as if we’re getting married. And it’s certainly not time to meet the family.”
    “What’s wrong with him?”
    “Nothing’s wrong with him.” Avery looked at Emily, then at Tess, wondering which one was the traitor. Both looked completely absorbed in their piles of spaghetti.
    “Then when’s your next date?”
    “I’m not sure there’s going to be another date.”
    “Why not?”
    “Because it’s . . . complicated. We both have busy jobs, family, responsibilities . . .”
    “When your father and I got married, he was a rookie officer working nights and weekends most of the time. And there were times when his forty-hour week turned into fifty or sixty hours if it was a particularly tough case.”
    “Mama—”
    “The point is that we loved each other and made it work. Is it easy? Of course not. But when you love someone, it’s worth the extra work.”
    “I agree, but like I said, it’s been two dates. Relationships take time to develop.”
    “Is your hesitation because of losing Ethan?”
    Avery shoved a forkful of spaghetti into her mouth to avoid answering the question. Apparently no subject was off limits in this family.
    “I just want you to be happy again.”
    Avery managed to swallow her bite. “Who says I’m not happy?”
    “You’re my daughter, and I can see the loneliness in your eyes.”
    Avery bit back a snarky response. “You know I’ll always miss Ethan, but I have Tess, you, Daddy, and Emily, a career I love, friends, and a church family. I don’t have to have a man in my life to make me happy. Isn’t that right, Emily?”
    “Of course.” Emily coughed and pressed her napkin against her lips. “Sorry, I—”
    “You don’t sound very convinced.” Mama turned to Emily. “Does that have anything to do with a certain new schoolteacher I’ve heard about?”
    Emily’s eyes widened. “Tess!”
    Tess’s cheeks turned red. “I just mentioned that there was a new math teacher who was extremely good looking. I never mentioned that you agreed to go out with him, or—”
    “Tess!”
    Tess dropped her gaze. “I’m sorry.”
    Avery pressed her lips together and tried not to smile. While she hated seeing Emily on the hotspot, it did help her own case.
    “What about you, Tess? Any cute boys in your classes this year?”
    “Grandma!”
    “Why don’t we change the subject for now, ladies?” Her father helped himself to the garlic bread.
    Avery decided to follow her father’s lead and took another slice of bread. The one thing no one could fault Mama with was her cooking. Even Avery had to agree that it was worth the extra workout the calories required.
    “I saw a segment about your Jane Doe murder on the news,” Emily threw out.
    “Word travels quickly in the media.” Avery glanced at Tess. Discussing cases was something she didn’t like to do, especially at the dinner table and in front of her daughter.
    Tess twirled her spaghetti with her fork. “It’s all right, Mom. It’s not like I’ve never seen a murder victim or I don’t know what you do at work. Besides, I’m twelve now.”
    “You’ve seen a murder victim?”
    “Just on TV. Not a real one. All I’m saying is that I’m growing up.”
    “When did that happen? The growing up part, I mean.” Avery tugged off a piece of the garlic bread, dipped it into her spaghetti sauce, and grinned at her daughter. Twelve years old and all grown up. She really wasn’t ready for this.
    “And who knows. I might even decide to follow after the family profession and become a police officer . . . or a captain.”
    Avery grinned at her father. “She’d