closer to finding out who killed Ana and clearing Molly’s name.”
George wrinkled his brow. “Ethan and Olivia always hate school the first week or so after summer break. They’ll settle down. What about Michael? I thought he’d love kindergarten.”
“Well, he doesn’t.” Stephanie reached for her soda and took a long drink from the glass. “He misses Olivia. You know he’s followed her around everywhere ever since he could walk.”
George shook his newspaper and retreated behind it again. “It will do him good to go it alone. Make him more independent.”
Stephanie glared at him through the back page. “George Henry Dowd, put that newspaper down. I need to talk, and we never seem to get more than five minutes together lately.”
George sighed and slowly folded up the newspaper. “All right. I’m all ears.”
Stephanie resisted the temptation to tease him. George was sensitive about his prominent ears. “I’m worried about the bookstore. We had only four customers today, and only two of them bought anything.”
“You’ve had slow days before.”
“I know.” She studied her feet, wondering if her slippers would hold up until Christmas, when she would get a new pair from her mother, as usual. “But this time it feels different. I think people are avoiding the store because of Ana’s murder.”
“I think you’re worrying about nothing, as usual.” He slipped an arm across her shoulders. “Everything will turn out all right; you’ll see.”
“It won’t if the customers stay away.”
“You just had a slow day, that’s all. You’ve had plenty of them before, and then people always make up for it and you’re rushed off your feet.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. Aren’t I always?”
She smiled up at him. “Of course you are, George.”
“So will you stop worrying now?”
Her smile faded. “I’ll stop worrying when Ana Jordan’s killer is behind bars.”
“I guess Dan hasn’t gotten any further with the investigation, or we would have heard something.”
“He still thinks Molly killed her.”
George hesitated and she braced for his next words. “Honey, you know there’s always a chance that Molly—”
“No!” She turned on him, unable to stem her frustration. “Why is everyone so quick to condemn Molly? What has that girl ever done to deserve all this accusation?”
“She threatened Ana the morning she died,” George said quietly. “It wasn’t the first time she’d yelled threats at her, either.”
“Just words, that’s all. You know Molly. She’s got a quick temper, and she’s vocal when she’s mad, but you know she’s not a killer.”
“Who knows what anyone is capable of, given enough provocation?”
“Well, Ana Jordan was good at provoking people. I’ll say that for her.” Stephanie slumped back against the cushions again. “There are plenty of people out there who could have hated her enough to kill her. Even you.”
George’s voice rose a notch. “Me? What does that mean?”
“You went out with her in high school before you started dating me, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes, but I–”
“And you dumped her. And why was that again?”
“I’ve told you more than once. She got too possessive. She wanted to know what I was doing every minute I was away from her. When she started questioning my friends about where I was and what I was doing, I decided she wasn’t worth the hassle.”
“And she made your life miserable for weeks after that, right?”
“Well, yeah, but it was worth it to be rid of her.” He pulled her closer. “Besides, by then I’d spotted this hot little cheerleader and was getting to know her better.”
Stephanie grinned. “I remember that skinny basketball player leering at me from across the court.”
“Leering?”
“Leering. Like this.” She gave him her best imitation of a teenage ogle.
He shook his head. “If I looked at you like that, I’m surprised you ever agreed to
George wrinkled his brow. “Ethan and Olivia always hate school the first week or so after summer break. They’ll settle down. What about Michael? I thought he’d love kindergarten.”
“Well, he doesn’t.” Stephanie reached for her soda and took a long drink from the glass. “He misses Olivia. You know he’s followed her around everywhere ever since he could walk.”
George shook his newspaper and retreated behind it again. “It will do him good to go it alone. Make him more independent.”
Stephanie glared at him through the back page. “George Henry Dowd, put that newspaper down. I need to talk, and we never seem to get more than five minutes together lately.”
George sighed and slowly folded up the newspaper. “All right. I’m all ears.”
Stephanie resisted the temptation to tease him. George was sensitive about his prominent ears. “I’m worried about the bookstore. We had only four customers today, and only two of them bought anything.”
“You’ve had slow days before.”
“I know.” She studied her feet, wondering if her slippers would hold up until Christmas, when she would get a new pair from her mother, as usual. “But this time it feels different. I think people are avoiding the store because of Ana’s murder.”
“I think you’re worrying about nothing, as usual.” He slipped an arm across her shoulders. “Everything will turn out all right; you’ll see.”
“It won’t if the customers stay away.”
“You just had a slow day, that’s all. You’ve had plenty of them before, and then people always make up for it and you’re rushed off your feet.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“Of course I’m right. Aren’t I always?”
She smiled up at him. “Of course you are, George.”
“So will you stop worrying now?”
Her smile faded. “I’ll stop worrying when Ana Jordan’s killer is behind bars.”
“I guess Dan hasn’t gotten any further with the investigation, or we would have heard something.”
“He still thinks Molly killed her.”
George hesitated and she braced for his next words. “Honey, you know there’s always a chance that Molly—”
“No!” She turned on him, unable to stem her frustration. “Why is everyone so quick to condemn Molly? What has that girl ever done to deserve all this accusation?”
“She threatened Ana the morning she died,” George said quietly. “It wasn’t the first time she’d yelled threats at her, either.”
“Just words, that’s all. You know Molly. She’s got a quick temper, and she’s vocal when she’s mad, but you know she’s not a killer.”
“Who knows what anyone is capable of, given enough provocation?”
“Well, Ana Jordan was good at provoking people. I’ll say that for her.” Stephanie slumped back against the cushions again. “There are plenty of people out there who could have hated her enough to kill her. Even you.”
George’s voice rose a notch. “Me? What does that mean?”
“You went out with her in high school before you started dating me, didn’t you?”
“Well, yes, but I–”
“And you dumped her. And why was that again?”
“I’ve told you more than once. She got too possessive. She wanted to know what I was doing every minute I was away from her. When she started questioning my friends about where I was and what I was doing, I decided she wasn’t worth the hassle.”
“And she made your life miserable for weeks after that, right?”
“Well, yeah, but it was worth it to be rid of her.” He pulled her closer. “Besides, by then I’d spotted this hot little cheerleader and was getting to know her better.”
Stephanie grinned. “I remember that skinny basketball player leering at me from across the court.”
“Leering?”
“Leering. Like this.” She gave him her best imitation of a teenage ogle.
He shook his head. “If I looked at you like that, I’m surprised you ever agreed to
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