Page 105 of Adverse Possession
Oh. Okay. I moved to the driver’s side of the truck and stepped down, tucking my coat around me as I walked toward Aiden and the open grave.
Barensky’s mouth dropped open. He looked like a sad old man in the rain and not a deadly bomber.
I reached them and smiled. “Checkmate.”
Epilogue
It had been a week since Norman Barensky’s arrest had hit the paper, and Jolene’s article about the situation and me was relatively positive. She’d interviewed Kelsey, who had gushed about bravery and what a good lawyer I was. That had to bug Jolene so badly. In addition, the article had nicely cleared me in the death of Sasha.
I smiled at the thought as I sat back at my usual table for the family barbecue at my parent’s house in Silverville.
A large tree shielded the table from the sun. We were close to the river and away from the busy porch and tables spread throughout the yard. Usually Pauley sat with me, but today he was inside playing the new PlayStation with Oliver, who’d agreed to come to the barbecue. So my sisters sat on either side of me, which frankly was the most comfortable position for me.
The August sun beat down, and the air was clear after a week of rain. The smell of freshly cut grass and a lot of delicious food filtered around with the sense of home and family.
Tessa drank Prosecco to my right and Donna drank Merlot to my left, and I sat between them watching the family. A boisterous game of darts sprang up on a tree on the other side of the deck, and our Nana seemed to be winning.
Donna breathed deep. “I can’t believe you had a bomb strapped to your leg.”
I winced. “Shh. Don’t say those words out loud again. I barely got mom to stay home this week and not with me.”
Tessa clucked her tongue and gestured toward Clark. “Please tell me you drove him over the pass and can drive him back to his apartment.”
Clark was currently doing shots with our Uncle Sean, who disliked lawyers but really liked Clark, considering he was the best golf partner Sean had ever found. Right now, Sean was trying to talk Clark into opening a fishing business with him and giving up law. They seemed to be arguing while also drinking Irish Whiskey.
“Aiden and I drove him over, and we’ll make sure he gets home,” I said. “Uncle Sean needs to stop trying to take my law partner away.”
Donna sipped her wine. “Don’t look now, but Nick Basanelli and his Grams just sat down at the main picnic table. Nonna should be coming to get you any time, Contessa.”
Tess sighed. “You know? He’s sexy and smart, and if everyone would leave us alone, maybe I’d ask him out.”
Donna cut me a look. “I think Tessa has a crush.”
“I think Nick has a crush,” I countered, seeing his gaze searching the backyard and landing on my sister. “Yep.”
Nonna winked at me from across the lawn. I winked back, truly enjoying the moment. It seemed like Tessa had finally stopped thinking Nick was beyond her. That was so stupid. Tessa was amazing, and any man would be lucky to even be friends with her. “Nonna has a good eye for romance, but you’re going to be off the hook soon. I think she has Quint in her sights.”
Quint sat over at a table with my dad with Zena on his feet. She was such a sweet dog.
Aiden loped down the deck steps with a bottle in one hand and a plate of food in the other. In his basketball shorts and tee-shirt, he still looked tough and dangerous. When he caught sight of me, his expression softened.
Tessa chuckled. “He is too much.”
“Agreed,” Donna said.
Then, in unison, my sisters deserted me. Aiden grinned as he approached and took Donna’s seat. “Was it something I said?” He refilled my wine glass. I’d opted for a Chardonnay today.
I snagged a wing off his plate. “No. They think you’re cute.”
“Nobody has ever called me cute.” He took a drink of my wine. Apparently we were sharing. “You’recute and brave and strong.” He leaned over and kissed my cheek. “I’m hoping everything will calm down now.”
“Me too.” I snuggled into his side. It had to.
Right?
