Page 80 of His Wounded Heart

I open the email. It has a picture of me and Bella making a snowman. It says, Don’t come to Nashville.

I slam my computer shut.

“Mama, it’s time to go.”

Don’t panic. It’s just Carla. She’s a bitch, not a killer.

She has a picture of Bella.

“Mama.” Bella pats my arm. “We have to leave.”

I need to think.

“Honey, can you get me a spoonful of cookie dough from the kitchen? After that, I’ll be ready to go.”

Bella laughs. “Can I have one too?”

“Absolutely.”

There’s only one person I can think to show this to, who knows everything.

While Bella is occupied, I open my laptop. The email is still up. Staring at me. I press print. I close the email and shut down my computer this time, then grab the email off the printer. I fold up the printout and the attorney’s letter really small and shove them into my pocket.

“Here’s your spoon.”

Gah.

If I try to eat that, I’ll throw up.

“I changed my mind. I’m going to want that for later.”

“You’re, silly, Mama.” Bella eats her treat, then we head out.

Chapter Twenty

“I don’t know what’s more delicious, this brownie, or how you look,” Harvey says with a warm smile.

“Mama looks beautiful,” Bella grins up at me.

What a prima donna. I so should have put a coat on before coming out to deliver the treats. Now I’m out here shivering my butt off, all because I wanted to show off in my pretty red sweater. Serves me right.

“Harvey, I think I’m just going to put the cupcakes, brownies, cookies and milk over on that makeshift table you have over there, where you’ve set up the water and coffee.” I point over his shoulder.

“No, Siree. The first three men who get to the table will eat half of your goodies, and put the rest in their pockets.” His eyes are twinkling. “You have to pass them around. It’s only fair.”

“Mama, you promised we could show everyone the unicorn cupcakes.”

“Are they the purple ones, Darlin’?”

Harvey has five granddaughters; he knows what’s up.

Bella is nodding her head so hard that her hat starts to come off. “Okay, Sweet Pea, we’ll pass out some of the treats to everyone.”

“Yay!” Bella says as she shoots her fists in the air. I know she learned that from when Zoe and Chloe had played fastpitch softball. I wasn’t sure if Bella was going to be a girly girl, or a full-on competitive jock like my twin sisters. Who knows; maybe she’ll end up being a bit of both.

“Head on over to the basketball courts, Trenda. Dave Draper has brought in lumber so that they can start framing out the rec center’s gymnasium. I’ll catch up with you on your way over there after I’ve dropped some of the sweets on the coffee table.”

Bella is wiggling with delight. She is holding the unicorn platter with unicorn cupcakes and a baggie full of chocolate chip cookies. When Harvey catches up to us, he starts talking where he’d left off. “It’s too damn bad that the rec center is almost a total loss. Thanks for setting up the meet with the insurance agent. At least we have an idea on what the payout might be. That’s allowing Dave and I to start buying supplies. In the meantime, everybody here is volunteering. We’ve got the normal suspects, plus two new guys who are quite the find.”