Death by Scones (21 page)

"It must not be that bad if you're smiling." Tara stepped inside, kissed my cheek, and made her way to the kitchen. She carried a bag, and I heard bottles clanking as she passed.

"I can't just drink," I said. "I haven't eaten anything but a cinnamon muffin today."

Amber stepped in next and wrapped me in a tight hug. "Did they take your mug shot? Fingerprint you?" She grabbed my hand and stared at my fingertips.

"No, it was just questions."

She seemed slightly upset and followed Tara into the kitchen.

Jared stood in the doorway and held up a large bag that smelled heavenly. Ginger and garlic and spices. I almost snatched the bag from his grip. "Come on—admit it." He pointed in the direction of the girls and then the bag. "Alcohol and hugs are great, but I win, right?"

I giggled. "Absolutely."

We decided to use the living room as our base of operations instead of the kitchen. Tara sat in the armchair, while Jared and I occupied the sofa, and Amber sat on the floor with her back to the staircase. I'd told them every detail of my interrogation. Tara and Amber had insisted. But I'd left out why they believed I had motive. I still hadn't told Amber about the cause of the car accident. There was a lull in the conversation as we digested the information as well as the food. And boy had I eaten my weight in teriyaki.

"I can't believe any of this is happening," Tara said. "First the…" She glanced at Amber and cut her words off. "Just everything."

This was the moment to tell Amber the truth, but the words were having a hard time working their way around the lump in my throat. I was such a coward.

Jared gripped my hand and squeezed it. There was still so much he and I needed to discuss personally and privately. And I still wanted that bath.

Tara raised her glass. "Well, here's to the cops getting their heads out of their asses."

We all cheered.

Now for them to find the real killer and stop sniffing in my direction.

When Amber went upstairs to use the bathroom, Tara whispered, "Who else knew the truth about the accident?"

I shrugged. I barely knew myself. "I can't imagine it's anyone other than Holly and Gloria." Well, there was Max, but surely he didn't… No. I couldn't imagine him being that crafty of a liar. I would've seen through his act, right?

"I knew," said a voice behind me.

I spun around, almost knocking my plate off the edge of the coffee table, and saw Grams standing in the doorway.

She set her case down, stepped around the sofa, and pulled me into a hug. Seeing her and knowing she was back brought tears to my eyes. I sniffled into her shoulder.

"I'm sorry I stayed away so long. You've been going through a lot," she said.

I pulled back. "How did you know?"

"Jared called me," Grams said and grinned at him.

I turned and reclaimed my seat. "Why'd you do that?" I asked him.

"Because she's Grams, and you needed her."

My chest swelled with a mixture of relief, joy, gratefulness, and the desire to kiss him. The last one shocked me a little. There was also surprise that Grams had listened when he'd spoken to her, but she hadn't all the times that I called. He must've been very convincing.

"Grams," Amber said and practically flew into the woman's arms.

The guilt of my cousin still not knowing the whole truth ate at me. I wanted to get it over with now, but maybe it was best to wait until we could do it with Uncle Doug and Aunt Bernie.
Wait.
I stared at Grams. She said she knew. What if Amber's parents did too? I had so many questions for Grams, and I didn't want to wait any longer. Amber would have to learn about the accident another time.

"Would you guys mind if I had some time alone with Grams?" I asked.

On cue, Tara and Jared scrambled to their feet and gave Grams and me each a hug. When Jared started to pull away, I almost didn't let him, but there would be time to figure out what was going on with us later on. Amber walked out with them, but she gave us a look that seemed hesitant, as if she wanted to stay.

"I'll call you later," I said to her.

She walked out with a nod.

When we were finally alone, I tucked my feet in beneath me and patted the spot on the cushion that Jared had just vacated.

Grams picked up my plate and helped herself to some food, and then she joined me.

"Spill," I said.

"You obviously already know Nathan was responsible for the accident. How'd you find out?"

"I read his journal."

Her eyebrows shot up.

"How long have you known?" I asked.

"A long time." When I didn't say a word or breathe, she added, "Ten, maybe twelve years."

I scoffed so loudly that she blinked. "Are you serious? You knew all this time, and you didn't think to tell me? You saw how much pain I was in. Didn't you think the truth could've alleviated some of it?"

"How? Knowing that some drunk killed your parents wouldn't have made you feel better. It wouldn't have stopped the nightmares or the need to constantly be out with friends. It would've allowed you to direct your anger at one person."

"Exactly. The right person."

"And then what? Think back to how you felt then. To the anger you lived in. What would you have done knowing Nathan Dearborn had driven the other car?"

Back then? I would've found a way to make him pay. I hadn't been the same girl I was now. I wouldn't have killed him, but with all the rage that had consumed me, I might've come close.

"Fine, but why didn't you go to the cops?" I asked, stunned by the fact that she hadn't.

"Because I was selfish."

I blinked several times. "Excuse me?"

She set down the plate and sighed. "I wasn't certain if it was even true. Nathan had stumbled into the bakery one morning just as I opened. He was already drunk and smelled like he'd been that way for days. He apologized for what happened to Lily. I knew they'd been close, but I couldn't fathom why he was sorry. I figured he was too drunk to know what he was saying. Then he slurred something about it being his fault and driving his car. I put it together, but I wasn't certain."

"The police could've investigated." I immediately thought of Lester. If he'd worked on the force back then, even he wouldn't have messed up that investigation.

Grams nodded. "I was going to, and then I got a call from the high school. You were throwing up in the nurse's office. I went to get you, and it was clear you were hungover."

I remembered that too clearly. I had snuck out of the house the night before and went partying with Tara and a couple of boys she'd met from the next town. I'd snuck back into my room just in time to get dressed for school.

"I was afraid," Grams said. "Scared you'd spiral out of control more."

I'd spent that day feeling like crap, even more so when Grams hadn't lectured me. Instead of scolding me, Grams had sent me to therapy to deal with my grief. I never drank again in high school or even college. I hadn't started again until I'd let go of most of my anger.

I searched her eyes, and I instantly knew she was aware of the other secret as well. "It had been more than my spiraling. You wondered if I was his daughter and feared I could end up with a drinking problem like him."

She looked away, telling me all I needed to know.

"Am I his?"

She grabbed my hands. "I don't know. Your mother never wanted to find out. She believed you were Christopher's. Biology doesn't matter, right?"

I nodded, although I wasn't as sure. "Did Dad know?"

Grams widened her eyes and violently shook her head. "No. The second your mother agreed to marry him, the subject was never discussed again. He had no idea that she and Nathan had ever been that close."

Part of me felt relieved. I was very glad Dad had no idea. He hadn't spent a second wondering if I was his. But another part was ticked off that Mom lied to all of us.

"Does Uncle Doug know any of this?" I asked.

"No, not about the accident or anything else."

Good. I hadn't wanted to believe he was keeping information from me too. As for Grams hiding the truth, I guessed I kinda understood. I knew she was doing what she thought was best. I just wasn't sure I agreed with the way she had gone about it.

"We need to tell Uncle Doug and Amber about the accident," I said.

Grams nodded. "And the rest?"

"No. Tara and Jared know. And Nathan's family. But it's not anyone else's business."

Grams looked a bit relieved. "And this interrogation. Do you think the police will arrest you? Should I contact a lawyer?"

My stomach knotted. "Gosh, I hope not. Once they check the library records, they'll know I wasn't there and who was." As long as nothing had happened to the records.

I couldn't deny I was worried. I didn't trust the police, not even Detective Bud Ohlsen, and it infuriated me that someone had deliberately tried to set me up.

Of course that someone was a possible aunt. Which one though? It didn't matter. The only thing that did was finding the truth for once and for all.

I soaked in a hot bubble bath until the bubbles disappeared and the water turned cold. Tantalizing scents of chocolate and peanut butter drifted up through the floorboards. I dressed in a pink ensemble of capri-length bottoms with a white lace hem, and a matching sleeveless, square-collared top. Yes, even my pajamas were vintage. I went down and discovered that Grams had made my favorite dark chocolate cupcakes with peanut butter buttercream frosting. I loved this woman. The bakery may have been a nut-free environment, but Grams and I adored the sticky, creamy goodness of PB. And her frosting was airy, cool, and full of that peanut buttery flavor. It was good enough to eat by the spoon, sans cupcake.

We curled up on the sofa with teriyaki leftovers, buttered popcorn, the cupcakes, and two large glasses of milk and decided to catch up on the latest movies on Netflix. Unfortunately, the romantic comedy was a bust. It hadn't held my attention, and I kept replaying the last couple of weeks. Aside from this whole pesky murder business and feeling like I was on an episode of
Jerry Springer
with "who's your baby daddy?" I had to think about Jared. And of course those thoughts brought me to Will. He hadn't called or texted once. I knew we were on a break, but did that mean we stopped caring for one another? Surely he'd heard about my near-arrest by now. I'd had to tell Mrs. Hendrickson why I was closing the bakery early when I'd called to tell her not to come in. For that matter, why hadn't she called and asked how I was too?

Oh crap. What if they'd learned about the kiss too? Stupid, Riley. Of course they knew about it. According to Tara, the whole town did. Great. Not that I had a reason to feel ashamed. Will and I were over, or at least on a break, but I didn't want him to think he'd been right all along. I honestly hadn't thought of Jared in that way until recently.

The credits rolled on the movie, and I heard voices outside.

I went to the window and gasped. There were reporters on our front lawn and a TV van parked in the street. What the heck?

Grams stood beside me and pulled the sheer curtains aside more. "This is private property. They can't be here."

A camera flashed at us, and I jumped back.

Grams, however, marched to the door and flung it open. It bounced off the back wall with a loud bang. "Get off my lawn, or I'm calling the cops," she shouted.

Nobody did much. A few reporters moved off the grass and onto the sidewalk, but considering the front yard wasn't much bigger than the length of a midsized car, their low chatter could still be clearly heard. I couldn't make out individual words. It was more like a hum of conversation.

Grams stomped into the living room and grabbed the phone as another car pulled up. It was Max. He parked in our driveway, and I rushed to the door to greet him. Before I even opened it, cameras were clicking and reporters were shouting, wanting to know how he felt about his uncle's death. How did they think he felt? Gosh, it was such a dumb question.

When Max stepped inside, his eyes were wide, hair wet and disheveled, and the front of his shirt soaked. He looked like he'd gone through the car wash without his car.

"What happened to you?" I took his wrist and pulled him into the kitchen, where I tossed him a towel.

"Those vultures are camped out in front of Uncle Nathan's too. In order to get past them, I snuck out the back and went through the neighbor's yard. His sprinklers went on just as I got close to them."

I giggled, certain the old man had done it on purpose.

"I'm glad you think it's funny."

The more I laughed, the louder it became, especially when I pictured him driving across town dripping wet.

"Glad to hear someone is having a good time," Grams said and frowned at Max. "What happened to you?"

This made me laugh harder, and pretty soon Max joined in too. After I calmed down enough to be able to breathe again, I pointed to his shirt. "I don't think I have anything that fits you. Sorry." Grams and I didn't have a stash of ex-boyfriend's clothes. We never had guys spend the night here. It was out of respect for one another. Plus, no matter how long I lived here, I still considered this to be her home, not mine. I'd always be a welcomed visitor.

Max shook his head. "It's fine. I'll dry off. I wanted to see how you were doing."

Grams clicked her tongue. "It might've been safer if you'd called."

Remembering they hadn't officially met yet, I made the introductions.

Then Grams said, "I spoke with Detective Ohlsen. He said there isn't much they can do about the reporters, but he'll send someone over to make sure they understand no trespassing. Like it matters to them. Plus, the
Cove Chronicles
isn't a big paper. All of those reporters aren't just from this town. And the television crew?"

She huffed and walked into the living room. A few seconds later, I heard her footsteps on the stairs.

She was right. Word had gotten out to surrounding areas, and they'd made it here in record time.

I motioned for Max to join me, and we sat at the table. "I hope they aren't still around in the morning. Working at the bakery won't be easy with a swarm of reporters."