“Everything’s fine at the B&B,” Joe assured Judith,
taking her reaction as concern about Hillside Manor.
“All the odious guests are gone, and the Rankerses can
go home because Mike and Kristin are staying through
the week.”
“Oh, Mike!” Judith beamed at her son as Joe went
off to the nurse’s station to check Judith out. “You
don’t have to . . .”
“It’s cool,” Mike asserted. “We want to. Kristin
thinks it’ll be fun. She’s even got some ideas about
how you could run the place more efficiently.”
“Oh. Good.” Judith swallowed hard. “Mike, I have
something to tell you—”
“Hey,” Mike said, holding up a hand. “Kristin won’t
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Mary Daheim
get in your face. She just wants to help. If you don’t
like some of her ideas, tell her.”
“No, it’s not that,” Judith insisted. “It’s about Joe.
When you came down here to see him in all that bad
weather, I felt then that I should have spoken to you
about what a risk you took and that—”
Mike put his hand up again. “No problem. Why
wouldn’t I do that?” Suddenly Mike’s expression grew
uncharacteristically sober. “After all, he’s my father.”
Judith’s jaw dropped. “You
Mike’s eyes were level with Judith’s as he took her
hand. “I’ve known for a long time. I just didn’t know if
you wanted me to know. Are you okay with it?”
“Oh, Mike!” Judith burst into tears.
Joe reappeared in the doorway. “We’re all set. Hey,
what’s wrong?”
“N-n-nothing,” Judith blubbered. “I’m just so
happy!”
Joe stared at Mike. “This is
“It sure is.
then shoved the hospital form at his mother. “Here,
sign this so we can go home.”
With trembling fingers, Judith signed the form. She
fought for control and handed the sheet of paper to Joe.
“That’s right. I’m very happy.” Judith took a deep
breath. “I’ve finally gotten my release.”
About the Author
Seattle native MARY RICHARDSON DAHEIM
began reading mysteries when she was seven. She
started writing them when she was eleven, but her
career as a published novelist didn’t begin until much
later. After graduating from the University of
Washington’s School of Communications, Daheim
