I hobbled into the house and found a note from my kids that they were both gone to friends’ houses, and to check my text messages. Oops. Guess I’d missed them. I made it up the stairs to my bedroom and changed my clothes, finding several bruises all over my body, with the worst on my shoulder.
I took an ace bandage from the first aid kit and wrapped my ankle. With the extra support, it felt a lot better. After downing some pills, I carried my diet soda, along with a couple of ice packs, onto the deck and got comfortable on the swing with a few pillows to prop up my foot.
Coco had followed me around, and I gave him a chew treat while I put the call through to Austin. I explained the whole story and heard his shock and surprise to find out his sister was alive. “I want to see her.”
“I’m sure you do, but she needs a couple of days to sort this all out. Can you give her that?”
“Yes, yes, of course. It’s just that… well… this is huge. I never thought… if only Dad… he would have been…”
I heard the catch in his voice, and sorrow lanced through my heart. “Yeah… your sister’s devastated about this too… as I’m sure you can imagine. I mean… finding out the woman who raised her had actually kidnapped her is bad enough, but add in that this same woman just killed her father… and now she’ll never know him… well…you get the picture.
I heard his sniffles and continued. “You’re going to have to help her through this, Austin. She’s lost so much, but there is something good about it. She has you. You can help her know your parents, even though they’re gone. And you’ll have each other to lean on.”
He cleared his throat and swallowed. “You’re right. She’s lost a lot, and she knows how I feel about losing our dad. We can share that.”
“Yes… that, and so much more. She has a husband and a daughter. You’re an uncle. Your niece’s name is Ava.” I told him what I could about Misti and her family and promised to call him in a few days.
“Thanks Shelby. I owe you so much, and I’m happy to pay you. I’m sure you went beyond anything I ever expected and—”
“No. No way. I didn’t do it for the money. We figured it out… and now you have a sister. That’s the best payment I could get.” After disconnecting, I closed my eyes and let the rocking motion of the swing lull me into sleep.
Much later, I jerked awake to the sound of the patio door opening.
“I thought you might be out here,” Chris said. “Whoa. What happened to you?”
“I fell down some stairs… well, actually, I was pushed.” I shifted, so he could sit down with my legs in his lap, and told him the whole story.
“And here I thought working for Manetto would be the most dangerous part of your life.” He shook his head. “Well, at least you solved the case.” He scratched his chin, wondering if he should tell me now or wait until later.
“Tell me what?”
“Oh… geez… yeah. Uh… I finished up with Manetto’s will and all the legal documents for handing the business over to you. I managed to get that condition inserted that you wanted about not actually running the business. I went over it with him this afternoon. He wanted me to go over it with you tonight. Are you up for it?”
“Why not go over it at his office?”
Chris shrugged. “I think he wants you and me to have the time alone to look it over and think about it before you sign it. He said he’d give us a day or two.”
I nodded. “Okay. I guess I’d better get started on dinner, and we can do it after that.” I struggled to get up, but Chris stopped me.
“You stay put. I’ll make dinner tonight.”
I smiled. “Thanks honey. While you’re at it, could you get me another diet soda?”
He chuckled, then leaned over to pet Coco, knowing that he’d saved me today. “What a good dog you are.”
He barked. Yup.
“What did he say?”
“I think he wants another treat.” Sure it wasn’t what he said, but after saving me today, he deserved it.
“Okay… one Diet Coke and a doggy treat coming up.”
CHAPTER 16
Two days later, I got a phone call from Uncle Joey asking me to come in so we could discuss the will. My shoulder didn’t hurt unless I moved it the wrong way, and I was back to walking normally, if a little slower. So that meant I had no excuse.
I looked into my closet and pulled out my black jeans. On a whim, I picked out a black, scoop-neck tee and tucked it in, wearing a black-and-silver belt as an accent. I slipped on a black necklace that I borrowed from Savannah. It consisted of black leather and chains and had the whole Goth look going for it.
I finished the ensemble by slipping on my black ankle boots. The boots helped support my ankle, but the rest of the outfit also seemed appropriate for the occasion. Hmmm… what would Bob say about that? Did I equate this with going to a funeral… which happened to be my own?
The bruise on my cheek had faded, but I wasn’t about to hide it with makeup. Besides, it fit right in with my black outfit, so I might as well leave it alone. At least I didn’t have a black eye, although I did add a little dark gray eyeshadow to my eyelids. I kept it to a
