Char held her glass up and admired the color. “The Seymour parcel?”
“The very same.”
“Tell me again why it’s so difficult to unload?” Char put her nose in the glass and sniffed. “Oh, do I need this.”
“It’s that darn easement the State obtained over forty years ago for a future freeway extension they’ll never build. All the development went in the other direction. The buyer and his wife plan to breed exotic rabbits, and the zoning and location are perfect for them.”
“Exotic rabbits? I never heard of such a thing. What do they do, teach them to belly dance?”
Marla laughed. “I don’t know Char, but if they close the deal I’ll suggest it.”
They polished off the first of the wine then set about unpacking the bags and separating out what Dwayne would take home.
The front door opened, and Skip yapped with excitement.
“Honey, I’m home.” Dwayne carried two large white bags with Chinese writing on the sides. One was stained with grease spots, and Marla nearly swooned at the delicious aroma.
His eyebrows went up at the sight of her sister. “Hey, Charlene.” He leaned in for Marla’s kiss. “I don’t know if I can stand all this pulchritude. We having a threesome?”
“For dinner, yes.” Marla tapped him on the chest. “Behave yourself. Charlene’s missing Donovan and she’s in a fragile state.”
Charlene puckered her lips in a pout. “Yes, poor me. I’ll have another glass of wine.”
Dwayne kissed Char on the forehead. “Let me know if I can be of help.” He grinned at Marla. “Mind if I take a quick shower, honey?”
“No, go ahead. We’ll set out dinner. There’s a clean T-shirt of yours on top of the dryer.”
“I brought a change of clothes.” He held aloft a brown grocery sack. “I’ll make it quick.” He rushed down the hall and the bedroom door closed.
Char twisted her mouth and nodded. “Um hum, and now you’re doing his laundry.”
Heat burned Marla’s cheeks. “No, I am not! It’s a shirt I borrowed to wear over my swimsuit in Coronado. I forgot to pack my cover-up.” She put hands on her hips and gave Charlene a stern look. “What?”
“Nothing.” A knowing smile danced across her lips. “I’ll set the table.”
Well, hell. His plans to spend the night alone with Marla got shot square in the ass when he saw Charlene. Maybe she’d take off early. Nah, he suspected she planned to stay all evening.
He scowled at the bottles of Marla’s shampoo and conditioner lining the shower shelf. He lifted one after the other, pushing them aside until he found one that looked promising. He screwed the cap off and sniffed. Coconut. Not exactly manly, but not too girly either. He squirted some on his head and scrubbed.
Five minutes after he stepped inside the shower, he was toweling off. Ten minutes after he’d kissed Marla hello he was walking back to the kitchen. He did a male-model turn. “I know I’m irresistible but see if you ladies can keep your hands off me until I’ve had something to eat.”
Marla shook her head. “See what I have to put up with? Sit down, Dempsey, before we put our hands on you in ways you won’t welcome. The last thing you want is for my sister and me to gang up on you.”
Dwayne sat and raised his hands. “I’ll be good.”
Charlene winked. “I don’t doubt it.”
“Oh, please you two. Can we just eat?”
Charlene’s mood lifted considerably during dinner and lively banter. She glanced at her watch. “It’s after ten. Mind if I skedaddle without helping with the dishes? I have to be at work by seven.”
“No, go ahead.” Marla carried dishes to the sink. “The mess looks worse than it is.”
Skipper ran to the front door and yapped with alarm.
“What’s with your mutt?” He stood and walked into the hallway. “What’s the matter, boy?”
Marla followed him. “He probably thought he heard something.”
Dwayne picked up an envelope. “What’s this?”
“Did somebody put that under my door?”
He opened the door and stepped out on the small porch. “I don’t see anybody.” Back inside he turned the large brown envelope over. “I’ll be damned. It’s addressed to me.” He held it so she could see the name.
Charlene joined them. “What’s going on?”
“Somebody left this for Dwayne.” She pointed to the envelope. “It wasn’t here when you came in, was it?”
“No.”
He ran a finger under the flap. “Not when I got here either.” He pulled a small sheaf of papers and a photo from the packet. “What the…?”
Marla switched on the ceiling light. “What is it?”
He held a picture of Amber in her school uniform then continued to the living room, switched on the lamp next to the sofa, and sat. “What the hell is she up to?”
Marla and Charlene watched him silently while he shuffled through the papers.
“Who?”
“Francine. That witch! I’ve got to call my lawyer.” The Chinese food sat like lead in his stomach. He raked a hand through his hair.
“At this hour?” Marla tipped her head at the crystal Waterford clock on her mantel. “It’s too late, isn’t it?”
“Lordy, Dwayne. What does she say?”
He set a typed paper on his knee and smoothed out the crease. He looked it over once more, and then read it to them.
So now I know what my kid looks like you sneak. And it proves you aren’t her biological father for sure. Bring her to my lawyer’s office in the next two days or I’m having you arrested for kidnapping. I demand a DNA test, you bastard. I mean it. Francine Henry
He gazed at the shocked expressions on Marla and Charlene’s faces. Most likely they reflected his own. He paged through the other papers then dropped the packet on the table next to the sofa.
Marla came to sit beside him. “That woman is crazy. You know you’re Amber’s dad. What is
