A Beautiful Funeral (The Maddox Brothers #5) - Jamie McGuire Page 0,83
takes you away, sometimes for weeks at a time.”
“Okay,” he said, lost in thought. “What if I work out of an office here? In Illinois?”
“Away from the glamorous organized crime unit?”
“I could get transferred. Liis knows people in the Chicago office.”
“No more undercover work?”
“Just regular ol’ investigating.”
I thought about it for a few moments. “After this is over, you promise you’ll put in for a transfer?”
“I promise.”
I nodded slowly, still not sure what my decision was.
Travis walked over to me and wrapped me in his arms, kissing my hair. “Don’t get mad at me. It freaks me the fuck out.”
I pressed my cheek against his chest, wondering if what just happened was compromising or giving in.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
AMERICA
“CAN YOU STIR THE GRAVY for me, baby?” Shepley asked, putting on oven mitts.
With a wooden spoon, I stirred the brown liquid in the pan, turning to smile at Jim, Jack, and Deana. Shepley’s parents had visited Jim every day since the funeral; sometimes, they would stay for dinner, sometimes not. When Shepley wasn’t exhausted after work, we would join them. Tonight, Shepley was making his famous meatloaf, Deana’s recipe—that was, of course, also her late sister’s, Diane’s. Eating was comforting, but especially when the dish reminded him of his wife’s cooking.
Shepley closed the oven. “Almost done.”
“Smells good,” Jim called from the dining room.
My cell phone buzzed, and I fished it out of the back pocket of my shorts. It was a text from Abby.
We’ll be at Jim’s soon. Meet us there.
I tapped out a reply.
Already here. Cooking dinner.
Oh, good. Text me when you’re finished. We’ll wait.
For what?
It took her a bit longer to respond.
Until dinner is over.
There’s enough for everyone but suit yourself.
Trust me. It’s best if everyone eats first.
And what’s that supposed to mean?
See you soon.
I huffed, stuffing my phone back into my pocket.
Shepley glided by, plucking my phone out again and placing it on the counter. “How many times have I told you? Cell phones emit radiation. Do you want colon cancer? Don’t put them in your pockets.”
“Does anyone want colon cancer? What kind of question is that? First, I can’t eat Cheetos, then I have to replace water bottles with glass containers because the bottles heated in the car causes cancer, and now, I can’t put my phone in my pocket. You realize the sun causes cancer, right? Should we become cave dwellers?”
“Which is why I keep buying you that organic sunscreen,” Shepley said, kissing my cheek.
“You’re such a soccer mom,” I grumbled.
“I’ll take it,” he said, leaving me for the dining room table.
I teased him, but I knew he feared going through the same thing his Uncle Jim and his mom had when they lost Diane. Once we had Ezra, he began reading about everything that could kill us and started forbidding us from eating certain things. He did it out of love, and of course, he was right, but pretending to be annoyed softened the frightening reality. We were getting older, and a few of our friends had already been diagnosed. Sometimes, it felt like the whole world was dying.
The front door swung open, and Taylor walked through, holding one of his kids in each arm. Falyn was behind him, carrying the luggage.
“Hey!” Shepley, Jim, and Jack said in unison. Shepley helped Jim to stand, and they bear hugged Taylor and the kids, then Falyn, with Tyler, Ellie, and Gavin not far behind.
“Oh, my God!” Taylor yelled. “It smells amazing in here!”
I turned the stove fire to low and wiped my hand on my apron, leaving the kitchen to hug the family. After everyone had said their hellos, Jim glanced around the room. “Where’s Trenton?”
Tyler shrugged. “He hasn’t been by today? I thought he’d be here. That’s what he said earlier.”
“I’ll text him,” Taylor said, pulling his phone from his back pocket.
I smirked at Shepley, gesturing to Taylor, and he rolled his eyes.
“I’m not married to Taylor, am I?” he said.
Everyone turned to my husband, and I snorted.
Taylor raised an eyebrow. “Eh?”
“Nothing,” Shepley grumbled.
Falyn glanced around the room. “Is Olive not coming for dinner?”
“They’re on vacation this week,” Jim said.
Falyn’s face fell. “Oh.”
Jim looked at his watch. “They should be getting home later this evening.”
Jim nodded in understanding. We all knew Falyn looked forward to seeing Olive when she was in town, even if Olive had no idea she was actually part of the family instead of just Trenton’s best friend.