“Dr. Alderman, which is more likely, thatAnnasent the text framing you for her own murder, or thatyousent her the text and are lying about it through your teeth?”
“Objection, argumentative!” Thomas jumped up again.
“I withdraw it, Your Honor,” Linda sniffed, having accomplished her purpose.
Chapter Twenty
Maggie, Before
They pulled up in front of the furniture store, and Maggie reflected that they were like any other family of four, filling up the car. She’d made spaghetti for dinner, and mealtime had been easy and fun, with Caleb talking more than usual. He’d spent the meal telling Anna about his train trestle, a conversation full of old target words he could pronounce with ease. Maggie and Noah had let him have the spotlight, since it didn’t happen often.
Noah looped an arm around Maggie’s shoulder as they strolled to the store entrance behind Caleb and Anna. Night had fallen, and the air felt cool and crisp. The strip mall was closing up, and only a handful of cars were left in this end of the lot. The bright lights of the furniture store spilled onto the asphalt like glowing parallelograms.
Maggie smiled as she watched Caleb and Anna hustling ahead, their silhouettes backlit. “Look at them. My mother would have said, ‘Mutt and Jeff.’”
Noah chuckled. “Everybody’s mother would have said ‘Mutt and Jeff.’”
Maggie felt another burst of happiness. “Is this really happening? Are those our two kids, ignoring us like a real family?”
“And is she a good sport or what?” Noah smiled. “I’ve never seen him yap like that. No more Coke at dinner.”
“I’m going to show Anna!” Caleb shouted, hustling toward the store entrance.
“Wait up!” Anna hurried after him. “I want a bed with a canopy!”
“Great idea!” Maggie called after Anna, thinking of the Congreve Inn. It was hard to believe that was only last night, but she sensed thatTop Gunwas forgotten.
“A canopy bed?” Noah moaned, under his breath. “I don’t have to build it, do I?”
“No. Those days are over.”
“Promise me. No more Allen wrenches.” Noah held open the door for Maggie, and they entered the store, which was empty. “Meanwhile, this is our new life. In a furniture store on a Saturday night.”
“I didn’t want to let it go until tomorrow.” Maggie watched Caleb lead Anna from family room to family room within the vast space, trying out sofas. A sign hanging from the ceiling above read,NOW DELIVERING SEVEN DAYS A WEEK!
“I agree, but we haven’t had a minute alone.”
“I know, and there’s so much I have to tell you.”
Noah shot her a sly look. “That’s not what I was thinking, but okay. It’s Saturday night, if you get my drift.”
“Ha!” Maggie laughed, her eye on the kids.
“I’m getting a rain check, aren’t I?”
“You got that right. Gimme a year. She’ll be in college then.”
Noah smiled. “How are we gonna do this, with two kids in the house?”
“Quietly.” Maggie slid her phone from her jeans pocket and scrolled to her list. “Now here’s what we need to get, after the bed. A makeup mirror that lights up, makeup bag, hair dryer, rolling bath cart—”
“This does not sound like sexy time.”
“No, it’s Bed Bath & Beyond time. There’s one in this mall and it’s only open until 9:30.” Maggie checked her watch. “8:35. That means we have to move fast, and you know the paperwork here takes forever.”
“If you want, you can run over to Bed Bath & Beyond and I’ll stay here with Anna and Caleb.”
“No, let’s play it by ear. Maybe we can get both done together.” Maggie watched Anna in the background, taking a selfie with Caleb on an oversized recliner.
