Teacup Novellas 02 - Strike the Match by Diane Moody Page A

interrupted. “I meant to tell you. It’s the oddest thing. His father keeps showing up. All over town. What’s that all about? Everybody knows Shep Dawson only comes to town about twice a year. His semi-annual grocery run. Suddenly he’s everywhere I turn. Has Grant mentioned anything about that to you, sweetie? I’m wondering if the old guy might be losing it.”
    Keri scraped the last of the chowder from her bowl. “No. He hasn’t mentioned it. Maybe Shep’s working on something in town on his days off.”
    “Yeah, or maybe he’s taking speech lessons,” Tyler teased. “You know, as in how-to-talk-to-people?”
    Keri smiled. “Maybe he enrolled in one of those adult education classes. Like How to Win Friends and Influence People. Might do him some good. Or . . .”
    Nita took the bait. “Or what?”
    “Or maybe he’s got a crush on someone in town. Maybe he’s sweet on a certain someone. You know, like a girlfriend?” She waggled her eyebrows at her aunt.
    Nita nailed her niece with a look. “Keri Nadia McMillan. You bite your tongue. Why, I wouldn’t give that old man the time of day if I was the last person on earth. He’s actually starting to get on my last nerve, if you want to know the truth. I almost wet myself today when he snuck up on me at the tree lot.”
    Tyler leaned over to his daughter. “Methinks she doth protest too much?”
    “Methinks ditto,” Keri added.
    Nita pushed her chair back, standing up. She grabbed their empty bowls. “I’ll hear none of that from the two of you. This is the thanks I get for making you a home cooked meal?”
    Tyler joined her by the sink, wrapping his arm over her shoulder. “Ah, we’re just kidding, Sis. Feels kinda good to have something to laugh about after everything that’s happened. Don’t you think?”
    She bent her knee sideways behind her, kicking his backside.
    “Ouch! What’s the matter, did we hit a little too close to home with our romantic musings?”
    Keri brought their empty glasses to the sink. “Methinks, methinks, methinks . . .”
    “Enough!” Nita tossed the hand towel on the counter and headed toward the front door. “I’ve got to go home and feed Muffy . At least she’ll treat me with a little respect.”
    The door slammed behind her.
    Father and daughter made eye contact then broke into unrestrained laughter.
    “After all these years . . .” Tyler chuckled. “Whodathunkit?”
    Keri watched her father, pleased to see him relaxed and smiling again. But in the blink of an eye, something changed. He winced, taking a deep breath then slowly blowing it out.
    “Dad?”
    He flexed his hand, open and shut, open and shut. Then he gasped, his face contorted with pain.
    “Dad! What’s wrong?” She rushed to his side, quickly placing her hand on his forehead. “You’re all clammy.”
    He pulled her hand off his head then wrapped it between his own hands. “Nothing, sweetheart. Probably just indigestion.”
    “Isn’t that what most people say right before they have a heart attack?”
    He closed his eyes, attempting a smile. “Very funny.”
    “I’m serious. Tell me what you’re feeling. Why did you flex your hand like that?”
    He pulled his left hand into a fist. “I don’t know. Just a reaction, I suppose. Stop worrying. I’m fine.”
    “But isn’t it the left arm that usually—”
    “Keri, I’m fine. How about pouring me another glass of iced tea?”
    She looked at him, studying the familiar creases in his face. There were several new ones, mostly carved by worry, she supposed. He didn’t look good. No matter what he said.
    She exhaled, getting him the cold drink. “When was the last time you had a check up?”
    “Well, let’s see, Nurse Nancy . . .”
    “Stop. Seriously, Dad, I’m worried about you. Didn’t anyone ever tell you stress can kill?”
    “Stress? What makes you think I’m under stress?”
    She handed him the glass and sat on the floor at the foot his leather recliner. Flashes of dread