LOL: Laugh Out Loud (After Oscar, #2)(78)

My cheeks turned fire-engine red. Everything about the moment was so tranquil and ordinary, it was almost possible to forget that my mother was a con artist always on the lookout for her next score. And she’d clearly set her eyes on Roman.

“I’m so glad you two have gotten to know each other,” I told my mom through ground teeth. “Shame you’re leaving so early this morning,” I added pointedly.

She opened her mouth to protest, but Earl beat her to it. “’Fraid that’s not gonna happen. Big storm coming.” He nodded to the window. Sure enough, the last of the morning sun was being chased across the snow-covered backyard by dark clouds and intermittent flurries.

My stomach churned with anxiety. This could not be happening. No way was my mother going to be trapped in this house with Roman and his family. “I’m sure it will be fine,” I said, taking her arm and steering her toward the mudroom. “This is Vermont; they have snow plows.”

Just as I reached for the door, it banged open and Marigold blew in lugging a heavy plastic shopping bag and chatting a mile a minute. “Sorry to barge in, but whoever’s rental Tahoe was in the driveway this morning, you’re out of gas.” She tossed a set of keys toward a ceramic bowl on the counter and continued into the kitchen where she set her bag down on the island with the unmistakable sound of clinking bottles.

I frowned at Roman. His car had been stolen by Marigold’s boyfriend their first day here, and Lolo’s rental was a luxury sedan. Which left Diana and Earl’s car. Roman must have come to the same conclusion. He fisted his hands on his hips. “Marigold, you didn’t.”

“Of course I did. Someone needed to get more vodka,” she said, unloading several bottles from the bag. “Didn’t you hear about the storm? Anywho, never fear, I’ve already put in a call to AAA, and as soon as the storm clears, they’ll tow it back. No harm no foul.”

I wasn’t going to let that deter me from getting my mother out of there. “Fine,” I said, nudging my mom back toward the mudroom. “Then we’ll borrow Lolo’s car to get to the bus station.”

Marigold paused her unloading and let out a long, “Ehhhhhhhhh, I wouldn’t.”

“What did you do to Lolo’s car, Marigold?” Roman asked.

She widened her eyes innocently. “Blame Collins. When the Tahoe ran out of gas at the liquor store, I made him come get me, and let’s just say he apparently never learned you’re supposed to turn into the skid when you hit ice. No worries,” she said, flapping a hand. “AAA said they’ll pull it out of the creek when they drop off the Tahoe.”

I was about to ask for details before deciding I didn’t want to know. The end result was still the same. “So we’re stuck.”

“Unless you can get my brother to fess up where he’s hidden the keys to the Hummer or the Bugatti.” Marigold brandished a vodka bottle in each hand, beaming. “But at least we have supplies!”

“I don’t think that will be enough,” I grumbled under my breath.

“Oh, ye of little faith, don’t think I didn’t plan ahead,” Marigold laughed. “There’s plenty more where this came from. I mean, have you met me?”

“Actually,” my mother said, stepping around me and holding out a hand. “I haven’t. I’m Scotty’s mother, Cyndee. Did you say that your brother is the owner of this delightful property?”

I could already see the familiar gleam in her eyes at having found a new potential mark. The two began chatting, and I couldn’t decide whether that should terrify me or make me feel relieved that it might take her attention away from Roman. I let out a sigh, dropping my head in my hands.

A warm, familiar hand landed on my shoulder, squeezing gently. “Hey,” Roman breathed into my ear, pulling my back against his chest and wrapping an arm around me. “It’s going to be okay.” Surrounded by his strength and comfort, I almost started to believe him.

At least until the mudroom door banged open again and Collins, aka pink polo shirt guy, staggered in, stumbling under the weight of several more shopping bags from the liquor store. “Jesus fucking Christ, Marigold, what the hell? Didn’t you hear me calling for you to wait up? This shit is heavy as cra—”

He froze, mouth open when he noticed all of us staring at him. Including Roman’s two nieces, who sat at the kitchen table, crayons held forgotten in midair as they stared at Collins in fascination.

“Uh-oh,” Sonya said in a hushed, serious tone. “He said a bad word.”

“He’s in trooouuubbleeeee,” Nay-Nay added in a singsong voice.

“Seriously, Collins,” Marigold scolded, rolling her eyes. “Language.”

“Uh. Sorry,” he mumbled.

Marigold waved a hand at him. “Drop those bags over there, and then go see if you can find that space heater so we can thaw out the Ferris wheel.”

I looked over at Roman, mouthing the words “Ferris wheel?”

He leaned in to murmur in my ear. “I think she means the water wheel at the Mill.”

I wasn’t sure what the fuck he was talking about, but I nodded anyway. “Yeah, sure. Makes sense.”

It didn’t make sense.

Roman winked at me, revealing his ability to see right through my bullshit. Smart man.