Secrets Never Die (Morgan Dane #5)(91)

“I’ve never been able to fool you.” Morgan stared into her cup, searching for the words to express an emotion she didn’t understand. “Every time I think about a church and a fancy dress, I think of John. It’s like wedding details and my memories of him are tied together.”

“That’s understandable. You two didn’t drift apart. He was taken from you.” Grandpa sighed. “Do you still want to get married?”

“I do,” Morgan answered, with no hesitation.

“Then make new and different memories with Lance. Who says you have to get married in a church? Fly to Vegas. Wear jeans. Rent a food truck. I can think of a hundred ways to get married that don’t involve a church or a fancy dress.”

“That’s all well and good for me, but Lance has never been married. He’s been talking about a big traditional wedding.”

“Have you asked him if that’s what he wants?”

“He says he doesn’t care, but I worry that he’s just saying that to make me happy.”

“What’s wrong with that?” Grandpa caught her eyes. “Lance is a straight shooter. I’m going to bet he doesn’t give two hoots about how you get married.”

Morgan smiled, warmth spreading through her. Was the answer that simple? Had she been overcomplicating everything? “Maybe you’re right.”

“Of course I’m right,” Grandpa huffed.

The rest of the family trickled into the room, and the morning shifted into gear. Morgan walked Ava and Mia to the bus stop, and Grandpa drove Gianna to dialysis. Grant arrived to take some measurements in the kitchen. The activity seemed too normal, and Morgan felt disoriented.

She took a fresh cup of coffee to the family room. In the middle of the floor, Sophie was hosting a tea party for Snoozer and Rocket. Both dogs sat companionably with the little girl, listening to her chatter and sniffing at the plastic teacups she set in front of them. Sophie rounded out the party with a few stuffed animals. She seemed content to entertain herself, so Morgan watched and enjoyed every moment.

The dogs lifted their heads and turned toward the front door in unison. Rocket shot across the carpet, upending a teddy bear and spilling imaginary tea. Morgan went to the door, grabbing the dog’s collar as she started barking.

“Shh,” she said. But Rocket was having none of it.

There was a man on the doorstep. Morgan looked out the window. Surprise drew her back.

Esposito?

The ADA was impeccably dressed in a dark-gray suit and white shirt. Morgan opened the door, using her foot to hold the dog back.

Esposito glanced at the dog and frowned. “I need to speak with you.”

“Please, come in.” Morgan stepped back.

Snoozer went back to the tea party. Rocket growled. Esposito crouched and held his hand out to the dog. She sniffed his fingers, wagged the stub of her docked tail, and let him scratch behind her ears.

“You like dogs?” Morgan closed the door.

“What’s not to like?” Esposito stood. He took in the house in one quick glance.

It was a mess, Morgan realized, without caring.

Sophie ran to Morgan, grabbed her hand, and tugged on it. Morgan leaned down. Sophie cupped her ear and said, in the loudest whisper ever, “Who is he?”

Morgan picked her up and straightened. “Sophie, this is Mr. Esposito.”

To her surprise, Esposito held out his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Miss Sophie.”

Sophie shook his hand, then giggled and threw her body backward over Morgan’s arm. Grandpa came through the front door, and Morgan introduced him.

“Sophie and I are going to have a tea party.” Grandpa took her tiny hand. “Why don’t you take coffee out onto the deck?”

“Coffee?” she offered Esposito.

“Sure,” he answered.

She pointed to the glass doors. “I’ll bring it right out.”

When she brought out the two mugs, Esposito was standing at the railing. The deck overlooked the Scarlet River. The river was still high and the current choppy, but the sun shone on the water, and the air felt cooler than it had in weeks.

Below the deck, a fence surrounded the yard and kept the children away from the water.

“Pretty view.” Esposito took the coffee mug. “Your kid is cute.”

“Thank you.” Morgan leaned on the railing next to him. “I admit, your visit was not anticipated. I expected the sheriff to contact me this morning.”

“Colgate quit.”

“What?” Morgan shouldn’t have been surprised. He’d been ill suited to the job from the moment he stepped into it. But he’d shown no indication of leaving office when she’d last spoken with him.

“Well, not exactly quit.” Esposito turned to face her. “He’s retiring and taking accrued vacation time until the paperwork is complete. He also might have been encouraged to step down by the powers that be. Not everyone is OK with looking like a chump.”

Esposito would never say it, but Morgan interpreted powers that be as his boss, the district attorney. Technically, only the voters or the governor could remove a duly elected sheriff from office, but Colgate had inherited the job. Supervision over him was murky. Not that it mattered. The current DA was a very persuasive man, and lack of support from his office could make the job of sheriff all but impossible. The DA had backed up Colgate on the last two important cases—his reputation had suffered when the sheriff’s investigations had gone sour. The prosecutor would not make that mistake a third time.