Harlequin Romantic Suspense April 2021

Gracefully, she leaped up, turned two full circles and settled into her place next to Carly’s leg. Carly fell asleep with the comforting weight of her new dog pressed against her.
In the morning, she had her usual cup of coffee in the living room rather than at the kitchen table. Today, she’d have to break the startling news of Micha being alive to her entire family. Knowing how much they’d all loved him, she felt pretty certain they’d be ecstatic, but she didn’t want to have to share her own conflicted emotions. She loved her family, but her personal life needed to stay just that—personal.
She tried to make the drive out to Oak Park on a regular basis, more often these days after losing her father and uncle. Her brothers, Heath and Jones, did the same. Since the two families lived next door to each other, they’d begun having combined dinners on a regular basis, attended by all the cousins. They used to have those all the time growing up, so everyone felt a faint hint of nostalgia, which made them miss the two elder Colton men even more. Their loss created a huge hole in all of their lives.
After spending the morning puttering around her house, enjoying her dog and avoiding the kitchen, that afternoon Carly got in her car to make the trek northwest to the suburb. Though no one knew yet that Micha was alive, she had still debated inviting him, but knew doing so would make more of a statement than she was prepared to handle right now, so she went alone. She couldn’t decide whether to break the news before Heath dropped his bombshell about the new murders or after. She guessed she’d just play it by ear.
Since the day was unseasonably warm for April, they’d decided to move the get-together outside and have a backyard cookout in their shared backyard. Grandma Jones had been positively gleeful at the prospect. She’d assigned everyone a different dish to bring, but everyone knew they’d all be purchasing theirs from Tatum’s restaurant True.
Since Carly had brought Harry to the last family dinner, she knew everyone would question his absence. That would be as good a time as any to tell them Micha wasn’t dead, after all, though she dreaded the assumptions that were sure to follow.
Carly’s brothers, Heath and Jones, were in charge of manning the massive stainless-steel grill. Two other men, Sean Stafford and Cruz Medina, stood with them, shooting the breeze. Carly’s three cousins—Simone, Tatum and January—were already outside, chatting with Heath’s fiancée, Kylie.
As Carly walked over, she noticed that January couldn’t seem to tear her gaze away from her fiancé, Sean. Ditto for Tatum, who was making googly eyes at her new man, Cruz. Since Tatum was a renowned chef who owned True, a restaurant downtown, she was in charge of the food. Everyone just purchased whatever sides they’d been assigned from her, which basically meant she was catering the luncheon, right down to providing seasoned and marinated cuts of meat for the guys to grill.
None of the cousins had inherited Tatum’s cooking skills. Simone worked as a professor at the University of Chicago, January was a social worker as well as a busy volunteer, and Carly a nurse; they all preferred to eat Tatum’s wonderful cooking over their own. Grandma Jones often chided them, but she, too, dug in with gusto to whatever Tatum brought, so Carly knew she didn’t really mind.
Until the double murder, they’d been a loud, boisterous, close and joyful family. Over time, and slowly, Carly hoped they’d all manage to make their way back to where they’d once been.
Walking into the spacious backyard, Carly immediately headed over to her mother, who sat in a brightly painted Adirondack chair next to her aunt. Both women, identical twins who took great pains to wear their hair differently, looked up at her approach.
“Carly!” Aunt Farrah stood, somehow managing to look both warm and regal at the same time. She enveloped Carly in a perfumed hug, before releasing her and sitting back down.
Carly’s mother, Fallon, also pushed to her feet. She crushed Carly to her, holding on so tightly that Carly struggled to breathe. When Fallon finally released her, Carly stepped back and studied her mom. Fallon’s short, curly hair looked as stylish as ever, and she’d clearly taken pains with her makeup, outfit and jewelry. This had to be a good sign, Carly thought.
“What’s new, sweetheart?” her mother asked, her intent gaze sweeping over Carly. Ever since losing her husband, the older woman had become subdued, her former vibrant personality dimmed. While Aunt Farrah Colton had always been loud, in an outgoing, charming way, Fallon had always been more reserved, yet warm and caring. Carly actually missed her aunt’s occasional yelling. At least she had her twin, Fallon, living next door to grieve with. Since both women had lost their husbands at the same time, they leaned heavily on each other.
They all mourned differently, Carly reflected. Carly had thrown herself into her work, picking up extra shifts and keeping as busy as possible so she didn’t have time to think. Of course, ever since losing Micha, she’d been a bit of a workaholic. The loss of her father had just intensified those tendencies again.
“I got a dog,” Carly said, figuring she’d start with that and work up to the really big news. After all, at some point Heath had to make his announcement about the new double murder. No doubt he planned to wait until after they’d all eaten, so the news wouldn’t put a huge damper on everyone’s mood.
“You what?” Fallon’s perfectly arched brows rose. “I wouldn’t think you have time to deal with a puppy.”
“Bridget isn’t a puppy, Mom. I rescued a dog. The vet says she’s about two years old and has likely had at least one litter of puppies. She’s got an appointment tomorrow to get spayed.”
The twin sisters shared a glance. “What kind of dog, dear?” Aunt Farrah