“You bitch!” As Granville got louder, Anna became tense. She was ready to jump between Adeline and her children. Thankfully, it wasn’t necessary. Granville didn’t do more than spew hate. “You couldn’t stay out of it. You had to get the authorities involved.”
“It is not the authorities that you should be concerned about, idiot.” Anna couldn’t keep her mouth shut anymore. “Don’t you watch TV? Don’t you know that you never, not ever, mess with people from another culture unless you understand that culture? We’re talking people that really do mean an eye for an eye. You used up all you could here in the United States, and then instead of learning from that, you just expanded your net. You caught some big fish, really big, but didn’t it dawn on you that you were messing with people that you couldn’t possibly control? These aren’t your little frat buddies. These are people that don’t even need to say the words, and you’re dead. They are not in this country. Do you really think they are going to come over here and have a little talk before they put out the word? Boy, you have a price on your head, and you are too stupid to know it.”
“A price?”
“And just in case you are too stupid to figure it out, it isn’t even a big price. You aren’t worth shit.” Anna shook her head. “I don’t know why your mother even bothers.”
Adeline once again seemed serene. “What is your decision?”
Talbot was sobbing uncontrollably. “I’ll do anything you want. Anything.”
Granville didn’t give in quite so easily. “How do I know you’re telling the truth? How do I know I can trust you?”
Adeline smiled. “That is a problem we will both have to deal with, is it not?”
Granville rubbed his chin. “Fine.”
Adeline smiled. “Very well. Allow me a few moments.”
Once Adeline walked out the door, it was Carolyn who spoke. In a low and startlingly menacing voice she said quietly, “I recognize that Adeline is your mother and that this is family business, but understand me well. If you do anything, anything at all, to harm Adeline in any way, your friends from overseas will be the least of your problems.”
TEN
THE SUN WAS shining, and the humidity outside Anna’s house was so intense there were little beads of moisture on her birdbath. Adeline and Carolyn were setting the table as Anna added food to the feeder hanging from her arbor.
Once inside, the girls sat for a nice cup of tea.
Carolyn leaned in. “So what did Chris have to say about his new job?”
“I certainly wish I had recorded it for posterity.” Adeline giggled. “When I informed him of all that had happened while we were in the city, the child literally had to pick his chin up off the table.”
“I’ll bet.”
“When I offered him the position of liaison between my financial people and the financial people now doing a forensic accounting of my children’s interests, he jumped at it. We can hardly set anything to rights until we have their financial mess sorted. I will say that some of the investors that I thought would be most difficult were in fact the most accommodating.”
Carolyn was quick. “They want their money back.”
“Actually, the one I was most worried about here in the states laughed and said that in all his years he had never been so completely bamboozled. He said he gave the kids credit for that. He also said that he was not interested in revenge — or interest, for that matter. Getting back his initial investment was enough.”
Anna shook her head. “The Lord does protect children and fools.”
Carolyn took a sip of tea. “How long do you expect this process to take?”
“I’m hoping that we will be able to accomplish our goals in thirteen months or less.”
Carolyn’s eyebrows reached for her hairline. “Wow, I didn’t think it would take that long.”
“There is other news on that horizon.”
Anna was instantly interested. Another mystery to be solved. “And what is that?”
“Christophe has been speaking to his siblings and cousins. It seems that the big house will be full once again. They are all moving in.”
“What? All your grandkids are moving in with you?”
“Oh, heavens no. I will maintain my residence at the loft. The grandchildren will share the house with their Auntie Genevieve. She is thrilled. They are excited. We are going to get each of the children involved with a different aspect of the family business — as Christophe calls it — and move our ventures forward.”
Carolyn’s eyes were round. “That sounds like quite an undertaking.”
Adeline agreed. “I pray we will do better with this crop than the last.”
Anna pulled a face. “We?”
“Girls, you have promised me that you would be there for every adventure. I can think of no adventure more exciting.”
ALSO BY THE AUTHOR
THE TEA SERIES
Hot Tea
Sweet Tea
Iced Tea
Green Tea
Peppermint Tea
Tea To Go
Summer Tea
Traditional Tea
Tea & Honey
Happy Tea
Dark Tea
Shattered Tea
THE TEA SERIES: THE BLENDS
(short stories)
Romantic Blend
Perfect Blend
THE GIRLS SERIES
Las Vegas
Hawaii Can Wait
On the Road (Again)
Spoiled Fruit
THE AUNTIE SERIES
Abbie
Bethany
LESSONS, THE SERIES
Consequences
Coming soon — Promises
Learn more about Sheila and her books at www.SheilaHorgan.com
Table of Contents
TITLE PAGE
ONE
TWO
THREE
FOUR
FIVE
SIX
SEVEN
EIGHT
NINE
TEN
ALSO BY THE AUTHOR
Spoiled Fruit Page 16