Jason laughed good-naturedly with everyone else and thanked his father for the new briefcase. Father Ben’s gift, a four-volume leather bound set of the Liturgy of the Hours elicited another genuine thanks.
“Required reading for seminary,” he explained as Jason idly thumbed through one of the thick books, “and the rest of your career.”
The party was short and subdued, despite Jason’s assurances that his hip was not hurting. A few obvious winces at various intervals, however, told everyone a different story and people slowly drifted away to let the Greeveys savor the rest of the day in peace.
Caitlin kissed Jason’s cheek. “You scared me to death,” she whispered. “Don’t do it again.”
“I promise.”
By early evening both men were slouched on the sofa, Ringo snoozing at their feet, watching television as a commercial for aspirin segued into a Trivial Matters tease.
“No!” Dan bellowed, feeling the sofa table behind him for the remote. Jason got to it first and mashed the volume.
“Oh, come on,” Jason cajoled. “We haven’t watched it in a while, not since Jillian’s.”
“After all that’s happened you still want to watch this stupid show?” Dan asked, swatting for the remote.
“Why not? These guys didn’t try to kill me. I’ve got nothing against them.”
It took all of the teaser and half of the commercial break before Dan grudgingly relented, and the two settled to watch the show. For the most part Dan sat stone-faced and quiet as Jason answered the questions aloud. This time, Jason got every question right. Dan smiled.
“That’s my boy.”
L.K. Ellwood is the pen name of Kathryn Lively, an award-winning mystery author.
http://www.kathrynlively.com
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Mystery Bundle (Saints Preserve Us, Pray For Us Sinners, Murder Most Trivial) Page 70