Free Beers, Lies and Alibis (Warblers Point Series Book 2) by Meghan Quinn Page A

she had already cleaned up the shop for the night while Marge and Maggie were bickering, so she was able to leave with Murphy.  
    Butterflies twisted in Sophie’s stomach as she drove off in her car, following Murphy back to her place. The quaint and undisturbed town of Warblers Point passed by her window as she drove the pothole-filled roads towards Murphy’s house, which was just across the lake from The Sleeping Potato.
    As Sophie passed the gold and green painted Bed and Breakfast, the pride and joy of the O’Leary family, Sophie sighed. Tonight was the night, they were going to start seeking revenge on those who had disturbed Sophie’s life, who had humiliated her and turned her into the Scarlet Letter-wearer of Warblers Point.
     
    ***
     
    “Is Mommy coming home tonight?” Catherine asked as Liam combed her hair, trying to get his daughter ready for bed.  
    Neala had been gone all day. She’d been released from the hospital earlier, but still had yet to return to her parents’ house. Neala’s dad had called earlier and said they wouldn’t return until later, but refused to say what they were doing. The secrecy was grating on Liam’s nerves. All he wanted to know was why Neala had a panic attack and where she was all the damn day.  
    The ideas of what might be wrong with Neala caused Liam to almost cripple over from nausea. Was she sick? Was that why she needed her insurance card and was that why she was taking out cash? Why wouldn’t she talk to him about it? Was she really that mad at him that she wouldn’t share with him her health problems, especially if their daughter was going to be affected?  
    Liam planned on talking to Neala when she got home, even if she wasn’t feeling up to it. He wanted answers; he needed them. He couldn’t go back to his place knowing that there was something wrong with Neala. He wanted to help her, he wanted to be with her and he wanted his family back, under his roof.  
    “She is sweetie, but she might not be home in time to see you to bed. I promise when she does come home, I’ll make sure she kisses you good night, okay?”
    “Okay, Daddy.”
    Liam kissed Catherine on the head before he finished combing her fine hair.  
    He missed his little girl so much and it killed him that he wasn’t able to be with her every day, watch her grow up, hear the funny things she said, and watch her eyes light up whenever she saw him or Neala. It gutted his soul that he was missing out on his little girl’s life and only being able to watch from afar and on the occasional weekend.  
    Liam looked at the clock and noticed that it was getting late and if Neala did come home and Catherine was still up, she would have a cow. Trying to avoid an unnecessary fight, Liam grabbed his little girl and propelled her toward her bedroom like a rocket taking off to space.  
    Catherine’s laughter filled the air as Liam plopped her down on her bed and tickled her until she yelled uncle.  
    Smiling down at his baby, he said, “Time for bed, granny.”  
    Neala hated the nickname Liam used for their daughter, but the moment Liam laid eyes on his little girl with a smooshed face in the hospital, the name granny came to mind and it stuck.  
    She giggled and placed both of her tiny hands on Liam’s face and said, “I love you, Daddy.”
    Trying not to cry at the tender way his daughter looked at him, Liam kissed her forehead and said, “I love you too. Now get some sleep; we’re supposed to get snow tonight and you know that what means, right?”
    “Sledding!” Catherine squealed.  
    “That’s right, but grannies need their sleep in order to go sledding, so you better shut those beautiful peepers of yours.”
    “I will, Daddy. I promise.”
    “Good girl. Good night, granny.”
    “Good night.”
    Liam placed one last kiss on his daughter’s forehead before tucking her in and retreating to her doorway to turn out her light. Right before he flipped the switch, Catherine broke the