Free The Goddaughter by Melodie Campbell

can keep them. Are we done here now?”
    Joey nodded. His phone rang, and he pulled it from a pocket. He listened, and then his brow furrowed.
    â€œAnything wrong?” I asked.
    â€œFor some reason, I have to go meet an ice-cream truck over by D’Youville. Who do we know that’s got an ice-cream truck?”
    Oops. No way I wanted to get involved in that again. Time to vamoose.
    I walked over to the car, reached in for my purse and took out my cell phone.
    I punched in numbers.
    â€œMission accomplished,” I said into the phone.
    â€œThe rocks are where they belong?”
    â€œSammy, what is the point of me being obscure if you are going to spell it all out?” Jeesh, sometimes I wonder if anyone in my family is cut out for this line of work.
    â€œGood job, Gina. Is paperboy still with you?”
    â€œHis name is Pete,” I reminded him.
    â€œGot that. Sweetheart, you are going to marry the guy, right? And bring him into the family?”
    â€œUm…that’s a good question. A really good one. Yup. I’d say it’s a doozie.” I could feel the heat rising up my face.
    â€œâ€™Cause he really has to be part of the family now. We don’t want to hafta whack the guy, you know?”
    I gave a little strangled laugh.
    Pete poked me in the arm.
    â€œWhat does he want to know?”
    I covered the cell phone speaker with my hand.
    â€œHe wants to know if you’re going to marry me.”
    Pete grabbed the phone from me.
    â€œHello, Sammy. The answer is yes.”
    I stared at him with my mouth open, water dripping down my hair and onto my neck.
    â€œOf course I know what I’m getting into. She’s a nutcase,” Pete said into the speaker. “Oh. You meant the family.”
    â€œGive it to me! Give it to me! Give it—” I tried to yank it out of his hand, but he held it up above my head.
    â€œSorry, Sammy, I have to go now. We both need to dry off. See you soon.” He clicked off and handed it back to me. Then he reached forward with both arms and gathered me up in a wet embrace.
    â€œYou’re crazy to get involved with me.” My voice sounded muffled.
    Pete kissed the top of my soggy head. “I’m crazy all right. Crazy about you.”
    I raised my face and looked into his eyes. Nobody would be whacking anyone, if I could help it.
    â€œYou don’t know how relieved I am to hear that,” I said. And I smiled.

MELODIE CAMPBELL has been a banker, marketing director, college instructor, comedy writer and possibly the worst runway model ever. Her work has appeared in Alfred Hitchcock Mystery Magazine , Star Magazine, Flash Fiction, Canadian Living, Toronto Star, The Globe and Mail and many more. The Goddaughter is Melodie’s third published novel.

Titles in the Series

    And Everything Nice
Kim Moritsugu

    Assault on Juno
Mark Zuehlke

    The Barrio Kings
William Kowalski

    Best Girl
Sylvia Warsh

    Cleanup
Norah McClintock

    Contingency Plan
Lou Allin

    Evil Behind That Door
Barbara Fradkin

    The Fall Guy
Barbara Fradkin

    Fit to Kill
James Heneghan

    Generation Us
Andrew Weaver

    The Goddaughter
Melodie Campbell

    Love You to Death
Gail Bowen

    The Middle Ground
Zoe Whittall

    The Next Sure Thing
Richard Wagamese

    One Fine Day You’re Gonna Die
Gail Bowen
    Orchestrated Murder
Rick Blechta

    Ortona Street Fight
Mark Zuehlke

    The Second Wife
Brenda Chapman

    The Shadow Killer
Gail Bowen

    Something Noble
William Kowalski

    The Spider Bites
Medora Sale

    That Dog Won’t Hunt
Lou Allin

    The Way It Works
William Kowalski

    When I Kill You
Michelle Wan

    A Winter Kill
Vicki Delany