Free The Hitwoman and the Chubby Cherub by JB Lynn Page B

not me,” I said, attempting to deflect the discussion away from my love life.
     
    “Templeton says you’re doing an excellent job with the shop,” Loretta said.
     
    “It’s been awfully quiet,” I admitted.
     
    “That’s because they don’t know you.”
     
    I pulled a chair up to the side of her bed. “Who doesn’t know me?”
     
    “My most devoted clientele. I provide a special service to them.”
     
    I felt a little sick to my stomach. Sure, I knew that Aunt Loretta was a bit man crazy, but was she insinuating that she provided sexual favors to her customers.
     
    “Are you done with the TV?” I asked the guy who had given up all pretense of working, and was blatantly eavesdropping.
     
    “Didn’t want to interrupt your conversation,” he lied badly, walking over and using Loretta’s remote control to turn the television on. “Good as new.”
     
    “Thank you.” Loretta batted her false eyelashes at him. They wiggled like deranged spiders.
     
    As soon as he left the room, I jumped up, shut the door, grabbed the remote and turned off the TV, and put my hands on my hips. “What kind of special services do you provide?”
     
    “Haven’t you noticed that a lot of my stock is in larger sizes?”
     
    I hadn’t. Then again, I try pretty hard not to look at it too closely. Otherwise I imagine it on the customers and that’s just a tad bit too intimate for me.
     
    “You think larger women aren’t coming in because of me?” I asked. I wrinkled my nose, not liking her suggestion that I was making them uncomfortable.
     
    Loretta shook her head. “Of course not, dear. I’m saying the men don’t come in because of you.”
     
    I’m pretty sure I tilted my head to the side just like DeeDee does when she’s confused.
     
    “I do a booming business with drag queens, and the occasional cross dresser, and transsexuals here and there.”
     
    I blinked, unsure of what to say. How could I have not noticed Loretta’s clientele over the years?
     
    “I’ve a bit of a niche business,” Loretta claimed proudly.
     
    “But not exclusively niche?” I asked worriedly, imagining that every customer I’d ever seen or helped had been male and that had escaped my attention.
     
    “Of course not. But it’s important that you cater to my loyal customers.”
     
    Since I’m not by nature one who caters, I asked, “And how do I do that?”
     
    “Loosen up. Don’t be such an old stick in the mud.”
     
    “Okay, I’ll try,” I said, more to appease her than because I had a clue what she was talking about. I always smiled at customers, although admittedly, it was sometimes more of a grimace. But I couldn’t help it. I just don’t have the fortitude for retail.
     
    “Susan was complaining that Archie is on the loose again.”
     
    I winced, knowing that once my aunt started complaining about my father, there was no escaping her frustration. “Sorry,” I murmured. No doubt listening to her sister’s diatribe wasn’t what Loretta needed while she recuperated.
     
    “Pffft. You have nothing to be sorry for.”
     
    “Actually, I do. It’s sort of my fault he’s running around since I’d asked Griswald to arrange a meeting with him.”
     
    “I like your father, I really do. I think it’s romantic how smitten he still is with Mary.” A wistful smile softened her features as she mentioned her sister. “But trust me on this, the man has never had a problem getting into trouble all on his own. This was just bad timing and it’s typical of how he doesn’t care who pays the price. You don’t need to go blaming yourself for his bad decisions.”
     
    I nodded slowly, hearing the truth in her words.
     
    “In fact, I forbid it,” she declared. “I forbid you to blame yourself.”
     
    I couldn’t help but smile, “Yes, ma’am.”
     
    She reached out and grabbed my hand. “You’re a good girl, Maggie. The best of the bunch. You always were.”
     
    I blinked at her, trying to keep