Free Sweets Galore: The Sixth Samantha Sweet Mystery (The Samantha Sweet Mysteries) by Connie Shelton Page A

passed and
conversation waned.
    “Day after tomorrow, Mrs.
Cardwell,” Beau said quietly as he leaned toward her with the salad bowl.
    She passed the bowl along and
linked her little finger with his, under the table, for a quick moment.
    “I love you, Beau. Thank you for
being you.”
    “You two are gonna have years and years to moon over each other like that,” Uncle Buster said in
his usual good-natured challenging manner. “Now, don’t let this dinner get
cold.”
    Everyone laughed. Sam gave Beau’s
hand another squeeze.
    As the plates began to empty and
offers of seconds and thirds went unheeded, Sam nudged Kelly and the two
cleared the way for dessert.
    “I thought about making a special
cake for tonight,” she said as she carried in a stack of small plates. “But
then I remembered that Daddy would probably disown me if there weren’t pie with
at least one meal. So, Sweet’s Sweets is proud to present our own recipe for
real, authentic Texas pecan pie.”
    She gave a small curtsy and Kelly
walked in with two pies.
    “Well, it’s a good thing you said
that,” Uncle Buster said with a fake scowl. “Hanging’s too good for a woman who
don’t serve pecan pie at a special occasion like this.”
    Sam let the remark slide. Buster’s
humor often missed the mark, part of the reason she and Rayleen had often
called him Uncle Bluster when they were kids.
    While Kelly cut and served the
pie, Beau leaned toward Sam again. “We gonna tell
them tonight?”
    “Oh. Yes, definitely.” She tapped
on her wine glass with her fork. “We have a little change of plans to
announce.”
    Nina Rae’s face froze.
    “No, Mother, you will be relieved
to know that we are not cancelling or changing the wedding date. Sorry, I
should have rephrased my introduction.”
    Her mother’s expression lightened.
    “We have changed our travel plans
for the honeymoon. We’re going to Ireland.”
    Voices erupted from every side of
the big table.
    “The trip is courtesy of Uncle
Terrance.”
    At least half the faces wore
puzzled expressions.
    “Mother, you confirmed for me the
other day that there was a great-uncle of mine in Galway, Ireland, and although
I don’t remember him myself, apparently he remembered me. And I’m surprised to
say, he remembered me in his will. The trip is from him.”
    A dozen more questions came at
her, but Sam had to admit that she didn’t know much more than she’d already
told them.
    “I can’t say anything more, other
than ‘let’s eat pie’.” She gave a shrug and took up a forkful of pecans in
their sticky filling.
    Beau offered after-dinner drinks
and Buster and Willie went out to the back deck for a cigarette with theirs,
while Lily insisted on helping Sam and Kelly in the kitchen.
    “I’d keep news of this inheritance
down if I were you,” Lily said as she rinsed another plate and handed it to Sam
to put in the dishwasher. “Your little sis is going to have a cow over the fact
that she didn’t get something too.”
    “I don’t know that she didn’t get anything,” Sam said, fudging the truth
just a little.
    Hardgate had said the inheritance
went to one niece in each branch of the family, which actually would cut out
Rayleen. But until Sam knew more, including whether the bequest was even worth
arguing over, she didn’t intend to allow it to become a battle. She would split
the proceeds with her sister if it amounted to anything.
    Nina Rae’s mouth seemed a little
pinched when Sam emerged from the kitchen, massaging lotion into her hands.
    “Coffee, Mother? I’ve got decaf.”
    “No thank you. Your father and I
need to be going. I wouldn’t want Zoë to think it rude of us to come in late at
night.”
    Were the battle lines already
being drawn?
    “Zoë’s used to all sorts of
guests. I’m sure she doesn’t keep tabs on when everyone comes and goes.”
    “Be that as it may, we’ll be
leaving shortly. I just need to say goodbye to Bessie and Chub.”
    “Mother—”
    But