Free Weaving The Web: A Cold Hollow Mystery (Cold Hollow Mysteries Book 2) by Emilie J. Howard Page A

“Family talk right away, Papa Tom. I have a lot of questions and need answers.”
    Myrna forced herself to belly-laugh at Tom’s expression of shock and began unloading their nursery purchases.
    Two hours later, they sat at the dining room table and Liam was staring seriously at Tom. “Papa Tom. I don’t know if you should name your gnome Esmeralda! It will confuse him. He’s a boy gnome. Mama’s is a girl, so she can use the name, but you should chose Everett cuz it’s perfect.”
    Tom stared at the ceiling and mulled the idea over. When he lowered his gaze to Liam, he said, “Okay.” Myrna was too busy giggling at the ridiculous discussion to bother adding anything. Liam’s expression was so serious it cracked her up. He was acting like a businessman at a board meeting.
    Liam reiterated, “So the gnome family names are Everett, Esmeralda, and Harvey. Now, when are you going to give Mama Myrna a ring?”
    Tom said, “That’s easy.” He reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small velvet case from the town jeweler.
    Myrna gasped as Tom turned to her and opened the case to show her a beautiful diamond ring. “Myrna Bradbury, will you please be my wife?”
    Myrna’s eyes welled up and she glanced at Liam to see the widest smile on his face she had ever witnessed. Liam nodded at Myrna and said, “Come on, Mama!” His little fists were clenching and unclenching in excitement.
    She giggled and said in a choked-up voice, “Yes, I’ll marry you, Tom Gillette.”
    He placed the ring on her finger and they kissed until they heard, “Okay, good. I have more questions.”
    Tom finally gave in, chuckled, and pulled Myrna closer to him. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and said, “Okay, sir, let’s continue.” Tom’s expression turned serious again as Myrna wiped tears of happiness from her eyes.
    “Let’s talk about babies.”
    Myrna guffawed, and Tom leaned over the table and poked Liam’s nose. “We’ll discuss it after Mama Myrna has a checkup with the baby doctor.”
    His eyes grew wide. “There’s a doctor for this? Is it where you go to pick out the baby you want and decide on a boy or girl?”
    Tom raised his arms as Myrna bent over and wrapped her arms around her abdomen in another fit of laughter.
    Tom said, “Yes. They take nine whole months to grow, so we have time.”
    Liam was satisfied and nodded. “When do we have the party when you get married?” He glanced back and forth at both of them.
    Myrna cleared her throat and answered, “There’s a lot to plan for a wedding, and there is no rush. We can talk when Grandma and Grandpa come over.” Myrna didn’t have parents and had wanted to ask Wally Dumont to walk her down the aisle. Alice would adopt the role of “Mother of the Bride.”
    Liam jumped from his chair and headed toward the back door. “Okay, let’s get cooking. We are using the grill tonight, right?”
    Myrna leaned into Tom and they chuckled softly. Tom whispered, “I wish I had half of his energy. We’ll talk about all of this later tonight, all right?”
    “Perfect.”
    She watched as Tom left the dining area and followed Liam to the backyard. She went out the front door, away from their vision and dug a shallow grave at the woods edge. She placed the bird inside and covered it up. She was determined Liam would never lay eyes upon the hellish gift someone had sent him. From that moment on, she would be sure either she or Tom knew where Liam was every moment of every day.
    Late into the evening, as Myrna and Tom lay in bed, Tom said softly, “I have a confession to make.” Myrna rolled on her side and faced him. He smirked. “Liam and I had this whole thing planned out. He even helped me pick out your engagement ring.”
    Her eyes went wide as she raised her hand and stared at the ring. “When? How could the two of you have planned this entire day?”
    He chuckled. “It was about a month ago when I took him on a tour of the hospital and my office.