Free Triple Dip Debacle: A Cozy Mystery (Caesars Creek Mystery Series Book 7) by Constance Barker Page B

quit avoiding me.”
     
    “She can’t stay with me.”
     
    Stormi put her hands on her hips. “And why not?”
     
    “It’ll be weird.”
     
    Stormi scrunched her nose. “Huh? You lived with her for 20 years. How could it be weird?”
     
    Brandon changed the subject. “Why can’t she stay with you?”
     
    “Because I have enough on my plate without having to deal with her on a constant basis. At least if she’s at your place I can have some peace.”
     
    “What about me?” Brandon asked. “What about my peace?”
     
    Stormi’s eyes blazed and the finger came out again. “You don’t get any peace, you got that!”
     
    Bruce walked up to Stormi and Brandon. “Now come on you two. I’m sure we can work this all out peacefully.”
     
    Stormi turned on Bruce. “Good, she can stay with you and Paige.” I saw the color drain from Paige’s face.
     
    Bruce put up his hands. “You’re on your own Brandon.”
     
    Brandon looked at Bruce as he skulked away. “Coward.”
     
    Poor Brandon, but I couldn’t help but laugh to myself over the whole debacle. Finally, he relented.
     
    “Okay, okay. Just quit pointing that thing in my face.”
     
    Stormi lowered her weapon.
     
    “Good. I honestly don’t think I’m asking for too much. May I remind you of all the times I covered for you during high school when I changed your report card grades or the times you’d sneak out at night.”
     
    Paige looked at Sammi. “Ummm Sam, we can finish up. Go ahead home.”
     
    Sammi shook her head and remained listening to Stormi and Brandon. “That’s okay, I’m enjoying this.”
     
    Paige blanched. “Just don’t get any ideas from those two. They were rotten, rotten kids.”
     
    Stormi finally allowed Brandon to move behind the counter where he was sizing up his getaway to the back of the store.
     
    “Our mother will be arriving in a few days. I will give her your address,” Stormi said as she walked back over to where Greg was sitting. I noticed during the foray that Greg ignored most of it by looking at his cell phone. He already knew how to deal with Stormi’s rages, just ignore them. Easier said when they weren’t directed at you.
     
    Brandon slipped into the back room where I was waiting. I had my hand over my mouth, trying to stifle a laugh.
     
    “Ah yes,” Brandon said. “From afar her temper might not appear dangerous, but up close, it’s terrifying.”
     
    I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I let out a guffaw that I knew they could hear on the other side. I walked over to give Brandon a hug.
     
    “Here, does this make you feel safer?” I asked as I put my arms around him.
     
    “A little,” he said. “But I’ll probably need a few stiff drinks when Momma shows up.”
     
    Half the town will , I thought.
     
     
     
     
    *****

The next few days were a blur. I helped Brandon clean his apartment until it glowed. I could tell he was nervous about his mother staying there and I wanted to make sure everything was in its proper place. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to see his mom, but she was overbearing and he was steeling himself against the onslaught to come. I told him that she would be so busy with Stormi and wedding planning that she probably wouldn’t browbeat him too much. That seemed to relax him somewhat.
     
    Then at the Frozen Scoop Ice Cream Shoppe, I would have to pacify Stormi, who was equally petrified of her mother’s interference.
     
    “She’s going to ruin it, I just know it!” Stormi was making herself miserable the day before Dottie’s arrival. It was later in the day and Paige stopped by to get herself and Bruce a strawberry smoothie to take next door to his financial planning business.
     
    “You know no such thing,” Paige admonished.
     
    Stormi stared at Paige. “You do know who we’re talking about here…Dottie Rogers. The woman takes no prisoners. She’ll steamroll my wedding planning and I’ll never know what hit me.”
     
    I poured the