Deadly Intentions by Candice Poarch Page B

see.”
    Thank God for grandparents.
    â€œThey’re well hidden,” her uncle said with a chuckle as he flipped burgers and sausages on the grill. His wife plucked him upside the head.
    â€œOw.”
    They were an odd couple. Her aunt, Miranda, was five-three to Uncle Cleve’s six-five. But she didn’t take any crap off him or her taller than ever sons. Their daughter, Alyssa, the town’s only investigator in the sheriff’s department, got her sass from her mother.
    â€œI’ve heard enough out of you, Cleve. It’s Lisa’s birthday and we’re celebrating it properly,” Naomi said, arching an eyebrow. “None of you were saints. If we’re spilling stories I’ve got a few to tell.”
    â€œMom, that’s ancient history,” Lisa’s uncle said, glancing at his wife uneasily.
    â€œThank you, Grandma,” Lisa said with a smug look at her uncle as she approached her grandmother.
    â€œAh, she knows we’re just fooling around. We love our little scatterbrain.” He grabbed Lisa in midstride and hugged her. Laughing, she pinched him in the side. She knew her family loved her, but she was tired of being the butt of jokes. She wanted to be taken as seriously as Alyssa and her other cousins. But with a past like hers what could she expect?
    With a squeeze, he let her go. “All right,” Cleve said. “Burgers up. The birthday girl gets first dibs.”
    The mouthwatering aroma of burgers, fried fish, Grandma’s out-of-this-world potato salad, macaroni and cheese tempted her. But Lisa had lost her appetite.
    â€œHey, baby.” Her grandmother eased into the chair beside her and threw an arm around her shoulders. “I cooked all this especially for you. Your young man ate an entire plate. You’re going to have to tell me about him.”
    â€œThanks, Grandma. You’ve made this real special.” Lisa’s greatest fear was letting her grandmother down like she did everyone else—especially herself. Naomi believed in her, no matter what she did.
    â€œDon’t worry about them, girl. You’ve already found your way. Don’t let anyone undermine you. Even kinfolk. They don’t realize how harmful careless words are.”
    Lisa glanced at her hands. “In my case it’s true.”
    â€œYou don’t have to be perfect, you know. Just do your best. That’s all anyone has a right to ask of you.” Naomi brushed the hair back from her forehead. “Do you really think any of us are perfect? We make our share of mistakes and move on. We don’t labor over them or chastise ourselves for being human.”
    Lisa felt like crying, but she nodded instead, the tears thick in her throat.
    â€œNow, I’ve cooked this spread all for you. I haven’t done this much cooking in a long time. Come on and enjoy it while your young man sleeps.”
    Lisa started to tell her grandmother he wasn’t her young man, but stopped herself. She didn’t want to discuss the reason Brian was with her. It led to too many questions she’d be forced to answer.
    â€œI’m glad you brought him with you. He seems nice, but strong, too.” She tapped Lisa’s knee. “And I have a little surprise for you.”
    Someone called Naomi and Lisa went to play a card game. She didn’t play very long, though. When she went to get a drink, her mother pulled her aside.
    â€œEnjoying yourself?”
    â€œYes,” Lisa said.
    Her mother was the spitting image of Lisa’s sister, Vanetta. She was cultured, always dressed tastefully to stand out, and always knew the right thing to say at the right time. Lisa inherited none of those characteristics.
    Her father made no bones about the fact that she didn’t inherit any of his wonderful qualities, either. She often wondered if the hospital put the wrong identification on her arm—if maybe her mother had brought the wrong child