Pennies From Heaven (The Bella Novella Collection Book 3) by Janice Thompson

fullest. And just for the record, you can take the businessman out of the business, but you can’t take the business out of the businessman.”
    “I understand, Laz. But deliberately riling people up isn’t the way to live life to the fullest. I’m just saying. One of these days one of your little jokes could backfire, and then what?”
    He seemed to be thinking through what I’d said. . .for a moment, anyway. Then, just about the time things started getting serious, the director popped his head around the corner.
    “Lunch break is over, Mr. Rossi. We’re about to start taping again. You done out here?”
    “Are we done out here?” Laz turned my way.
    “We’re done.”
    As I watched him saunter back toward the house I couldn’t help but wonder if my words had made any difference. Uncle Laz was. . .Uncle Laz. He probably wouldn’t be changing anytime soon. His wackiness was endearing, no doubt about it. Crazy, but endearing.
    Soon the election would be behind us. I had a feeling a lot of people would celebrate that fact. And once the dust settled, life would go back to normal. Well, as normal as it’d ever been for the Rossi family, anyway. Until that day came—and who was I kidding?—I’d just do my best to keep the lid on the pot so the proverbial soup wouldn’t simmer over.
     
     

CHAPTER SEVEN
     
    Tu te payes ma poire
    Translation: Are you buying yourself my pear?
    (Are you pulling my leg?)
     
    As the first week of April morphed into the second, I found myself wrapped up in plans for Lily and Cecil’s big day. I kept a close eye on the extended weather report, doing my best not to get too anxious. So far, so good. Looked like we were in for peaceful skies on the afternoon of the 30 th .
    Just to be sure, I gave Justine—my favorite weather girl from Channel Eleven—a call. She answered her cell phone on the third ring, her voice as joyous over the phone as it was on the nightly news.
    “Bella! I can’t believe it’s you! Seems like just yesterday we were planning my big day, and now I’m an old married lady.”
    “Hardly.” I laughed. “You’ve been married, what? Four months? Five?”
    “Well, I feel like it’s been longer. What can I do for you, Bella?”
    “I need the inside scoop on the weather in Splendora on Saturday, the 30th of April at 2:00 p.m.”
    “Well, nothing like being specific.” She laughed. “Are you forgetting that I completely botched the weather report on my own big day? Are you sure you don’t want to call Frank from Channel Two?”
    “Very funny. I’ll take whatever you have to give me.”
    “Okay, hang on a second and let me check.” She disappeared for a few seconds and then returned. “Okay, Saturday the 30 th of April.” More silence. “Hmm.”
    “What? Should we be worried?”
    “Oh, no, sorry. Just noticed that the Rockies are going to have snow that weekend. Never ceases to amaze me that it can be snowing in one part of the country and summery in the next. Don’t you find that strange?”
    “Yes, but about Splendora. . .”
    “And would you believe the northeast is going to have more rains that weekend? They’ve been deluged already. I often wonder how much rain a place can take before the dams start to break. As you might recall, last spring the northeast had some of the worst flooding in years, and all because of April showers.”
    “Yes, but Splendora. . .”
    “Is in the clear. I’m looking at all of my models and not one shows a drop of rain that weekend. Feel better?”
    “I do. And it jives with what I found online.”
    “So I wasn’t your first stop.” She sighed. “I knew it.”
    “I just hated to bother you. I know how busy you are.”
    Just as she started to respond, our call was interrupted.
    “Sorry, Bella. That’s my manager. I’ve gotta run.”
    And with a click, she was gone.
    Seconds later I realized I’d missed a text from Jenna. Her words Meet me at Parma Johns? took me by surprise. What was she doing on the