LITMIR.BIZ

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understanding dawned, Wyatt leaned against the wet bar and gave his head a kind of backward nod. “It’s confirmed. Patsy Portman is here.”

      “Right.”

      Lucy twisted her fingers together. “Then it’s true. That wacko is here. In the house. With us. Now.”

      Wyatt arched a brow. “We knew there was that possibility.”

      “Yes, I knew it up here,” Lucy gestured to her head, “but deep down, I couldn’t really believe it. I mean it’s so…so…I mean, how can one woman take another’s place and fool everyone for ten years?”

      Tipping his chin to his shoulder, Rand looked over at Wyatt. “Which also begs the question, if she’s not Mom, then where is Mom?”

      Wyatt chose not to mince words. “You think she may be dead?”

      “Could be. Drake thinks so. Hell, practically the whole family does.”

      “Murdered?”

      “Probably. Patsy’s done it before.”

      Lucy glanced between the two men. “Why would Patsy do that to her own sister?”

      “Jealousy, most likely.” Wyatt was becoming more certain with every bit of information revealed. “Taking Meredith’s identity would also keep her from facing another murder rap.”

      Lucy let her head flop back on her shoulders. “Okay, so my mother-in-law is a murderer.”

      Wyatt held up a finger. “Actually, she’s your aunt-in-law.”

      Lolling her head from Wyatt to Rand, she stared pointedly at her husband. “I don’t ever want to hear you complain about my family again.”

      “So far, Mom’s murder is still conjecture.” Rand tipped back his water bottle and drank, then wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Right now, we don’t have any hard evidence that she is indeed dead. Without a body, we can’t prove anything yet.”

      “But until we do, we have to pretend that Patsy is Meredith, and that her bizarre behavior is normal?” Lucy wondered.

      Wyatt shrugged. “Nothing we haven’t been doing for years now.”

      Lucy looked back and forth between the men and shivered. “The only difference is that now we know for sure.”

      Later that evening, dinner with his family sent memories cascading through Wyatt, making him feel more alive than he’d felt in years. There was nothing like the praise—and good-natured insults—of family. It was too bad that “Meredith” had pleaded headache and missed most of the festivities. When she’d made her excuses and stepped from the room, he’d exchanged meaningful glances with Rand and Lucy and wondered how many others at the table suspected that Meredith wasn’t actually…Meredith.

      If she was missed, it didn’t dampen the festivities for long. There were toasts to the bride and groom, trips down memory lane, and a feeling of something so incredibly right. Again, Wyatt yearned for more than a professionally decorated and cleaned condo to come home to at night.

      After the candles had burned low, some of the crowd retired, some headed for the hot tub, some for the pool tables and others for after-dinner drinks in the courtyard. Lucy and Rand walked with Wyatt to their neighboring suites and stepped inside Wyatt’s room for a moment.

      “What now?” Wyatt asked.

      Rand patted the pocket that held the papers that Austin’s courier had delivered that afternoon. “We need to get this information to Emily.” Rand glanced at Lucy. “I’ll be back in time for the wedding.”

      “You’re leaving?” Wyatt asked.

      “Have to. We can’t leave Emily twisting in the wind. The more we keep her in the loop, the safer she’ll be.”

      Frustrated by feelings of helplessness, Wyatt nodded. “Right. How did you figure out where she went?”

      “Austin’s P.I. found her a few hours ago.” Rand paused and looked into his brother’s eyes before he spoke. “She’s in Keyhole.”

      Tiny hairs stood up on the back of Wyatt’s neck and he froze. Had he misunderstood? “Keyhole? Keyhole, Wyoming? You’re kidding!”

      “I thought that place might ring a bell for you.” Rand narrowed his eyes, searching Wyatt’s face.

      “What rings a bell? Why?” Lucy’s head swiveled back and forth between the two men as they talked over her head. “Why would some town named Keyhole ring a bell?”

      “Emily’s hiding out in Keyhole?” Wyatt asked, ignoring Lucy. “Why Keyhole?”

      “Don’t know. The P.I. didn’t talk to her. Keyhole’s not far from Nettle Creek, where Dad grew up, so I guess Emily maybe feels a little less homesick.” His eyes narrowed. “Isn’t Keyhole where Annie lives now?”

      “Who’s Annie?” Lucy wondered.

      Wyatt gave his throat a noisy clearing in hopes that he didn’t sound as screwed up as he felt. “Yeah. As far as I know.”

      Lucy sighed. “Hello? Guys? Remember me? Who is Annie?”

      “How long has it been since you two saw each other?” Rand asked his brother.

      “Not since college.” Wyatt passed a hand over his forehead and rubbed at the familiar ache that settled in his brow every time he thought of the life Annie led without him. Just speaking about her marriage turned him into a melancholy mess. “She got married and had a couple of kids. Twin boys, I hear.”

      “I’m gathering somebody named Annie has twin boys. Don’t feel like you owe me any explanation or anything. After all, I’m just standing here,” Lucy fumed.

      “Wasn’t her husband killed in an accident of some kind a few years back?” Rand asked.

      “Yeah. I thought you told me that.”

      Rand shrugged. “Can’t remember.”

      “Maybe it was Austin.” Unfortunately, Wyatt hadn’t learned of the accident that took her husband’s life until long after the funeral, and by then, his condolences seemed untimely. Misplaced. At least that was the excuse he used to explain away his fears of contacting Annie. “Anyway, as far as I know she hasn’t remarried.”

      With a moan, Lucy buried her face in her hands. “I’m invisible.”

      Rand laughed. “Lucy, honey, Annie was Wyatt’s first—” he arched a brow at Wyatt “—and only love.”

      Lucy peeped between her fingers. “You were in love once?”

      “You don’t need to sound so shocked.”

      “Excuse me? Mr. I-Don’t-Need-Nobody-Nohow-Never was once in love? Oh, baby. This is juicy.” She hooted, then her eyes narrowed and she gently probed his cheekbones with her fingertips. “And, by the little flush in your cheeks, may I deduce that she still has your heart?”

      Wyatt looked askance at Rand. “How do you put up with her meddling?”

      Rand laughed. “With Lucy, it’s an art form. Her talent at digging up dirt is one of the main reasons I fell in love with her.”

      “Aw, honey. You’re so sweet.” Lucy stepped into her husband’s arms and met his mouth for a solid kiss. Soon, happy moans were rumbling from their throats.

      Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Don’t you two have a room of your own?” he groused. For crying in the night. Sometimes they could be so obnoxious. Not to mention thoughtless. It wasn’t like he had anyone of his own to turn to when they skipped off to their room to do whatever came naturally to newlyweds.

      “Honey,” Lucy said as she nuzzled Rand’s neck, “why are you going to Keyhole? Don’t you think we should make Wyatt go? After all, he has more reasons

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