Death is Long Overdue (Phee Jefferson Book 1) (18 page)

EPILOGUE

I carried the turkey to the table and set it down in the middle.  Mom and Juliet carried over the mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls and green beans.  Carrie waddled behind them with the cranberry sauce.  The table was practically groaning under the weight of all the food Mom had prepared.

"Go tell the boys that Thanksgiving dinner is ready.  And tell them no football talk either!" Mom instructed me. I walked to the den and smiled when I saw Clint, Rick, Wade and Dad all laid back with their feet up watching the football game.

"Mom said dinner is served and no football during the meal."  Clint pulled himself up off the couch and kissed me lightly on the lips.

Shaking his head, Rick said, "I don't think I'm ever gonna get used to this. Clint, you do know I will break your head if you break my sister's heart, right?"  Rick play punched Clint on the arm.

"Yeah...yeah.  You accidentally break my nose one time and you think you can take me."  Clint laughed.  We all walked into the dining room and sat down around the table.  Mom lit the candles and Dad asked that we all join hands so he could say grace.

"Heavenly Father, thank you for the food we are about to eat.  Thank you for my beautiful family.   Watch over Carrie and Rick as they get ready to start their own family.  Keep Juliet and Phee out of any more trouble and give Clint the patience to deal with them when they don't. Amen." Dad cleared his throat and gave Juliet and me a meaningful look. "Let's eat."

"That was not funny, Dad!" Juliet protested.  "I was an innocent bystander. Phee made me help her!"

"Actually, you were the one who said to "live a little" and quit being...what was it you said, "too nice."  So really, all of it was your fault!"  I turned and stuck my tongue out at her.

"Um...everyone...” Carrie said quietly.

"Girls, quit bickering.  I'm just glad Phee is okay.  I hope Shari can get the help she needs.  She was always such a happy, carefree woman and it just breaks my heart that she did all those awful things."  Mom shook her head sadly.

"Hello everyone!"  Carrie said louder this time.  "I think my water just broke.  The babies are coming!"

THE END

Acknowledgements

A
huge thank you goes to my cheerleader, editor, friend and evil twin, Maricruz, who called me and drove me crazy every time I killed a character. She encouraged me daily and gave great advice through every step of the writing process. Thank you to Ashley Townsend for her amazing cover art.  Thank you to my staff and patrons at the library who let me model characters after them.  A special thank you to Caroline and the real Nellie Jo.  And of course, my thanks and love to my husband, Dennis, who doesn’t understand this crazy writing thing that I do, but is always my biggest fan.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Amy Lilly can be found trapped in the basement of a library somewhere in southern West Virginia where she toils daily as the director.  When she is able to escape, she spends her free time raising goats, chickens, a herd of well-fed cats and two hyperactive Jack Russell Terriers.  She is married to her biggest fan, Dennis, and has two sons and two beautiful granddaughters. This is her first novel.