A Sticky Situation Read Free Page A

with high standards. Now if you wanted to pair off with one of the girls in this family you ought to hold out for my granddaughter Jade. She’s learned everything she knows about men from me.” Hazel downed a swig of her whiskey. Interactions with Hazel were never improved by her being a bit lit. It just made her speak more boldly. Which is to say it was a bit like stretching a giraffe’s neck. I tried wresting control of the conversation.
    â€œI wasn’t expecting to see you today, Graham. What brings you by?”
    â€œI was up this way on a call which took less time than I’d have expected. I wondered if you’d like to go to lunch with me?”
    â€œGood thinking, young man. A body could starve around here. I mean, just look at Dani. No meat on her bones and stunted to boot. Where are you taking us?” Hazel swallowed another gulp of whiskey and winked at Graham, who took a step backward and braced his hand against the counter behind him.
    â€œI’m sorry, ma’am, but I’ve brought my state-issued truck. With all the equipment I have to carry there is really only room for myself and one passenger.”
    â€œI’m starved. Let’s leave right now.” Just as I grabbed his arm my cell phone rang. I didn’t want to answer but I couldn’t seem to let myself ignore it. You know how some people can’t stop reading a book they hate because they feel like they have to finish every one they start? I feel that same sort of compulsion about a ringing phone. It has to be answered.
    It was Russ Collins. I reminded myself to use a polite voice when answering. There was nothing to say that Russ was calling just to get out of working. I took a couple of deep, cleansing breaths then pressed the answer button.
    â€œDani, I’ve had to stop working.” Russ sounded like he was taking a few deep breaths himself. Which was something I had never heard him do before.
    â€œLet me guess, you broke the handle to the shoveland need to stop work to go buy a new one? No worries, I was just heading out so I’ll bring one to you.”
    â€œI don’t need a new shovel but I do need you to get over here ASAP.”
    â€œRuss, I’m just about to go to lunch. Unless you give me a crazy-good reason for quitting I suggest you wait until I finish my meal.”
    â€œI can’t tell you on the phone. You wouldn’t believe me. If you’re not here in under half an hour you’ll be hearing about this on the news and I’ll be suing you.”
    â€œSuing me? For what?”
    â€œUndisclosed hazardous working conditions. Or something like that. Loden would know what I could bring for charges.”
    â€œLoden isn’t going to help you figure out how to sue his own family.” At least I didn’t think he would. He gets along with all of us better than anyone else does. But he does love a good legal puzzle. I decided it was better not to find out if his loyalties would withstand his flirtation with the law. Besides, I was sort of curious as to what Russ would consider hazardous. Spiders maybe. Or a lack of sunlight in the basement that could lead to a vitamin D deficiency perhaps.
    â€œI’ll be over just as soon as I can get there.” I disconnected and turned to Graham. “I’m so sorry. Russ Collins has hit some sort of snag at the opera house. Can I have a rain check?”
    â€œOf course. It was a long shot anyway since I know how busy you must be at this time of year.” He reachedout and gave my hand a squeeze. I hurried out of the room and was halfway down the hall when I heard Hazel pipe up again.
    â€œWell, young man, it looks like you’ve found room in your truck for me after all. I’ll just fetch my coat.”
    *   *   *
    Over the few years of our acquaintance I had many times wished I had never had to interact with Russ Collins. I certainly had never wanted to drop operations at