Chapter 15
When Lynn and Beth returned to the living room, she saw Michael was back. Beth sat next to Tyler and Tyler put his arm around her shoulders and drew her closer to him, “Feeling better?”
“Much better, Michael did you get a chance to question Joe?”
“Yes I did. He was dealing drugs and Maggie caught him one day. She somehow got a hold of his book and had the naive idea to turn it over to the police and then her friend Joe could get out of that business and get rehabilitated. She wanted to help him. But he didn’t want her help. After he strangled her, he didn’t find the book on her and later remembered she sat down next to you, so you were the only possible person Maggie could’ve passed the book to,” Michael explained to them all.
“Let me ask you girls something. Would it be alright if Michael and I still stay for the night and make sure you all are alright? We don’t expect anything to happen, but you have all been through a nightmare and we are worried about you. We’ll be gone in the morning and you three can have your last three days of vacation to yourselves, but tonight you might need a shoulder,” Tyler said the last as he searched Beth’s face for understanding.
Joy said “I think that’s a great plan. We were all looking forward to the Yahtzee games, if everyone is still up to it. Beth, do you feel like playing? If not, we’ll understand.”
Beth smiled at her sister, “I think I can manage to beat you all in a few games.” Beth believed the sooner she tried to put this behind her, the better she would feel. If she immersed herself in a game with these wonderful people, that was a step in the right direction. She had never been one who sat and dwelled on the bad side of life.
For the next two hours the group played Yahtzee and actually laughed some. Now it was time for bed.
“Michael and I will fix the coffee. It will be ready for you in the morning. Try to get a good night’s sleep. I’ll be here if you need me,” Tyler told Beth as he kissed her good night.
“We’re going to still camp out with you tonight, Beth. Michael you can have one of our rooms for the night or there are beds downstairs,” Joy said.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll find a place to lay my head. You girls get some sleep. We’ll see you all before we leave in the morning,” Michael told them.
Beth was surprised when she woke up the next morning that she did sleep. It must have been the three drinks she had while she played the game. She’s not surprised when she looked in the bathroom mirror and saw the bruises on her neck. Brushing her teeth and then after, she washed her face and opened the bathroom and saw Lynn and Joy were up also.
“Guess it’s time to say goodbye to our guests,” Lynn said. “Beth, you know Joy and I won’t mind it if you want Tyler to stay.”
Beth smiled at both her sisters, “I love you both for that, but we only have a couple of days left of “sisters week” and I want to spend it with you two. I will see Tyler in Atlanta, but this is our time. What little time we have left.”
Joy searched Beth’s face before she asked, “Are you sure?”
“Positive. Let’s go say our good byes then get on with our sisters’ time,” Beth assured her sisters.
“I thought I heard you three. Beth, here’s your coffee,” Tyler said and handed Beth a mug, “Michael is making his specialty, Denver omelets and hash browns.”
“Oh geez, now we might want to keep you two here. If for no other reason than to cook breakfast,” Joy said laughing.
“I heard that,” Michael said from the kitchen, “But today is back to work and you three get to get back to your vacation. Tyler you get to go fishing, so all is well with the world. Come on, breakfast is served.”
After breakfast the men gathered their belongings and put them back into their trucks.
Tyler asked Beth to join him on the porch, “I’m going to miss you. But I will call you tomorrow. It will be nice if we have the same flight and seat assignment going back to Atlanta. Maybe we can arrange that. Beth I do want to spend time with you when we get home to Georgia.”
“I want to spend time with you too, and I agree, maybe we can plan our trip home on the same flight and Tyler, I’ll miss you too. In such a short time, you’ve become important to me. Call me tomorrow if you can between catching all those big fish,” Beth teased, and then she ran her fingers through Tyler’s hair as she kissed him thoroughly.
Michael came out of the cabin holding Joy’s hand and he kissed her goodbye.
“Lynn and I are going to ride down with Michael to the gate. Beth you can ride down with Tyler, and then the three of us can walk back together,” Joy told Beth.
Beth got in Tyler’s truck and moved over close to him. They held hands on the short drive to the gate. Then Tyler pulled her closer and kissed her as if he’ll never see her again. She was dazed when she got out of the truck but she waved him off.
Joy looked a little dazed also, as all three girls waved to the men.
Lynn locked the gate and all three sisters locked arms as they walked back up to the cabin.
“Michael and I made a date for next week. We’ll meet in Colorado Springs for dinner,” Joy told her sisters.
“He’s a good man, and so is Tyler who I will see a lot of when I get back to Atlanta,” Beth said. Maybe next “sisters’ week” we’ll run across a good man for you too, Lynn.” This made all three giggle.
“Now we can get on to the rest of sisters’ week. We have a lot of laughs to laugh and a lot of fun to have and so many wonderful memories to make.”
They still walked arm in arm, and smiled when they reached the cabin door.
Be sure to check out “Murder in Myrtle Beach”
the second book in The Sisters Week Series!
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As the Snow Falls
Volumes 1
M.D. James
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