“Can I get you anything?”
Brooke jumped to see Shayla standing beside her. “No thank you, Ma’am. Kenneth decided to take a nap but… I couldn’t seem to settle, so I decided to read for a while….” Realizing she was babbling, she stepped away from the bookshelf she was perusing and trailed off.
Shayla sank to a seat on the basement family room sofa; a cute, squishy piece of furniture with a pattern of big yellow daisies.
Uh oh. I wonder if this is how the inquest begins. “Um, I appreciate your hospitality, welcoming me into your home,” she stammered. “Sorry if I’ve been a bit… quiet. I didn’t sleep well last night.”
“Sorry to hear that,” Shayla replied. The curt tone she’d used earlier had softened to one of curious scrutiny. “Come have a seat.” She indicated the armchair beside her. “I w
