“I don’t know, I can’t remember. I’d need to look at my diary. If Rona says so, then she’s right. She remembers most things.”

“Mary told me she put the order through the night before for a dozen donuts, and that you took it.”

“Maybe. I mean, we don’t like each other, but she still phones through her orders and sometimes I answer the phone. It’s weird, seeing as she hates me, but it’s always happened that way.”

“Ava said you gave her the bag that evening when she left.”

“I probably did, but I didn’t put poison in them. I didn’t do this, Chief. I would never do that to someone.”

Piper’s hands started to shake as she realized just how much trouble she was in. She didn’t want to go to jail; she didn’t want to leave Grace or her family. She thought about Dylan then; surely he wouldn’t believe her capable of poisoning his mother, not after what they’d shared? The thought made her stomach churn, because she didn’t think he was one to trust easily, and he hadn’t said he loved her in return. In fact, he’d walked away without looking back.

Chapter 33

To say he’d slept bad was an understatement, but rising to the sound of his mother yelling at Charlie loud enough that it reached him in his bed did nothing to improve Dylan’s mood.

I love you.

He couldn’t believe she’d said those words to him last night. They’d left him reeling. No one had ever told Dylan they loved him... well, not that he remembered anyway. Maybe his dad, possibly his mom, but his memory couldn’t come up with a time.

Coward that he was, he’d just walked away. Turned and left the woman who had said the three words he’d never believed he’d hear.

Everything was now a complicated mess. He didn’t want emotions confusing what he had to do, but they were, and he’d be lying if he believed otherwise. Piper Trainer made him feel, and more than he’d ever felt before.

A loud bang on his door had him rising. It flew open.

“You need to dress and get downstairs to hear what’s been happening.”

“What?” Before he could get an answer Charlie had stormed back downstairs. She was angry, so he was guessing it wasn’t another illness or injury. Chances were it was to do with his mother and her behavior.

Pulling on jeans and a sweater, he ran downstairs barefoot.

“You don’t honestly believe she’s capable of doing that, do you?” Charlie was yelling at his mother from behind one chair. His mother, who was still weak, but better, was seated across the table from her.

“What’s going on?”