Maggie nodded. “Okay. Then it’s settled. Until we know more, we keep all this quiet.”

Silas raised his hand. “Question. Until we figure out what’s gonna happen with the necklace, can we all take turns wearing it around the house?”

Cody choked on a gulp of Pepsi.

“Dibs! I call dibs!” Dean yelped.

Kevin’s big dog head popped up at the end of the table. He eyed everyone with suspicion before lying back down. Taco climbed on top of the dog and curled up. Dolly streaked into the hallway and ran full bore toward the front door.

“On that note,” Maggie said, pushing her chair back, “the deputy mayor should be here in ten minutes.”

“What did Kressley talk you into?” Silas asked in amusement.

“We are going to talk Kressley into reopening the Canyon Custom plant so we can get ourselves a kitchen,” Maggie said. “So I need you all to be on your best behavior.”

Dean’s head shot up. “That sounds expensive.”

“My goodness. You have been busy up here,” Kressley announced, pausing to fluff her shiny black hair in the hallway mirror on the second floor. She’d arrived in a plum pantsuit with matching purple stilettos and had pranced her way all over the house after demanding a tour.

“We have,” Maggie agreed, stepping over Dolly Parton as the kitten galloped past. “The credit goes entirely to the local crews. They’ve been incredible. Haven’t they, Dean?”

“Consummate professionals,” he agreed, gesturing for Kressley to lead the way downstairs.

“Kinship is made up of good people. I’m honored to lead them,” she said, peering over the handrail.

“Madam Deputy Mayor,” Silas said, appearing at the foot of the stairs. “You look ravishing.”

Maggie shot him a hard look. Ravishing? Who talked like that outside of the bedroom?

Kressley beamed at him. “Silas Wright, you are a charmer,” she said, swiping a manicured hand in his direction. “I was delighted to hear that your professional relationship with our Maggie has moved into personal territory.”

Great. Now she was an “our Maggie.”

Cody appeared, cradling one of the kittens.

“Cody Moses,” she said, clutching a hand to her heart. “I’ve heard that you’re making great strides at school.”

Cody blushed. “Yes, ma’am.”

“What a cozy little family you’ve got here, Maggie,” Kressley said, pointedly eyeing Silas and Cody. “Isn’t Kinship just the best?”

Small freaking towns.

“Uh, yeah. Let me show you the kitchen,” Maggie said, turning her back on Sy’s smug face and practically jogging away. It had been one hell of a day. One hell of a long day. And she was ready to curl up in that brand-new bed upstairs for a solid fifteen hours of sleep.