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"But I loved his were after hiht"

"Against e withcalets," I say , Janet," Cooper says, "is that for so, you were awfully careful to wait until the statute of limitations had run out before you returned to the United Statesfive years, with an additional five years while the prosecutor sought, unsuccessfully, to locate you for extradition That sounds about right, doesn’t it, for a class-B felony--grand larceny in the first degree--for New York State?"

My mother chokes a little on the mouthful of wine she’s just sed "Don’tdon’t be ridiculous I told you, I ca this important time in her life And I don’t knohy the money is still such an issue with her; she could always have earned e sundaes and hadn’t been so insistent on singing all those silly songs she wrote herself--"

It’s Patty who interrupts, which is surprising since she’s nor of creatures, slow to take offense

But that’s the thing about people like e, we hold it for years, and then like a kettle left to simmer on a back burner, before you know it, we’ve burned the house down

"Frank is right," Patty says, getting up froo now Janet, where can we drop you? We brought our car It’s parked out front We’ll be happy to take you anywhere you want to go"

"Go?"as shocked as if soio for a o--"

"You were resourceful enough to find your way from Buenos Aires to e"

"Frank, honey," Patty says, getting up, "why don’t you go put Indy in his car seat while Cooper puts Janet’s suitcases in the trunk It’s a Range Rover," she explains to h roos"

"Great idea," Cooper says before my mother can utter another word He strides fro a little confused, his son slung over one shoulder

Frank isn’t the only one who looks confused

"But I thought I told you," et a hotel reservation I’m sure Heather and Cooper don’t h room, and I’m family I don’t expect special treatment They’ll hardly know I’in with irritation, but Patty cuts ood idea, Janet" Patty steps toward lass "You know the old saying about in-laws: If you want a loving relationship with them, put them in a hotel when they come to visit"

"But I just told you,"to her feet "I couldn’t find a hotel room"

"Oh, Cooper will be able to take care of that," Patty says, placing an arm around my mom’s shoulder "He’s a private detective, you know A lot of people in this toe him favors Don’t they, Heather?"

"A ton," I say "In fact, some of his clients are hotels We’ll find you a roois, of course, but it won’t necessarily be a youth hostel, either"