Page 76 of A Very Happy Easter

My phone buzzed with a message. No, not just a message; a photo.

Joanna

What do you think?

This year’s Easter bunny costume included a pink tailcoat, a ruffle shirt, a top hat, and a monocle. I burst out laughing.

Me

Perfect!

“What’s up?” Heath asked.

“I think you mean, ‘What’s up, doc?’ Joanna sent a picture of Eisen’s Easter bunny outfit.”

“His what?”

“While I do gain immense satisfaction from helping less-fortunate families and seeing smiles on children’s faces, the absolute highlight of the annual Easter egg hunt is making my brother dress up as an oversized rodent.” I turned the phone around. “With ruffles.”

That small joy helped to offset the fact that most of the family showed up to do their bit, including Robert. He wasn’t charitable in the slightest, but when Grandma Elizabeth left the bulk of her estate to Eis and me, Robert and his brother, Alexander, received small trusts—yes, they were bitter about that, so, so bitter—and those trusts stipulated that they needed to participate in at least one charitable event per quarter to earn that year’s payout. A delightful “fuck you” from beyond the grave. Alexander at least had a reasonably successful career as a marketing executive now; Robert still thought work was beneath him.

“Are you serious?” Heath asked, zooming in on the picture. “Eisen will actually wear that?”

“Seven years ago, while we were at our second-cousin Archie’s birthday bash, Eis had too much to drink and challenged me to a game of darts. Long story short, never underestimate an agoraphobic with a games room.”

“I’ll be sure to remember that. So he’s on the hook for the rest of his life?”

“Yup.”

“Poor guy.”

“Don’t worry, we always make sure he has the most fabulous costumes.”

“Does Janie know about this?”

“See the jaunty little daffodil in the rabbit’s pocket? That was her idea.”

“Women are terrifying.”

I smiled sweetly. “And yet you just ate a meal I cooked.”

Heath stared at his plate and said, “Fuck.” Then we both burst into laughter. Damn, I adored this man. He made me smile, he kept me safe, and he rubbed sunscreen on my back after I missed a bit and ended up with a sunburned patch in the shape of Italy.

But the smile slipped right off my face at the sound of a voice behind me.

“Ay, there’s a face I didn’t expect to see today. Edith Kennedy-Renner?”

Even if I hadn’t recognised the newcomer as one of the vultures who’d stood outside court every day while I fought to take Neil down, his camera and the “creep” vibes that emanated from every pore would have marked him as a paparazzo. I screwed my eyes closed, waiting for the flash to blind me, but when I opened them, the camera was in Heath’s hand and the jerk’s arm was twisted behind his back.

“Who the fuck are you?” he yelped.

“Ms. Renner’s bodyguard.”

“Sharing a cosy meal for two?”

“What can I say? She’s a decent boss. And she doesn’t appreciate being stalked during dinner.”

“If you don’t get your hands off me, I’m calling the cops.”