Bound To Be Dead: Cozy Mystery Bookshop Series Book 3 Tamra Baumann (new books to read txt) 📖

version of her mom. Stella is petite, has brown hair, and she and Brittany could share clothes, Stella is so thin. And they both have the exact same brown eyes. It’s disconcerting. “Nice to meet you as well,” I say, but don’t really mean it. I want to be sick.

Stella’s boyfriend steps forward and smiles too. “Hi, Sawyer. Thanks for taking such great care of Brittany.”

Mica is blond, tall, heavyset, and wearing way too much fancy cologne. Maybe it’s just my suspicious nature, but he has shifty blue eyes. Not to mention a statement-piece Rolex watch that screams look how rich I am.

I shake his sweaty palm. “Hi, Mica. You must’ve gotten in early?” I want to wipe my hand on my slacks but refrain.

He nods. “We decided to take earlier flights. As a matter of fact, I think we’re pretty much ready to go.” He turns to Brittany. “Isn’t that right, Brit?”

Not so fast, buster. “I’d hoped to have a few minutes to discuss things. And I think Gage has some paperwork we need to clear up?”

Mica steps closer to Brittany and picks up her backpack. “We’ve already signed it. And I brought proof that I paid for the adoption, and all our contact information, just like Gage asked. We’ll miss our flight if we don’t get going.”

Cooper takes one look at Mica and runs behind Gage’s legs.

Gage holds out a stack of pages. “You need to sign these as well before they go, Sawyer. It’s all just as you and I agreed.”

“Wait.” I hold up a hand. “I’m not signing anything until I talk to Brittany. We’ll be right back.”

I slip my hand around Brittany’s arm and tug her with me down the hall and into the kitchen. Once the door has swung closed behind me, I say. “What’s going on? And where are Max and Meg? They were supposed to be with you at all times so this very thing wouldn’t happen!”

Brittany won’t look me in the eye. She’s busy studying her tennis shoes. “One of Dylan’s deputies came to the door. He said he needed Max at the station. I told Meg it was okay to go along so Max wouldn’t be alone. You know how he is.”

Could this day get any worse?

“Did you know they were coming early?” That Brittany won’t look at me makes me wonder if she’s telling the truth. Maybe she planned to be out before I got back?

“No, I swear, Sawyer. I had no idea.” She finally looks at me before going right back to watching her shoes. “But maybe it’s better this way.”

Better this way? Would she have left before saying goodbye to me?

I’m so angry, I could cry. Or maybe that’s just an excuse for wanting to cry. “So you’ve decided to go with them? Just like that?”

“It’s not just like that. Stella’s my mother, Sawyer.” Brittany shuffles from one foot to the other. “I checked them out, and I think they’re telling the truth.”

I lift her chin with my bent finger so she’ll look me in the eyes. “Did you ever get to the bottom of Mica’s missing online profile? Does he have a past? Or a job? Is he legit?”

Brittany shrugs. “I didn’t find anything bad. Like I said, rich people wipe their data all the time. I’m sure it’ll be fine. Please don’t make this harder than it is. I really miss my mom.”

When tears form in Brittany’s eyes, my heart shatters. She, like me, rarely cries. And I know exactly what it’s like to miss your mother so bad, you hurt from head to toe. But in my case, I’ll never see my mom again. I can’t take that opportunity away from Brittany.

While biting my lip hard enough to stop my own tears, I wrap my arms around Brittany and pull her close. “If this is what you want, then I won’t stop you. I’ll sign the papers.”

“Thank you, Sawyer.” Brittany hugs me back and lays her head on my shoulder. “I love you.”

That’s the first time Brittany has ever said she loves me first. I’m so choked up, it’s difficult to reply, “I love you too. You’re always welcome back.”

Brittany leans away and wipes her wet cheeks with her hands. “Without an I told you so?”

“Absolutely not! Gloating will be mandatory.” I try my best to smile. “But I’ll miss you, kiddo. Call when you get there so I know you’re safe.” I can’t believe this is happening. I thought we’d have a chat and then decide, not be told what the verdict is. However, I need to let Brittany make her own mistakes, just as Meg pointed out. But I don’t have to like it.

Brittany whispers, “I’ll call. Please say goodbye to everyone else for me.” She turns and practically runs for the door.

“Yep.” I slowly follow behind, still filled with doubt. Am I doing the best thing for Brittany? My sister, father, and Gage think I am, but I don’t know.

My gut says I’m making a huge mistake.

When I join everyone in the living room again, Gage hands me his heavy pen and points to where I need to sign.

I hate doing this.

My fingers start to sign, but I stop and turn around. “Just to be clear, Stella and Mica, this is only good for thirty days. I have to renew every thirty after that. If you fail to return my calls or texts within twenty-four hours, this agreement is void, and Brittany will come right back home with me. Is that understood?”

Mica lifts his hands. “Absolutely. Just a trial run. We get it.”

Stella nods, so I turn around and quickly sign and date the documents. When I step back, Amy signs her name under both Stella’s and mine, and it’s done. Brittany is theirs for the next thirty long days.

My chest aches as Stella and Mica gather their things and quickly shuffle Brittany outside, calling out their goodbyes as the door slams shut behind them.

I drop into the nearest chair. “Why