"Would you like some more trout?" Tiffany watched as her aunt offered her father a second serving of the completely disgusting fish she had served for dinner that night. Leave it to Aunt Mavis to serve trout the very first time Tiffany's father came over instead of something normal, like meatloaf or cheeseburgers.
"Thank you but I'm fine." Tom Hartman smiled politely at Mavis. Tom Hartman. Dad. Daddy. Papa. What was she supposed to call him anyway? Tiffany was clueless.
"Mindy? Peter? Tyler? Tiffany?" One by one everyone turned down the offer for seconds on trout. Tiffany squirmed in her seat. This was the longest meal she'd ever sat through and she had the feeling she wasn't the only one at the table who was thinking the same thing. Tyler's newest girlfriend, the reporter, looked like she'd been lobotomized somewhere between the pumpkin soup and the trout almondine. Even Peter Van Husen seemed especially squirrelly that night and kept sneaking peeks at his cell phone throughout the meal when he thought no one was looking. Tiffany eyed Peter suspiciously. Aunt Mavis and Tyler were taking forever to get rid of this guy. Was she going to have to take things in her own hands?
"Well, that was a lovely meal, Mrs. Schuyler," Tiffany's dad said.
"Please, call me Mavis. We are family after all." Mavis batted her eyelashes at Tom. Tiffany tried not to gag. Honestly, Aunt Mavis flirted with every man she met! It was so embarrassing. "I know this is all somewhat awkward--finding out that we're related after living in the same town for so many years. I don't really understand why Lynette never shared that you're Tiffany's father but I suppose it's too late to ask her now."
"Just a little," Tiffany muttered under her breath.
"I'm sure we'll all adjust," Tom said. "I'm just grateful to have the chance to get to know my daughter." He smiled at Tiffany and Tiffany reluctantly smiled back. If she had to have a surprise father, Tom seemed like an OK choice. At least he didn't do anything disgusting at the table like pick at his teeth or chew with his mouth open.
"So is Tiffany going to move in with you?" Mindy questioned. "Sorry--it's the reporter in me. I seem to be wired to ask blunt questions."
"I'm not moving anywhere!" Tiffany said.
"Not now," Tom agreed. "We barely know each other. Right now we're both just trying to figure things out."
"I know how that is," Peter put in. "Lately I've had the feeling that I can't seem to figure anything out, you know?"
"There's a surprise," Tyler said, giving his mother's boyfriend a flinty stare.
Peter ignored Tyler and continued. "I almost feel like I'm remembering things that never happened. It's really getting strange."
"Maybe you need to see a doctor," Tom suggested.
"No," Peter disagreed, "what I need to do is get to the root of all of this. I can't help feeling like it all goes back to Mary Austin."
Mindy started choking and grabbed her glass of water. When she could breathe again she asked, "What do you have to do with Mary Austin?"
Peter stared at her. "I'm pretty sure I was there the night she was murdered."
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