Another hour later, most everything had been cleaned up and put away, and they’d gotten an official accounting of the evening’s fundraising efforts. In addition to volunteering at the shelter on a weekly basis, Kat had taken on the unofficial role of fundraiser, and she and Janelle were thrilled with the evening’s response. “You gonna be around this weekend?” Erik asked, pushing the side door open for Kat while Lizbeth showed Janelle out the front. “Nah, I gotta be in Myrtle Beach first thing in the morning. I promised Marianne I’d keep Spencer so she can run some errands and have lunch with a friend.” “Why don’t you bring him back here?” Lizbeth said, smiling sweetly as she stepped into the kitchen. The hair on Kevin’s neck shot to attention, prickles of alarm danced up his arm, and a neon sign flashed in his mind. BEWARE! Lizbeth excelled at being bold, extra-spicy, sometimes sour—never sweet. “I haven’t been around kids since Miranda was little,” she said when he continued to stare.
