Cut to the Quick (35 page)

“Ivan intended to marry a girl he met at George Brown. When he died she was pregnant.”

“No,” Manon exhaled.

Manon and Curt stared at one another.

Finally, a smile crept across Manon's face. Her eyes sparkled, and her head lifted. “How wonderful. When will she have it?” She grasped Curt's hand. “We'll be grandparents. Isn't this marvellous news?”

Curt looked thoughtful. “I never visualized myself as a grandfather.” He frowned. “What would I like to be called?”

Manon laughed. “Curt, you're incorrigible. Somehow you always put yourself at centre stage.” She leaned forward, looking at Hollis. “Who is she? When can we meet her? Has she had the baby?”

Hollis responded to Manon's enthusiasm. It was going to be okay. “She didn't want me to tell you her name until I told her how you reacted to the news. She hasn't had the baby, but it's due very soon.”

At that moment, Etienne and Tomas knocked and came in. Both hugged their father. Tomas did not look like a young man who'd recently hovered between life and death.

“Dad, you look like you've won the lottery,” Tomas said.

“I have. We all have,” Curt said. Uncharacteristically, his voice trembled.

Etienne examined their faces. “What's happening? Did we really win the lottery?”

Manon nodded at Curt. “Tell them.”

“Ivan had a serious girlfriend, and she's having a baby. Manon and I will be grandparents, and you two will be uncles.”

“An uncle. Way cool,” Etienne said. “I'll teach him about the stars.” He looked thoughtful. “A puppy would be really good for a baby. Can we get one?”

Manon laughed. “What a good idea. I'm sure the baby will love a puppy.” She reached over and squeezed Hollis's hand.

Her nails were short, but the manicure was perfect.

Joan Boswell was born in Toronto and grew up in Ottawa, Edmonton, Oakville and Halifax. As a member of the Ladies' Killing Circle, she has had stories in each of their six books:
The Ladies' Killing Circle, Cottage Country
Killers, Menopause Is Murder, Fit to Die, Bone Dance
and
When Boomers Go Bad
. She has also co-edited the last three books. In 2000, she won the Toronto Sunday Star short story contest.
Cut Off His Tale
, her first novel, was published by RendezVous Crime in 2005.

Joan lives in Toronto with two flatcoated retrievers and enjoys life with her grown sons, their wives and her grandchildren.

More info on her activities is online at:

joanboswell.ca