Late for Love

December 15, 2020

Late for Love

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M. K. Scott will be awarding a $40 Amazon or B/N GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

The senior sleuths love a good laugh, but this conundrum is no laughing matter. A missing journalist, an African Grey parrot, and a possible mob connection sound like the beginning of a bad joke. Unfortunately, there is no punchline and no one, aside from the seniors, who would dare to take the case on.

Will their first chance to handle a case on their own prove to be way too much for them to handle, and more importantly, could this first be their last?

Read an Excerpt

“Cheez and crackers.” He growled the words, knowing good and well this phone could do close-up shots. He had done it before.

“What’s wrong?” a feminine voice asked.

Jake turned slightly and met the inquisitive stare of a twenty-something nursing aide. It would be embarrassing to admit he was trying to take a photo of the group in the courtyard. None of the sleuths would know how to do it either.

Choices. He swallowed hard and held up his phone. “I forgot how to make the phone take a close-up shot. My great-nephew showed me at one time...” He shrugged his shoulders, leaving the obvious unsaid.

“Okay.” The aide glanced past the phone into the courtyard. “Ah, I see.” She giggled before holding out her hand for the phone.

Once situated in her left hand, she put her thumb and forefinger of her right hand together against the screen, then slowly separated them, making the image larger. “You can do this as many times as you need, making the people larger. I’ll warn you the bigger it is the blurrier it gets. I think it’s sweet you’re trying to get a photo of your crush. Which one is she?”

“There’s no crush,” Jake informed her brusquely. Even though he wasn’t familiar with the helpful aide, it didn’t stop her from talking. The last thing he needed was the staff gossiping about him.

“Uh-huh,” The woman grinned at him. “That’s how my grandpa and grandma met.”

“What?” Jake was certain he’d missed part of the conversation.

“Grandma was coming out of the church…” she started conversationally.

Jake cut his eyes to the courtyard window, worried he might lose his chance for a photo, but he couldn’t duck out of a story that was being related for his benefit. His lips turned up slightly in a forced smile, and he nodded for her to continue. “Church, huh?”

“Yes…” The aide nodded, but it did nothing to slow her narrative. She held her hands up as if holding a small object. “Grandpa was on the other side of the street taking a photo of her leaving church. One of her friends pointed out his action to grandma.”

“Why would he be across the street taking a photo of his own wife?” This story made no sense. He only hoped it got better. Surely there could be no comparison of himself and a man crossing streets to photograph his wife. At least, he hoped not.

The aide, whose name tag identified her as Sheila, chuckled. “They hadn’t met yet. Grandma was a widow and grandpa a long-time bachelor who attended the same church. Anyhow, when grandma saw him taking her photo, she marched right across the street and…”

“I know…” Jake interrupted. “She snatched the camera out of his hands.” A similar incident had happened to him in France.

“No.” Sheila shot Jake a confused look. “She invited him to lunch. They got to know each other and married not too long after.”

Well, that hadn’t turned out the way he thought it would. Too bad he didn’t have that kind of luck. At the moment, he’d be fortunate if the helpful Sheila hit the road. “Great story,” he enthused. “I appreciate the help, too. Don’t let me cut into your break, though.”

About the Author: M. K. Scott is the husband and wife writing team behind The Painted Lady Inn Mysteries and The Talking Dog Detective Agency. Morgan K Wyatt is the general wordsmith, while her husband, Scott, is the grammar hammer and physics specialist. He uses his engineering skills to explain how fast a body falls when pushed over a cliff and various other felonious activities. The Internet and experts in the field provide forensic information, while the recipes and B and B details require a more hands-on approach. Morgan’s daughter, who manages a hotel, provides guest horror stories to fuel the plot lines. The couple’s dog, Chance, is the inspiration behind Jasper, Donna’s dog. Overall, both are fun series to create and read.