quick. Our daughter needs your help while I go murder her boss.” “Ex-boss.” He squeezes me hard. “Not if I can help it.” “What?” My mom comes rushing out of the kitchen with a cloud of flour dust following her. “Ellie? What are you doing here?” “Hi, Mom.” I wiggle out of Burt’s embrace and wipe the tears from my face. Burt softly pushes me in my mom’s direction. “Keep an eye on her while I go searching for my ax.” “It’s in the garage. Bottom left shelf next to the paint cans.” “Mom.”
