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Cody chuckled. “I used to play it with the police chief when we were kids,” he said.
“They said at school that he had a new baby,” Lucy replied.
“They have a little boy,” Abby said, smiling. “He’s friends with Mr. Owens, too.”
“They’ll have plenty more, if I know his wife,” Hannah chuckled. “She loves babies.”
“Oh, so do I,” Abby mused to herself. “I’ll have to find an excuse to go see them so I can hold him.”
“You won’t get near the front door until he’s at least two months old,” Hannah said with a grin. “His wife is terrified that the baby will catch a cold or get a stray germ...”
“I’d be the same way, I expect,” Abby replied. “Especially with the first one.”
Hannah rolled the dice and groaned. “Oh, no!”
She’d landed on Park Place, where Abby had two hotels.
“Oh, isn’t that just sad?” Abby mused. She grinned at Hannah. “And that’s going to cost you a bundle, I promise!”
“Maybe the bank could give me a loan?” Hannah teased.
Abby moved the bank off the table and made a face. “Just to keep you honest!” she said, tongue-in-cheek.
“Well, I like that! You just wait. I’ll cook you liver and onions tomorrow!”
“No!” Abby put the box right back on the table.
Cody, watching the byplay, chuckled.
The theme from a popular action movie blasted into the silence. Cody pulled his phone out of his pocket and looked at the number. “It’s Bill Harris,” he said, and started to open the phone.
Abby took it from him and put her forefinger to her lips, silencing everybody. “Hi, Bill,” she said, answering it. “We’ve got Cody over here. He’s sick with a stomach virus and he didn’t have anybody to take care of him. So we are.”
There was a reply and a laugh. She listened, nodding. “I’ll tell him. I’m sure he’ll be back tomorrow. He’s feeling better already.”
There was another comment and she hung up. “Bill says they’ve got a suspect in the bank robbery.”
Cody scowled. She looked worried. “Who is it?”
“Our friend from Miami,” she said sadly.
“Oh, good grief, he’s no bank robber!” Cody said.
She sighed. “Bill says there’s an eyewitness.”
Cody pursed his lips. “We have this really good defense attorney at your office. I’ll bet he’d rush right over to represent Mr. Whatley.”
She smiled. “Yes, I’ll bet he would. There’s no way Mr. Whatley would rob a bank, for heaven’s sake! He doesn’t need money!”
“We’ll work it out tomorrow. For now, I’m going to buy another railroad,” he said, and they went back to the game with a vengeance.
LATER,ASEVERYBODYgot ready to turn in, a much more sober Cody paused in the living room and took Abby’s hand in his.
“I just want you to know how grateful I am...”
“There’s no need,” she said softly and she smiled up at him. “Neighbors help each other. We’ve enjoyed having you around. You might have noticed a lack of male companionship around here,” she added, tongue-in-cheek.
He chuckled softly. “Yes, I have.” He cocked his head and looked down at her. “I like it.”
