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tragic, but I’ve never been a fan of the DeBussis.”
    “Who could be a fan of his brother?” Brandon asked. “That dude’s a mess.”
    “I wasn’t talking about Colby,” she told him. “At least Colby doesn’t act as if he’s better than everyone else. It’s Skip’s parents who swagger around this town like they own it. You’ve seen them—in the Fourth of July parade, showing off their fancy cars.” She took a bite of the coffee cake she’d been sharing with Brandon. “Still, I would never have wished anything like this on them.”
    “What’s Sophia going to do?” Callie asked, her voice filled with concern. “From what I’ve heard, Skip took all the money they had left, and now that the feds have his cash, they won’t give her a cent of it. How will she get by?”
    Ted got the impression she was asking him—maybe because she glanced in his direction. “How would I know?”
    “She’ll have to go to work to support her daughter,” Kyle said.
    Riley disagreed. “No, her in-laws will help.”
    “I don’t think they can,” Eve said. “Not after this.”
    Levi set his cup down. “He ripped them off that badly?”
    Eve gave him a helpless look. “From what I’ve heard. I doubt Sophia has many options. That’s why I encouraged her to apply for Ted’s housekeeper position.”
    Ted nearly fell off his chair. “You what? ”
    “Well, I didn’t actually speak to her,” Eve said with a sheepish expression. “I just...left a message telling her that might be an option.”
    “Well, it’s not an option,” Ted snapped. “That position’s not open to her.”
    “Why not?” Callie asked, immediately taking Eve’s side.
    “Forget it.” He waved her off. “She’s been a kept woman her whole life. She probably doesn’t know the first thing about scrubbing toilets and making dinner.”
    “I don’t think she’s ever had a housekeeper,” Callie pointed out.
    She’d had the money to hire an army of domestic servants. “I bet she’s had one all along,” he argued. “Besides, I’m offering $2,500 a month. That wouldn’t even cover her spa treatments.”
    “You wouldn’t give her a chance if she applied?” Eve asked.
    “I don’t have to answer that because she’ll never apply. I’m sure she’ll find another sugar daddy before life gets too grim, even if it means moving away.” He hoped she would leave town. Then there’d be no more risk of bumping into her when he went out. He’d spent years trying to avoid her.
    Thankfully, Olivia shifted the focus of the conversation. It was a slight shift but at least his friends were no longer suggesting he employ his ex-girlfriend. “Does anyone know when the funeral will be?”
    “Skip only washed up a couple of days ago,” Ted replied. “I doubt they’ve set a date, considering it’ll take some time to get the body home from Brazil.”
    Kyle hooked an arm around the back of his chair. “If anyone’s interested, the funeral should be announced in the Gold Country Gazette. ”
    “That’s a weekly,” Noah said. “It wouldn’t be the place to go for information if they decide to have it soon.”
    “Word spreads like wildfire in this town,” Brandon told them. “I’m sure we’ll hear about it.”
    Riley gazed around at the group. “Who’s planning to go? Kyle and I aren’t. That’s for damn sure. I bet Noah won’t, either.”
    Noah confirmed that with a muttered, “Hell, no.”
    “What about the rest of you?” Riley asked.
    Ted raised both hands. “Don’t look at me.”
    “I’ll go, to support Sophia.” Callie wiped her mouth with a napkin.
    “Me, too. It’s not like any of this is her fault.” Eve sent Ted an accusing glare.
    “You don’t know that,” Ted insisted. She’d certainly stirred up enough trouble in high school. She’d also stirred his heart— and a lower part of his body—but he didn’t like to acknowledge that these days.
    “We’re giving her the benefit of the doubt,” Callie said.