Excited chatter broke out around the table, but Heidi could feel only despair. She hadn’t heard from the historical society and she had no idea what was going on with them, if anything. She was no closer to saving her home than she’d been a week ago. On top of that, she had an emptiness in her heart she hadn’t felt for ages. Adam hadn’t been to the post office for two days and she felt horrible about it. He was avoiding her.
Later that night Tyler tapped on his mother’s office door and poked his head in. “You busy?”
She looked up over her laptop. “Never too busy for you,” she said with a tired smile. In reality she was exhausted. It wasn’t just the mystery and the house being in danger that had her worn out; Monique had cornered her after the meeting and confronted her about Adam. She knew her friend was just concerned about her welfare, but she was already plenty concerned about Adam without any help from Monique.
The boy came across the room, watching his mother for any clues as to her mood. He dropped into a chair facing the desk. “I wanted to ask you something.”
Alerted by his expression, she raised an eyebrow. “What is it?”
He hesitated, reaching out to adjust the pen holder on the desk.
Heidi had to smile in amusement at seeing her own nervous mannerism in her son. She leaned back in her chair, waiting for him to get around to asking his question. Whatever it was, he knew she’d have a problem with it or he’d have already blurted it out. He hadn’t come to her to ask anything for a while. She was glad to see him come to her when he had something on his mind.
He glanced up at her and cringed.
“What is it, Tyler?”
He heaved a long sigh. “I was just hoping that maybe, yesterday, you know, when you went to Raleigh with Mister Williams, that you’d—you’d—you know, talked about me helping him with the Jeep.”
Heidi couldn’t help but see how relieved he was to have his question asked. How could she disappoint him?
Her silence was telling and he shifted in his seat. “I saw him today, at the library.”
“You did?”
“Yeah he was checking out a book about Jeeps, and I was returning that overdue—” His words hung in the air between them and he cringed.
Her lips pursed in irritation. “The one you said you returned last week?”
He nodded in shame but collected courage and tried again. “But he said hi to me first and even asked how you are.”
Her son was smart, she had to give him credit. He knew she would be curious if Adam had asked about her. “He did, did he?”
Tyler nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, and he asked when I was going to come out and help him. He said he could use a hand tomorrow after school.”
Now Heidi was really confused. Adam didn’t want to see her, but he’d invited Tyler to his house? Tyler was the reason he originally hadn’t want to see her, right? He’d never acted the same since he’d learned she was a mom, and she didn’t like that about him. It made her wonder what else she didn’t know about Adam Williams. But Tyler didn’t need to know she’d googled Adam. The boy still believed people were good and tried their best, but she wasn’t one to subject her son to anyone without being sure it was safe.
In desperation Tyler tried again. “Please Mom, I really want to learn about cars.”
“You barely have time now to get your homework done,” she said, stalling for time. “And what about baseball practice?” She’d had this conversation with herself, and she knew she should let him go. So why wasn’t she willing? Was it because she was being petty that Adam didn’t want her? Was she so small she’d deny her son some joy because she was insulted?
She rubbed her eyes, and when she lowered her hands, all she could see was her son’s stricken expression. “Okay, fine, after practice,” she huffed. “But you better be caught up on your homework.”
“I will! I am!”
“How do you suppose you’re going to get out there?”
He jumped from the chair. “I’ll ride my bike.”
“You will not,” she stated. “It will be dark by the time you come home. I’ll drive you.”
“Thanks Mom!” he said as he hurried to the door. He stopped to look back. “Love you,” he added.
Heidi’s heart melted. “Love you too, kid,” she replied. Maybe it was for the best. Tomorrow night was Mission Mayor’s Meeting and Tyler would be safely out of harm’s way with Adam.
Sarah squinted out the windshield of her car as she double checked the address on the house with the notes in her phone. Yes, that was the mayor’s house, and parked in front was the old pickup truck she’d seen Buford driving when he dropped off his daughter at school. She parked across the street and turned off the motor.
She hit speed dial on the phone and within seconds Monique answered.
“I’m in front of the mayor’s house. As planned, I came to scope out the place for the mission tomorrow night, but Buford is here.”
The voice on the other end sounded shocked.
“Yes, right now! I know!” Reaching into her purse Sarah drew out her bird watching binoculars and focused in on the front window of the mayor’s house. The curtains were closed, but she could see the outline of the mayor’s shadow, as well as the shadow of Buford. The men appeared to arguing and Buford was shaking his finger in the mayor’s face.
Monique asked several questions and Sarah bit her bottom lip in concern. “I don’t know, I can’t hear anything, but Buford is yelling at the mayor.”
Monique made a snarky comment.
Sarah scowled and lowered the binoculars. “I have eyes don’t I!”
The voice on the phone calmed.
Sarah squinted through the binoculars again. “It’s okay, I’m upset too. This wasn’t in the plan. We’re not supposed to make contact until tomorrow night!”
Monique said something and the binoculars fell from Sarah’s hand into her lap. “I can’t go in there!”
The voice buzzed excitedly.
The phone joined the binoculars in Sarah’s lap and her hands came up to cover her cheeks.
“Sarah? Sarah!” the voice on the phone demanded.
She retrieved the phone. “Okay! I’ll go knock on the door, but if I don’t call you back in ten minutes, call the cops.”
Monique said something and Sarah frowned. “Whatever,” she snapped, and hit end. How had she gotten herself into this mess? All she was supposed to do was snoop around a little, see if there was a fence, check on parking. Now, she had to go inside?
The photos Heidi had shared of the bloody drawing tube came to mind and a shiver ran down her back. This was more than just snooping—it had crossed the line into interfering with dangerous activity.
Taking a deep breath to gather strength, she checked her face in the rearview mirror, then climbed from the car and marched determinedly across the street. Now on the porch she could hear the men yelling inside the house, but she couldn’t understand any of their words. She licked her lips and straightened her back, then rapped on the front door three times.
The yelling stopped, followed by footsteps, then the door swung open. The mayor stood in the opening with the light behind him and Sarah squinted at him. “Mister Mayor, sir?” she asked, struggling to hide the shake in her voice.
“Who are you?” he snapped, looking distraught.
Once her eyes adjusted to the light, Sarah could see that his hair was mussed, as if he’d been running his fingers through it, and his eyes were red.
She swallowed. “I’m Sarah Barton, little Elsa’s teacher?”
The mayor appeared to relax a notch. “Oh, well, what do you want?”
But before Sarah could answer, Buford pushed past the mayor, nearly running her over as he stomped out. Halfway across the yard he stopped and turned back. “You’re not getting off this easy, we’ll finish this conversation tomorrow!” the man bellowed, then clomped the rest of way to his old truck and climbed inside. The engine roared to life and the truck rumbled aw
ay down the street.
Sarah’s eyes came back to meet the mayor’s and he flinched. “Do you have a moment to discuss Elsa with me?” she asked politely.
The mayor glanced over her shoulder, and Sarah was surprised to see Rachel slumped on the sofa. In her lap was a notebook, but the page was blank.
The mayor stepped between the women. “I’m in the middle of a business meeting, what’s the girl done now?”
“Who’s at the door?” the mayor’s wife asked as she entered the hallway wiping her hands on a dishtowel. “Oh, Miss Barton,” she said with a smile, then she realized that having a teacher show up at the house likely wasn’t good news. “Please, come in,” she added, her expression serious.
“Thank you,” Sarah said, moving inside so the mayor could close the door.
The awkward group moved into the living room.
Rachel closed her notebook and stood.
“You can leave,” the mayor said to her in dismissal, making a brushing motion with his hand.
Sarah couldn’t help but notice the look on the woman’s face as she gathered her paperwork and ducked out of the room. The poor henpecked thing.
“Well, what is it?” the mayor demanded with some color returning to his face.
Sarah settled onto the sofa as the couple perched on chairs opposite her. The living room was lovely, she observed, and the furnishing looked as if they were professionally designed.
Since she no longer felt threatened or uneasy, Sarah took a second to note the location of the windows in the room as well as any other details about the house that may help with the upcoming meeting. She cleared her throat. “Elsa has been late handing in some assignments, and I wanted to speak with you before it became a problem,” she said with a calm strong voice. It wasn’t a lie, she could actually bring up enough issues with the little girl’s behavior to be at the house all night, if she wanted to.
“I would imagine she’s bored,” the mayor said condescendingly, smoothing his hair back over his head into its usual curl.
Sarah wanted to roll her eyes. It was obvious now though that the mayor had been rattled when she showed up. And she’d never seen him look that way before.
Chapter Fourteen
The next morning Adam pulled up to the post office and turned off the truck. He glanced toward the building and frowned. He’d been a real doofus the last few days, and it was time he set things straight. The longer he put off seeing Heidi, the more hurt she’d be. Tyler was coming over tonight and Heidi would be dropping him off. It was high time he talked to her.
He swung open the door and climbed out, still watching the post office as if it were an enemy stronghold. He still wasn’t one hundred percent sure what it was about Heidi that put him off. Yeah, he’d been shocked to find out she had a kid, but Tyler was okay.
He could step up and be a good person, take the kid under his wing, and teach him a little about mechanics.
Surely, he could date a mom without it killing him. He was certainly attracted to her—that had never been in doubt.
He headed toward the building. Maybe it was those few strange things about her, like her attic, or her house situation altogether, that put him off.
His steps faltered. Was he so skittish since the divorce that a few unknowns bothered him? How did you get to know why people were the way they are, unless you spent time with them? What kind of a man liked a woman and then backed up when he found out she was responsible and reliable and successful?
An insecure dolt, that’s who.
He yanked open the door of the post office and marched inside. He was no insecure ninny and he’d prove it. Instead of checking his mail, he trooped directly up to the lobby doors, threw them open, and stepped right up the to the counter.
Heidi came around the corner, then ground to a halt when she saw her customer.
“Morning,” Adam called out with a grin, as if he hadn’t been avoiding her for days.
Her expression cooled as she came up to the counter. “Good morning, how can I help you today?”
Adam flinched at her reception, but leaned on the counter like he used to do, forcing his expression to be open and warm. “I’ve been a jerk,” he said, “And I need to make it up to you.” The tone of his voice made his words seem more like a comical conversation between old friends, not a heartfelt apology.
Heidi’s eyes widened in surprise, then her lips set in a firm line of doubt.
“I’ve treated you badly and I’m sorry.” He continued, motioning with one hand as if to wave off his behavior.
Her mouth fell open, then snapped shut.
“I was friendly to you because I think you’re cute, then I avoided you. It was poorly done of me and I apologize.” Still his expression was electric, two hundred-watt, like he was the confident, cheerful guy.
Heidi’s eyes narrowed.
He straightened, waiting for her to accept his apology, but it didn’t happen. He cleared his throat and tried again. “I hear you’re bringing Tyler out tonight, would you like to come in for a beer?”
She waited a full ten seconds, then made a prim face and sniffed. “Sorry, I have other plans.”
He rubbed the back of his neck. Now what? This wasn’t going as planned. She was supposed to be her cute self and understand. He tried to look nonchalant. “Oh yeah? What are you up to? Murder and mayhem?” To his surprise his words upset her instead of made her laugh. “Having the girls over to play cards in your secret attic?” he joked, trying to backpedal.
Visibly shaken, Heidi took a step back. “Why would you say that?”
At a loss as to how the save the conversation, he gave up. “One book of stamps please.” He reached for his wallet.
Heidi yanked open a drawer and tossed the stamps onto the counter. “That’ll be ten dollars and five cents.”
He put a ten dollar bill on the counter, then fished in his pocket for change.
Her steely gaze never left him.
He tossed a nickel on the counter and snatched up the stamps.
“Have a nice day,” she fumed.
Adam hurried from the lobby to the safety of his truck, completely forgetting to check his mailbox.
Heidi watched his truck pull from the parking lot and merge into the traffic already slowing on Main Street. What had gotten into him? He’d been Mister One-Word Sentence forever, and then he’d come in here with that story? When he found out about Tyler, he’d practically sprinted from the room, but at least he’d still been helpful. He’d almost kissed her and then acted as if she were a leper for days. Now, he was Mister Chatty Kathy?
She shook her head and turned from the counter. She couldn’t afford to be distracted today—with the big mission tonight, she had to stay on her toes. She didn’t have time for stupid men. Stupid, handsome men. Stupid, handsome men who said she was cute and they liked her.
She walked to her desk, dropped into her chair, propped her elbows on the desk, and buried her face in her hands.
Adam watched his dog run across the front lawn to meet Tyler. Heidi’s car backed out of the drive and pulled onto the highway, and he followed it with his eyes.
“Hey old boy,” Tyler called out to the dog, then laughed out loud as the dog tackled him, licking his face.
The dog loved the kid, no question. Why was that?
Who had saved him from the pound? Who gave him a home and fed him and tried to take him for walks?
Tyler stepped up onto the porch, his face a wreath of smiles. “Hi, Adam.”
Working to adjust his bitter attitude, Adam offered the kid a grin. “Hi, Tyler. You ready to work?”
“Yes sir!” the boy answered enthusiastically.
Adam led the way through the house, but he stopped the dog at the door to the garage.
Tyler looked surprised and Adam felt gut punched by Tyler’s expression. “I don’t want him to get all greasy,” he offered as explanation.
Tyler shrugged, already taking in the myriad of tools and mess. “Wha
t are we going to work on?”
Encouraged by the shear enthusiasm of the boy, Adam had to smile. “How do you feel about grinding off rust?”
“With a power grinder?” Tyler asked, his eyes flashing with excitement.
“Yup.”
“The ones that throw sparks everywhere?” Tyler continued.
“The very ones.”
“Cool!” Tyler exclaimed. “Let’s do it!”
Heidi turned to Mildred who was sitting calmly in the passenger seat of her car, stroking her dog. “How can you be so calm?” Heidi asked.
“Years of practice, dear,” Mildred replied.
“You don’t get nervous at all on these big missions?”
Mildred scoffed. “Not for likes of Tommy Winslow, I don’t.” She thought for a moment and then shook her finger. “But the mob thing is interesting. I haven’t taken on the mob for years.”
Heidi gaped at her friend in shock. “When did you take on the mob?”
“Nineteen hundred and—” the old woman started, but Heidi’s phone ring interrupted her recollection. “Who is it?” the old woman asked.
“Monique,” Heidi replied, taking the call. “Hello?”
Heidi listened intently, then started to say goodbye, but the line went dead.
“Well?” Mildred demanded.
“I think everyone is in place,” Heidi said, sounding more stressed than secure as if she couldn’t believe the mission was really going to happen.
“Let’s do this,” Mildred exclaimed, plopping a huge garden hat on top of her head. “Take roll call.”
Heidi texted the group to request that all check in.
“Biker Chick ready,” Monique dinged in.
“Old Lady ready,” Mildred said out loud with a grin.
Heidi tossed her a look.
“Pink Hair ready,” Michelle sent.
“Tot Teacher ready,” Sarah replied.
“That’s everyone,” Mildred said. “I guess I’m on.”
Heidi grabbed the old woman’s arm as she opened the car door. “Be careful,” she said to her oldest friend.
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