Buried in Secrets

by Denise Grover Swank

  “What?”

  He laughed. “We’re gonna string the Christmas lights and plug ’em into the generator. And we’ll have dancin’, and Tater knows a guy who makes balloon animals for tips.”

  I propped my hands on my hips. “You’re amazing, Max Drummond.”

  He grinned from ear to ear. “About damn time someone figured that out. Now where’s the beef?”

  I rolled my eyes. “It’s in my car. I’m gonna need some help bringing it all in.”

  “On it.” He called over several of Tater’s friends, and they followed me to my car and unloaded as much as they could and carried it through the unlocked front door.

  I took the lights around back and handed them to Max with an apologetic look. “I’m not sure I got enough.”

  “Ruth had a bunch and so did Ginger. With the boxes you got, I think we’ll be fixed up. Not to mention the tiki torches we rounded up to put along the sides of the street.”

  “This is pure genius, Max.”

  He laughed. “I have my moments. Oh, and by the way, I don’t want you or Ruth wearing your uniforms tonight. We’re gonna serve food buffet style from six to eight, and customers will come up to a bar we’re setting up. I dug some warming trays out of the storage area, so they can grab what they want and pay you and Ruth at the end of the line.”

  “Where’s Ruth right now?”

  “I sent her to Costco in Greeneville to get some cans of soft drinks and bottles of water. They’ll be easier to sell. She’ll be back in an hour or so.”

  “How will people know this is going on?” I asked.

  He laughed again. “Just when I think you’ve acclimated to Drum, you up and say something like that. Gossip, my girl. Gossip. No one will want to miss it. We’ll see people who haven’t stepped foot in the tavern in years.”

  I couldn’t help wondering who might show up, then I remembered someone who wouldn’t.

  “What’s with the frown?” Max asked.

  “I wish Hank could come.”

  “Don’t you worry. We’ll get him out here. Now, believe it or not,” he said, “Tiny needs help in the kitchen makin’ patties.”

  “I’ll go help him, but I’m going to move my car down the street so the customers can park out front.”

  He nodded, and I walked around the side of the building, surprised that there were now folding tables and chairs being set up with the name of the Methodist church stamped on the backs.

  My car had already been unloaded with surprising efficiency. I figured it was best if I left Main Street parking free, so I drove down Parson’s Street, fairly close to Selena’s house. After I got out of the car, I stared at her house across the street, debating whether I should go talk to her. Just as I started to walk away, she came out of her front door.

  “Carly Moore! What’s all the commotion about on Main Street?”

  “A summer street party, ma’am,” I called back as I walked across the street toward her. “Max has a generator, so he’s serving hamburgers and hot dogs, and he has a band coming for dancing.”

  A wistful look filled her eyes. “It’s been a while since Drum’s had a party. It’s not often we have cause to celebrate.”

  “You should come,” I said. “It will be fun.”

  “I just might,” she said, casting a glance down the street.

  “Say, Miss Selena,” I said before I could stop myself. “I saw Ashlynn today.”

  “You don’t say? I told you she’d turn up.”

  “She was with Jonathon Whitmore out at his house, which looks like it would fall over with a strong wind.”

  “Aw, that’s who she runs to when things get bad.”

  “She spent the night with him last night. She didn’t go home.”

  “I’m not surprised. She and Rob never really got along.”

  “Chuck Holston told me he’s not the father of Ashlynn’s baby. That she’s six months along, not five, and he was in jail when she conceived. Chuck suggested that Jonathon is the father, and Jonathon thinks he might be.”

  She shook her head. “That boy is a dumb as a stump. Let us hope not.”

  “I also found out that Jim Palmer is a part-time youth group leader at the Crimshaws’ church.”

  She frowned. “I guess I forgot about that. Now that I think about it, I think Ashlynn mentioned him in passin’.”

  Which was peculiar, at the very least. Selena didn’t seem like the kind of woman who was lax with details. “Ashlynn got very uncomfortable when I brought up him being a youth leader. Do you know why?”

  She hesitated. “No. From what I remember, Ashlynn was very fond of going to youth group.”

  “Jonathon said they went on trips a couple of times a year. Do you know if she went on those?”

  “Most definitely, but she got in trouble her senior year in high school. She wasn’t in her room during a bed check. One of the youth leaders brought her home before the end of the trip.”

  “Do you remember which trip or which leader brought her home?”

  She shook her head. “Oh, no. But I do know that Rob nearly beat that poor child to death.”

  I gritted my teeth, trying not to let my reaction show, but I hated men like Rob Crimshaw. “Do you know what happened to Rob’s father, Stewart? I heard he went to prison, but I couldn’t find any information about if or when he got out.”

  “Oh, he was murdered there.”

  “I didn’t see an obituary,” I said.

  “There likely wasn’t one. Rob had turned to the straight and narrow at that point and was focused on the church. He didn’t want the mess of his father’s life contaminating his new one. I’m not even sure he claimed his body.”

  “What about his brother?” Hank had told me there were two sons.

  “Disappeared,” she said. “Around the time his father was arrested the last time.”

  “No one ever heard from him again?”

  “Nope, but he’s probably dead somewhere. He was a drunkard. He probably drove his car down a ravine that no one’s searched.” Kind of like the ravine Bingham’s men had rammed Wyatt’s truck into when I first got to town. Only Wyatt wasn’t a drunk.

  “There seem to be a lot of car wrecks around here.”

  She tsked. “Drinking and driving on curves is never a good idea.” She glanced down the street again. “What time does this shindig start?”

  “Six, but the band starts around seven.”

  “Good,” she said, looking at me with her sharp eyes. “I think I might just turn up.” Then she turned around and went inside.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  After we made a mountain of hamburger patties, Tiny decided he didn’t want to be stuck inside, so Max borrowed multiple grills and fired them up by the back door, while poor Pickle would have to run in and out of the kitchen with the fries.

  When I finished in the kitchen and headed back outside to help set up the serving tables, I saw that Wyatt had shown up and was helping Max set up the drink station. They’d gotten about ten coolers and had set up a keg of beer.

  Ruth showed up around five. Tater and his friends moved some of the barricades so she could back her car up to the edge of the parking lot to make it easier to carry the cases to the drink station.

  I was so shocked when Ruth got out of the car, I might have let out a small squeal. She was wearing a pretty white and yellow sundress and her hair was curled. She’d even put on makeup and looked a good five years younger. Her face broke into a huge smile when she saw the strings of unlit white lights strung from the building to the posts, covering the parking lot.

  “This looks like something you’d see in a movie, Max,” she said.

  “We haven’t tried ’em yet,” he said, wrapping an arm around her back and snugging her up next to him. “I was waitin’ for you.”

  “That’s my woman, Max,” Tater called out good-naturedly as he carried two cases of bottled water past them.

  “Maybe so,” Max teased, “but a man can keep
tryin’.”

  Wyatt, who’d already started putting the cans and bottles in coolers, shot me a look before quickly returning to his task.

  “Okay, Scout,” Max called out to one of Tater’s friends. “Flip the switch.”

  Scout picked up the surge protector strip and pressed the button, and all the lights burst to life. Ruth and I clapped and cheered, and Max beamed like he was Santa Claus bringing Christmas magic to Drum. The time of year wasn’t right, but the analogy wasn’t far off.

  Families with young kids showed up at six. They went through the food line and then sat at picnic tables. A woman strummed a guitar and sang children’s songs while Tater’s friend made balloon animals.

  More people trickled in, and by seven the lot and street were full of people. Tiny and Pickle were struggling to keep up with the food.

  “How many people do you think are here?” I asked Ruth between tallying up orders. I’d already had to change out the cash box twice.

  “I don’t know. Over a hundred. Maybe one fifty?”

  “I’m not sure we’ll have enough food.”

  “Max’s got a popcorn maker on the way for after we stop serving dinner. Maybe that will tide them over.”

  The man really had thought of everything.

  At seven, the woman with the guitar was replaced by a bluegrass band of several older men. The kids danced around the tables and played in the grass strips on the side of the road, and a few older couples danced in the open part of the parking lot.

  Soon after, Selena came through my line, looking pleased.

  “This is lovely,” she said. “It’s exactly what this town needed.”

  I had to agree with her. I’d never seen so many happy people in Drum, and it struck me as odd that I hadn’t noticed that they weren’t happy before.

  When Marco hadn’t shown up by seven-thirty, I started to worry. I caught Max’s attention and asked him if he’d heard from him.

  His forehead creased. “No. But I’m sure he’ll be here as soon as he can.” He gave me a sly grin. “Wild horses couldn’t keep the man away from you.”

  I smiled back, reveling in the fact that he was right. Then I turned back to my dwindling line, surprised when I realized I was face to face with Ricky and Thad Crimshaw.

  “Hi, Ricky,” I said. “Hi, Thad.”

  “You know my boys?” a man asked behind them, his tone accusatory.

  Rob Crimshaw. His eyes were hard, and while I knew he was in his forties, the lines on his face made him look a good decade older.

  “Hello, Mr. Crimshaw,” I said with a smile that took plenty of effort. “I met your sons yesterday when I dropped off a casserole.” I decided to leave anything to do with Ashlynn out of it.

  “The chicken and rice?” he asked.

  “That’s the one.”

  He nodded, his face softening. “It was good. Thank you for your kindness.”

  “I was so shocked to hear about Pam. She was a customer here, and she was always so sweet. I’m sure there has to be a reason for what she did. I hope they find it to help with her sentencing.”

  His eyes turned to ice. “My wife is dead to us.” Then he handed me thirty dollars and walked off before I could give him change.

  Ruth shot me a look that suggested I was crazy, and she probably had a point. Marco and I had agreed to let this go, and here I was, poking another hornet’s nest with a big fat stick.

  The Crimshaws took a seat at a table in the street. The other families watched them but few spoke. The ladies luncheon group were there with their husbands, all sitting together, and while they shot sympathetic glances to the boys, Sandy looked like she wanted to get up and beat Rob with her hot dog bun.

  “I can’t believe they came,” Ruth said, shaking her head. “They’re gonna be the source of gossip all night.”

  Then Selena walked over and sat at their table, but Rob didn’t look too happy about it.

  There wasn’t anyone else in my line, so I turned my gaze to resume my watch for Marco. Butterflies filled my stomach when I saw him crossing the lot, heading straight for me.

  “Girl,” Ruth drawled in a breathless tone. “Does the look on that man’s face mean what I think it means?”

  His gaze was on me, and happiness and a hint of wanting flashed in his eyes. He seemed like a man on a mission as he closed the distance between us.

  “Max said you two were finally out in the open,” she said when I didn’t answer. “But I didn’t believe it.”

  “It’s true,” I said, smiling at him like a fool.

  “Sorry I’m late,” he said when he reached me, stopping a couple of feet away. “I got tied up with paperwork, then I ran home to change.”

  I took in his short-sleeved, light blue button-down shirt and jeans that hugged his hips.

  “Are you checkin’ me out again?” he teased.

  “Maybe I am,” I said with a coquettish smile.

  “Just kiss her already,” Ruth said. “Otherwise y’all are just a big tease to the rest of us.”

  Marco lifted an eyebrow, and I decided to hell with propriety. I threw my arms around his neck and stretched up to kiss him. He wrapped an arm around my back and pulled me to his chest as he returned my kiss.

  Ruth squealed, and people began to clap and whistle.

  Marco lifted his head, radiating a happiness that I felt to the marrow of my being.

  Ruth started touching the small of my back, and I realized she was untying my apron strings. “I swear to God, Marco Roland,” she said, “if you don’t dance with this woman, right now, I’ll find a shotgun and shoot you myself.”

  Her threat was a little violent, but that was Ruth. Marco took it in stride and grinned. “Maybe I should clear it with her boss first.”

  “There you go again,” she said in disgust, tugging my apron free, “pretending like Max is in charge. Go.”

  Marco’s brow lifted in question.

  “You heard the woman,” I said with a laugh. “I didn’t just get you to let her shoot you. What if she hits some important bits?”

  Releasing a full-throated laugh, he wrapped an arm around my back and swung me out into the dance area.

  Several people cheered as Marco whirled me around, and I realized many of them were customers at the restaurant. We danced for several songs until the band stopped playing and announced a country band would be playing next.

  “I had no idea Max knew so many bands,” I said as we watched the band start to tear down.

  He shrugged. “We planned to open a music venue in Nashville. He knew music and groups back then. It stands to reason he still knows some.”

  “Why doesn’t he have them play at the tavern?” I rested a hand on his shoulder, still savoring that I could touch him like that.

  “He doesn’t think there would be much interest here. His customers are mostly men watchin’ sportin’ events at night. He figured it would flop.”

  “Maybe he needs to rethink that.” I made a face. “Speaking of Max, I should probably check in with him and see if he needs me for anything.” I let my hand slide down to rest on his pec, noticing the two top buttons of his shirt were undone. “Have you eaten?”

  He grinned. “Is that some sort of come-on?”

  I laughed and looked up into his dancing eyes. “It’s a legitimate question.” I gave him a sultry stare. “I’m worried about your stamina for later.”

  He laughed too, lifting me up, and I released an involuntary squeal as he swung me around in a circle. “Don’t you be worryin’ about my stamina.”

  “I’m gonna take that as a no about eating already,” I said. “Let’s go get you some dinner.”

  I led him over to the food table. Ruth had abandoned the serving table, but there were still a few foil-wrapped hot dogs and burgers in the warming dishes. I handed him a paper plate, and he grabbed a hamburger, then glanced over at me.

  “Have you eaten yet?”

  “No, but Max probably still needs me to work.” />
  He grabbed another hamburger and put it on his plate.

  I shook my head with a grin. “I’m going to go find Max. Find a place to sit, and I’ll be over when I can.”

  He leaned over and kissed me. “I’ll save you a seat.”

  Max was over at the bar, refilling beer cups by himself. Had Wyatt left while Marco and I were dancing?

  “Sorry I abandoned my post,” I said as I motioned to the dance area. “But Ruth pushed me out there.”

  “I’m not sorry,” Max said, grinning from ear to ear. “That’s the best thing I’ve seen all night. As far as I’m concerned, you’re officially off the clock.”

  I made a face. “That doesn’t seem right.”

  “Don’t you worry, Ruth is too. I had her put the food table on the honor system. In fact, as soon as some of these rowdy teens take off, the bar will be too.” He winked. “But for now, I’ve got to make sure those kids don’t sneak some cups of beer.” He gestured to a group of boys, which included Ricky Crimshaw.

  I was surprised Rob had let him out of his watchful eye, but then I realized I didn’t see Rob anywhere.

  Max grabbed a cup and started to fill it. “As soon as I hand you these beers, I’m gonna need you to walk away. You and Marco were on fire out there, and I don’t want anyone thinkin’ you’re hittin’ on me. All the Marly lovers will have my hide.”

  “Excuse me?” I asked with a laugh.

  “That’s what they call you two,” he said. “There were bets on when you’d finally go public. Pickle won, by the way, so you might make him buy you a drink later with his winnings.”

  I stared at him in shock, then laughed. “I’ll do that.”

  He held out the full cup and reached for an empty one.

  “Just a water for me. You might need me later.”

  “Come on, Carly,” he said, filling it anyway. “You’re off for the night, and even if you do help with something, one beer’s not gonna make you drunk.”

  “Okay,” I relented, because a beer did sound good. “But I want a bottle of water too.”