No Time for Goodbye

by Marion Myles

  “Beyond Brooke and Ashley, I can’t think of a single person. I might have considered Tony, but he said he didn’t know. In fact, he was more shocked than anyone when I told the family the other night.” He shook his head and putting his elbows on the table, slumped down. “Man, I really thought this pregnancy news was the break I’d been hoping for, but all it is is another dead end.”

  Reaching across, she closed her hand over his. “I’m so sorry, Roman. I still believe it means something because otherwise why would I have seen it?”

  “I don’t know. You said random things come to you. It could be just that, completely random.”

  “I wonder why she did the pregnancy test at work? Do you think that other waitress, Mary, knew about it? Not that it matters but still an interesting question.”

  Straightening up, he turned his hand under hers and linked their fingers together. “Yeah, it can’t hurt to check that out too. Okay, no more Anita talk tonight. I need to decompress.”

  She pulled her hand free and stood to gather the plates. “Sure, absolutely. Let’s take the dogs for a walk. It’s going to be a beautiful sunset. I can just tell.”

  Their view from the porch was spectacular with rays slanting low and producing pink and orange streaks across the sky. Light filtered through the trees at the back of the property and turned the brook into a painter’s palette infusing the water with hues of red and gold. In the background, a chorus of crickets sang their approval.

  All the dogs romped. Ecstatic to be out in the sweet evening air, they chased one another through the grassy field and with noses down, followed scents among the trees. Back out in the open, a hawk circled, hunting. Tucker, taking his presence as a personal affront, leapt into the air, barking ferociously. His actions had zero effect on the bird of prey, but he seemed well pleased with himself and jostled against Layla, smiling his doggy smile.

  Mia breathed deeply, tipped her head back and gazed up at the sky. “Nothing can beat a night like this,” she said.

  “I’ve always been a town guy. I like having neighbors, knowing them enough to say ‘hey, how’s it going?’ I like walking half a block to grab a coffee or a sandwich at lunch, but this beats all. The land and the colors and the sense of it happening just for my pleasure. It’s pretty freaking great, isn’t it?”

  “Yeah. I love it. I knew as soon as I could manage, I’d get a place in the country. The city life is so not for me.”

  “Which cities have you lived in?”

  “Here and there. Nowhere special.” She shrugged nonchalantly before lifting her arm to point over his shoulder. “Oh, look, the moon’s rising. Not a full one, but a solid three-quarters.”

  “It’s not a hard question, Mia.”

  “We should probably start heading back.” She let out a whistle. “Mac, Layla, let’s go. Time to go home. Come on, guys.”

  Mac came bounding up with Fifi half a length behind. A few seconds later, Layla and Tucker raced over to join them. Mia had only managed to walk a few steps before Roman grabbed her arm.

  “Why won’t you tell me where you’ve lived? Surely it’s not a state secret?” he pressed.

  She looked down at his hand on her arm then across the field to where the sun was dropping below the horizon. “The past isn’t important. Where I’ve lived isn’t important. I prefer to stay in the present.”

  He took her shoulders and turned her to face him. “What the hell happened to you that makes you so afraid?”

  “Nothing happened to me. I make my own way in this life. My own choices. I know you have this idea I’m some kind of victim, but I’m not.” Reaching up she gently pushed back a lock of hair from his forehead. “You need to accept the fact that you and I are never going to happen. I’m sorry for it because you’re a great guy, but I want you to back off.”

  She walked away, striding up a small rise with her dogs flocking around her and the dramatic sky framing her silhouette.

  The longing hit him like a punch to the solar plexus. Why the hell did he want her so much? It defied logic. She was good looking—that was true enough—but not especially his type since he’d gravitated to willowy brunettes in the past. At times she was prickly and evasive and seemed to have no trouble turning him down. She’d told him no at least a handful of times, and yet it seemed to make no difference to him.

  Come on, he growled inside his head, you’re making a fool of yourself. It’s time to move on.

  Chapter Eighteen

  The next morning, with Roman back in town at the police station, Mia admitted it had been a tough night. Having him sleeping in the spare room—knowing he was just steps away and glad to welcome her under the sheets—had been the worst kind of temptation. Especially now that she knew first-hand how much pleasure they could bring to one another.

  If only he could be casual instead of getting all intense about everything. Most guys would give their left arm to have a no-strings-attached sexual fling with a willing woman, but not Roman. Figures I went and picked him out of the herd.

  She sighed. It would be cruel to sleep with him again knowing how he felt. She couldn’t do it. Could she? No. It was wrong. She was a better person now. Damn. Living the straight life was harder than she’d thought.

  Using iron-willed control to rein in her distracted mind, Mia concentrated on crafting her jewelry. Still, when her cell phone signaled in the afternoon, she pounced on it.

  “Hello, Brooke. How are you?” Mia said.

  “I’m fine. Are you busy?”

  “I don’t have to be.”

  “That’s good. I wondered if you wanted to meet for coffee?”

  “Um…sure, okay. What time?”

  “Now would be great if that works for you. I’m at Gabe’s dinner.”

  “Now would be fine. I’ll put myself together and see you in twenty minutes.”

  Once at the diner, a hostess Mia hadn’t seen before showed her to Brooke’s table. Brooke smiled up at her.

  “Thanks for coming. It’s been a pretty rough day, and I could use a friendly ear.”

  Mia easily sensed the sadness. It radiated out from Brooke in steady waves. She slid in across from her, reached out and closed her hand over the one clenched on the table. “Did something happen?” she asked.

  “No, not really. Well, sort of. I came from…” Brooke paused and pulled her hand from under Mia’s when the waitress approached.

  “What can I get you?” the woman asked Mia.

  “Mint tea, please.”

  “Sure, hon. You want a top up?” She motioned to Brooke’s cup of coffee.

  Brooke shook her head. “No, thanks. I’m still working on it.”

  When they were alone again, Mia raised her eyebrows at Brooke and motioned for her to continue.

  Brooke exhaled and clasped her arms across her chest, hugging herself. “I was called down to the police station. They wanted to talk to me again. That’s where I heard about Anita being pregnant. Since you’ve been helping Roman investigate, I guess you knew.” She raised her eyes to meet Mia’s.

  Mia tilted her head. “Yeah, I heard. You really didn’t know before?”

  “No.” Brooke’s face dissolved, and tears began dripping down her cheeks. “I can’t understand why she didn’t tell me. I was her closest friend. She must have been so scared. Why didn’t she say something when we had lunch that day? Her being distracted makes so much sense now.”

  “I don’t know, Brooke. I’m sure she was planning to tell you. I guess it was so new. It sounds like she and Luke barely had time to talk it through themselves.”

  The waitress reappeared. When her eyes flicked to Brooke, she said nothing, simply sliding the mug in front of Mia before silently departing.

  Now Brooke was the one reaching out. She clutched Mia’s hand. “That must have been why she was killed. Otherwise, the police wouldn’t be asking about it. Do you think it was Luke?”

  Mia shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I’m sure the police are following every l
ine they can.”

  Brooke swiped at her eyes with her free hand, her lips trembling. “I know it was a long time ago, but ever since they found her in the conservation park last week, it feels like it’s happening all over again. I miss her so much.”

  “It must be awful,” Mia said in a soothing voice. “I’ve never had a close girlfriend, so I can only imagine how hard this is for you. I’m sorry for your loss.”

  “If she hadn’t been killed, the baby would be nine years old by now. I can’t stop thinking about it. I wonder if it was a boy or girl.”

  “From the sounds of things, it was far too early to tell.”

  “She always wanted children. We talked about it a bunch of times. Once she was done with college and she and Luke were married, she told me she was hoping for three, but wouldn’t rule out four. I know being pregnant before college wasn’t her plan. Still, I have to believe she would have been happy about it.”

  The grief was overpowering now. Mia let her eyes slide away from Brooke for a moment. She saw Mrs. Bird from the post office sitting with her husband and sharing a pot of tea. Gabriel came out from the kitchen, a dish towel slung over his shoulder and a ready smile on his face.

  “Every child is a blessing,” Mia said, finding it difficult to look away from Gabriel. Finally, she turned back to the sobbing blond woman. “You’re right, I’m sure Anita would have been happy.”

  Brooke nodded several times and released Mia’s hand, then grabbing a napkin. She blew her nose and wiped her eyes. “Everyone keeps telling me I should get past it. I think my mom and my other friends think I’m purposely wallowing in the grief. I’m not. I swear it. I just can’t seem to let Anita go.”

  “I obviously didn’t know Anita, but I’ve heard so much about her. She sounds like the kind of person who embraced life and was always looking to the future. I have to guess she wouldn’t like seeing you this way. Don’t you think she’d want you out there living your life to the fullest? If you had died, would you want her to still be so sad?”

  Brooke blew out a breath. “I know. People have told me that before. For some reason, hearing it from you, right now, feels different. Like it’s actually true. Thanks for talking to me. You’re really nice. I’m sorry for being such a mess.” She blew her nose again then swiped her arm through the air. “Okay. I’m all right now. No more crying.”

  After that, they talked about easy things. Brooke took all the pressure away from Mia having to make conversation because she was happy to chat about anything and everything. She explained her plans for the fall dance gala and once again urged Mia to join her adult beginner class. Brooke also asked about the process of making jewelry and wanted to know the history of each of Mia’s dogs.

  Mia found it relaxing whiling away an hour with the other woman. She was warm and funny and didn’t seem predisposed to asking a lot of personal questions about her past. Maybe, if things worked out, she and Brooke would become good friends. Maybe they’d meet for lunches and dinners and talk just like this. The idea of it filled Mia with a warm glow. It would be fun to have a girlfriend.

  “Is it true you and Roman are having a thing?”

  Brooke’s question jolted her from her daydream. “I…um…no. We’re not,” she managed at last.

  “That’s too bad because I think you’d be great together. Well, okay, I don’t actually know you very well, but I have this feeling you guys would really hit it off. Oh, of course…” She slapped her forehead dramatically. “You probably already have a boyfriend. I’d have heard if it was someone from around here, so you must be doing the long distance thing. That’s got to be hard. Will he move here?”

  Mia’s head started to spin. Had it only been a moment ago she’d thought conversation with Brooke was easy?

  “No long distance thing and no boyfriend. I’m single and happy to stay that way.”

  “I’m sorry.” Brooke giggled. “Okay, not entirely sorry but still, I know I can be pushy. Let me just say you should think about Roman. He’s one of the good guys. I think maybe the thing with Anita turned him darker than he would have been otherwise, but he’s still rock solid.”

  “You’re sure doing a great selling job on him. How come you two never dated?”

  “I don’t know exactly. It’s not like I don’t look at him and think oh yum. Somehow though, we never went in that direction. Who knows, if things had been different maybe we would have, but I don’t think it would’ve lasted. I’m a firm believer in the power of the gut. Mine never said a peep when he was around.”

  “But it turned into Chatty Kathy whenever Tony showed up?”

  Brooke paused and stared down at her cup of cold coffee. “You listen too much.”

  “Oh, it’s okay for you to put me through the ringer over Roman, but when it comes to Tony you’re practically mute?”

  “Yeah, well, for me I guess he was the one who got away. And now it feels like it’s too late. With some things you just can’t go back, you know?”

  “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to bring up a difficult subject.”

  “No worries. It’s old news.” Brooke checked her watch and pushed the mostly full mug away from her. “That’s my cue to go. I’ve got a class in fifteen. Thanks for coming, Mia. Talking to you helped more than you can know. And about Roman, maybe you should give him another look.”

  Mia shook her head and waved Brooke off. She sat a moment longer, finishing her tea before she checked her watch. Almost four o’clock. Although she’d tried to dissuade him, Roman had insisted on staying at her house again to make sure she had no unwanted visitors. She’d originally planned to cook, but since she was already at the diner, the idea of picking up something to bring home suddenly seemed a whole lot more appealing.

  At the take-out counter, she put in an order for two large salads, one topped with sesame chicken and the other garbanzo beans and lentils. She knew Roman would turn his nose up at salad, but if she also made herbed garlic bread and offered him some apple crumble for dessert, she figured he wouldn’t grouch too much.

  Gabriel pushed up from his stool behind the main counter and walked over to join her while she waited for her order. “How’s it going, young lady?”

  “Well enough. Are you having a good day?”

  “Always. Every day the Lord gives me breath is a good day. Will I see you at service on Sunday?”

  “Um…I’m not sure…”

  “Think about it. Everyone’s always so busy working on their minds and their bodies when the really important work takes place in the soul.”

  “I’m sure you’re right.” She glanced around, desperate to come up with another topic of conversation.

  “I’m sorry, dear. I can see I’m making you uncomfortable,” Gabriel said. “I don’t normally push so much, but with Anita being found, it’s on my mind. None of us ever know when we’ll be called from this earth, so it’s important to be prepared to meet our Lord.”

  “Yes, of course. Oh, look, my food is ready. I guess I’ll see you later.”

  “Take care. And no more lectures, I promise. I guess I’m feeling melancholy today.”

  She softened. He did look sad. “That’s okay. Thanks for caring enough to…well, thanks. I’ll see you later.”

  It wasn’t until she’d stepped over to the cash register and dug into her purse for her wallet that the vision came to her. All she could do was stand there and watch it play out.

  “Twenty-one dollars and seventeen cents. Mia. Are you okay? What’s wrong?”

  The woman came out from behind the counter and touched Mia’s shoulder. “I’m…it’s…I’m okay. Sorry, how much did you say?”

  With shaking hands, Mia counted out the money, reached for the containers of food, and held them to her chest. She paused by the door and slowly turned back, searching the diner for Gabriel. He’d returned to his usual spot behind the main counter.

  Nodding to a man on a stool, he pointed to the baked goods housed below the glass. The customer said something
. Gabriel reached down, producing a muffin the size of a small bowling ball. He placed it in front of the man. When Gabriel stepped back, his head came up, and his eyes met Mia’s. Smiling, he lifted his hand in a brief wave before turning back to the man on the stool.

  The skin at the back of her neck crawled like a skitter of spider legs. She pushed through the door and hurried to her SUV. In less than two minutes, she was parked in front of the Dalton Police station.

  * * *

  “Tell me again what Gabriel said to her,” Roman said.

  “I still can’t believe it. Surely it wasn’t him?”

  Mia’s hand rubbed back and forth across her jeans. Roman reached across the console and closed his hand over hers, stilling it. He waited until she brought her eyes up to meet his. “Don’t worry about any of that now. What’s important are the details of what he said to Anita.”

  She nodded briskly. “You’re right. Okay. What he said was, ‘No one of illegitimate birth shall enter the assembly of the Lord; none of his descendants, even to the tenth generation, shall enter the assembly of the Lord.’ That’s weird, right. It sounds like he’s quoting from the Bible or something.”

  “And you’re sure Anita told him she didn’t want to get married yet?”

  “Absolutely. And she was crying. That’s when he patted her arm and told her to take an extra-long dinner break.”

  Roman sat back against the seat and continued writing in his notebook. “Okay. That’s good,” he said when he clicked his pen and flipped the cover over on the small spiral pad. “Now all I have to do is figure out how to officially get him in here for questioning. I guess I’ll talk to Schmidt. Are you okay?”

  “To be honest, I feel kinda sick. I didn’t want it to be Luke, and that goes double for Gabriel. He’s always been so nice to me. It’s starting to feel like anyone around here could be Anita’s killer.”

  “Welcome to my world.”