“She does feel safe,” Kreskin argued. “Women like to be dramatic. This is your first time living with one. You’ll get used to it.”
Nick grinned. “I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy.”
“Yeah, that constant smile on your face tipped me off to that weeks ago,” Kreskin said. “I just hope you’re not always this sappy. At a certain point you’ve got to man up and admit that your woman drives you crazy like the rest of us. Those are the rules of being a man.”
“I’ll take it under consideration.”
21
Twenty-One
“Is this it?” Maude glanced around the small area, her nose wrinkled, and placed her hands on her hips. “This just won’t do.”
Maddie followed her grandmother’s gaze, confused. Maude’s preparation station for the pageant – essentially a chair in front of a mirror in the locker room of the high school – looked exactly like everyone else’s. Maddie realized that was probably the problem. “Granny, they can’t give you special treatment,” she said. “How would that look to the other contestants?”
“I’m the star, though.”
“Yes, but you can’t be given star treatment because everyone else will be jealous,” Maddie pointed out.
“I guess,” Maude grumbled, hopping into the chair and staring at her reflection. “Where is the rest of my team? I’m ready to be glammed up.”
“Christy is picking up a few supplies from the salon and is on her way,” Maddie answered. “I’m not sure where Chelsea went, but we’re at the high school so she might’ve run into a few friends. I guess you’re stuck with me.”
Maude crossed her arms over her chest. “I’m still mad at you.”
“I know you are,” Maddie said, resting against the counter and locking gazes with her grandmother. “I’m sorry I’ve been so distracted this week. I didn’t mean it. Discovering Andrea’s body in the lighthouse wasn’t something I expected to happen.”
“That’s not true,” Maude protested. “You saw her ghost in the window and that’s why you dragged Nick back there. You knew you would find something. Don’t bother denying it.”
Maddie’s eyes darted around, worry over someone overhearing them washing over her. “Granny, you can’t say things like that so loudly. People might hear you and then what would happen?”
“We’re the only ones here,” Maude argued. “Don’t be a pill.”
“I know you’re feeling neglected, and I’m truly sorry,” Maddie said. “What did you expect me to do?”
“I expected you to take me on your adventures,” Maude replied, not missing a beat.
Maddie faltered. “What?”
“You took Christy on two adventures,” Maude said. “I didn’t even get to go on one.”
“What adventures? Are you talking about when we jogged up to the lighthouse?” Maddie was legitimately confused. “Granny, it was too hot for anyone to jog up there that day. I didn’t want to go myself. Christy made me.”
“You still went without me.”
“I’m sorry,” Maddie said, holding her hands up. “I didn’t realize you wanted to go with us. We’ll make sure to take you next time we go running.”
“I don’t want to jog,” Maude complained. “I just want to be invited.”
“Duly noted.”
“Besides, that’s not the only time you left me out of your plans,” Maude said. “You also didn’t invite me when you spied on David Bennet in front of the library. That was right up my alley. You know how stealthy I am. I could be a ninja.”
Maddie knew nothing of the sort, but she wasn’t going to argue with her grandmother when she was this worked up. “Do you want to know the truth?”
“I already know the truth,” Maude said, making a face. “You’re embarrassed to be seen with me and that’s why you never invite me on your adventures.”
“That is not true at all,” Maddie argued. “I love you, Granny. You’re the only family I have left other than Nick. I couldn’t stand it if something happened to you. I didn’t invite you because I wanted to protect you.”
“It was the middle of the day,” Maude snapped. “David Bennet was never going to make a move in front of the library in the middle of the day. Someone would’ve seen him.”
“Not that,” Maddie said. “It’s been too hot, Granny. I know you like to think that you’re invincible, but you’re not. The heat index is well above a hundred degrees today and it has been for most of the week. That’s not safe for you. I’ve already lost my mother. I’m not going to lose you, too.”
Maude lifted her eyebrows, surprised. “Is that why you left me out?”
“Yes.”
“Oh, well, that I can live with,” Maude said, suddenly chipper. “You should have told me that from the beginning. I’ve been saying horrible things about you because I thought you were embarrassed to hang around with me because of the pageant.”
Maddie rolled her eyes. “Granny, I have no idea why you’re doing this pageant, but I stand behind your choices,” she said. “If this is what you want to do, then I want you to do it. Not only that, but I want you to win. The only thing that will embarrass me is if you’re a poor sport.”
“I’m going to be a poor sport if I lose to Harriet,” Maude said.
“Well, we’ll figure out a way to make her look worse so it won’t be an issue,” Maddie said.
“Now you’re talking!”
Maddie couldn’t help but smile. “I love you, Granny.”
“I love you, too, Maddie girl,” Maude said, her expression softening. “I’m sorry I was mean to you.”
“I lived to tell the tale, so we’re good.”
“Now you have to help me get ready,” Maude said. “I’m going to take Blackstone Bay by storm tonight. I can’t wait to share my crown with you.”
“I’m looking forward to it, too.”
“GET OUT of my way! Coming through! I’m running late.”
Nick stepped to the side so Christy could rush past him, smirking when he saw her arms laden with supplies. “Do you need help carrying that?”
“No,” Christy scoffed. “I … .” The top bag started slipping and Nick reached out and snagged it before it hit the floor.
“Do you need help carrying that?” Nick tried again, fighting to swallow his smile and failing miserably.
“Yes, please,” Christy said, making a face as Nick grabbed a few more items off the top of her stack and followed her toward the locker room.
“How are things inside?” Nick asked, glancing around. “Is Maddie with Maude? I haven’t seen her since I got here.”
“She’s supposed to be,” Christy answered. “I can’t be sure they didn’t kill each other in my absence, but that’s my guess.”
“Did they fight all afternoon?”
“Not really,” Christy replied. “Maddie slipped out to your meadow for about an hour with Chelsea Johnson. When she got back, she insisted on using Chelsea as Maude’s assistant. I think she was trying to give her something to do while forcing Maude to be nice at the same time. Even Maude can’t pitch a fit when a teenager who just lost her mother is in the room.”
Nick smirked. “Do you know what Chelsea and Maddie talked about?”
“Maddie didn’t really say, but I think it had something to do with David Bennet’s arrest,” Christy said. “I think Chelsea thought she was going to magically feel better when she could officially blame someone. That’s not always how these things work out.”
“No,” Nick agreed.
“Did you find anything to clear David today?” Christy asked, studying the hard planes of Nick’s face. “Don’t look so surprised. Maddie told me you weren’t convinced of David’s guilt, and I have to say I agree with you. I’ve never once heard about him turning violent.”
“We’re looking into a few things, but I can honestly say that David is not guilty,” Nick said. “The problem is that the prosecutor believes he is guilty, and that’s going to create a big mess
when things shake out. For now, David is stuck in jail and I’m here to watch the pageant.”
“It’s going to be wonderful,” Christy said. “Maude is going to be the hit of the event. Although, I’m not going to lie, I’m dying to see what Harriet has come up with. It’s like a train wreck. I just can’t not look.”
“I think that’s the way the entire town feels,” Nick said. “The gymnasium is full.”
“I think that’s the first time in the history of the trout queen pageant that we can say that,” Christy said, reaching for the handle to the locker room. “You can’t come in here. Beautiful women of all ages – literally – are running around half-naked. I know you’re a cop, but you need to control your urges.”
Nick scowled, causing Christy to beam.
“Do you want me to send Maddie out?” Christy asked.
“No. Let her spend some time with Maude. Tell her I’ll get us good seats for the show and to meet me out there. I’m assuming you’ll be backstage for the entire event and don’t need a seat, right?”
“I’ve got an important timetable to keep,” Christy said. “I won’t be out in front. Make sure you take a lot of photos.”
Nick held up his cell phone. “Win or lose, this is one of for the photo books.”
“Oh, we’re going to win,” Christy said. “I can feel victory in the air.”
“And here I thought that was the scent of Clearasil because we were in the high school gym,” Nick teased, waving at Christy before cutting to his left and heading into the gym. The place was packed, but he found reserved seats near the front for Maddie and him and settled in for a long night.
Nick stretched his long legs out in front of him and leafed through the program with a wide grin. He was lost in his own little world when the chair next to him shifted. Nick raised his eyes, a smile on his lips because he was expecting to see Maddie. His face fell when he recognized Cassidy.
“That’s Maddie’s seat.”
“I’m not trying to steal Maddie’s seat,” Cassidy shot back, making a disgusted face. “You don’t have to worry about people thinking we’re together, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
Unlike Maddie, Nick wasn’t convinced Cassidy was entirely over the dumping situation. In truth, he’d handled it exactly the wrong way. He wasn’t proud of himself. He also wasn’t in the mood to play games. “I’m not worried about that,” he said. “No one would believe I’m with you instead of Maddie.”
Cassidy scowled. “You don’t have to be mean,” she said. “You’ve already embarrassed me in front of the whole town. I’m not trying to get between you and Maddie, no matter what you might think.”
“I didn’t embarrass you,” Nick countered. “I handled things like a total coward. I’ve already admitted that to you. I feel badly for what I did. I do not feel badly for following my heart, so you can save your wounded pride bit for someone who believes stuff like that. Oh, look, there’s Marla. I’m sure she would love to hear about what a jerk I am.”
“I’m not hanging around with Marla,” Cassidy sneered. “I know that she was only friends with me because she wanted dirt on you. I’m not an idiot. Your friends explained everything to me out at the Denton house before that crazy guy kidnapped me.”
“Yes, while you were watching Maddie and me in bed,” Nick reminded her, causing Cassidy to redden.
“I’m sorry about that,” Cassidy said, adjusting her tone. “I really am. What I did that night was … unconscionable. I just … you never looked at me the way you look at Maddie. It took me forever to see it. I saw it that night.
“I know it doesn’t excuse what I did, but I’m glad I saw it,” she continued. “That’s what made me realize that you were not only never going to come back to me, but also incapable of loving me. You’ve always loved her.”
Nick’s expression softened. “It’s taken me time to get to the point where I can see how wrong I was while Maddie was gone,” he said. “I shouldn’t have been dating anyone when I knew I was in love with her.
“I didn’t think she was ever going to come home,” he said. “If I hadn’t been so hurt, I might have looked at the situation and seen it for what it was and realized something else was going on. It’s too late for that, though. I can’t go back in time.
“I can offer you sincere apologies, which I do wholeheartedly, but I’m also attaching a warning to it,” Nick said. “Whatever you do, don’t mess with Maddie. I’m not going to stand for it. I don’t care how much you hate her.”
“I don’t hate Maddie,” Cassidy said. “I really wanted to. I don’t think that’s a surprise to anyone. She saved my life, though. She could have run and left Max to kill me, but instead she stayed behind and risked herself. I won’t forget that.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“I just said I wouldn’t,” Cassidy hissed. “I have a really hard time conducting a civil conversation with you when you’re convinced I’m up to something. The only thing I want from you is information.”
Nick mutely studied her for a moment, finally giving in when he saw no malice reflected in her eyes. “I’m guessing you want to know about David.”
“He’s been charged with Andrea Johnson’s murder,” Cassidy said. “Everyone in town is talking about it. Did he admit to it?”
“No, and I don’t think he’s guilty,” Nick said. “Listen, it’s not my job to tell you how to handle this, but the prosecutor is the one who made the decision on charges. I honestly don’t think David killed her.”
Cassidy’s eyebrows nearly flew off her forehead. “But … he had her ring.”
“He claims that she took it off while they were having dinner on their third date,” Nick explained. “Apparently he voiced a question about whether or not she was still in love with her husband. Andrea took the ring off and left it on the table.
“While she was in the bathroom, David decided to grab it in case she changed her mind,” he continued. “When he started dating you he put it in his sock drawer because he didn’t want you discovering it and asking questions. He says he was going to find a way to get it to Chelsea, but this all happened first.”
Cassidy’s peaches-and-cream complexion darkened to a dusky red. “Are you saying I turned over evidence to you and he’s not guilty?”
“I can’t say with absolute certainty that he’s not guilty,” Nick clarified. “The medical examiner believes that David is too tall to deliver the trajectory of the wound that killed Andrea. He’s an expert for a reason. I have to believe him.”
“If that’s true, why is David still in jail?” Cassidy looked as if she was going to be sick.
“The prosecutor is not backing down despite what the medical examiner told him,” Nick said. “We’re stuck in the middle, so we’re going to keep investigating until we’re sure we have the right person.”
“Why are you here instead of chasing down leads?” Cassidy grew shrill. “Why are you letting an innocent man rot in prison when you should be helping him?”
“There’s nothing I can do right at this moment,” Nick replied, his hackles rising. “We’re continuing the investigation. That’s all I can tell you.”
“No, you’re here to see your girlfriend’s grandmother make a fool of herself,” Cassidy spat. “Keeping Maddie happy is more important than making sure an innocent man isn’t punished for a crime he didn’t commit.”
“Do you want to know what I think?”
“Not in the least.”
Nick narrowed his eyes. “I think you feel guilty for going through his things and finding that ring,” he said. “I think you convinced yourself when you found it that David was a murderer and you had to get away.
“That was smart on your part,” he continued. “Even if you felt you could trust him, that was a damning clue. Now that you’ve found out he’s not guilty, you’re twisting yourself into knots because you’re afraid he’s never going to forgive you for going through his things.
“He knows how we found
the ring, by the way,” Nick said. “He actually made a joke about it and said it was a ‘woman thing.’ Now, if you want to make up, I would spend the rest of the night thinking of an apology and then visit him tomorrow.
“I don’t really care what you do, though,” Nick said. “Whatever it is, you’re not going to be doing it near me. Do you understand what I’m saying?”
“Of course I do,” Cassidy said, her voice full of faux friendliness. “You’re saying you ruined another relationship for me. Thanks a lot!” Cassidy jumped to her feet and stormed down the aisle, breezing past Maddie as she picked her way through the chairs.
Maddie stopped when she was next to Nick and forced a smile. “That looks like it went well.”
Nick couldn’t muster the energy to smile back.
22
Twenty-Two
“Do you want to tell me what that was all about?” Maddie asked, taking the seat next to Nick and offering him a rueful smile. “Is she upset because she can’t be in the pageant, too?”
Despite himself, Nick chuckled. “I love you so much it hurts sometimes,” he said, grabbing her chin and giving her a soft kiss.
“I love you, too,” Maddie said. “You still didn’t tell me what that was all about and I’m dying to know.”
“I’m pretty sure you can figure out what that was about on your own, but I guess I’ll tell you anyway because that’s just the kind of boyfriend I am,” Nick said. “She approached me and I had an attitude from the start, which wasn’t smart. I thought she was going to try and sit next to me, but it turns out she only wanted to ask questions about David.”
“Why did you think she wanted to sit next to you?”
“I’m a handsome man, Mad. Women everywhere flock to me.” Nick winked to show he was kidding, but his face was grim.
“Well, I guess I’m going to have to get something that scares off birds since you’re mine,” Maddie replied, causing Nick to grace her with a genuine smile.
“I am yours,” Nick said, pushing her flaxen hair away from her face. “I can’t help it, Mad. She was so desperate to keep me with her that she did some truly nutty things when she realized I was going to break up with her. Even though she says she’s moved on … I’m leery.”
Grave Discovery Page 17
