A cheery waitress in her sixties came over with menus in hand. “Sit wherever you want.”
The walls of the diner were decorated with framed posters of Indiana State High School Basketball Hall of Fame inductees. Jake picked a booth with a print of Rick Mount hanging on the wall. Katherine slid over and made room for Jake, but he sat down across from her.
“Katz, if I sit next to you, it might hurt your ribs turning to look at me every time I say something intellectually stimulating.”
Katherine rolled her eyes. “Yeah, right.”
Jake read the description at the bottom of the poster and then explained in his own words, “Rick Mount was a high school legend. He was a big-time scorer and had this picture-perfect jump shot.”
Gazing around the diner, Katherine observed other posters of famous high school players. “It’s like a museum in here for high school legends,” she observed. “I hope this diner also has legendary food.”
The server came over and read the special—home-cooked chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes and gravy, and a dinner roll.
Katherine’s face lit up. “I’m famished. I’ll have that, please.”
“I’ll have the same.” The server started to leave and Jake called after her, “Sweet tea for the both of us. Thanks.”
“Sure thing,” she said.
After they finished their lunch, Katherine leaned over the table and took Jake’s hand. “I don’t know if you noticed it or not—with all these basketball stars staring at us—but there’s a pie menu written on the board.”
“Where?” Jake said turning in his seat.
“By the kitchen door.”
He squeezed her hand. “Do you see what I see?”
“Yes, coconut cream,” Katherine said, and then feigned a British accent, “Would you care for a piece of pie?”
Jake chuckled. “Katz, I don’t mean to hurt your feelings, but your impression is terrible. Better stick with your New York accent.”
“I beg to differ,” she said, pretending to be hurt.
When the server came back with their tab, Jake ordered the pie and coffee.
Katherine asked her, “Wasn’t there a basketball legend from Peace Lake?”
The server became very animated. “Yes, his ghost haunts the Lake.”
“I’ve heard about him from my friend Elsa. Sounds like his ghost has helped the town’s tourism,” Katherine said, amused and referring to the Indiana spirit-hunting website.
The server ignored the comment. “He was really talented, like Rick Mount,” she nodded toward the poster. “When I was a teenager, my parents and I went to all his games.”
“Rick Mount games? That’s really cool,” Katherine said.
“No, not Rick Mount. Evan Hamilton. He was Peace Lake’s superstar.”
Katherine gasped and turned uneasily in her seat.
“Is something wrong, Miss? You look like someone just walked over your grave.”
Jake said, “Is there a poster of Evan Hamilton here?”
“Yeah, up front. Behind the cash register.”
Jake picked up the tab. “Can we get the coffee and pie to go? Do I pay you or up front?”
The server answered, “I can ring you up front. Be there in a second.” She moved away from the table and headed to the kitchen.
Katherine lowered her voice and said excitedly, “E.H. The initials on the knife. Evan’s not dead. He’s my man in the woods.”
Jake and Katherine walked to the register and studied the picture.
Jake asked, “See any resemblance?”
“It’s hard to tell. I wish this print was in color.”
The server came over and heard the comment. “Oh, there’s a color photo right here.” She pointed to a glass-covered collage of photos on the check-out counter. “Right there,” she pointed.
Katherine inched closer. She studied the picture of a young man with so much promise—a marriage, possible children, and a career.
“Will that be all, folks?” the server asked, putting foam boxes in a bag.
“That’s it, thanks,” Jake said, handing her several bills. “Your gratuity is included.”
The server smiled. “You folks come back now.”
Katherine whispered to Jake. “It’s him. When I got used to his disfigurement and scars, I remember his brilliant green eye. I’ll never forget it in a million years.”
“Eye? He only had one eye?”
“Yes, the place where his left eye was supposed to be was closed with scar tissue. This is definitely him.”
Jake said, “Let’s blow this joint.”
They walked out of the restaurant hand-in-hand.
Jake began, “Your fake British accent brought back a memory to me.”
“Sherlock Holmes? Sometimes I think you read my mind.”
“No, I leave that to your cats,” Jake quipped, then quoted: ‘There is nothing more deceptive than an obvious fact.’”
“It wasn’t too obvious until I found the knife.”
“Do you want to go back to the cabin and find a quiet spot near the pond to eat our pie?”
“Sounds like a great idea, but first, we need to find a grocery store. Since Leonard is dead, I wonder if Evan—I finally have a name—has been fending for himself.”
“Better be speed-shopping, because in this heat, we’ll end up with melted coconut cream pie.”
“We can buy ice. I want to pick up groceries for Evan. I also need to buy stationery so I can write him a letter and explain that I’ll be delivering weekly supplies. I’m hoping he’ll come out of secret when he sees it’s just me.”
“Are you going to tell him you know his secret?”
“Yes. And I’m also telling him his secret is safe with me.”
“Katz, you really want to do this alone? I’d feel more comfortable if I came with you.”
“I’m sorry, Jake, but no. I don’t think Evan would hurt me, but just in case I’m wrong, I’ll take Miss Glock.”
Jake pulled Katherine into an embrace and kissed her. “I love you.”
“I love you, too.”
Chapter Nineteen
Katherine parked her new SUV in the graveled driveway of the cabin. She walked around to the passenger door and opened it. Evan Hamilton’s high school sweetheart, Marcia Harper Allen, got out.
Marcia asked nervously, “I know I’ve asked this question a million times, but please tell me again. Evan knows I’m coming?” She held a stack of faded envelopes bound together with a frayed satin ribbon.
Katherine smiled. “Yesterday when I was here, I told him. I also gave him the card you wanted me to deliver.”
“How did he react when he saw it?”
“Happy. He was happy. There’s a garden bench behind the cabin. It faces the pond. Give me a sec and we’ll head that way.”
“Where is he?” Marcia asked, looking around.
“He’s where he feels most comfortable—in the woods.”
“How will he know I’m here?”
“He knows already. I’m sure he’s watching us this very moment.”
“Ok, but . . .”
“When you see a large crow fly overhead and he lands close by, that’s a sign that Evan’s near. The crow is Evan’s pet.”
“I love birds,” Marcia said. “When I lived in New Mexico, my late husband and I were avid birders.”
Katherine walked to the back of the SUV and lifted the hatch. She grabbed a medium-sized dry-erase board and two markers. She explained, “Evan and I communicate with this.”
“Great idea.”
Katherine looked in the woods and saw a glimpse of Evan, but knew he was taking his time before making his appearance. “Okay, I’m ready now,” she said, closing the hatch. “Let me show you the pond.”
The two walked to the front of the cabin—to the newly purchased garden bench—and sat down. The cicadas were singing their song, then quickly fell silent. The early morning fog was lifting and formed a mist over the pond
. A mama duck and her ducklings waddled into the water and swam away, quacking.
Marcia said, “It’s breathtaking. What an incredible view.”
Katherine began, “I rented the cabin until Leonard Townsend’s estate closes, then I’m buying the cabin and the surrounding woods, so you’re welcome to stay or come out here any time you want.”
Marcia’s face lit up in surprise. “It’s a lovely place, but why aren’t you staying here?”
“I’ve had my share of mother nature,” Katherine replied somewhat ruefully. “I want to preserve the woods; there’s little over four hundred acres.”
“That’s a magnificent idea. If I do stay here, I’ll insist on paying rent.”
“I’m sure we can work something out,” Katherine said, then gently switched the subject. “Evan is very sensitive about his scars, but mostly about his missing eye. He’s afraid you’ll freak out when you see him.”
“I’m prepared for a shock,” Marcia said seriously, then added, “I think I’ve already had the shock of my life when you told me a man I thought was dead was very much alive. I’m a trained nurse, so I’ve pretty much seen everything.”
“That’s good to know.”
“We dated all through high school. We were going to be married,” Marcia reminisced. She toyed with the stack of envelopes. A yellow butterfly landed on top of them.
“What are those?” Katherine asked.
“I kept the letters Evan wrote me while he was in Vietnam. Did you know Evan won an athletic scholarship to play college basketball? He also wanted to study to become a doctor.”
“What did Evan do in the army?”
“He was a medic.”
Katherine’s jaw dropped, then she recovered. “That explains why he took such good care of me. I was in so much pain when he pulled me out of my car wreck. He gave me pain meds.”
“I can imagine that he was a very good medic. He was very compassionate about the welfare of people and animals. If only Evan would have contacted me when he got back to the states, I would have taken care of him. Where does he live? He doesn’t just sleep in the woods, does he?”
“He said he has a number of cabins he stays in, but he’s been using this cabin to take showers. I think he’s getting used to it, because he’s been sleeping here, as well. I guess I should have told you earlier when I said you could stay here.”
“What does he do for food and clothes?”
“Have you ever heard of Tom Hamilton?”
“Yes, I know Tom. He’s Evan’s cousin.”
“Tom owns the Peace Lake grocery store and now delivers food and supplies twice a week.”
“That’s such an act of kindness, but who pays for it? Over time that would be a lot of money.”
“Initially, Evan’s uncle, I mean the late Leonard Townsend, financed it.”
“I was sorry to hear about Leonard. We called him Lenny. He was ten years older than Evan, and the two of them were thick as thieves.”
“I learn something every day.” Katherine changed the subject. “I bought Evan new clothes.”
“No, you didn’t?” Marcia looked amazed.
“I didn’t have a clue what size to buy him, but my fiancé, Jake, figured it out. They met last week. Jake also gave him a haircut. We bought him sunglasses and teased him that he looks like Roy Orbison.”
“Katz, you have paved your way to heaven.”
Katherine became serious. “In Indy there are prosthetic specialists and plastic surgeons that can help Evan, but we’ll have to convince him to go for a consultation.”
“I think I’ve got some of the bases covered. First thing I need to do is contact the Veterans Administration. I have to prove that Evan didn’t die in Vietnam.”
Katherine said carefully, “Marcia, the VA already knows. I don’t know how to break this to you, but Evan was honorably discharged after combat service.”
“What?” Marcia asked, shocked. “But why did his family tell everyone he was dead?”
“They didn’t completely lie. Evan was in a terrible explosion. He was severely injured and in an Army hospital for a long time. He lived in the Philippines for many years and moved back to Peace Lake in 2010. Leonard and Tom made arrangements so that Evan could live here in secret.”
“Oh, you wait until I see Tom Hamilton. I’m going to give him a piece of my mind,” Marcia said angrily.
“I wouldn’t if I were you. Tom would be in quite a pickle if the townspeople knew the haunting of Peace Lake by Evan Hamilton was a big hoax. For now, we need to protect Evan’s privacy and keep his whereabouts secret. Okay?”
Marcia nodded. “Yes, of course, Katz. What was I thinking?”
A large crow flew overhead and landed three feet from the bench. He shifted from side-to-side, and hopped up and down. “Caw . . . caw . . . caw.”
“Oh, Katz,” Marcia said, “Maybe this isn’t such a good idea. I’ve gotten older, and I’m not as trim as when I was a girl. What if—”
Evan walked up behind the bench and put his hand on Marcia’s shoulder.
Katherine got up to make room for him. She noticed he was wearing the new khaki shirt and jeans she’d bought him. He’d shaved and had the sunglasses on. His silver hair glistened in the morning sun. Since she had gotten used to him, he looked handsome.
Marcia got up slowly and turned to greet him.
They stood looking at each other, then Marcia collapsed in his arms, sobbing. Evan held her close and was stroking the back of Marcia’s hair, comforting her.
Walking to the cabin, a happy tear slid from Katherine’s eye. She went inside and poured herself a glass of lemonade. By the time she got to the screened-in porch, Evan and Marcia were sharing the bench, passing the writing board back and forth. Suddenly, Katherine felt a need to see Jake—right away. She just wanted to hold him and tell him how much he meant to her. Then, she’d sign the prenuptial agreement, and they could set the wedding date. Cora, future mother-in-law, could host the reception. Problem solved!
Chapter Twenty
Katherine was just finishing hand-washing the Haviland china cat dishes when she heard the front doorbell clang. She dried her hands and hurried to answer the door. She’d been expecting Jake and wondered why he’d rung the bell. Usually he disabled the house alarm with his cell and would come right in. She wondered who it could be. Scout and Abra seemed to know. The Siamese zigzagged in front of her, muttering to each other.
“Okay, you two. Explain what’s going on—in English, please,” Katherine kidded.
Scout cried an emphatic, “Waugh,” which seemed to say “hurry up.”
Once at the door, Katherine cautioned the cats, “Stay back from the door.” Opening it, she was surprised to see Barbie Sanders. Barbie’s face was flushed and her eyes were swollen.
“Come in. What’s wrong?” Katherine asked.
Barbie walked into the parlor and sat on the settee. Katherine took a chair opposite her.
“It’s the kittens.” Barbie began to cry.
“What about the kittens?” Katherine asked, suddenly terrified that something horrible had happened to them.
Barbie reached inside her Coach bag and drew out a tissue. Sniffling, she said, “Ever since I took the kittens home, Dewey howls all the time. He won’t eat; he won’t sleep. I took him to the vet and she said he was depressed.”
“Depressed. Why?”
“He misses your cats. I’m sure of it.”
Iris trotted in and jumped on Barbie’s lap. She reached up with her paw and brushed a tear away. “You’re so sweet, Iris.” Barbie cried more and Iris got down, not knowing what was wrong with the woman who had rescued her.
Barbie continued, “One of my neighbors—and I don’t know which one —called the police. They accused me of abandoning my baby during the day, leaving it unattended while I was away. Can you believe that?”
“Some Siamese can be very vocal, and sound like human infants.”
“Ma-waugh,” Scout agreed fr
om the next room.
“I hope you explained to the police you have two Siamese.”
“I did,” Barbie said. “The whole time he was asking me questions, Dewey was yowling at the top of his lungs. The cop said that if I didn’t stop the noise, my neighbors could sue me, and my landlord could evict me.”
“Barbie, couldn’t you give your landlord notice and move to another apartment?”
“Katz, that doesn’t solve the problem. I’m sure Dewey would howl wherever I moved.”
“I’m so sorry,” Katherine consoled, but idly wondered what it would be like to have seven cats.
Jake let himself in and came into the room with a big smile on his face. “Hey, Barbie,” then his expression turned to concern. “Has something happened? Why are you crying?”
Katherine explained the landlord situation.
Barbie said in a quiet, sad voice, “I have to re-home my darlings. Katz, I hate to ask you this, because of everything that you’ve done for me, but would you—”
Jake blurted, “We’ll take them. Where are they?”
Katherine’s smile broadened in approval. “Yes, Barbie, Dewey and Crowie have a forever home at the pink mansion.”
Barbie got up, ran over to Katherine, and gave her a hug.
Katherine said, “Ouch! Not so tight.”
“Oh, ha! Ha! I’m sorry,” Barbie apologized, then she said to Jake, “They’re in my car. We’d better bring them in, because it’s so hot outside.”
Jake was already at the door, rushing out to Barbie’s new red Mustang. Barbie and Katherine quickly followed.
Katherine said to Barbie, “I see you finally got your car back.”
“And my bag,” Barbie said, nodding at her Coach bag.
Jake opened the door and dragged out the cat carrier. Dewey was shrieking at the top of his lungs. “Mao! Mao!”
“See what I mean?” Barbie said.
“Better say good-bye, Barbie,” Jake advised. “These little guys are hot. Gotta get them inside.”
Barbie leaned down and said to the kittens, “I love you, my little buddies.” Crowie rubbed his face on the grill of the cat carrier; Dewey retreated to the back.
As Barbie walked to her car, Katherine said, “You can come and see them any time. Call me! Text me! I’ll send you pics.”
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