I checked my watch as I paced near Cat’s booth. Her drawings of local dogs from the park had drawn a tremendous crowd of those seeking a familiar face of their own furry friend. When one would find their pooch immortalized in Cat’s image, they clapped with glee and instantly put in a bid for the drawing. What originally started out as a small silent auction offering, had quickly become the most popular booth of all. It was so popular, in fact, she and Foster had conferred and decided instead of auctioning them in one big lot they should auction each individual image. Then those who had a dog amongst the group drawings could bid to get just their dog. It was working because her booth hadn’t slowed all day.
In a few minutes, the winners of the auction would be announced and then we could leave. The hot June sun beat down on us and it was starting to wear me out. I still wanted to pack up my apartment and get some of the items moved to Cat’s, so Tabitha could start moving in. I have no reservations anymore about taking the plunge and moving in with Cat. She’s become a completely different woman this past week. She’s sexy and confident both in bed and out. She holds herself differently in her wheelchair and doesn’t shy away from situations she might otherwise try to avoid.
As the booth dwindled down to no one, and everyone was near the stage, they began announcing winners, so I grabbed hold of her wheelchair to hold her in place.
“You’re a rock star,” I said, bowing ever so much.
She grasped my forearms and stretched up for a kiss. “I don’t know about rock star, but the crowd today took me by surprise. I didn’t expect such an overwhelming positive reaction to my drawings. I had to take down the number of at least a dozen people who want me to do a portrait of their dog. I can hardly believe it.”
I kissed her and rocked her chair a little bit. “Believe it. Look at how thrilled mamá and dad were to get the drawing of Annabelle from you. My dad is still carrying it around showing everyone. He’s telling people his son’s girlfriend drew it. You certainly won him over, and that’s not easy to do.”
The smile on her face was bright and happy. “I couldn’t believe it when Marguerite teared up. I apologized for making her cry, but I’m not sorry the drawing was spot on enough to evoke such emotion from her.”
I stroked her face. “You have an eye for the emotions of animals as well as humans. Not everyone has the ability to paint emotion into an image. Your medium may seem simplistic to you, but to those who don’t have that talent, it means everything to them you loved their dog enough to draw it.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “As an artist, I draw what catches my eye or heart, but I can see your point of view. I’ve been drawing dogs from the park since Buster loved playing there.”
I kissed her again and then motioned one of the volunteers from the shelter over. When she arrived, I pointed at the display behind us. “I need to go be with Foster as he announces the completion of the addition. Would you watch the display so Cat can come with me?”
“Of course,” Natalie said. “I know your big moment is coming.” She clapped her hands in excitement and I thanked her, then pushed Cat through the crowd of people gathered near the stage. I love how she lets me push her chair now without telling me twenty times she can do it herself. I know she can do it herself, but in a way, it’s like we’re holding hands when I push her chair. I shared with her how pushing her chair made me feel as if I was taking care of her, and giving her a chance to rest and enjoy the world around her without worry. She may never understand how it makes me feel, but for me, it meant everything.
I pushed her up the ramp to sit next to the line of chairs on the stage and sat in a seat next to hers, taking her hand in mine. Cinn waved and I grinned, Mamá and Dad sitting next to her. Tabitha made her way up to the stage as Foster finished explaining the benefits and features of Dalton’s Doggie Daycare then motioned me over.
“Most of you know Lorenzo Dalton already. He’s a hometown boy who loves coaching Little League and playing baseball in his off time. What you may not know about him is his skilled woodworking and business acumen. He single-handedly managed, and built, the daycare and salon these past months. I encourage all of you to come to the open house next Wednesday at six p.m. to see the full extent of his abilities.”
The crowd clapped and my face warmed from the joy, and the embarrassment, of the moment. I took the microphone as the crowd died down and fell silent again.
“Thank you, Foster. As many of you know, my family has been integral in the Little Ivywood Humane Society for years, first my grandmother Mabel, then again when my sister Cinn married the illustrious director, Foster Kern. When I sketched out the design on a notepad at a bar a year ago, I didn’t know I’d be standing here in front of you having implemented and completed my design. I’m proud of the daycare and salon for one simple reason. I know Mabel is watching us and pleased as punch her grandchildren were able to bring to fruition a project of such importance for her second home. My sister, Tabitha, spearheaded a fundraising campaign and all of you answered in short order.” I dug in my pocket and tugged out a key with a silver ribbon. I motioned for my family and Foster to come forward, noticing Cat remained near the row of chairs with her chair brakes still on.
I flicked my gaze to Cinn who read my mind and helped her wheel toward us as I spoke. “I’ve never enjoyed a job the way I enjoyed this one. In fact, it didn’t feel like work, but rather a labor of love to benefit not only the pets of Little Ivywood, but our family. I hope it keeps the memory of Mabel alive in all of our hearts every time we wash Anabelle in the salon or find Brutus taking up a whole sleeping stall with just his head.”
The crowd pictured it and laughed as Brutus nudged Cat’s wheelchair. Once she had locked her brakes again he gave one loud woof. The crowd laughed harder and I stood at the podium proud of the wonderful people I called my family.
I motioned Foster forward. “It is with deep gratitude I present you with the key to Dalton’s Doggie Daycare. I do believe upon the transfer of this key, you are officially open for business.” I laid the key in his outstretched palm and he wrapped his hand around it, using his other hand to shake mine and then tugged me into a hug, patting me on the back.
“Job well done, Lorenzo. Mabel is watching and I know she’s thrilled with your devotion to her favorite place.”
I nodded, fighting back a few tears thinking about the woman we had mistakenly judged as uncaring when just the opposite was true. She had a secret life at the humane society, something we can be part of now in her death. “She was her own woman, but also a wonderful woman with a kind heart,” I said. “Thank you for trusting in my skills.”
Foster released me and shook his hand with the key in it. “I had no doubt you were the man for the job,” he said. “I can’t wait for everyone to see the addition; you’ll have more work than you know what to do with.”
“I hope so, Foster,” I said, moving aside so he could take the podium again. I stood near Cat while the photographer of the newspaper snapped some images of us all together. Foster introduced Cat before he read the winners of her silent auction. I squeezed her shoulders as I stood behind her, never prouder to be part of this wonderful community.
Chapter Twenty-Three
I held the door to Cat’s van open as she situated herself in the driver’s seat. “I’m going to stop at my apartment and pick up a few more things then meet you at home, okay?” I asked.
She leaned down and kissed my lips. “My heart just skipped a beat when you said home, Ren. Of course it’s okay. I’ll go home and start some dinner and we can eat when you get there.”
I kissed her again, “Sounds perfect. See you in an hour or so. Remember to reset the alarm, just in case.”
She nodded and I closed the door. She waved, backed out of the parking spot, and steered toward the main road of Little Ivywood. I planned to pack up the rest of my clothes in the few boxes I had saved from the humane society project. Once I moved those, the only thing left would be my woodworking tools. Tabitha planned to m
ove in next weekend, which gave me the rest of the week to empty the apartment and clean it. Since the only job I had to do now was Tabitha’s shop, I could take a few hours a day to get the place ready for her. I’d already cleared it with my landlady and she was thrilled my sister would be moving in. She would have a reliable renter and as a bonus, she could keep feeding a Dalton kid.
Foster waved me over to the van where he had loaded the tables from some of the displays. I jogged over and my sister joined him. “Hey, what’s up?” I asked as I approached.
Foster closed the door on the van and leaned on it. “I wanted to be sure you’d be at the tour for the grand opening. I’ve had a lot of people ask me about the recycled products we used and you know more about it than I do.”
“Sure, no problem. I’ll be working for Tabitha by then, so I’ll be there at say 5:30?” I asked and Foster nodded.
“Sounds awesome. I know there’ll be many influential people from the community there. You never know when someone has a project they need a foreman for.”
I held up my fingers. “Fingers crossed. I could use the work.”
Cinn leaned into her husband. “Tabitha said you sold the BMW.”
I rested on the bumper of the van figuring I was in for a long conversation. “I did. I got my full asking price and I put the money in the bank. It should be more than enough to get me off the ground as an independent contractor.”
“You’ve decided then,” she said and I shrugged.
“Considering I haven’t advertised and already have two more jobs lined up, I guess I’ve decided to try out working for myself. I have several guys interested in working for me if I get this off the ground, so I don’t see it being a problem.”
“Have you talked to Dad about it?” Cinn asked. “You know he’s going to notice the BMW is gone at some point.”
I chuckled softly. “He’s been asking, and I’ve been able to avoid him, for now. I’ll get with him tomorrow to talk about it. I can’t change his opinion, but I can do what I think is right for my life.” I waved my hand. “It doesn’t matter; I’ll deal with it tomorrow. Right now, I want to enjoy being with Cat without the murder hanging over our heads.”
“Noah told me while he was here they have a suspect in custody for Xavier’s murder,” Cinn said, her voice elated.
I rubbed my hands together. “He called this morning to tell us. To say I was surprised would be an understatement. I know Gretchen and she’s not the type, but I guess a crime of passion can strike anyone. At least Cat can go back to work and I can get to work on Tabitha’s counters without having to worry about her.”
Cinn put her arms around me and I hugged her, swinging her back and forth. “I love you, Lorenzo. I’m happy you’re finding your way.”
“I’ve never been happier than when I hold Cat in my arms, sis. If I have my way, I’ll never let her go.”
She kissed my cheek and left the safety of my arms. “I’ll let you head to the apartment. We’ll see you Wednesday evening.”
“I’ll see you then,” I agreed, waving goodbye.
I hoisted myself up into the truck and started it, grabbing my phone to call Cat. A nice bottle of wine would be enjoyable with dinner tonight, but I didn’t know what she planned to make. If I called her now I had time to stop and get a bottle, chill it at the apartment while I packed, and have it ready to drink for dinner.
I dialed her number and listened to it ring in my ear. When her voicemail picked up I hung up. She must not be home yet, since she can’t answer the phone when she’s driving with hand controls. I glanced at the clock on the dashboard. She really should be home by now. Maybe she decided to stop for wine. We do tend to have similar ideas often.
I parked my truck in front of the cafe and jumped down. I took the stairs two at a time and at the landing unlocked the door. When I turned the handle, I got a feeling I’ve only had a few times in my life. I took a deep breath and rolled my shoulders to rid the heaviness in my chest. The feeling I had told me I was missing something, and it wouldn’t be long before I found out what it was.
I threw the last bag in the back of the truck and jogged back up the stairs to get the toolboxes. When I started packing I realized the meager extent of my belongings and decided to take it all in one trip, then all I had to do was clean and vacuum this week. Considering I had to do the tour event Wednesday night, I didn’t want to leave too much until the end of the week. I had few dishes, so I left them in the cupboards for Tabitha. If she doesn’t want them, I’ll tell her to drop them off at a thrift store.
I slid the last box into the truck and tucked the cover down over the bed to keep it from bouncing around. I climbed into the driver’s side door and grabbed my phone, checking for a message. No missed calls or text messages, so I hit Cat’s number and held the phone to my ear. It had been almost an hour since she left the parking lot, which meant she should be able to answer now. I waited patiently while it rang, but it went to voicemail again. Sometimes she couldn’t get to the phone in time if she forgets and sets it down somewhere. I waited a few minutes then dialed again. When she didn’t answer a second time I closed my eyes and focused on the feelings inside me. There was fear, anger, disgust, and pain.
I threw the truck in gear and tore away from the curb. I drove as fast as the speed limit would allow in town while I punched in a familiar number. “Come on, answer,” I said aloud into the empty truck.
“This is Noah,” he said, and I breathed a sigh of relief. He showed up at the carnival with his pup today and provided extra security being there as an off-duty officer.
“Noah, it’s Lorenzo. Something’s wrong. I can’t get ahold of Cat. She’s not answering her phone and she left Little Ivywood over an hour ago.”
“Hey, Lorenzo. Maybe she stopped to pick something up,” he suggested, “I only left the park a few minutes ago myself.”
I balked. “She would still answer her cell. You know about my, uh, gift, right?” I asked.
“Your gift?” he asked, drawing out the last word.
I cleared my throat. “Do you know what an empath is?”
“I haven’t a clue and what does this have to do with Cat not answering her phone?”
“An empath is someone who can feel the emotions of another person as if the feelings were their own. I’ve been an empath all my life.”
“I see,” he said skeptically.
“I know it sounds like mumbo jumbo, but all the same, I always know when something is wrong with someone I love. When I focus on Cat I feel anxious, scared, and frantic. I also feel anger and pain. Something is wrong, Noah, I know it.”
“We have Xavier’s killer in custody. Maybe she fell ill? Have you searched her route home?”
I turned onto the highway leading to Martindale. “I’m on my way right now. I’ll keep you updated, but if I don’t find her, we have a problem on our hands.”
“Agreed. I’ll call some patrols and have them be on the lookout for her van. She’s in her van, right?”
“Yes, yes, her van,” I said as I watched the road for any sign of her.
“I’ll be in touch,” he said and the line went dead.
I hadn’t set the phone down and it rang again. The caller ID told me it was Tabitha. I almost didn’t answer, but hit the button at the last minute. “I can’t talk right now, Tab, we can’t find Cat.”
“Don’t hang up!” she yelled as I was about to hit the button. I lifted it back to my ear. “Something’s wrong.”
“I know. I can’t reach her. Noah thinks she probably just stopped somewhere, but she never goes anywhere without her phone. It’s her only way to call for help.”
“Where ever she is, it’s dark,” she said, making my blood run cold. “She’s in pain and whoever is with her means her harm.”
“You saw this?” I asked quickly, already knowing the answer.
“Find her, Lorenzo, before it’s too late.”
I hadn’t made it two more miles when a road construction s
ign stopped me, an arrow pointing left next to a detour sign. I didn’t have a choice but to turn left, backtracking past the ball fields Little Ivywood and Martindale share for Little League. The speed limit dropped to twenty-five and it took all my concentration to keep the truck from flying down the road. I had to get back to the highway and around the crew in order to get to Martindale. I slowed as the stop sign approached and checked right then left, then right again, ready to turn right toward Martindale. My eye caught sight of something before my foot hit the gas, and I checked left again. In my mirror, the back end of Cat’s van stuck out of the trees. If I hadn’t looked behind me it would have remained concealed.
I checked for traffic and then whipped right into the parking lot across the street from the ballfield. I grabbed my phone and dialed Noah’s number. The line clicked and I was already talking.
“I found her van at the Little League fields,” I said. “I’m going to go check it out.”
“Lorenzo, wait for me, I’m almost there,” he said, all detective now. I could feel his anxiety through the line, which scared me even more.
“She could be hurt or dying; I’m not waiting. You’ll see my truck in the parking lot. If she’s not in the van, I’ll wait for you to start searching.”
I didn’t wait for him to respond, just hung up the phone, silenced it, and slipped it into my pocket. I grabbed a baseball bat from the truck, since I had no other way to protect myself, and sprinted across the street, swinging it as though I was there for no other reason than doing a little batting practice. Once my feet hit the grass I jogged toward the van nonchalantly as if I didn’t have a care in the world. When the trees enveloped me, I dashed to the van, peering in the driver’s window. Her seat was empty, but her chair was still in the back of the vehicle. She couldn’t go anywhere without her chair. I jogged to the front of the vehicle and searched for signs of footprints, but there were none. The front end of the van was wrapped around a small tree. It wouldn’t have killed her, but it would have knocked her out. I didn’t need to look twice to see her van would never run again.
Inherited Light_A Small-Town, California Romance Filled with Dogs, Deception, and Finding True Love Despite Our Imperfections Page 26
