by Mandy Baggot
‘You are kidding me. They’re gonna go down in five seconds flat. I’ve ordered helium ones, two hundred of them, with the roadhouse motif on them. We can decorate the restaurant and give some away to the kids,’ Robyn told her.
‘Waste of money if you ask me,’ Nancy muttered.
‘Now you’re even sounding like my dad. Milo, has Chef tracked down that cheese yet?’ Robyn asked, looking at her checklist.
‘He was on the internet earlier looking at delivery prices to have it shipped from France,’ Milo informed her.
‘Right, let me put a stop to that. He’ll have to make do with Portage’s finest. I’m not having my budget blown on imported cheese,’ Robyn told them.
‘Just balloons,’ Nancy remarked to Milo.
‘I heard that,’ Robyn called back.
‘Morning,’ Brad greeted as he entered the roadhouse dressed in full police uniform.
‘Hey, mister, where did you get to yesterday? You totally missed Cole’s ex turning up and Henrik almost drowning in the lake,’ Robyn said, smiling at him.
‘Er, well, Sarah was a little upset. I walked her home,’ Brad responded.
Robyn scrutinized him. His cheek was twitching and he was shuffling awkwardly from one foot to the other.
‘I stayed with her, you know, for a bit, and then I headed home,’ he continued stiffly.
Robyn carried on looking at him, her hands on her hips, unconvinced by what he was saying.
‘Her and Mickey, they aren’t too great at the moment,’ Brad stated.
‘I gathered. So…’
The door of the roadhouse swung open and Sarah entered. As soon as she saw Brad, she became completely flustered and tried to hide her face behind her hair.
‘I’d better get going,’ Brad said, nervously straightening his hat.
‘Well, hang on, what did you want? You must have come here for a reason,’ Robyn said, following him as he rushed out the door.
‘I was just… gonna ask… if you were free for dinner tonight,’ Brad said, avoiding Sarah’s gaze as she raised her head out of her hair.
‘Tonight? Er, no, not tonight. I’m doing something tonight. How about tomorrow night?’ Robyn suggested hurriedly.
‘We’ve got training,’ Brad reminded her.
‘Oh, yeah, of course we have. Well, how about after? We could get Chinese or something.’
‘That sounds good,’ Brad agreed with a smile.
‘Great, well, I’ll see you tomorrow,’ Robyn told him.
‘See you,’ Brad said, waving his hand and heading to his squad car.
Robyn turned back to Sarah and grabbed her by the arm. She led her back into the roadhouse and pushed her down into one of the booths.
‘Ow! You’re hurting me! What are you doing?’ Sarah exclaimed, bumping down onto the seat.
‘What’s going on with you and Brad? What happened last night?’ Robyn demanded to know as Nancy and Milo looked on, intrigued.
‘Nothing happened last night. Nothing’s going on,’ Sarah said, playing with a tendril of her hair.
‘Don’t lie to me! It’s written all over your face and it’s written all over Brad’s face. Tell me!’ Robyn ordered.
‘We kissed. Kind of,’ Sarah blurted out.
‘Nancy! I need a Jack and Coke!’ Robyn bellowed, putting her hand to her chest.
‘You want ice?’ Nancy called back.
‘Just bring it!’
‘Look, it was something of nothing. He walked me home, I made him coffee. I bawled my eyes out and he was nice to me. He listened to me, he said he understood, and then we kinda looked at each other and the next thing…’ Sarah attempted to explain.
‘Jack and Coke. You want one, too, sugar? Something for the guilt?’ Nancy offered, handing Robyn her glass.
‘Listen, what goes on in Eddie’s Roadhouse, stays in Eddie’s Roadhouse. That was always Dad’s rule and I’m not changing it now. You keep it zipped,’ Robyn told Nancy seriously.
‘If you want my opinion, I wouldn’t let the grass grow where the officer’s concerned. Nice guy and biceps like grapefruits,’ Nancy spoke, chewing gum loudly.
‘Thank you, Nancy, that’ll be all,’ Robyn said, dismissing her.
‘I don’t know what to do,’ Sarah admitted, her eyes filling with tears.
‘What d’you mean? What happened after you kissed? I mean, who pulled away first? Did you? Did he? What did he say? What did you say? Did he go? Did you make a joke of it and share another coffee?’ Robyn questioned frantically.
‘He pulled away first.’
‘No! Sarah! What would you have done if he hadn’t pulled away? Would you have gone further? Grappled with the biceps like grapefruits? Grappled with something else?’ Robyn wanted to know, looking at her friend like she was insane.
‘I don’t know. He stood up and said he was sorry. He said he was taking advantage of the situation and it was a mistake. In fact, he apologized over and over until we got to the door.’
‘What happened at the door? Do I want to know?’
Sarah let out a sigh. ‘He told me he’s in love with you. Always has been, always will be.’
Robyn gripped her glass harder.
‘You knew that, though, didn’t you? I mean, he lights up when you’re around, becomes the Brad he used to be before Michelle left him for Randy. I knew that too, really, but I guess I was hoping…’ Sarah was still toying with her hair.
‘Hoping? You were hoping something would happen with Brad? What about Mickey! You’ve devoted your life to Mickey,’ Robyn reminded her.
‘I don’t know what I was hoping for, really, just for a bit of attention, I guess. The knowledge that someone still finds me attractive. Even if it’s a second best to you attractive. It’s better than a not even on the same scale as a Dodge attractive.’
‘I wish you’d told me this before I accepted dinner with him tomorrow night. I thought we could be friends, I thought I’d made it clear I didn’t want any more than that,’ Robyn said.
‘He thinks you’ll learn to love him, like you used to,’ Sarah said.
‘I never loved him! We dated in high school; we snogged at the drive-in a couple of times, that’s all,’ Robyn replied seriously.
‘Snogged?’
‘Made out.’
‘It was more than that for him.’
‘Well, I need to spell it out to him tomorrow night. Now what are you gonna do?’ Robyn wanted to know.
‘I’m gonna tell Mickey it’s over,’ Sarah said in a determined tone.
*
He’d tried to call his mom twice that morning. He couldn’t do it. What Veronica had said about her wanting the family together for Thanksgiving had hit him hard. Why didn’t he have it inside him to forgive Bryn? What he’d done was low, but did it matter now? He’d had his revenge when he’d put him in hospital and trashed his apartment. What was he hanging on to? He had Robyn, and now she knew everything about him and still wanted him. They’d been so close last night. She’d held him, she’d kissed him, and, for a moment, she had looked at him like she wanted there to be more. But he’d hesitated and she’d made a wisecrack about something from the Portage Panthers’ Hall of Fame. She still wasn’t ready and that was OK. Because they had the rest of their lives.
Thirty
She was nervous and she didn’t know what to wear. It wasn’t that she thought she needed to put on an act for Cole, it was just she hadn’t been on a date since high school and she wanted this one to go right. Should she stick to jeans and a T-shirt or should she wear something else? Did she actually bring anything else? Actually, she was pretty sure she’d packed a navy-blue wool sweater that came to mid-thigh. It was still her, but it was a little different. Yesterday’s good weather hadn’t lasted and it was back to feeling like Fall again. She’d need her boots too. She searched for the items in the case she had yet to unpack. This felt so odd. She was going on a date with the man she’d said she’d marry.
*
He looked at his reflection in the bathroom mirror and tweaked at his hair. This date was so important. He wanted it to be perfect. He wanted to give Robyn a night she deserved. He’d wanted to get her something, but flowers or chocolates weren’t going to cut it. She’d probably want to see what the flowers tasted like and make a display of the chocolates. She wasn’t like any girl he’d met before, but he knew she was the right girl.
He slipped his hand into the pocket of his jeans and felt the box inside.
*
‘I’ve got a confession to make,’ Cole said as he pulled Leonora into the parking lot of the Old Country Buffet later that evening.
‘You’ve hired Angela Lansbury to play your mother—that’s who’s coming tomorrow. And your real mother really has been as stiff as a board in her cellar since well before we met,’ Robyn replied. ‘That could be a dealbreaker.’
‘You got me,’ he said with a grin.
‘Actually I like Angela Lansbury.’
‘I couldn’t get tickets for the monster trucks,’ Cole admitted.
‘You’re kidding me! What sort of date is this? Please tell me you haven’t booked a couple’s manicure or tickets to see Legally Blonde or anything with Meg Ryan,’ Robyn said.
‘No, we’re going to this great country bar to shoot pool and turkeys,’ Cole informed her.
‘What?!’
‘Remember when you went out for coffee at the hospital? Your dad told me you’re some sort of ace with a twelve gauge. At first that knowledge scared me, but then Gerry from maintenance told me about the bar,’ Cole continued.
‘You’ve entered us in a turkey shoot?’
‘This is going to be your best date ever,’ he told her with a smile.
She smiled back at him. He couldn’t have picked anything more appropriate.
‘We might have to empty out the fridge. I am a great shot. Come on, I’m starving!’ Robyn announced as she ran toward the restaurant.
Cole locked the car and hurried after her.
‘Two adults please, with drinks. Oh, you are gonna love this place. Look at all the food! Are there burritos on the buffet today?’ Robyn asked the cashier as Cole prepared to pay.
‘Yes, ma’am.’
‘Cole, you are gonna die when you taste their chili beef,’ Robyn said excitedly.
‘Robyn, maybe we should go eat at the bar,’ Cole suddenly suggested as he looked out over the counters of food, taking hold of her arm.
‘Are you crazy? This is the best place for great food and it’s cheap. I know you have a million-dollar house on the lake and a great job, but I don’t, and I ditched the sugar daddy, remember,’ Robyn informed him, jogging off to find a table.
‘Robyn, Grant and Jason are just over there,’ Cole explained, taking her arm again and stopping her in her tracks.
Robyn looked up and saw the two men choosing fries and fried chicken from the counter just to her right. They were chatting together and laughing. They both looked as if they didn’t have a care in the world.
‘Do you wanna go?’ Cole asked her.
‘No,’ Robyn said, vigorously shaking her head.
‘What d’you wanna do? I’d quite like to punch him again, if I’m honest.’
‘No, I’m going to take charge,’ Robyn said, and she set off toward them, grabbing a plate from the stack.
Cole was quick to grab a plate himself and followed right behind her.
*
‘Grant,’ Robyn greeted, standing beside him.
Grant looked up and paled at the sight of her, his embarrassment clear for all to see.
‘Listen, you’re here and I’m here, and I love this food and I’m not leaving. And I don’t think you should leave, either. But I want you to sit far away from that table just there, because that’s where Cole and I are going to be sitting,’ Robyn said, pointing to her favorite table by the window.
She couldn’t look directly at Jason but she could see him out of the corner of her eye. He was looking at her, his red hair flopping into his eyes, his plate piled high with chicken and fries.
‘Robyn…’ Jason began.
‘Don’t talk to her,’ Cole ordered, stepping forward.
‘No, Cole, don’t… please. This is our night, don’t let him spoil it,’ Robyn begged, turning to face him, a pleading expression on her face.
‘We’re gonna sit down over there,’ Grant ordered his son.
‘Dad, she has to know,’ Jason began, nudging his father’s arm.
‘She has to know what?’ Cole inquired, glaring at Jason.
‘Jason, I’m warning you. Just go sit down and eat,’ Grant said gruffly.
‘What do I need to know?’ Robyn asked, swallowing.
‘The District Attorney has decided to reopen the case; I’m gonna clear my name,’ Jason said.
‘That’s enough. You’ve told her, now let’s just go eat,’ Grant ordered, taking his son by the arm.
‘But why would they do that without new evidence?’ Robyn asked, her tone thick with shock.
‘They have new evidence. I found a witness who saw me in our backyard right around the time you were—’
‘That’s enough. We’re gonna sit down. Now!’ Grant said, shooing Jason across the restaurant.
Robyn took a deep breath and looked at Cole.
‘You okay?’ Cole asked her.
‘If he has a witness then…’ Robyn paused.
How did you analyze information like that? If someone had seen Jason in his yard, then he couldn’t have been the one to attack her. But then again, they had interviewed everyone at the time, why suddenly had someone come forward? Could he or she be believed? Thoughts spun around in her head and she couldn’t take them in.
‘Listen, let’s not think about anything until you hear officially. You must have had some sort of caseworker when it was all going on. If what he says is true, they’ll be contacting you,’ Cole reassured her, putting his arm around her.
‘Yeah, her name was Trudy and she kept suggesting I cry. I don’t know whether it was because she thought it would help or whether she just liked seeing people cry.’
‘Hey, come on, nothing’s changed; we’re on our first date. You’ve brought me to this great place and you’re making me hold off from the food! Man, look at it all!’ Cole said, indicating the platters all lined up under the heat lamps.
‘Why did he have to be here? Tonight was supposed to be special,’ Robyn said with a frustrated sigh.
‘Hey, look at me. It is going to be special. Starting with soup, right?’ Cole told her.
‘Don’t be fooled into having the soup. It’s nice but it’s stuffed full of dumplings to make you so full you can’t manage anything else. I start with burritos and work my way through until I get to apple pie,’ Robyn explained.
‘You’re gonna have to show me the way; it sounds like I’m a total eating novice,’ Cole replied, putting his arm around her shoulders.
Thirty-One
‘Now you hold the gun like this,’ Robyn said later at the turkey shoot at Logan’s Country Bar.
‘Like this?’
‘Oh God, put it down! Cole! You can’t be waving it around like that! Have you never shot before?’ Robyn asked, grabbing the weapon from him.
‘Robyn, I know Chicago has developed a bit of a reputation, but we weren’t all tooled up on my street,’ Cole answered.
‘Some weeks, when I was small, this is what you had to do for a decent dinner. Here, like this,’ she said, taking his gun and positioning him around it.
She held his hips as he looked down the barrel and lined up with the mid-distance target. Bringing her here had taken a lot of thought. He knew what she’d like. He accepted she wasn’t a girly girl. She could feel the muscles at the bottom of his back and she felt her stomach contract.
‘Where are the turkeys?’ Cole asked, still looking down the gun.
‘Are you kidding me?’
‘What?’
‘We don’t really shoo
t turkeys, Cole. That’s what they did in bygone days, now we’re aiming at targets. Like there! And there!’ Robyn pointed out.
She picked up her gun and released a pellet at each target.
Cole dropped his gun to the floor and hurried to cover his ears with his hands.
‘Whoa! I’d forgotten how good that felt,’ Robyn said with a laugh of excitement.
‘Really?’
‘Really. Come on, it’s your turn,’ Robyn urged him.
‘I think I’m gona be lucky if I manage to hit a tree. What’s the prize?’ Cole asked her.
‘Turkey!’ Robyn announced.
‘I don’t even really like turkey,’ Cole admitted, lining up his gun.
‘We’ll pluck it and strip it and chuck it in with some pasta… or we could always barbecue. Shoot, goddamn it!’ Robyn urged.
Cole fired the gun and, after the sound of his shot had echoed away, there was a loud squawk. Something large and dark gray fell out of the tree in front of them.
‘Jeez, Cole, you just shot a turkey at a turkey shoot!’ Robyn exclaimed, staring at him with a mixture of horror and awe in her expression.
‘Does that mean we win?’
*
He had to drive home, but he could really have done with a beer. He was nervous and the box in his pocket was weighing heavier as the night went on. Robyn had won fifty dollars and a frozen turkey for being the best shot of the night, and the turkey he had mistakenly killed was being packaged up for them to take home too.
Now Robyn was chatting to two cowboys about the Panthers and suggesting they come to watch the next match. Despite his apprehension about what he wanted to do, this was the best night he’d ever had.
‘So, you don’t shoot, you’re not so keen on turkey, you like a loose milk carton lid… please tell me you dance,’ Robyn said to him, downing the contents of her beer bottle.
‘Come on, Robyn, I’m a guy. Guys don’t dance,’ Cole reminded her.
‘Cole Ryan, you are sexist! You lied to me on that plane ride! How can I believe anything you say ever again?’ Robyn asked, her hand on her chest.
The jukebox kicked into Brooks and Dunn and people began hurrying to the dance floor.
