I rolled my eyes at the silly guy. “Just a second Cal. Don't be impatient.”
I unbuckled and then was squeaking as Calvin bounded into the front seat, squishing me as I opened the door. Jane stifled a laugh and grinned as I mimed falling out the door after him.
The silly boy was bounding around me in excitement, his tail a lethal weapon as it swished violently. I know he should have been on a leash, but the gate was five feet away, I could be a rebel. It was exciting.
Jane stepped out of the car and shut the door lightly. Calvin had to make sure she was still her as he ran and bounded around her too. What had gotten into him? He was just being silly. Jane ruffled his fur, and he came darting back to me as I opened the gate and he shot into the yard.
I exchanged an amused look with the tall woman with the bright sunlight reflecting off her shiny black hair, then I made an ushering motion. She inclined her head and said primly as she stepped into the yard on the grey cobblestone path, “Why thank you.”
I curtsied, playing along. “My pleasure.” Then shut the gate behind me, and cycled the latch three times before pushing on it to make sure it was really latched. I turned and squeaked when I came face to chest with Jane. I looked up at her, as she regarded me, then the fence.
I swallowed and placed a finger on her breastbone and pushed her back a step so that I could breathe again. Why couldn't I ever breathe when she was in my personal space? She looked at the gate one last time, then smirked and turned to the short little path that cut through the freshly mowed lawn to the door.
I tried to kick her in the butt as she moved along mumbling, “Obsessive...”
I ran to catch up with her long-legged stride and squeaked past her to open the door. Our old Cocker Spaniel, Puddles bounded out, and she and Calvin started the excited circle dance as they greeted each other as only dogs can... getting a good sniff of each other's posteriors. Eww.
I squatted and gave the old girl a rub of her floppy ears. Her golden coat was showing silver strands. She licked my face and went back to introducing herself to the handsome Border Collie in our mix. I offered, “Jane, Puddles. Puddles, Jane.”
She smiled and started to open her mouth to ask, but then saw the wet marks on the cobblestones and shut her mouth. Yes, our poor fuzzy girl peed when she was excited...
I slipped inside, and the dogs almost bowled me over as they darted in past my legs. I called into the house as I nudged my chin to Jane, indicating she should follow, “Moooom, I'm home. I brought a boy and my new roommate.”
I squinted an eye in mock pain as I heard mom's excited voice approaching from the kitchen. “A boy? It's not that self-absorbed Rafiel is it?”
Mom popped out into the hall, wearing the little yellow apron I got for her when I was a kid. She always wore it when she was cooking. Savory smells permeated the space. She always had something mouthwatering cooking for my weekly visits.
I whined, “Moooom.” She knew I had dumped Raife... it was a long and drawn out break up where I wound up in bed with him again before I could finally gather up the courage to step away and just keep stepping.
I blushed at her obviousness and then said as Calvin charged at her, tongue loaded and prepped. I said as she crouched to receive the bad boy, “No not Raife. I ummm... well I sort of own a dog now. This is Calvin.”
Mom was in baby-talk mode as she spoiled the wagging tail with a dog attached. “Calvin? Who's a good boy? You're a good boy! Yes, you are!” The hand that wasn't flopping Cal's ears back and forth with her praise was absently caressing Puddles' ears when she joined in the celebration of welcome. Yup, I'd be cleaning up any puddles she left behind.
Then mom looked up with a big smile before she stood. The crows feet and smile lines that were getting deeper on her pretty face every year just gave her that much more character, and you could see the beauty she had been and still was for a middle-aged woman.
Her hand was shooting out to Jane, and I quickly said as they shook. “Mom, my roommate, Detective Jane McLeary. Jane, this is my mom, Winfred Oleander May.”
Jane was beaming as they shook. “I see where Finnegan gets her name and her killer smile from, ma'am.” Then her amusement turned to something else, and my cheeks started to burn when mom didn't release her hand.
Instead, she was giving a steely-eyed, well, steel grey gaze, directly in Jane's brown eyes as their grips tightened. Oh, fluffy lord of the swishing tail, this was mom's boyfriend shake. She was taking Jane's measure.
For Jane's part, her mild surprise turned into a smug and entertained smile as she didn't let go and their grip tightened. My mom is... well, my mom has varied hobbies that aren't exactly what one would expect of a suburban mother of two. One is that she is the Liberty ladies amateur arm wrestling champion, as well as captain of the Rolling Pins bowling team. Something she hid well under her trendy mom clothing and her Sunday bake sales.
For a slim motherly woman, she had a grip that could cripple a male giraffe. She used it to take the measure of the two boys I brought home to meet her over my college years and my three years in the city. All two of them who hadn't run after their first date with me.
I'm glad I never brought Rafiel home. She would have gelded him for sure.
I pushed past the two as their smiles grew as they measured each other, umm, dangly boy bits. “When you two are done deciding who's the bigger man, I'll be on the couch with the fuzzy ones,” I noted that mom, who had always been the tallest woman I knew, was an inch or two shorter than the Detective who looked to be having the time of her life.
I pouted as I flopped into the familiar protection of the overstuffed purple sofa, the two dogs bounding up and curling in quickly on either side of me, laying their heads across my lap so they could sniff each other's ears. Much more civilized than the animals in the 'whose is bigger' competition at the door.
I whined, feeling like an awkward teen, “Mooom. I said roommate, not boyfriend.”
They both lost eye contact with each other and let go, mom looking mischievous and... was Jane blushing? Mom said in her default mothering tone, “I know baby. Just seeing who it is that has your back in the city.”
Then she patted Jane's arm with smug approval. “You'll do, dear. Please, have a seat Detective, I just have to set the roast to simmer.”
Jane suddenly looked as awkward as the boys mom did that to, as she headed into the living room saying, “Jane, please ma'am.”
Mom smiled as she motored off toward the kitchen. “Winnie, then.”
Jane echoed like she was trying the taste and shape of it on her tongue. “Winnie.”
Mom's voice echoed down the hall. “I'll bring out refreshments girls. Garrett called, he's running a little late and said he'd be here in a few.” Then after a pause, she added excitedly in a musical tone, “And he's bringing Becky!” She sang the girl's name drawing it out between syllables.
Mom seemed extremely pleased about the fact that Gar was bringing her. I had yet to meet the girl, she was always working weekends as a rock climbing instructor whenever I visited. Did mom know something I didn't?
I stared at the hall to the kitchen and dining room a moment before I turned to Jane who cocked her eyebrow at the living room and rubbed her hand and moved the laundry basket off the recliner beside the couch. “Your mom has quite the grip.”
I shrugged and smirked, feeling sassy again as I explained, “Liberty Ladies arm wrestling champion six years running.”
Her brows were swallowed by her hairline, and she looked genuinely amused as she looked at the moderately messy living room. Yes, yes, I get it. Mom and I are almost polar opposites. She saw my brow cock in challenge. Daring her to say one word. She chuckled instead, saving her from my wrath.
Then I exhaled and let my shoulders slump as I looked at my feet in embarrassment. Then said from my fuzzy heated cocoon, “Sorry about that. Mom usually reserves that for the boys I bring home. Though few and far between.”
She shook her head and
then leaned in, draping her arms lazily across her legs, hands dangling over her knees. “Don't apologize, she's got spunk.” Then she eyed me crossways, her smirk coming out to play, “And height... what happened?”
I muttered, “Hardy har har,” as I flipped her off.
I felt so awkward just then. And would have leapt to my feet when mom came trundling out with a tray with, I kid you not, a clear glass pitcher full of lemonade and five glasses. I shot her a questioning look, and she waved me off after she pushed the newspaper from the coffee table onto the floor and slid the tray in their place. “I just wanted to make a good impression for Rebecca.”
She seemed pleased. What in the seven canine lords of Nebula B was going on? I asked, “Is there something I should know mom?”
She shook her head, shooed Jane from her favorite chair, then flopped down with a smug look when the detective vacated the recliner. “Nothing dear, my mother sense is just tingling.”
I snapped my fingers, and Calvin looked up and hopped down off the couch, and I nudged my eyes to the vacated spot for Jane. She grinned and flopped into the overstuffed comfort of my childhood couch, and Calvin hopped up to lay across both our legs to continue the jowl cleaning the two canines had been engaged in.
The scent of lilac and leather overpowered the smell of canine, and I realized I was savoring it and then held my breath, very aware that Jane's leg was pressed against mine and it felt like a furnace between us.
I am not attracted to Jerk Cop. I like boys. She likes girls.
God, she smells good.
Just what the hell was wrong with me?
Mom was giving us crossways look as she asked, “Lemonade girls?”
Jane nodded as mom started pouring. “Yes please, Winnie.”
I just grumped out, “You never make lemonade when I come home, mom.”
She replied with a cagey, “You've never brought home someone I've approved of dear.” Then she added to Jane, “Present company excluded, of course, hon.”
I stood quickly rearranging the dogs on the sofa behind me as she handed a glass to Jane. I started tidying up. Mom paused and watched me a moment then asked, “Fin, what are you doing? Sit down, relax.” She placed my glass on the coffee table in front of my vacated spot... without a coaster! As I gathered and neatly folded the newspaper and headed toward the basket of unfolded laundry.
The ebony haired detective explained like my mom already didn't know, “She organizes when she's nervous.”
Mom supplied, “Always has.”
I complained, “Ladies – I'm right here you know.” Then huffed when they exchanged amused looks. “If Rebecca warrants lemonade, the least you could do is clean up the mess a bit, mom.”
Jane started to say something, but mom waived her off. “Let her be. It helps her center herself.”
I growled out as I started folding shirts, “Still right here. You two can see me can't you?”
Hey, these are Garrett's things, he still has mom doing his laundry? Lazy!
Jane pointed out, “She's the same at the apartment.”
They were obviously going to talk about me like I wasn't here. Fine. I glanced around and found the coasters I bought for mom after I graduated high school. I just pushed through their ongoing conversation and put our three glasses on coasters then went back to folding clothes. Seriously, the place wasn't a pigsty, but it was a bit of a mess. How am I even related to my mom?
I hid a grin. I really was relieved the two women got along. It was important to me for some reason. I always felt a sort of relief when the strongest woman I knew approved of parts of my life. She and Gar always encouraged me, and I didn't want to let them down. I caught a quick glance and smile from my roommate that set me at ease.
I tried to tune them out as Jane copped on her, asking a zillion questions about mom, me, and Gar. Segueing into mom's interesting and diverse hobbies. Just as I finished dusting the mantle, the dogs hopped off the couch where they had Jane pinned, and they rushed into the entry hall.
I almost squeed and ran to the door myself when I heard my brother's deep, manly voice calling out as the door opened. “Knock knock.” Followed quickly by, “And who is this? Hello boy.”
Then his chuckle as he said, “Come on guys, leave Bek alone.” A moment later he poked his head around the corner, giving me a smile under that shaggy curly mop of hair that matched mom's and my color. “Hey, sis.” Then he hesitated when his eyes went over Jane, then his brow furrowed, but he lit up when he said, “Hi mom.”
I waved at my brother as I hid the duster behind my back. He was always on my case to stop cleaning mom's place on my visits and kick up my shoes and just enjoy family. I could hear it now, “She's a grown woman, Flea. And what you view as a mess, the rest of us humans view as a comfortable lived in atmosphere.”
He moved into the room, dragging an embarrassed looking, extremely fit brunette woman with a cute pageboy cut, by the hand into the room. I told myself as I grinned widely, well, of course, she's fit, Finnegan, she's a rock climbing instructor. She made me feel like I was wearing a potato sack compared to the sporty and form fitting outfit she wore that showed off her physique.
He explained as mom got up and motored to him with restrained excitement, “Sorry we're late, we had to come straight from the gym, Bek's session ran long.” Ah, that explained the outfit that showed off the woman's body like it was a sculpture displayed in the Louvre. I absently crossed my arms over my chest, feeling physically inadequate.
Gar engulfed mom in a big bear hug, lifting her off the ground and swinging her side to side. Then placing her down so she could give Rebecca a silly side to side hug, making the woman grin and blush.
Jane stood, straightening her blouse.
Gar looked over at me. “Flea, this is... my fiance, Rebecca DeLacroix.”
Mom squeed. No really, she actually squeed at the word 'fiance' as she held her arms open to get another hug from the now thoroughly blushing statuesque woman. The commotion causing the dogs to bound around them in tail wagging excitement.
As they hugged, the woman smiled widely at me as Garrett supplied unnecessarily as I blinked in happy shock, “Becky, this is my twin sister, the incomparable Finnegan Temperance May, dog walker extraordinaire.” It was my turn to blush. He always made my job sound so glamorous.
My brother's bride to be extracted herself from mom's silly hug and took a step toward me. I stepped forward and brought my hand from behind my back to shake her offered hand. I blushed at the duster in my hand and quickly set it on the coffee table and then wiped my hand on my hip then offered it to her.
She bypassed the hand and bent down a little to pull me into an enthusiastic hug. “It is so good to finally meet you Fin. Gar raves about you, he said you were pretty, but wow, his description didn't do you justice.”
Ok, my cheeks were on fire, and I had the urge to escape to the garage and start organizing the boxes in there. Then to my eternal embarrassment she released me with a cheek dimpling grin and said, “I didn't expect you to be so – compact, what with being Gar's twin and all.”
I looked away, ready to die of embarrassment. I explained, “Garrett got all mom's height and looks.”
He was born first, thirteen minutes before me, so he always says that since he's technically older, that makes him my big brother, so mom had to put a little more building material into him to protect me. He calls my short stature, concentrated awesome. God, I love my brother, he's never seen any of my many flaws.
The woman cocked an eyebrow at me like I had said something wrong. Ironically it matched the look on Jane's face.
Oh crap! Jane!
I moved to her side, realizing I was in a room full of giants, and said, “Rebecca, Garrett, this is my new roommate, Detective Jane McLeary of the New York Police. Jane, my brother Gar, and his fiance Becky.”
Jane grinned at me, her eyes full of mischief. “I caught that, Fin.”
I gave her a sour look but then had to grin at h
er familiar smirk.
She shook Gar's hand firmly, then Rebecca's just as firmly. I could tell she was evaluating both of them with her cop need to classify and file them into specific categories. She saw Becky was no shrinking violet, so she didn't see the need to treat her with kid's gloves like she did me. I could tell Becky appreciated her not giving her a wimpy girl shake.
I found myself liking and approving of my brother's choice. Well, if she were worth her salt, then it was actually her choice, and he hadn't stood a chance. The realization hit me, and I started getting more excited. Someone had finally won Gar's heart, and he was going to have his own family now! God, I felt the need to organize something, this was such exciting news.
I looked at the dogs just having a blast in the positive energy of the room, their tails threatening to go supersonic. Gar crouched to scrub both their ears and I said with pride in my voice, “And that handsome boy there is... is my dog, Calvin.”
Gar's smile doubled as she glanced from me to Cal. “You finally took the leap. I'm proud of you sis. You love animals to the exclusion of all else, and it was sort of sad you didn't have a dog of your own.”
Well, it was by happenstance and not design, but it really did make me so very happy.
Rebecca asked Jane, “How did you two meet?”
I blurted out, “The jerk arrested me when Calvin's mom was murdered.”
It was like a needle was dragged across a record as all eyes went to Jane and me. Oops. I guess I should have called. But I knew mom would fret and tell me the big city was too dangerous and I should come back home.
Jane chuckled. “Hey now brat, you were never arrested. I just brought to the station to answer some questions.”
I hooked a thumb toward her and said as I nodded, “Mean.”
Mom was not amused as she stepped over grabbed my hands and pulled me to the couch. “What's this about a murder? I told you that...”
I whined, “Moooom... this is why I didn't tell you. I'm fine. I got a police detective living with me now so I couldn't be safer.” She didn't need to know that I technically hadn't at the time of the murder.
Unleashed_Case of the Collie Flour Page 9
