Lizzie was, indeed, carrying a photo of a wedding dress. She handed it to Okalani. “I’m so excited to marry your wonderful son that I went right out and found it.”
Okalani studied it, and then looked at Lizzie. Gently, more gracious than Poppy could have managed, she said, “You’ll be a beautiful bride.”
She handed the picture to Poppy, who looked at it. Lizzie would look like a regency-era bride, and, with her blonde hair up like the woman in the picture, she would be beautiful when she married Kea.
Pain sliced her heart. There was no way she could come back for the wedding. She couldn’t stand to watch Kea exchange vows with anyone, but especially this woman. She didn’t know why she disliked Lizzie so much, but she did.
She passed on the picture to an openly glowering Nalani, and forced out, “It’s pretty.”
Nalani didn’t bother to look at it before handing it back to Lizzie. “When will the wedding be?”
“Oh, as soon as possible. Kea can’t wait to get married, and I’m so thrilled to be his wife that I’m fine with a quick wedding.”
Lizzie pulled out an atomizer, and spritzed her wrist, spraying Poppy at the same time.
“I’m sorry,” Lizzie said.
Poppy found herself actually hating this woman.
“That’s okay,” Poppy said. Really, really, really hated her.
Most People Do Have a Background
POPPY AND NALANI WERE STILL talking about Lizzie and her plan to capture Kea three hours later, back at the house.
“Are you sure he doesn’t want to marry her?” Poppy asked. “He seems like he likes her when she’s around.”
“But when she’s not there, he can’t take his eyes off of you. She is not the right woman for him. I can see you two as a couple, but all I see for them is her scamming him somehow.”
They looked at each other and nodded. Poppy said, “You’re right. But what can we do about it?”
“You’re a witch. Surely you’ve learned other spells besides working with animals.” Nalani motioned with a flourish, as if she were waving a wand. “Cast a spell on her. Turn her into a frog or something.”
“I wish.” Poppy pulled a face. “I failed the turning-someone-into-a-frog spell.”
“Any other spells up your sleeves?”
Poppy shook her head. “Nothing that will cause harm.”
Nalani scowled. “We can’t let this marriage happen. It will be the worst thing that could ever happen to him. And to our family. Every family gathering from now on will be horrible. And do you know how many baby and bridal showers alone my family has?”
“A lot.” Poppy took the bowl of vanilla ice cream from Nalani, poured hot fudge over it, and followed her friend to the kitchen table
“This is delicious,” Poppy said. “Exactly what we need to cheer us up.”
The dogs milled around, begging for food.
“I can’t eat with these guys around,” Nalani said. “How do you resist?”
Poppy laughed. “They act like I never feed them.”
You never feed us ice cream, Wencheng accused.
She looked at Wencheng. This has chocolate. Chocolate is not good for dogs.
Fake news.
She chuckled. Get over it, sweetie. No chocolate for you.
The doorbell rang and the dogs started barking. “I’d better put them in the bedroom.”
Standing, Poppy called the dogs, scooping up Blaze and Max, then telling Wencheng: Come on, Princess.
After depositing them in her bedroom and telling them she’d be right back, she shut the door and went back downstairs.
Two men in Moonchuckle Bay Sheriff’s Department uniforms stood talking to Nalani.
They looked up at her and a snake of foreboding slithered up her spine, making the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.
The dogs were still barking overhead, probably because they could sense her unease.
Even Wencheng started barking furiously, and sent: Let me at them!
Poppy forced herself to calm. I’ll be all right, Wencheng. I need you to be quiet, and quiet the other two.
Wencheng stopped, but the other two kept it up.
“Ms. Brooks?” the taller man asked with a glance at the ceiling. He was tall and sturdy and gave off an air of authority.
“Yes.” She stepped forward, and Nalani took her hand.
“I’m Sheriff Winston and this is Deputy Knight.” His tone was professional and gentle. “We regret to tell you that you’re under arrest for starting the fire next door.”
“But I didn’t do it,” she said, her heart pounding in fear. Stunned and frightened, Poppy looked at Nalani for help.
Her friend grabbed her arm. “She didn’t set the fire, Sheriff. You’re taking an innocent woman to jail.”
Sheriff Winston looked regretful, but said, “Let her go, Ms. Pueo. I have to take her in. And I don’t want to take you in for obstruction of justice.”
“Ms. Pueo? At our last party I was Nalani.”
“Justice?” Poppy snorted. “This isn’t justice. The man who called in — and didn’t leave his name — is the one you need to talk to. He lied about my being there.”
“We will get it all sorted out, Ms. Brooks. Ms. Pueo, this is your last chance to let go, or you’ll join your friend in the cell.”
Nalani slowly let go, then grabbed her for a fierce hug. “We’ll get you out!”
From the bedroom, the dogs began barking again. Poppy looked at Nalani. The man who’d called in must not have mentioned that Blaze could set fires, or she suspected the sheriff would want to take Blaze in, as well.
Poppy stared at the sheriff. “I’ll go, but I will state right here that you are making a mistake.”
The sheriff nodded. “So noted.”
And then he sheriff walked her out to the waiting squad car, and helped her into the back seat.
As the car pulled away, Nalani ran out onto the lawn, still yelling, “We’ll help you!”
Poppy could still hear the barking of the dogs when the squad car turned the corner.
Kea was helping his mother move some furniture when Nalani burst in.
She went straight to him and shoved her finger in his face, so angry that she was shaking. “This is all your fault!”
Startled, he put up a hand. “What is my fault?”
She punched his arm. Hard.
“Ow.” He rubbed his arm.
She punched him again. “I invited her here for a visit and now just look what you’ve done!” She looked like she wanted to hit him again.
Their mother came to them and stepped between them. “Nalani, what’s wrong?”
Nalani started to cry. “They’ve arrested her.”
Instantly, Kea knew what she was talking about. “Samuel arrested Poppy?”
“Ding, ding, ding! Give the man a star. Yes, he’s arrested her.”
Dread filled his heart. “I told Samuel we couldn’t take the word of an anonymous caller alone, that we needed to locate the caller and verify that he was telling the truth.”
“Well, apparently he didn’t bother to do that. Now my friend is in jail and I have three dogs to take care of.” She glared at him. “And it’s all your fault. What are you going to do to make it right?”
The two women stared at him, waiting for his answer.
“I’m going to talk to Samuel again.” He settled his mouth into a grim line.
“Better do more than talk, Kea,” his mother said and gave him a not-quite-gentle shove toward the door.
Poppy had never even been inside a police station. Before today, that is. Now she was sitting in a holding cell and the outlook was bleak.
She’d been arrested because someone had lied about her, and it was possible that Kea had believed that person’s word because he’d seen Blaze could light fires.
That made her wonder how her dogs were doing. She knew Nalani would care for them until something could be arranged, but were they okay?
She tried sending a mental message to Wencheng, not sure how far their link would reach: Princess, I’m all right. How are you and the boys?
She waited for a reply, but one didn’t immediately come.
Then, so faint she could barely sense it, Wencheng’s voice did come, along with a sense of her dog’s relief at making the connection: We’re worried, but Nalani is doing her best to care for us, and I am trying to calm the others.
Thank you, precious dog.
Nalani was on the phone and talked of getting you out of jail. Is that like prison? Are there bars?
Poppy reached out and touched one of the bars keeping her trapped, closing her fingers around it. Yes, there are bars.
So it’s like you’re in a crate, then. I hate bars.
I will never put you in a crate again.
Now that I know where you are, I could work the harness off of Max, chew it off if I need to, and he can come to get you. No one would see him so he could get the keys and bring them to you.
Were her dogs planning to bust her out of jail? That thought made her smile just the teeniest bit. Hold off on that plan until we see what Nalani comes up with. But thank you. You’re a genius.
What if Max just follows Lizzie to see what she’s doing? I don’t like her.
That’s a great idea, Wencheng. Really. But still, hold off for now. Keep the others calm and out of trouble, and that will be a huge help to me.
She could feel her feisty little dog’s reluctance as she sent back: For now. But don’t stay in jail long or we may have to activate Operation Jail Break.
As the connection faded, a little pinpoint of relief lightened her fear just a bit.
Her dear, sweet dog was planning a prison break. Her smile grew as she thought about that. And her other dogs would go along with it just to save her. She had the best dogs in the whole world.
And her dear, sweet friend was planning something, too, though nothing quite so illegal as Wencheng’s plan, she suspected.
Historically, time in jail had changed people’s lives — but she hoped she wouldn’t be incarcerated long enough to write a book about it.
If she did, though, that book could be titled Regrets.
Regret that she’d returned to Moonchuckle Bay. If she’d stayed away, she would never have been arrested.
She wouldn’t have had to see Kea with another woman.
She sighed deeply of the thought of Kea.
Regrets that she’d never told Kea her feelings before he got snatched up by a woman his family didn’t even like — and neither did she.
She would have liked a chance for a relationship with Kea.
But now, even worse than never having a chance with Kea, she might not have a chance at freedom.
Two hours later, Poppy watched as the handle of the door into the cell block pushed down and the door open. She tensed. Someone was coming in. Was that good news or bad?
The door swung open — but then swung shut again, and no one came in.
She sighed and touched the bars. She wanted out of here. She was beginning to realize why Wencheng hated the crate so very much. She was beginning to feel claustrophobic.
Something moist and warm touched her hand and she jerked it back. What the heck?
Then she saw a key chain drop through the bars.
Her eyes widened. Had her dogs actually implemented Operation Jail Break?
“Max?” she whispered. “Is that you?”
A very quiet bark answered her, and she reached out through the bars, found his invisible head, and petted him. Her heart was full of love and gratigude. “Oh, you crazy dog,” she whispered. “You really did come to my rescue!”
His nose pushed against her hand.
The door started to open again, and she grabbed the keys and stuffed them in her pocket. “Shhh,” she whispered to Max.
Sheriff Winston stepped inside, a lady deputy with him. He smiled at her. “The Pueo family is putting up bail for you, Ms. Brooks. You may leave for now.”
Relief flooded her system as she stood, her legs and arms trembling, but how was Max going to get out of there? But then she realized if he could get in, he could get back out. At least she hoped he could.
The sheriff went on, “You will need to stay in town until this matter is resolved.”
She nodded. “All right.”
The woman said, “Come this way and I’ll help you get your belongings.”
That would be her cell phone, wallet, and lip gloss.
As she walked out the door, Poppy turned back to the sheriff. “I did not start that fire. I challenge you to find the person who did.”
He nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”
She turned and followed the woman, who told her, “I’m Deputy Tabitha Jones.” The lady deputy lowered her voice, probably because of all the werewolves in the place — werewolves with excellent hearing — and whispered, “I believe you’re innocent.”
Poppy smiled at the woman. “Thank you.”
Deputy Jones helped her retrieve her few belongings and led her to a room where, inside, was one of the most beautiful sights Poppy had ever seen — the Pueo family’s smiling faces. They stepped forward to hug her and she fought the urge to cry.
First because Okalani said, “We’re going to help you, my daughter.”
Next because Nalani told her, “We’re going to find the real arsonist.”
Iokua held her for a long moment. When he pulled back, he blinked back tears. “We took a vote and you are officially our daughter.”
“I am so touched,” she said. “That means so much to me.”
More members of the family stepped forward, each hugging her and giving her words of encouragement.
And so many things became clear to her. She had always loved this family — and she’d always loved Kea. He could never be hers, but his family could.
She smiled at them all. “Thank you, my family.”
As they began to file out the door, Poppy took the keys from her pocket, wiped what she hoped was all the fingerprints off, and dropped them in a potted plant near the door.
Then she followed the family outside and whispered, “Max? Are you here?”
She felt him press against her leg and she closed her eyes in relief. Thank goodness he was out with her now!
“What a brave dog you are!”
Then Poppy climbed into the passenger seat of Nalani’s car, and patted her lap. Max jumped in on her and practically knocked the wind out of her.
Nalani looked over. “What’s up?”
Poppy pulled the door closed and grinned. “Max is on my lap. He broke into the jail and brought the keys to my cell to me, right before the sheriff came to get me and let me out.”
Nalani’s eyes widened. “Your dog just tried to bust you out of jail?”
Poppy nodded, and they both laughed. Nalani pulled out and petted the invisible dog, and then Poppy hugged him. “You are my brave, brave hero dog. Thank you for coming to my rescue, Max.”
An invisible tongue licked her chin. That was an odd sensation. She laughed again.
And then Nalani drove her back to the house.
Inside, she hugged all three dogs. “Thank you all. You were magnificent in your planning!”
Even Wencheng had rushed up to be hugged. Max did well?
Max did an amazing job.
He’s not as useless as I used to think.
Poppy laughed.
“Let’s take a walk.”
“And then my parents are having a welcome home party for you,” Nalani said.
It had been a truly unforgettable day.
The family ended up insisting that Poppy bring her puppies to their house, so after walking them and letting them run in the yard for thirty minutes, and loving on them because they’d been so worried and come up with such an amazing plan to rescue her — and thanking them for the awesome jail-busting ideas they’d had — she loaded them in the van.
At Nalani’s house, she made sure the Spell
Shells were secure, and took them to the backyard.
The family petted them and sneaked pieces of meat to them, making instant friends of her hounds. Afterward, the dogs frolicked on the grass.
Okalani took Poppy’s arm. “We have a confession to make, my daughter.”
That surprised her, even more so when Okalani led her to a seat and the family surrounded her, sitting beside her.
Except for Nalani. Her friend stood, looking uncomfortable. “When I invited you to come for a visit?”
Poppy nodded.
“It’s true that I’d missed you and wanted to see you again, but my family had an ulterior motive in having me invite you.”
When the family nodded, Poppy looked around, a bit confused. “Why then?”
Okalani said, “Because Kea is making a huge mistake. We hired a PI to investigate Lizzie and he didn’t find much in her background, little enough that it raised red flags. Most people do have a background. At least some sort of background usually pops up.”
Nalani said, “We remembered that you had a crush on Kea when you were younger, and we were hoping that if you came here, Kea might realize what a huge mistake he was making.”
Flabbergasted, Poppy said, “You invited me here to break them up?”
The entire family nodded.
Wow. And here she’d wanted to do just that but thought the family would hate her for it.
“That day at Indian Falls?” Aloha shrugged. “We used magic spells to change the time on both your phones. We wanted you and Kea to meet early and spend some time together. Alone with just each other.”
“I thought that was really strange that the time changed.”
“We’d like to make an apology through a haka,” Iokua said.
The men of the family began to gather around Poppy. Then they slapped their chests, and began to chant.
Kea could hear the sounds of a haka being chanted as soon as he climbed from his truck.
Disappointed, he wondered why his family hadn’t invited him to participate.
He circled the house and opened the gate to see the males of his family finish the haka.
He looked around to see … Poppy.
The Dog Designer Ruffles Some Feathers Page 8
