by Lynn Cahoon
“You’re talking to me and no one is around to see. I don’t have the energy for your games. Those cats keep waking me up at all hours of the night. Yet, when I went into the other apartment this morning, they were gone.” Josh peered at the pile of papers. “What’s that?”
I shrugged, trying to look uninterested. “Oh, just the paperwork for the intern you have working for you. How’s Kyle working out?” I glanced behind me and saw the young man cleaning off a table. He waved, then returned to his work. “He seems like a hard worker.”
“When I’m watching him.” Josh snorted. “Sometimes I think he finds a place to hide and takes a nap.”
A short laugh escaped my lips before I realized Josh wasn’t kidding. “I’m sure he’s not sleeping on the job. He seems to love antiques. You must be a terrific mentor for someone like him.”
Josh shrugged, but I could see in his face the compliment had taken hold. The man could be nice. Jackie had found some redeeming qualities, so I guess I could, too. I tapped on the paperwork. “You were right, I do need something.” I held out a pen. “The new program director wants to complete all the paper files for the crew by Monday. She sure is a stickler for rules.”
Josh squinted at the papers. “I don’t sign anything I haven’t read.”
I moved the pen closer. “Honestly, I’ve gone over all the documents. Jackie told you I used to practice law, right?” I waited for his almost imperceptible nod, then pushed on. “There’s nothing here you have to worry about. Just legal stuff about keeping insurance on the business, just in case. And that you won’t use Kyle for illegal activities, like the sale of hot merchandise.”
Josh’s lips tightened, and his face turned redder than usual. “I do not sell stolen goods. I’m an upstanding member of the community.”
Crap, he’d taken my joke seriously. “Sorry, Josh, I was joking. I know you’re a reputable antique dealer. In fact, I was going to ask you to help me decide what to do with some of Miss Emily’s furniture and china. You have such a knack for these things.”
I hadn’t been going to Josh for help. I’d wanted to keep our relationship as professional as possible, considering he was dating my aunt. And probably eating Thanksgiving dinner with me. But I needed him to sign these papers sooner than later, so if I had to sweeten the pot with Miss Emily’s antiques, I would let him sell the lot.
His eyes narrowed, but I had his attention. “When do you need the forms back?”
I sighed. This wasn’t going as well as I’d hoped. “Sunday night. I’m driving them over to the center in Bakerstown first thing Monday morning.”
He held out his hand.
I stared at it, not knowing what he wanted.
“Miss Gardner, give me the paperwork. You can pick it up at the shop at five on Sunday, right before I close.”
I handed over the packet, pointing toward the stickers. “I’ve marked the places you need to sign. I appreciate you doing this so quickly. I know that this has been kind of a mess from the day Ted and the mayor made their back-room handshake agreement.”
Josh harrumphed. “The mayor tends to align himself with the wrong sort often. He needs to be more circumspect about the friends he keeps.”
Preaching to the choir. “Anyway, I do appreciate your help in getting all this cleaned up.” I stood. “If we don’t get it in on time, Candy might shut the program down early. I know Jackie would hate to lose Sasha as much as you’d hate to lose Kyle.”
A look of dread filled Josh’s face, and I knew it was more about displeasing my aunt than losing his own intern. “Be here promptly at five. I like to go into the city for a nice dinner on Sunday evenings.”
I nodded. “See you then.” I stood, checking for cars before I crossed the street. I almost felt bad for the guy. But not bad enough not to use my aunt’s name to get something I needed. I would probably have all the forms but his back in an envelope this afternoon. Josh always had to do things his own way. Be the stick in the cogs of a well-oiled plan.
The front door to Marie’s shop was locked and no one answered when I knocked on the apartment door. Great. My luck was holding steady: all bad. I scribbled out a note and slipped it under her apartment door. I’d stop again on the way back from the winery.
My steps had turned from determined optimism to slower, drudging along Main Street. By the time I’d reached the South Cove B&B, I was ready for more bad news. Mary was in the living room, quilting when I entered.
“Hey, Jill, don’t you look like someone just ran over your favorite potted plant? Come sit for a spell. Do you want a glass of iced tea?” Mary’s concern almost brought tears to my eyes, but I swiped them away like a buzzing fly.
“No, I’m fine. But I need you to do something for me.” I went on to explain the paperwork and why it hadn’t gotten done before and that we hadn’t even known about it. When I finally came up for air, Mary was already standing and digging through a drawer in her desk near the corner of the room.
“Here we go.” She popped her head up and held aloft a pen. “Where do I sign?”
Five minutes later, I was back on the road, walking toward the winery. One out of four wasn’t great odds, but at least I had one done, a promise of one, and two more to finish. Three black SUVs sped past me and turned onto the winery road. Tourists. Always in a hurry to get somewhere. I daydreamed as I walked and hoped Amy’s progress had been better than my own.
When I arrived at the winery, the SUVs were sitting empty in the parking lot. I opened the door to the tasting room, and glanced around, looking for Darla.
“Jill, come on over. Join the celebration.” Regina grabbed my arm and led me to the table filled with men in designer suits, David, and one more. Dean turned and smiled at me, standing as I approached the group. “Everyone, this is Jill. She runs the coffee shop/bookstore I’ve been raving about.”
“Hi, Jill.” A chorus of male voices responded to Regina’s introduction.
David seemed subdued but no worse for wear. “You doing okay? I can’t believe the way Greg took you into the station.” I’d been a little miffed at my boyfriend’s picking the guy up, especially in my shop. And, since he’d been released, probably over nothing. A little voice inside tried to defend Greg, listing off not overreacting as one of his strongest character traits.
David shook his head. “Detective King did what he needed to do. I never should have given her that gun.”
Dean slapped David on the back, stopping his next words. “What you did and what they can prove are two different things, my friend. No way was the family going to let you get railroaded over this one mistake in judgment.” Dean nodded at one of the guys sitting next to David. “Go with Harold. He’ll run you back down to your room, where you can freshen up and be in a better mood for your victory party. Take a shower, or a nap, whatever you need. Don’t hurry back, we’ll still be here.”
David nodded, but as he walked by me, he shot me a look, pleading for understanding. And for some strange reason, he reminded me of a convicted criminal walking into death row.
CHAPTER 18
Regina took a sip of her wine. “Jill, have you met my brother, Dean?”
So that’s why this man was in town, on my heels like a tax collector on April 16th. I nodded. “We ran into each other at City Hall.”
Dean chuckled. “Well, the boys ran into her. I just tried to make things better.” He leaned closer to me. “How are you feeling? Any ill effects from the incident I should know about?”
“No. Like I told you, I’m fine. Still fine. No worries.” I held my hands up in the air and spun around once.
“You sure are,” he said in a voice so low I wasn’t sure I’d imagined his words.
Regina’s laughter tinkled through the room. “Now, Dean, you need to leave Jill alone. She’s dating the local lawman.”
His lips curved into a smile. “Is that so? Well, I guess what he doesn’t know won’t hurt me, right?”
Regina raised her eyebrows. She patted t
he seat next to her. “Sit with us. I promise I’ll keep my brother on a leash.”
I glanced around the room, finally seeing Darla. “Sorry, I’m kind of on a mission here. I’ll see you in the shop later.”
Regina sighed. “After this incident, I may have to cut my visit short. I worry about David.”
Dean broke in again, his face red from anger or fear, I couldn’t tell. “Look, we just need to let things die down. All idle gossip does is get in the way of the investigation. You have to trust that the local law presence will do the right thing.”
“Greg wouldn’t have taken him in for questioning if he didn’t think that it was the right thing.” Now I was defending Greg’s actions. What was with me bouncing back and forth on this issue?
From the surprised look on Dean’s face, he’d noticed the inconsistencies, too. “All I’m saying is we need to mind our own business. David’s a good man. Good men don’t go to jail for things they didn’t do.”
What world do you live in? I wanted to ask, but instead, I let the comment roll off my back. “Nice to see you again, Regina. And you, too.” I nodded toward Dean.
“Come back and have a drink with us when your business is completed,” Regina offered, her gaze and attention wandering through the nearly empty wine room.
I took that as permission to leave and heard Dean’s voice calling after me, “Come back soon.”
The man, as attractive as he was, gave me the creeps. It wasn’t anything I could put my finger on. And I was sure I wasn’t imagining the overwhelming feeling. I almost sprinted toward Darla, who saw me coming and put up her hand.
“I know why you’re here and I’m not going for it. I won’t come in at the last moment and save Christmas.” Darla didn’t even look up from the glasses she was washing.
“Actually, that’s not why I’m here.” Although I should be, I added silently. One disaster at a time. I wasn’t that strong of a woman.
This time Darla did look at me. “Is there a problem? Did Greg send you down to warn me?”
“What are you talking about?” I didn’t wait for an answer. Darla was in rare form this afternoon.
Darla threw an anxious glance at the table I’d just left. “Them. They look and sound right out of a Godfather movie. Do you think they’re the mob?”
“Calm down. Those are Regina’s friends and family. They can be a bit overbearing, but they’re human, believe me.” I turned, catching Dean’s stare. “Of course, you need to protect yourself from that one. He’s a bit of a flirt. Besides, they’re from Boston. I don’t think the Godfather movies were set there.”
“It’s the East Coast. No difference. I visited New York once and never again. I was almost killed getting out of my taxi.” Darla finished with the last glass and focused on me. “So, why are you here?”
“I need you to sign some forms. I guess Ted was supposed to do all of this prior to the workers showing up. Now we’re halfway through the session, and the new chief is screaming about pulling the whole project.” I pulled the bundle of paperwork from my messenger bag, putting South Cove B&B’s completed packet at the bottom. “I’ve reviewed it for issues, and it all looks pretty straightforward. Can you sign now and I’ll give you copies next week?”
A cheer went up around the table, welcoming a new arrival. I expected to see David returning, but instead, Mayor Baylor waved at the crowd. Regina walked up to greet him, planting a kiss on his jowly cheek.
What the hell? How did these people even know each other? I watched as Dean pulled out a chair, then pulled the other man into a hug. I turned back to Darla. “You know what’s going on over there?”
Her eyes narrowed as she watched the waitress approach the table. “I don’t. Looks like they’re pretty chummy with our mayor, though.” She cast a sideways glance at me. “You sure they aren’t mafia? I wouldn’t put it past Mayor Baylor to be in with those types.”
“I didn’t think so.” But as I turned back to focus on the paperwork, a nagging feeling kept me jumpy. Maybe Greg knew the skinny on this.
Darla read through the pages, focusing on one clause, then another. “Give me a pen. I’ll sign and we can run to the office to get my copy.” She waited on me to grab a pen out of the bottom of the bag. “That guy is sure fixated on you. Do you know him from somewhere?”
I gave an exaggerated sigh as I handed her the pen. “No. He approached me outside City Hall, asked me out for dinner, and I turned him down. End of story.”
Darla flipped through the marked pages, signing where the stickers were set. As she finished, she stood the pages on end and straightened them, her gaze now back out to the dining room. “Well, I don’t think it’s ‘end of story’ for him. Maybe Greg needs to make his move and put a ring on it before this new one turns your head.”
“I do have a choice in the matter, you know.” I followed Darla out of the tasting room and into her small office. I’d never been in there before and the décor surprised me. She had black-and-white photos all around the room, mostly of South Cove. The desktop was clean and polished and looked like no one worked there. A small professional copier sat near another door. I thought of my office at the shop. My desk looked like a disaster had hit most days of the week. Even the small office I’d set up at home had more paper floating around than Darla’s entire room.
She made a copy and handed me the originals, clipping them together with a binder clip she pulled out of a drawer. “You never know when your heart will take over. I still think Greg needs to man up.”
I chuckled, tucking the packet behind the one other set of completed forms. “Well, I’m not going to take Mr. Smooth out there up on his dinner offer just to make Greg jealous. I don’t play those games.”
Darla cocked her head and considered my words for a moment. Her next statement surprised me. “I thought every woman played games.”
I wanted to ask her what she meant, but the clock struck five and I thought about Marie. Tonight’s class was scheduled to start at five thirty. If I hurried, I could have all but Josh’s papers done before I headed home for the night. Looking through the glass door by the copier, I realized that it exited into the main lobby, not the tasting room. I wouldn’t have to worry about being cornered by Regina or Dean if I left that way. Calling out my good-bye, I scooted out the door and was back on the road, power walking, in less than a minute.
When I reached Marie’s shop, the front door was open and Mindy was helping her prep for class. Mindy smiled as I entered; Marie, on the other hand, scowled.
“Hey, Jill. You taking tonight’s class?” Mindy greeted me as Marie pretended not to notice my arrival.
I shook my head. “Sorry, I’d love to, but I’m busier than the chicken who crossed the road.”
“Not the saying,” Marie grumbled. Mindy shot her boss a surprised glance but then smiled.
“I’m sure Jill was just being clever,” Mindy said, trying to smooth over a fight she didn’t understand.
“Never mind. I need to talk to Marie. Do you mind giving us a minute?” I smiled, trying to look sweet.
Marie’s eyes widened, finally showing interest in my arrival. “Mindy, go grab those new class schedules out of the car. You can stack the boxes in the back room.”
She waited for her assistant to leave and then, without meeting my eyes, asked, “What?”
“Good evening to you, too.” I wanted to call the words back when I saw her head jerk just a bit. I needed something from the woman. No need to make her angry over nothing. I hurried to speak before she could respond. “Look, I’m trying to get the work program paperwork that Ted was supposed to do done and in the new woman’s hands before she shuts us down and cancels the project.”
Finally, Marie looked up, but instead of looking at me, she glanced at the door leading to the back room. “He never could follow rules. What do I need to do?”
I hurried and pulled out the fourth set of papers. “Sign where I’ve indicated. I’ll give you a copy after Work Today’s
director signs off on Monday.”
Marie shook her head and pulled a pen out from behind her ear. “No need. You, I trust.”
As I watched the woman flip through to the marked signature pages, I wondered about her statement. Had I done something that made her trust me? Or was it more basic? Like my position with the Business-to-Business meeting? Or, I thought ruefully, the fact that I’d strong-armed her into taking on an intern from a program run by her abusive ex-husband? Although, to my credit, neither Marie nor I had known that fact when this whole thing started.
She handed me back the completed pages. When I didn’t immediately take them, she pushed the pile toward me. “Look, I’m busy here. Get out of my shop.”
Mindy’s gasp was our first indication that she had returned from her errand. When we turned and looked at her, the woman’s face was white. I smiled, trying to ease her fears. “We’re just kidding around. I’ve got to leave anyway.”
The assistant looked toward her boss for confirmation. Marie smiled, her voice tender. “Jill and I have a history. She understands when I’m joking.”
Mindy nodded, but I could tell she had felt the friction between the two of us. Hoping to appease her fears, I brightened and pointed to the coffee shop through the window. “Why don’t the two of you head over and get a coffee on me after class? I’ll leave word with Jackie and she’ll take care of you.”
“That would be amazing. I’ve been cutting down on buying coffee.” Mindy slapped her hand over her mouth. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to save money for a down payment on a car. And, well, coffee can get a little pricey.”
I shrugged. “I’m not the local pusher. You know where we are if you want a caffeine hit. Besides, I understand trying to save a little. When I first moved out here, I was watching every penny.”
“We’ll come by later. Thank you.” Marie eased the uncomfortable conversation to an end.
As I left the shop, students were just starting to flow into the workroom, many with a cup from Coffee, Books, and More. Marie’s evening classes had increased my walk-in traffic. And Jackie loved the variety of clientele. I crossed the street, enjoying the warm glow coming from the front windows. I could see Sasha at the counter, helping a couple purchasing a late-night treat. Jackie waved me in. She stood near the back, adjusting the Santa chair.
