by Janis Lane
“What?”
Cheryl looked up to see Tom staring her with a curious glint in his eye.
“You’re something else, Cheryl. I do appreciate the chance to work with you. It’s been both fun and profitable.
“Yeah?” She smiled at him. “That sounds like a but coming up. You saying goodbye or something, friend?”
“Nope. I hope you call me the next time and the next after that. But I am saying goodbye in a way. I finally figured out during this job that there’s no chance for me to date you. Yes, I know you had no idea I wanted to.” He tucked his head in embarrassment. “But I promise, I was working up to it.” He laughed at her shock.
“Don’t be upset. I know if you don’t, that your heart is already given. And I know who has it too.” He finished in a rush then covered her hand with his, both of them sporting grimy fingernails.
“He’s a good man, Cheryl. I got to know him while we were working. He cares about you a lot and worries about you a lot, too. I don’t know why the two of you aren’t a couple. But it doesn’t take Einstein to see that you belong together.”
“Tom.” She squeezed his hand. Why, oh, why, couldn’t she care as deeply about this nice man as she did for that rogue, David from the Hedge, David the Parrot Teaser, David the Plant Killer, David, who invaded her space, always assuming he was welcome? And wasn’t he?
Chapter 15
Cheryl looked up from her kitchen table to see the grinning face of her neighbor. The piece wasn’t due for a week, but she had a good start on her next gardening column. David was not unexpected and not exactly unwelcome. She was still a bit nervous after they had found the trampled shrubbery directly underneath her window.
“Cheryl, have you had dinner yet?” he called as he stood impatiently rattling the screen door.
She tried, and failed, to hide the grin on her face.
“What do you have in mind?” she called back without leaving her seat.
“I have an invite that includes you. It’s a surprise, though. Can I come in?” he asked with that purring tone to his voice.
She stood and made her way to open the latch. Immediately, he opened the door and had her in his arms. She stood placidly for a minute breathing in the essence of David, her nemesis and her love. Yes, she loved him. What that meant for the future, she wasn’t certain.
“Where are we going?” she asked, without moving away.
He caressed her back and rubbed his face in her hair. “Umm, sweet Cher.” He tilted her face up with one finger and placed a light kiss directly on her lips. Unexpectedly, he moved her away and flopped down in the kitchen chair.
“It’s a barbeque. Do you need to change clothes? You look pretty okay to me, but I know you’ve been working hard today. Can you be ready in about an hour? I’ll come get you.” He stood, kissed her on the forehead, and walked away, assuming her answer would be yes.
Cheryl laughed and headed for the shower. What use was it to make a fuss? With David Larkin she’d have to choose her battles and an outing sounded fun. She wondered who was hosting this outdoor party and should she be bringing a dish to pass. Oh well. She’d write a pretty note in thanks later for whoever it was. Although Hubbard had experienced a growth spurt in the last couple of years, she pretty well knew most families in the village.
The thought of a party cheered her considerably. It had been a big relief to finish her project at Toledo’s, but she still had to make an appearance at the gangster’s party the next night. She tried not to think of it. Whenever she thought of presenting herself to the exposure of those criminals, her stomach tightened in knots.
She dried her hair and chose a bright yellow peasant blouse to top a pair of white jeans. Sandals completed her outfit and she added a gold bracelet, a gift from her parents on her twenty-first birthday. She stood irresolute in front of her mirror wondering if . . . Yes, she selected tiny gold hoops for her ears. A quick application of lipstick, and she was good to go, just as she heard the rattle of the screen door and the sound of her name floating on the air. She hurried to join David, the party animal.
“Okay, where are we going?” she asked as they sped down the street in David’s unmarked cop car. She knew he was exceeding the speed limit, but somehow she wasn’t uneasy. It wasn’t his size that made her feel safe, was it? No, it was something different. This was a grown-up David, a cop through and through. He was still her childhood friend, but he was many things more now, and she was starting to not only accept it, but to like it.
“You know the host and hostess, Kevin Fowler and Beverly Hampton. I think they are about to be married. I know for sure they are engaged. They like to entertain with cookouts. I have no idea who all else will be there, but Fowler said for me to bring you especially. I think he feels guilty for putting you in the situation you’ve been in lately.”
“Oh,” Cheryl said, surprised but pleased. “I know Beverly has been working on her landscaping in that older home she bought. I’m excited to get the chance to see it. Thanks.” Cheryl grinned, and David gave her a quick sideways wink and patted her on the knee.
The heavy summer greenery on the trees drooped and formed a tunnel as they drove though the residential area of the village and found the side street. Cheryl loved the tidy front lawns and flowering hanging baskets favored by the residents. She noticed a resurgence of perennial gardens decorating the front yawns. A teardrop shape seemed to be the preferable design, but an exception was her favorite. A classic perennial garden backed up to an attractive, white-picket fence.
Large patio pots placed on the friendly porches displayed a variety of ideas. Some of the designs belonged to her from her gardening columns, and she couldn’t help a surge of pride and felt a happy lift to her mood.
Traffic was quiet on the streets at the dinner hour. David found the driveway already crowded with guests and had to park halfway down the street. He took her hand as they walked down the sidewalk toward the gracious older home.
“You okay with this, Cher?” he asked as they approached the gracious porch where two rocking chairs sat, one occupied with a curled up and sleeping orange cat. An enormous patio pot of petunias overflowed on the middle steps.
“Very much so. Beverly is the editor for my gardening column, you know. We’ve known each other forever. I’m pleased you accepted the invitation for us both. Detective Fowler seems to be a nice person in spite of his insistence on my exposure to hardened criminals.” She laughed to see David shrug his shoulders and wince as he knocked lightly on the screen door. She could hear voices and music drifting throughout the home.
A man who looked like Detective Fowler, but a younger version, answered the door. “Welcome, Larkin. Who is this lovely you’ve brought us?” He opened the door wide to shake David’s hand.
“Just you keep your eyes on that gorgeous blond. Brenda is about here somewhere, right? This is Cheryl Esterbrook, a childhood friend of mine. This is Kevin’s baby brother, Ted Fowler, Cheryl.”
He ushered them into the formal dining room where two couples were dancing cheek to cheek, as the music poured from a radio sitting on the table. They hailed David as he and Cheryl walked by and she assumed they were policemen. Finally they reached the kitchen, which was crowded with a mob chatting and laughing over a counter set up for liquid refreshments.
Declaring he intended to find them drinks, David left her to push through the group. She spied her hostess bending over the refrigerator and stood patiently waiting for her to emerge.
“Beverly, thank you for the invitation! Do I dare expect a tour of your garden tonight? Is it too dark to see?”
Beverly leaned toward her for a quick kiss on the cheek. “So pleased you could join us. There’s a mixture of people here, but I think you’ll find several that you know. I don’t know what you will think of my amateur gardening. Please don’t judge me. I’m s
till learning.”
They made for the back door where Cheryl could see white smoke billowing from the large grill.
Several people were sprawled in outdoor chairs on an adjacent flagstone patio. A couple of teenaged boys were kicking a soccer ball back and forth in the deep backyard. Kevin Fowler with an apron covering most of his tall, solid figure stood flipping burgers with flair. He turned as Beverly and Cheryl came out onto the patio.
“I see David Larkin still can persuade the ladies,” he said with a grin. “I’m so pleased you can join us, Cheryl. David wasn’t certain you felt we were a congenial group.”
“What’s going on, Kevin? Have you been treating my friend badly?” Beverly asked with a frown.
“Show me your garden, Bev, and I will tell you all about it.”
They walked toward the side garden, a riot of blooming perennials.
“I just happened to be in a position to help the police department with some really bad people they had been investigating,” Cher said. “It wasn’t a pleasant thing, but it’s almost over. I have promised to attend a cocktail party tomorrow night. All the police will be hidden and will watch over me.”
“I’m sorry you had to do that. You are here with David Larkin, aren’t you? I heard he has a thing for you. How do you feel about him?”
Cheryl felt her face go hot, and Beverly laughed.
“Never mind me. It’s difficult to keep secrets with these fellows. They are natural snoops.” She led the way to a garden bench placed strategically to the flowerbeds and offered Cheryl a seat.
“How do you handle his job?” Cheryl asked.
Beverly did not pretend she misunderstood. “It’s scary sometimes, but he comes with the work. I couldn’t give him up because I find his job uncomfortable at times, could I?”
Cheryl shook her head. She understood now that David was all cop.
“It’s a brotherhood, Cheryl. Policemen and firemen have a solid brotherhood. They take care of their own. If you’re around long, they’ll adopt you too.”
“I don’t know the answer to that, if it was a question.” Cheryl laughed. “No one has asked me to stick around yet.” She changed the subject hurriedly. “I love your garden and the way you’ve incorporated the perennials with some flashy annuals. Are those crocosmias in the corner? Hummingbirds just swarm them. Remind me to tell you about the garden I just finished.” She smiled. “It taxed my ingenuity to the limits.”
All of a sudden, they were surrounded by a group pulling them forward.
“Kevin says to bring you to the patio. He has burgers and such ready.” A tall, gorgeous blonde named Brenda was handholding Kevin’s brother.
Cheryl recognized several other people she knew. They reentered the kitchen where David thrust a tall glass of something into her hand. He raised his eyebrows, and Cheryl understood he wanted to know if she was okay. She nodded and waved him away.
With her plate full, she found a place on the front porch with several other couples. Soon David appeared, sat on the floor with his full plate, and snuggled against her knee.
Cheryl acknowledged a deep feeling of contentment. Did she belong here with these people? Somehow it felt right.
David was smiling and joking with his colleagues, but kept his shoulder brushing against her as if he wanted reassurance of her presence.
Beverly came out, followed by Kevin, and together, they claimed the wide steps. Someone had usurped the rocker from the cat, but then was plagued by the loud meowing of a begging feline.
When Cheryl thought she could not eat another bite, a gorgeous brunette named Susan, who ought to be hired by someone to advertise hair products, came out carrying a huge platter of sliced cake and set it on the wicker table. There was an immediate scramble for napkins as they surrounded the table amidst slight shoving and bantering.
Cheryl found herself laughing until tears threatened at some of the quips. David grinned as he emerged triumphant with two pieces on napkins and presented her with one of his trophies.
Ted leaned over and teased her. “Any time you want to get rid of that hunk, just let me know. There’s any number of better-looking gentlemen around here that will take his place. You just let me know.”
She laughed even harder when she heard David, his face covered in crumbs, absolutely growl.
“He might be dangerous, but we can handle him, Cheryl.”
It was another very handsome policeman whose name escaped her. She recognized him from the volleyball games.
He sat down near them and whispered directly to her. “Don’t you worry, pretty lady. We’re going to be right beside you tomorrow night. We don’t intend for those bad guys to upset you one bit. Just look around you and you’ll spot us close by.”
“I appreciate it. I know you’re on the job, but Toledo can be so obnoxious, I dread having to interact with him another time.” She shook her head, and David shifted to catch her eyes. He stared at her with a serious face.
“You gonna be okay, sweet Cher? I’ll be there close by, I promise,” he said.
The other policeman nodded in agreement.
After another hour or so, Cheryl felt exhausted and tapped David on the shoulder. She needed to get some rest after her long day at work. They found their host and hostess to say goodnight, but it was a while until they could get out the door and leave.
“A congenial group of friends, David,” she said as they wove their way back through the quiet village. It was only ten o’clock, but she could see many homes were dark already.
“Yeah, they’re not bad people, I guess,” he said with pretend casualness. “You enjoy the party?” He kept his attention on the road, but Cheryl could see the tension in his shoulders. He really wanted to know her answer.
“I very much did. I haven’t seen Beverly in weeks. I email my column in to her, but we don’t get to visit as much as we used to.” It wasn’t what he wanted to hear. She knew it, but some devilment kept her from sharing her feelings regarding all his policemen friends.
“Some of the fellows are a pretty rough bunch, but they don’t mean you any harm, sweet Cher.” He reached over to find her hand. “Did they upset you?”
“They seemed like a great group. I didn’t know you were friends with so many firemen. I enjoyed chatting with their wives too.”
“Yeah, we run into each other pretty regularly. Fowler is always up for a cookout. I was surprised when he and Miss Beverly got together, but they make a nice couple, don’t they? She doesn’t seem to mind being special to a cop.” David gave her a sly glance with a half-smile.
If she didn’t know better, she would guess David was a tad embarrassed. She had a lot to think about after this night, but she wasn’t about to be rushed into making any kind of important statements. She changed the subject to the upcoming night.
Chapter 16
Limousine after limousine pulled up to the circular driveway discharging passengers. Jewels sparked on the women, and tuxedos wrapped around men who appeared stiff and uncomfortable. It must have been her imagination, but Cheryl thought she saw suspicious lumps in a couple of the men’s coats. How many were carrying guns? She tried to control her imagination and remembered that David and his friends were . . . what did they call it? The police were packing heat too.
She and Jane walked together up the concrete drive while Cheryl pointing out features in the newly planted garden. She was carrying a double order of lisianthus, the Echo variety in deep blue. One of the favorites of florist since it stayed fresh in the vase for so long. Not to mention how it resembled a partially open rose in an unbelievable deep blue.
“Dunno what it looked like before, but it’s beautiful now. You’re so talented, Cheryl. I envy you.” Jane walked over near the beginning of the garden and used her cell to take a quick snapshot.
“Stand over there, Cheryl,” Jane directed. “Let me get the designer with the garden in the background.”
Cheryl complied, thinking it might be useful for future jobs. She chuckled thinking a landscaper designer in a cocktail dress was hardly suitable advertisement.
“I enjoyed planning it,” Cheryl said, “and even more watching my ideas develop, but I confess I’m really glad the job is over. Anyway, my friend, Tom, and his crew did most of the work. Are you ready to make our appearance?”
“Sure. Didn’t you promise me lobster patties?”
They were laughing as they entered the house which was crowded with people, none that she recognized. She gave a sharp lookout for Tim Griever but hoped she wouldn’t see him. Where were David and his buddies? They had to be here somewhere. An arm grabbed her around the waist and pulled her into a closet. Her pulse jumped and she stiffened with fear.
“David, cut that out! You scared me to death. Where’s Jane?” She started laughing when she recognized the uniform of a plumber. No wonder he had managed to get inside. She immediately relaxed. “Are the rest of your team dressed the same? How many plumbing problems do you think you can pull off? Where is Jane?” she asked again.
“Shhhh. She seemed to be headed for the food table. Listen, honey, plans have changed. We’ve discovered that all the parties are present, and we’re about to make several arrests. You need to get out of here. Think you can grab Jane and go out the back door? We tried to call you, but you had already left. You need to share your cell phone number with me first thing tomorrow. Promise?”
“Okay. I won’t be sorry to leave, I assure you. David? Cut that out.”
He was planting a kiss on her lips, which had her heated beyond what the stuffy closet was causing.
