“That’s very generous of you,” Lisa said.
“You’re right, it is. Anyway, I’ll want some subjects to paint, which is where you and Mo come in. I want this series to really speak to people. To be like one of those Sarah McLachlan songs but in paint.”
“You want to make people cry?”
“Great art should move people,” Olivia intoned.
“And where do we come in?” Lisa said. She switched off the TV and stood up.
“You two will provide me with the models for my paintings. Or photographs, in certain cases,” Olivia said.
“Photographs?” Lisa said. “In which cases, exactly?”
“In the ones where the animal is deceased,” Olivia said.
“Aunt Olivia! You want to paint dead animals? I’m shocked at you.”
“You sound like your mother,” Olivia said. “How else are we going to put across the real seriousness of the situation?”
“I don’t know, with their cute little faces?” Lisa said. “It just sounds like it would be in bad taste to paint them dead.”
“Now you really sound like your mother,” Olivia said. She sighed. “I’ll come up with something. But I’m going to make a real impact with this series, you wait and see.”
Olivia hung up. Lisa rubbed her temples, feeling a headache coming on. She could only imagine what her aunt’s whimsical painting style would do with the subject matter.
Lisa went into the kitchen for a glass of water, hoping a little hydration would help stave off the headache. The image of Ethan Valentine in handcuffs on the news flashed through her mind as she drank the water. Had he always been crooked, or had it crept up on him over time? Did he think he was somehow helping the town? His face had looked defiant, not remorseful. Maybe he just had the kind of ego that wouldn’t let him admit he’d done anything wrong or made any mistakes. Plenty of people in politics seemed to share that personality trait. She hoped her mother didn’t follow the same path. Maybe every politician started out thinking they were the lone exception to the rule about power corrupting.
Mama Cat sauntered into the kitchen and meowed in front of her empty bowl. Lisa fed the cat, then sat at the table watching her wolf down her food. After eating, Mama Cat washed her face and licked her paws, giving careful attention to her extra toes.
A few minutes later, Lisa and Mama Cat curled up on Lisa’s bed with the cat brush. Lisa groomed Mama Cat’s soft fur with short, even strokes. Mama Cat purred and kneaded the bedspread.
Olivia’s words echoed in her mind. Lisa blinked back tears, trying not to imagine what might have become of Mama Cat or her kittens if Lisa hadn’t found her.
The phone rang. Lisa risked the cat’s ire and stopped brushing to pick it up.
“Hello?”
“Hi, it’s me.” Mo’s warm voice made Lisa smile.
“Hi. What are you up to?” she said.
“Going over plans,” he said, excitement making him talk fast. “Plans for the clinic, the spay and neuter clinic. Your mom came through! I’m looking at resumes right now, and I can start as soon as I’ve booked the help and the supplies.”
“That’s wonderful,” Lisa said. “I was just thinking about the clinic. You wouldn’t believe what Aunt Olivia said.”
“What did she say?”
“She wants to paint some animals and let us use the paintings to advertise the spay and neuter clinic.”
“That seems good,” Mo said.
“Well, maybe. But she also wants to paint some of them, uh, dead. Like, as a warning of what can happen if people don’t do the right thing.”
Mo was silent for a moment. “I think I’ll pass,” he finally said. “That sounds depressing.”
“Yeah. She said she wants the paintings to be like a Sarah McLachlan song,” Lisa said.
“I can’t stop her from painting what she wants,” Mo said. “But that’s kind of weird. Maybe your mother can steer her in a different direction.”
Lisa laughed. “If my mother says anything against it, Olivia will have to do the paintings out of general principle.”
“Oh. Good point. Can we discourage it?” Mo said.
“Hmm, probably not. But we can say nothing and see if it blows over.”
After they hung up, Mama Cat put a paw on Lisa’s hand and then tapped the brush. Lisa picked up the brush and resumed the gentle strokes.
Chapter 34
Three weeks later, Lisa went to lunch with Carly. They sat in their usual booth by the window at Lola’s Burgers and More, with baby Liam in his car seat in a sling. Eyes wide open, Liam looked around the restaurant in wonder.
“How’s everything going?” Lisa said.
Carly shrugged. “Good days and bad days,” she said. “I think the pills have officially kicked in, now. I feel somehow more even than I used to.”
“Even?” Lisa said, biting into an onion ring.
“The first few weeks were like a roller coaster. I never knew from one minute to the next if I’d be deliriously happy or in the depths of despair. I cried all the time,” Carly paused, pointing at her friend. “Well, you saw that part. But now, things don’t feel so up and down. I feel like I can plan my day and have some idea of how it’ll go.”
“How about work?” Lisa said. “Are you going back before the end of the school year?”
“No,” Carly said. “My FMLA leave will be up a couple of weeks before the end of school, but the principal signed off on me taking those extra weeks and coming back in the fall. I don’t know what I’d do if I had to leave Liam when he’s still so small.”
Carly looked at the baby in his car seat with a tender smile. She ran a finger down the soft curve of his chubby cheek.
“Will it be different in the fall?” Lisa said. “Sorry, I don’t mean to be insensitive. I’m just curious.”
Carly shrugged and ate a French fry. “He’ll be bigger, which is something. Honestly, I don’t know how I’ll feel about it then. But I do know that we have too much debt for me to stop working permanently.”
She looked out the window at the passing semis on the highway and ate another French fry. Lisa took a bite of her cheeseburger and looked out the window, too.
“But enough about me. How are you?” Carly said after a minute.
“I’m ok,” Lisa said with a shrug.
“You solved another crime, and maybe helped with the corruption thing,” Carly said. “Seems only fair that would give you a boost.”
“Does it? I don’t know.” She took another bite.
“Ok, what’s wrong?” Carly said. “And don’t say nothing because I know that’s not true.”
“Fine. It’s Mo.”
“I knew it,” Carly said, taking a triumphant drink of chocolate milkshake.
“He’s been so busy with his spay and neuter clinic that I almost never see him anymore.”
“Honey, that’s only temporary. Didn’t you say the funding was for a two-week free clinic once a year?”
“Yeah,” Lisa said.
“And the two weeks are up,” Carly checked her watch, “about now, aren’t they?”
“Yeah,” Lisa said again.
“Then what’s wrong?” Carly said.
“I guess I’ve been thinking about the future, and I still don’t know if he’s on the same page. We worked so well together on my mom’s campaign, and on the investigation, but now he’s got his clinic and I never see him. Are we a team or not?” Lisa said.
She crushed her napkin in her fist and smoothed it out again, running a finger over each fold. The baby let out a little squeal.
“You’re not going to want to hear what I have to say,” Carly said.
“Oh no, is he going to break up with me? Is that what you’re going to say?” Lisa said.
“No! No, of course that’s not what I’m going to say,” Carly said. “I was going to say that you have to actually talk to him about it, not just go over and over it in your own mind.”
Lisa scrunched the napkin up again and chomped
on an onion ring.
“If there’s one thing I’ve learned from being married,” Carly went on, “it’s that men make terrible mind readers. The worst. They can’t do it at all.”
Lisa sighed. “Well, that’s hardly fair.”
“Don’t I know it,” Carly said. “You have no idea how many things Gideon ought to know without being told. But no matter how much I think something in his direction, it doesn’t work nearly as well as when I just say it out loud in actual words.”
“Hmph,” Lisa said. “I guess I’m stuck, then.”
“Yep. You’re going to have to talk to your man. Ask him the questions you want answered. Tell him things. It’s the only way.”
“Are you sure I can’t make him a playlist or send him a book on reading tea leaves or something simple like that?” Lisa said.
Carly laughed. The baby let out another squeal and a giggle. Carly made her hand into a grasping claw and teased the baby, making him giggle and squeal more.
“I see you’ve found the secret purpose of babies,” Lisa said. “Total cuteness.”
“Total cuteness,” Carly agreed, touching the tip of Liam’s nose and making a little booping noise.
Lisa took another bite, watching her friend fondly. Thank goodness she’d seen a doctor about the postpartum depression.
“How’s your mom liking the job of mayor?” Carly said.
“Too early to say. I think my dad is starting to understand why Fern Valentine got so desperate and crazy, though.”
“Ooh, yikes,” Carly said.
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure he hopes she’ll stick with just the one term and not run again. I mean, he’s retired, and she’s still got the real estate agency on top of being mayor,” Lisa said.
“Sounds rough.”
“Yeah. Oh, and my aunt broke up with Billy Jack.”
“She did? I hope she doesn’t zero in on your dad again,” Carly said. She covered her mouth. “Oh, sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
Lisa laughed. “It’s fine. I hope that, too.”
“Did you ever find out who left that rock with the note in your house?” Carly said.
“I thought it was Fern,” Lisa said, “or maybe Ethan Valentine, but Toby says they both deny having gone into the Folly except during business hours.”
“Huh, weird. Maybe it was that creepy undercover guy, what was his name?”
“Ryan Regent,” Lisa said.
“Yeah, him.”
“I don’t know.” Lisa shrugged and sipped her milkshake. “I guess that would make sense, especially with the not breaking the window part of things.”
“What about that obnoxious drunk guy, have you seen him around? Was he part of the whole corruption thing?” Carly said.
“Gary Barlow? No, I think he went back to Scottsdale,” Lisa said with a shrug. “As far as I know, he was just in town to play poker for high stakes.”
Carly chuckled. “Who would have thought sleepy little Moss Creek would have a high-stakes poker game?”
“We’re just like Las Vegas, except for the lights, the hotels, the shows, and the casinos,” Lisa said.
“Don’t forget the palm trees and the hundred-degree heat,” Carly said, laughing.
*
After lunch, Lisa stopped by her mother’s real estate office before heading toward the Folly.
Tess looked up, her usual distracted expression on her face, when Lisa walked into the reception area.
“Hi, Tess. Is my mom in?” Lisa said.
“Hi, Lisa.” Tess waved a hand in the direction of Penny’s door. “She’s in there.”
Lisa opened her mother’s door.
“Close the door!” Penny thundered.
Lisa closed it, eyes wide with shock. A moment later, Penny opened the door again.
“Sorry, darling, I wasn’t expecting anyone,” she said. “I didn’t want Watson to get out.”
“Mom, are you—” Lisa caught sight of the orange kitten in Penny’s arms. “—ok. Who’s this little guy?”
Penny’s face broke into a wide smile. “This is Watson,” she said, stroking the kitten’s head.
“When did you get a kitten?”
“Yesterday,” Penny said.
“How did you get a kitten? Why do you have a kitten in your office?”
“Your Mo is doing such good work for the community with his little clinic,” Penny said. “But someone brought in a litter of kittens who needed homes, and…” She trailed off, tickling the kitten under the chin.
“And you just took a kitten home with you?” Lisa said.
“Mo said that playing with kittens is an excellent way to destress. And Lisa, darling, being the mayor is stressful.”
“Well, then I’m glad you’re doing something to unwind,” Lisa said.
Penny nodded, still absorbed in the little fluff ball in her arms. “You should hang on to that man of yours; he’s a keeper.”
*
Lisa pulled into her parking spot next to the Folly and smiled. Mo’s truck was parked next to her. She went into the café and found him sitting in the library, watching the entrance.
As soon as Lisa walked in, Mo stood up and crossed the room in three strides. He threw his arms around her and held her tight.
“I have missed you,” he said into her hair. He breathed in deeply, then let the air whoosh out in a contented sigh. “I’m so glad this thing is over.”
“It’s done now?” Lisa said. “I thought it wasn’t until tomorrow.”
“Nope, today.”
Lisa relaxed into Mo’s arms, smelling the faint scent of soap and laundry detergent. That and his damp hair told her he’d stopped by his place to shower after work. She laid her ear against his chest, listening to his strong, steady heartbeat.
The clinic was an undeniable good for the community, but she felt glad to have him to herself again. She stepped back and smiled up at him.
“I met Watson today,” she said. “How’d you convince my mother to take a kitten home?”
“Everybody loves kittens,” Mo said.
“She was playing with him in her office,” Lisa said. “You may have precipitated the mellowing of Penny Baldwin-Chance.”
Mo laughed.
“I have to get back to work in a minute. But do you want to do something tonight?” Lisa said.
“Uh, I have some errands to run tonight. Are you free tomorrow?” he said.
“Well, there’s the café, although Tuesdays aren’t our busiest days,” Lisa said.
“Can Jan or someone cover for you?” Mo said.
“Why? What have you got in mind?” she said with a smile.
“Do you have a good pair of hiking boots?”
“Of course.”
Mo grinned. “I’ll pick you up at seven.”
“In the morning?”
“Be there or be square.”
“Then I’ll be there,” Lisa said.
Mo kissed her on the forehead. “Perfect.”
He stooped to tickle Mama Cat under the chin before leaving. Lisa went to the kitchen to make sure Jan was ok with working the café solo the next day. Jan agreed, so Lisa spent the next two hours baking extra pans of muffins so she wouldn’t run out.
Chapter 35
At exactly 7 a.m., Mo’s truck pulled up in front of the Folly. Lisa grabbed the pair of mochas she’d made and met him on the front porch. Mo accepted his cup and studied her outfit.
“Hiking boots, that’s good,” he said. “Are you wearing layers? Good socks? Plenty of sunscreen?”
Lisa laughed. “Do you want to check my socks?”
“Blisters are no joke,” Mo said.
“Fine. Yes, I’m wearing good socks and plenty of sunscreen.” She pulled the neck of her jacket aside to reveal the light sweater and t-shirt underneath. “And layers.”
“Ok, good,” Mo said. He sipped his mocha and paced the porch, muttering to himself as he ticked things off on his fingers.
“Are you ok?” L
isa said.
“Me? Yes. I just want to make sure I didn’t forget anything,” Mo said. He patted the various pockets of his cargo pants, nodding at each one.
“Ok. Speaking of remembering things, want to use the bathroom before we head out? My dad always told me that was the most important thing to remember when leaving the house,” Lisa said. “He also used to say you’re never fully dressed without a smile.”
She flashed her pearly whites at him. Mo nodded and went inside to use the facilities. Lisa shrugged. Mo was really preoccupied. She sipped her mocha and got into the passenger seat of his truck.
When Mo came out to the porch, he looked around in confusion. Lisa tapped on the horn, and he jumped at the sudden sound. She smiled and waved. Mo waved back, a blush coloring his face scarlet. He got into the truck and put his hand to the ignition switch. He fumbled around for a few seconds.
“Oh yeah, keys,” Mo said.
He patted the pockets of his jacket and cargo pants, trying to summon the telltale jingle of a set of car keys. Nothing.
Lisa reached up to the sun visor and flipped it down, dumping the keys in Mo’s lap.
“Oh,” he said, scrambling to pick up the keyring and insert the key into the ignition. “Thanks.”
He started the truck and drove away from the Folly, turning north.
“Where are we going?” Lisa said.
“Uh, it’s still a surprise,” Mo said.
Lisa leaned back in the seat and watched the town recede. They entered the forest, ponderosa pines alternating with stands of white-barked birch. Bits of sunlight flashed between the trees and made the last remaining patches of snow in the ditches sparkle like fallen disco balls.
At last they pulled into a parking area by the trailhead. Lisa recognized it and smiled. A hike to the overlook, her favorite location at the Grand Canyon. Mo retrieved two backpacks from the bed of the truck, taking the one packed until the seams puckered and putting it on his back. He gave the lighter pack to Lisa, and she hefted it onto her shoulders.
The path from the parking lot was covered in dried pine needles, lending their every step a burst of sharp piney scent. Next to the trail, small wildflowers lifted their faces to the sun. Tiny shimmering bees flew from flower to flower.
Killer Campaign (Lisa Chance Cozy Mysteries Book 3) Page 19
