Throbbing like a sore tooth, Cassaundra Reynolds pulled off highway ___ onto Meander Road

by Susan Shay

  After flipping on the lights, they carried the pizzas into the kitchen. Keegan went to the fridge to see if there was something to drink, but rather than cold beer, cold sodas, or even milk, all he found was the same nearly empty space from this morning. Hell.

  “Boy, we’ve got nothing to drink in here.” He glanced at the pantry. “I might be able to rustle up a tea bag, if you like ice tea with your pizza.”

  “Ice tea is great with me.”

  Opening the pantry door, he had a sinking feeling. The cupboard was literally bare. There wasn’t a tea bag, a canister of loose tea, or even a jar of instant anywhere in the almost empty space. Well, there was always water.

  But as he opened his mouth to explain, she chuckled. “Either she didn’t make it to the store or she’s there now. Why don’t we leave her a note and go up to my place? I’ve got Cokes in the fridge and she can join us when she gets here.”

  “That sounds better than water.”

  While Cassie searched for a notepad in her purse, he scooped up the still warm boxes. After several moments, she pulled out a pen and paper and wrote something. “I’ll leave it here on the kitchen table.”

  “If she doesn’t find it, I’ll eat her part for her.”

  He followed Cassie out the door, locking it as he shut it. As they started up the stairs, a thought slowed him. What if Miriam wasn’t buying groceries? What if she’d been lured away by whomever she was seeing these days? That did it. He was going to have a serious talk with her about who she was seeing, and her responsibilities. It wasn’t right to put all her work on Cassie—no matter how long the friends had worked together.

  But even though he tried to talk himself into a temper, he couldn’t help but worry. Who was she seeing who couldn’t come around to meet him? Couldn’t or wouldn’t? And what if it wasn’t her lover who had lured her away? Where was his sister?

  The burn started in his belly again, working its way up his chest just as it had before he’d come home to see about Miriam. But now he was here and the gut was flaming once more. Dammit.

  As they went up the stairs, he noticed garland twining through the stair rails that hadn’t been there before. Miriam’s handiwork? With Christmas only two days away, there wouldn’t be much time for the residents to enjoy it, if they did at all. More than likely, Vern and Miss Marcie would grouch that it was dangerous or just plain ugly. Of course, Mack and Miss Ruthy would make up for it by loving her work.

  As they turned on the landing and started up the last flight, a door opened.

  “I thought a herd of elephants were pounding up the stairs.” Miss Marcie glared at them. “Where have you two been so late? You weren’t working this long, were you?”

  “Yes, we were.” Cassie’s answer was much softer than his would have been.

  “Keegan, I want to talk to you. As part of our neighborhood watch, I was checking doors this afternoon.” The old woman looked like an angry old school teacher. He half-expected her to start patting her foot while she talked. “Yours was unlocked, so I took care of it for you. It’s dangerous to go off and leave things open like that.”

  “Miriam was here.” I hope to hell you didn’t lock her out. “She’d probably just had laundry or something to do here in the building.”

  “Tell that sister of yours that we can’t be too careful.” A pained look caused her mouth to purse even more than normal. “I stressed caution at our meeting.”

  As anger rippled through him, the flame burning his belly eased. Maybe he needed to quit hiding his feelings. Just tell Miss Marcie what he thought of her attitude. After all, she never hesitated to tell them what she thought.

  But as he took a breath, Cassie stepped up beside him and touched his elbow with a quieting hand. “It was probably an accident, Miss Marcie. I’m sure it won’t happen again.”

  Those few words were all it took to shut Miss Marcie down. No venting, anger, or shouting necessary. And except for a slight twinge, his belly had cooled, too.

  With a sharp nod, Miss Marcie turned back into her apartment, leaving the pair of them to continue to Cassie’s. She let him into the dark apartment. For a moment, the room was lit only by the Christmas tree and the blinking red eye on the answering machine.

  Flipping on the overhead light, Cassie detoured past the phone and pressed a button. A whiny voice poured out. “Cassaundra, this is your mother. I’m calling to remind you that you are coming home for Christmas. Call me and let me know what time to meet your plane. Don’t even try to tell me again that you aren’t coming this year. I promise you, I will come and get you.”

  With a shake of her head, Cassie quickly took a couple of paper plates from a small cupboard and set them on the table.

  He set the pizzas down. “Aren’t you going to call your mother back?”

  “No.” Cassie opened the pint-sized refrigerator and pulled out two Cokes. As she worked, sadness filled her eyes. Finally she looked at him. “She doesn’t really want me to come home for Christmas. She wants...Oh, I don’t know what she wants, but there’s something behind all this pretend family togetherness.”

  He tried to imagine getting such a phone call from his mother. Of course, her cult had a taboo against celebrating Christmas—the pagan holiday—but what if after all this time, she called him? How would he feel? He almost laughed out loud. Yeah, Cassie had it about right. But maybe... “Hey, you never know. She could be sincere.”

  “Yeah, right.” Cassie helped herself to pizza, then popped the top on her Coke. “And she might be—”

  The phone rang, cutting off her words. “Maybe that’s Miriam, looking for her pizzas.” At least he could hope.

  Nodding, Cassie grabbed up the phone. “Hello?” Then her face fell. With her eyes closed, she heaved a quiet sigh. “No, Janneth. I told you I wouldn’t be able to make it.”

  Head bowed, she listened for a moment, then exploded. “I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I do know this isn’t about wanting to see me. Or wanting me to be in Alexandra’s wedding. Whatever it is, you’ll have to do it without me there to help you. I am not coming. Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and I have to work.”

  After another brief pause while she clamped her lips together in a straight line, she answered through clenched teeth, “Don’t bother.”

  Disconnecting, she carefully put the phone back in the charger. While her calmness as she walked back to the table surprised him, the anger glittering in her eyes didn’t. “I cannot believe that woman. If she weren’t so...self-absorbed—”

  “What? She might be a better mother? Grow up? Show some consideration for other people?” Understanding completely, he shook his head. “Not going to happen for either of us.”

  “They shuttled me off years ago when I started embarrassing them, and now, suddenly, she wants me?” She took a bite of pizza, then chewed for a moment. “I wonder if psychics have suddenly become the vogue in Kansas City. Maybe she wants me for entertainment at Alexandra’s wedding. I can’t think of any other reason why she’d care where I spend Christmas.”

  He shrugged, then filled his plate. “You sounded very sure that you weren’t going on the phone. Maybe she’ll give up.”

  Surprised, Cassie glanced up and held his gaze. “No. She still says she’s coming after me. Tomorrow.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  On Christmas Eve morning Cassie should have known better than to trust her internal clock to wake her, but she had anyway. And as a result she was running late. Hurrying downstairs, she tapped on Miriam’s door, which was quickly opened by Keegan.

  She swallowed, forcing her hand to stay at her side as she tried to ignore how slick his jaw looked, as if he’d just this minute finished shaving. The thought made the bottom drop out of her stomach as she envisioned him, wearing nothing but a towel, going through the morning ritual.

  Sucking in a quick breath, she glanced into the apartment. “Did Miriam make it home last night?”

  “No.” He pressed his lips into a thin line
as he grimly shook his head. “Are you ready to go?”

  She nodded and moved back a step so he could close and lock the door. “Are you worried about her?”

  As they walked toward the car, his jaw was rock-hard. “Yes. I’m worried about who she’s spending time with. If he’s on the up and up, why haven’t I met him? Is there something wrong with him or is there a darker reason he’s not coming around? Why isn’t she more considerate than that? Dammit. She should realize I’d want to know.”

  “You’re right.” Cassie lengthened her stride a little to keep up with him. “But maybe she’s not thinking about us.”

  He looked at her, the first smile of the day curving his mouth. A sardonic grin, but a grin nonetheless. “Maybe she’s not thinking of us? You could win an award for that understatement. She’s certainly not thinking about us—at all. And what she’s thinking with is not her brain. In fact, if she remembers she has a brother, a friend, or a brain, I’d be surprised.”

  “I imagine the store and work probably rank right about there, too,” Cassie added as he clamped his jaw even harder.

  He muttered something unintelligible as he unlocked the car and climbed inside.

  As soon as she buckled her seatbelt, she looked across the car at him. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

  Shifting into gear and pulling into the street, he shot her a quick glance. “I said that Miriam and I are going to have a come-to-Jesus meeting the very next time I see her.”

  When several long, silent moments passed, Cassie switched on the radio. But no matter what channel she turned it to, she could find nothing but Christmas carols. After listening to them play incessantly in the store for the last five weeks, she didn’t want to hear another one for at least a year. With a sigh, she turned it off.

  As they steered into the parking space, she noticed several cars out front. The last-minute shoppers were getting an early start. The bakery boy already waited at the door. “We aren’t that late, are we?”

  Keegan caught a glimpse of his watch. “Still half an hour to opening. Looks like everyone’s trying get things done ASAP.”

  At the door, Trey handed Keegan the box while she unlocked. “I’ve got two more for you. I’ll be right back.”

  Startled, Cassie stared at him. “Two more? Why?”

  “Miss Miriam ordered them.” His mouth quirked as he said her name. “Extra sweet rolls, and a Christmas wedding sheet cake.”

  “Oh, the cake!” At the question on Keegan’s face, she continued. “Every Christmas, Miriam orders a cake to serve to customers as a thank you for shopping with us through the year. She doesn’t usually order a wedding cake, though.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Like we’re going to have time to serve cake today.”

  “We’ll slice the pieces, set it up on a table, and let the customers serve themselves. It’s easier that way.” Pushing the door wide, she held it for him and Trey, who carried the other two boxes inside.

  Preparing to relock the door after Trey left, she noticed Miss Marcie and Miss Ruthy hurrying across the sidewalk toward them. She pulled the door wide. “You two are out early.”

  “A course we are. Miriam called yesterday morning and asked us to help you out today.” Marcie pushed past, but kept talking. “Said she figured you’d need us.”

  Miss Ruthy followed on her heels, but waited patiently until Marcie finished speaking. “Just tell us what you want us to do, dear. We’re here to help.”

  Quietly, Cassie blew out a long breath. What was Miriam thinking, asking them to help? Training people on Christmas Eve was impossible. Hoping to make the best of the situation, she looked from one to the other. “Miss Ruthy, could you go into the coffee shop and help Keegan make coffee and put the pastries in the displays?”

  “Oh, yes. I wanted to tell him I read his article about that murdered girl in the newspaper. Poor thing. Keegan did an excellent job.” Ruthy walked away to find Keegan.

  “Well? What about me?” Marcie demanded.

  Cassie thought for a moment. “If you would set up a small table near the front, put the cake there, slice it, and keep it stocked with plates, it would be a big help.”

  After Marcie charged away to get a folding table, Cassie hurried to flip on the lights. If she could count on anything today, it was that Marcie would be bossy, demanding, and exhausting.

  Then she went into the office for the register drawers. Two times through the combination on the safe was a record for her. Usually without thinking about them, she hit the numbers. But today... Already tired, she shook her head. Would the entire day be like this?

  Grasping the trays, she carried them to the front register and loaded the first. With a nod at Marcie as she passed, she hurried to the back. Ruthy was industriously setting pastries in the cases while Keegan filled creamer and sugar containers. But as she put the money in the drawer, he slipped up behind her and touched the small of her back.

  Heart rate skyrocketing, her stomach dipped several notches as she caught her breath. Was that a psychic thing, or a sexual response? She waited a moment, then tears of joy sprang to her eyes as nothing crept into her mind. It was a normal, everyday, physical yearning. Something millions of women experienced each time their lover approached. Thank God.

  “How’s it going?” he murmured in a tone meant for her ears alone.

  “Even if Miriam shows up, it’s going to be a tough day. If she doesn’t...”

  “Yeah. I know.” He took a long breath, as if trying to smell the shampoo she’d used that morning. “Well, do what you can and let the rest go. Just don’t exhaust yourself. There’s something I want to talk to you about tonight.”

  Wishing she could turn in his arms and spend some time with him now instead of later, she nodded, then slipped away from his touch. “I will.”

  The place where his hand had touched her burned as if he’d branded her. She had to force herself to walk away from him rather than rush back to his side.

  When someone tapped at the front, she glanced at her watch. Still fifteen minutes to opening, but the tap turned to pounding. “Just a moment,” she called.

  “Open the door!” The feminine voice was followed by giggles from several females.

  Curiosity as much as anything made her go to the door. As she unlocked it, several young women carrying lidded mugs printed with the saying Read a Romance, Fall in Love surged into the store. The group of competitive readers who tried to find good first-time authors, out for an early celebration.

  “We’re here to buy each other Christmas presents. And we have a gift for Miriam. Where is she?”

  Cassie struggled to remember the young woman’s name. “Good morning. She’s not in yet, Jenny. And I don’t know when she will be.”

  “Then it’s a good thing we’re here.” Jenny shoved a brightly wrapped present into Cassie’s hands. “Without Miriam, you’ll need us today. Linda and Terri are the best gift wrappers, Tami has more experience at the register than you’ll get in two lifetimes, and together, Julia, Suzanne, and I know everything there is to know about today’s fiction. We’ll help customers find what they need.”

  Overwhelmed, Cassie didn’t know what to say. This was the help they needed. And today, a day when few people could be forced to work, these women were volunteering, because of their affection for Miriam.

  Marcie nudged her sharply. “Well, for heaven’s sake, say yes and let them get out of our way. We’ve got more customers comin’ in the door.”

  At Cassie’s nod, the women each scooped up a plate with cake on it, then went directly to the coffee shop to refill their travel mugs. Soon, they’d dispersed to different parts of the store while the place filled with customers.

  Between getting the volunteers started—setting up an extra gift wrap station and giving a brief tutorial of the bookstore’s particular registers—and helping customers who wouldn’t talk to someone new when they saw her in the store, Cassie was almost too busy to breathe. But soon everything began to r
un smoothly, even if it was busier than she could remember in her entire life.

  Later that morning, Mack and Vern wandered into the store. “You’ve got the hens working today? You must be desperate,” Vern murmured to Cassie as he glared at Marcie, then took a piece of cake.

  Marcie glared at Vern, then cut an extra large piece of cake. “How about you, Mack? Would you like a piece?”

  “No.” Mack’s grumbled answer was short to the point of being rude, unusual for the elderly man. Probably the Christmas doldrums that so many widowers experienced. He cut his gaze toward Cassie, then dipping his head, stalked away. “I need coffee.”

  “He’s in some mood, and just in time for Christmas, too.” Shaking his head, Vern glanced at Cassie as he picked up the plastic fork. “Where’s Miriam? I haven’t seen her in a coon’s age.”

  “She hasn’t been in today.” When Vern lifted his brows, Cassie hurried on. “She got us some good help, though.”

  The old man nodded, then looked toward the back. “I reckon I’d better get me a cup of coffee, then see what I can do about Mack. I hate it when he gets this way, and it happens all the time lately. Probably misses his wife and family, but hell, who don’t?”

  As he stepped away, something crunched under his foot. Puzzled, he glanced down, then lifted his shoe and checked the sole. “Someone’s tracking in mud, and it’s not me. You’ll need to sweep it up before it grinds into the carpet.”

  “Oh, thanks for the advice, Vern.” Marcie scowled at the man. “Do you honestly think we don’t know when it’s time to vacuum?”

  “If you could suck as hard as you blow, you wouldn’t need a vacuum cleaner,” Vern answered, then stomped toward the coffee shop.

  “That old goat ought to mind his own business.” Marcie turned to Cassie. “Well, tell me where the sweeper is, and I’ll clean this mess up.”

  “No, that monster is too heavy for you to push. I’ll take care of it. Maybe things will slow down a little after lunch.”

  For lunch, someone ordered in sandwiches, but other than the first bite she’d taken, it remained in the office with Keegan’s, who’d managed two bites out of his before being called away.