by Judi Lynn
She glanced at the empty dog bed when she went to their room to grab clothes. She even missed George. What was wrong with her? Ansel would be gone two weeks. That’s all. She needed to get a grip and deal with it. She stalked into the bathroom and got ready for the day.
She beat Jerod to the house on Anthony and was emptying cupboards and boxing up linens when he got there. The owner had taken any personal items with her when she went to live with her mom, but she’d left everything else, expecting to return. A truck would arrive soon to collect the furniture and anything else worth saving. It was all in good shape, but nothing they wanted. Too modern. They were donating them to Mustard Seed. Some family could use them after fire claimed their belongings or some other disaster struck.
Jerod scowled when he saw her. “How long have you been here?”
“An hour.”
He gave her a pitying look. “No fun at home without your big blond?”
“I miss him, but I’ll get over it. I’ll be okay.”
“Sure you will. You should come out and have supper with Franny and me some night. I’ll fire up the grill.”
“Maybe I’ll buy some steaks to bring. That would be fun.”
He clicked things off on his fingers. “I can bake potatoes, heat anything that comes in a can, and open a bag of salad. Just so you know.”
She laughed. “Works for me.”
He looked at the boxes piled in the center of the kitchen. “Cleanout day?”
“Yup, then we can start gutting rooms we’re going to redo.”
He rotated his shoulders to loosen them. “Let’s do this.”
They had every drawer and cupboard emptied by the time the truck showed up to take things away. Then they stopped for lunch. Jazzi had brought her cooler full of drinks and sandwiches.
Jerod took a bite of the tuna salad on toast and sighed. “I missed your food while we worked at Olivia’s. She bought those awful deli meat packages at the store, the variety pack that comes in neat little squares. No lettuce. No pickles. Nothing. Just mayo and sorry meat. Her sandwiches were just plain sad.”
Jazzi couldn’t argue. “My sister isn’t into cooking.”
“Cooking? She’s just plain cheap. And we were working for her for free.”
“She’s great at takeout.”
“She only springs for that for supper, and even then, only for special occasions. I love Olivia, but if I ever have to depend on her for meals, I’d rather eat at the soup kitchen.”
“I know food’s important to you. If I’m still around, I’ll feed you.”
“I’m holding you to that.”
She told him about Gaff’s call. Jerod’s lips pinched in anger. “Then her death’s a double homicide. Whoever killed her killed her and the baby.”
“Ansel thinks she might have been killed because she was pregnant.”
“That’s just sorry, but he might be right.”
He looked upset enough that Jazzi said, “Gaff said they might get DNA from the fetus, so maybe that will help him find the killer.”
“I hope so.” He visibly shook off his mood. “Let’s work.”
They finished their lunch and then got started on the three bathrooms in the house. By the time they left for the day, two of them were gutted.
Jerod turned to her before climbing in his pickup. “Want to follow me to my place? I can scrounge up something for supper.”
She’d seen her cousin scrounge before. His kids weren’t picky, and Franny was just happy when he cooked and she didn’t have to. He’d made her ramen noodles with pork and beans one time. She wasn’t that desperate. “Thanks, but I’m going to the store on my way home. I’m out of milk and coffee. I’ll grab steaks and a bag of salad for tomorrow.”
He gave her a thumbs-up. “Good, I can pick up the house a little tonight. I’ll be ready for you tomorrow night.”
They went their separate ways, and Jazzi stopped out north to grab the few things she needed before going home. She was trying to decide between T-bones and rib eyes when someone stepped up behind her and said, “This looks serious.”
She turned to see Peyton, the pizza guy, smiling at her. She smiled back. “I’m a rib eye fan, love the extra fat, but Jerod likes T-bones. I’m going to buy a few of each.”
“A woman who’s willing to compromise. A good thing.”
She laughed at him. “Don’t you think most women try to please the people they care about?”
“That’s not a for-sure. I’ve met plenty of females who think men should bow down and serve them because they’re hot and sexy.”
Jazzi decided she must be hanging out with the wrong men. “That never worked for me.”
“Only because you didn’t expect it to. You wouldn’t like it if someone treated you like a princess.”
“I’d barf.” She frowned at him. “What are you doing on the north side of town anyway? Don’t you live on the south side?”
“Yeah, but my parents live close to Ivy Tech. I’m studying for a nursing degree, and I stop at their house every Tuesday for supper. Mom asked me to grab a few things for her.”
“Nice. Your family must be close.”
“My parents are the best.” He glanced at the steaks in her cart. “You must have someone coming for supper, too.”
“No, Ansel’s out of town. I’m taking these to my cousin’s tomorrow.” The minute the words slipped out of her mouth, she regretted it. Why announce that she was alone in a house that sat on lots of property? Neighbors were too far away to be of any help.
He pounced on her slipup. “You’re alone tonight? What if I take you out for supper?”
“I thought you were eating with your parents.”
“I do that every week. I’d change things up for you.” He grinned.
“Thanks, but I already have plans.” A little lie never hurt anyone. He wouldn’t know one way or another.
He followed her to the checkout lanes, and they walked outside together. He started to his car, and she walked toward her pickup. She stopped and frowned. “Your SUV has black stripes on the sides.”
He squirmed.
“A red SUV with stripes followed us home a few nights ago.”
He looked uncomfortable. “That was me. I was driving to my parents’ house and recognized your work van. I was curious where you lived, but when you pulled in your drive, I figured it would freak you out if I stopped to say hi.”
“It would have been odd,” Jazzi admitted. It sort of gave her the creeps. “Once we go home, we’re ready to collapse and relax.”
He nodded. “That’s what I suspected. Anyway, you have a neat house.”
“Thanks, we remodeled it ourselves.”
He shuffled his feet, then smiled. “Hey, anytime your boyfriend takes off, give me a call. I’ll buy you a supper.”
“Thanks.” It would never happen, but why make a big deal out of that? She got in her truck, and he drove away.
On her way to the house, she kept reminding herself that she had a security system. And Detective Gaff’s number was in her cell. And Peyton was just young and impetuous. No cause to worry.
Chapter 26
Jazzi’s cell phone rang five minutes after she walked in the house. It was her sister, Olivia.
“Hey, why don’t you come here for supper instead of eating alone somewhere? I promise I won’t order pizza. Thane’s in the mood for Shigs in Pit. Are you craving barbecue?”
Her sister was offering free food again? She must be feeling frisky since her house was done. It wouldn’t last, so Jazzi decided to take her up on it while she could.
“I’m craving company. I’ll be there.” And then, if Peyton happened to drive by the house, she wouldn’t be there, like she’d said. She tossed her groceries in the fridge and turned around to drive across town. She didn’t want to sit alon
e in an empty house tonight.
When she passed Louisa’s house, she noticed that the visiting nurse was there. So was Seth’s SUV. When she looked up the street, he was rounding the corner, walking Cocoa, and waved at her. She turned into Olivia’s drive, and Seth came to say hi.
“You’re not working tonight?” she asked.
“It was slow. I left for a couple hours to check on my aunt. I feel more comfortable stopping to see her now that Leo’s gone. That sounds terrible, but we never got along that well.”
“He was a little particular.”
Seth grinned. “My aunt called me at work. She never does that, but she wanted to tell me that the visiting nurse was at her house.”
Jazzi couldn’t make the connection. “Does that make her nervous? She has Miriam and her daughter here, doesn’t she?”
“I didn’t get it at first either, but once I commented how attractive Amy was, and now Lou’s trying to play matchmaker. I dashed over here when she called, thinking something was wrong, and she was pretty obvious about trying to push us together.” He chuckled.
Cocoa tugged on her leash and came to nuzzle her head against Jazzi’s leg. Jazzi bent to pet her. “Should I expect to see you in the engagement column of the newspaper anytime soon?”
“I doubt a nurse would be interested in a bartender, so don’t hold your breath.”
The man had to be in his late forties. Jazzi couldn’t help being nosy. “Have you ever been married?”
“No, I work too many hours, always have. Who’d want me?”
She suspected there were plenty of women who could live with his hours but kept her opinion to herself. “You meet lots of women at the bar.”
“Most of them are young. I don’t hire anyone over thirty. Young, pretty women bring in customers. And they’re great scenery. A man can look, right?”
“I think it’s instinctive.” But maybe he was one of those men who was only attracted to younger women. She thought about Ed and Eve. Ed had a young wife, but he sure didn’t seem happy.
Seth nodded toward his aunt’s house. “Well, I’d better get over there, or Lou’s going to want my head.”
She blurted, “Did you know Meghan was pregnant when she died?”
He looked surprised. “She never came in the bar with anybody. She was always alone.”
He sounded as though the news threw him. “I was hoping you might have some idea who the father could be.”
“No clue. Pregnant.” He paused. “She was such a nice girl. This makes her death even worse. This is going to bother me.”
“Sorry. I thought you should know.”
“Thanks.” He didn’t sound thankful. “I’d better get to my aunt’s.”
“Nice seeing you.” And it was. She liked Seth. He was good to his aunt, and she respected that. And he’d acted genuinely upset about Meghan. But her sister was probably wondering what she was doing, so she headed into Olivia’s house.
Her sister laughed. “My neighbors talk more to you than they do to me.”
“It would be easy for you to change that.”
Olivia shook her head. “No, I’m fine with things the way they are.” She went to the kitchen island and poured Jazzi a glass of wine. “Thane should be back soon. I hope you’re hungry.”
Jazzi realized she was. She ate more when she was with people. Alone, she grabbed something to fill her belly, that’s all. She and Olivia started yakking, and they were still gossiping when Thane got back with the food. He spread out smoked brisket, pulled pork, coleslaw, and spoon bread. Jazzi loved the stuff.
She had a really good time visiting with Olivia and Thane. When she finally left, her stomach was full and her mood lifted. She drove through the subdivisions on her way home and spotted Peyton’s pizza car parked close to Eve’s house again. Ed’s van was nowhere in sight. Peyton must have eaten a fast supper with his parents and then hightailed it over here. It made Jazzi wonder. Did Eve enjoy pizza, or did she enjoy the delivery man? And where was Ed?
None of her concern. She listened to music on the drive home, and when she walked through her front door and turned on the security system, she was ready to watch some TV and relax.
She was getting up to get ready for bed when her cell rang. She looked at the ID and smiled. Ansel.
“Hey, babe.” His voice soothed every frayed nerve in her body. She wished she could pull him through the phone and hug him close. She couldn’t let him know how much she missed him, though. He’d want to come home.
“Hi, handsome. How’s it going?”
“All I do is work. The place has been pretty neglected. The grass needed to be mowed. Mom’s flower beds were a mess. Bain and Radley don’t care about those, and Dad hasn’t gotten to them. My brothers might work the dairy farm, but they don’t bother with anything else. They have their own house on the property, and it’s in good shape, but there’s no landscaping, nothing but the basics. Mom was so happy when I weeded her flower beds, she almost cried. But it’s her own fault. I’m the one who always took care of the yard for her.”
She heard the frustration in his voice. “It’s nice of you to care for them now.”
“It hurt me to see them so bad.” His tone changed. “I miss you. How are you? What have you been doing?”
She didn’t want to feel sorry for herself, to tell him that it was lonely here without him. She didn’t want him to worry about her. He had enough things to think about. She put a lilt in her voice. “Jerod and I started on the house on Anthony. It’s going to be easy—all surface repairs. I had supper at Olivia and Thane’s tonight. They ordered in from Shigs in Pit. Seth was walking Cocoa when I got there, and I caught up with him.”
“So you’re doing all right?” He sounded worried.
She forced a laugh. “Me? I’m doing fine. I’ve been worried about you, though. Sounds like I don’t need to. You’ve got things under control.”
There was a pause. “I really miss you.”
“I miss you, too.” She didn’t want to make too much of it, though. He sounded sort of down. “Have you run into any old friends?”
“Jezebel came to say hi already. She heard I was home and stopped in.”
A knot twisted in Jazzi’s stomach. “Who’s Jezebel?”
“She went to school with my sister.”
“Is she married?”
“Not now. She married some rich guy and got a big settlement. Doesn’t even have to work. Mom said she’s been sniffing around after my brother Radley.”
Jazzi felt the tension ease out of her. “Does your brother look like you?”
She could hear his smile. “Honey, you got the best of the litter.”
He was so modest, she laughed. “Feeling a little full of yourself, are you? Good. Jezebel will have to settle for second best.”
He yawned. “I’d better get some sleep. Tomorrow’s going to be worse than today. We’re going to look at the roofs and buy materials to fix them.”
“Hang in there,” she told him. “I love you.”
“Love you, too. And Jazzi?”
“Yes?”
“Don’t fall for someone else while I’m gone.”
“I’m not that fickle.”
“I left at a bad time. I don’t want to lose you.”
She wasn’t crazy about Jezebel dropping in to welcome him, so she understood. “If we can’t survive two weeks apart, we’re doomed anyway.”
“I guess, but timing makes a big difference sometimes.”
“I’ll try to be good,” she told him.
“You do that.” When he hung up, she shook her head. He was worried about nothing. He didn’t realize what a prize he was. But she’d be here in two weeks when he came home, and he could put that worry behind him.
Chapter 27
Jazzi packed sandwiches for lunch on Wednesday and
then, in another cooler, packed the steaks and bags of salad she’d bought for supper. She’d put them in the refrigerator at the house on Anthony before she took them to Jerod’s house. When she saw her cousin, though, she grimaced.
“You look like crap.”
“Thanks.” He had dark circles under his eyes. “Both kids have the flu. I emptied buckets all night.”
“School started. It happens every year. Kids get together to share their germs.”
“I can still grill steaks for you.” He would, too. He didn’t want her to be lonely.
“Thanks anyway, but I’ll send the food home for you and Franny, and I’ll go out to eat. I really don’t want to get sick if I can avoid it.”
“Don’t blame you. If the brats weren’t mine, I wouldn’t go near them either.”
She felt sorry for him. “Do you want to go home? Take a nap?”
“I want to stick it out today. I’ll probably be tossing my cookies in a couple of days. I brought the machine to do the floors. If we get them refinished, you can paint while I’m worshiping the porcelain throne.”
“I can do the floors if you want to do something else.”
“I’ll gut the kitchen. Every floor needs to be done, upstairs and down.”
“I’ll start upstairs to stay out of your way.”
Jerod was a big man, tall and burly. By the time they stopped for lunch, the kitchen cupboards were gone. So were the old stove and dishwasher. Those sat in the open garage, but he’d brought their heavy-duty dolly back inside. “Want to start taking out walls?”
“Might as well. It’s easier with two people working together.”
They ate quickly, then got to work. The walls took longer, and they didn’t get them finished by the end of the day. Jerod looked wiped out.
Jazzi held up a hand and said, “Quitting time. If you’re not here tomorrow, I can work on floors and paint rooms upstairs. So go home.”
He grinned. “Yes, Mommy.”
“And take the steaks and salad. That’ll be an easy supper for you and Franny.”
He didn’t argue. “You care. Thanks, cuz.”
She shooed him off and drove home. She hadn’t thawed anything for supper, since she thought she’d be eating at Jerod’s, so she took a quick shower, changed into better jeans and a clean T-shirt, and drove to Seth’s bar. Wednesday was fifty-cent wings and half-price beer. Greg and someone she didn’t recognize were working behind the bar. She took a seat, and Greg came to take her order.
