Our Little Nest: Book 4 of The Two Timer Series

by D. B. Watson

  Raoul released her and stared into the eyes that held his heart.

  “You have given me two priceless gifts. Saying yes when I asked you to marry me and our precious son.”

  Drusilla’s tears slid down her smiling cheeks as Raoul wiped them away with his thumbs and kissed her again. Neither had noticed Patrick’s departure.

  Patrick went to his room and sat on the window bench. The rain outside wasn’t heavy, but fell steadily. He pulled out his cell phone and pressed the number one to speed-dial Adam. Watching his parents’ happiness made him long for his detective. He listened and waited to hear Adam’s voice. What seemed like an eternity of ringing finally paid off when the ringing stopped.

  “Leave a message and I’ll get back to you.” Adam’s answering machine said.

  Patrick listened for the beep. He paused before speaking, collecting his frustration.

  “Adam—it’s important. I had to come to my parents’ early. Please call me back.” He hung up lowering his cell to his lap and looking out the window at the rain.

  CHAPTER 22

  wIlLoWMoSS

  Adam saw the sign for the town, WillowMoss, population fifteen thousand; twenty miles. Tree-lined neighborhoods with a view of the mountains. A Place to Call Home, the caption stated. Adam had been on the road for an hour and a half with no rest. He hadn’t seen the text from Patrick telling him to call him because it never came through. He spotted a gas station up ahead and checked his gas meter, finding he still had a quarter of a tank. Adam decided he’d get gas once he reached the town.

  Adam’s drive around WillowMoss showed nothing out of the ordinary. It reminded Adam of his hometown. He found a parking spot near a diner and decided to have something to eat. The place was busy with the lunch crowd. A youthful-looking man stood at the host stand. He wore a clean, white shirt with a thin bowtie and pants. He tied his hair into one long braid that draped down his back. If Adam had to guess his age, he would have assumed he was still in his teens. The younger man’s demeanor displayed a professionalism and maturity most teens lack. A bright, candid smile hung across his face as he greeted each guest with respect. He took the care to seat them quickly but not appear rushed.

  “Hello, and welcome,” he said.

  Adam read his name tag. “Hi, Shawn,” responded Adam.

  “How many people in your party?”

  “Only one, me.”

  “Well, do you mind sitting at the counter. There’s no waiting.”

  “The counter will be fine.”

  “Okay, follow me.” Shawn grabbed a menu and turned to lead Adam to his table.

  Adam looked around the room and eyed groups of people having lunch together.

  Shawn presented a free stool at the counter for Adam with a smile. “Enjoy your stay,” said Shawn, handing him his menu.

  “Thank you,” Adam said, taking a seat. He noticed a chalkboard on the wall behind the counter with the day's specials. Soup: Potato with chives, bacon bits and cheese, and a slice of cheesy garlic bread. Meal 1: Southern-fried steak with two choices of sides and choice of drink. Meal 2: A Vegan Salad with the choice of dressing and choice of drink.

  “Hi,” said a perky male with his brown wavy hair under a hairnet, appearing to be in the same age group as Shawn. His name tag read Cole.

  “Hello yourself,” retorted Adam.

  “You’re new,” Cole noted.

  “I am.”

  “Passing through?”

  “You could say that.”

  “We don’t get a lot of visitors.”

  “Why is that?”

  “I don’t know.”

  Adam caught Cole’s grin wavering, then he recovered.

  “Would you like a drink first or do you know what you’d like?”

  “I know what I want,” Adam said, closing his menu.

  Cole pulled out his pad.

  “Give me the soup special without the bread.”

  “Okay, and your drink?”

  “Just water, please.”

  Cole diligently wrote the order down and smiled one last time at Adam before walking away. Adam watched as Cole gave the slip to the cook by placing it between a clamp connected to a spinning device. He then grabbed a clean glass, filled it with ice water, and returned to Adam. He placed the glass on the table then reached into his apron, removing a straw, placing it beside the glass.

  Adam wondered why he did that when a straw dispenser sat within arm’s reach. Adam glanced at the straw and noticed the number 34 in red written on the paper sleeve. Adam observed Cole talking to a co-worker, both glancing over, beaming at him. Adam smiled back, then looked around. He saw all the servers in the diner were men, all in the same age range as Shawn and Cole. Not one female. He also noted that most of the customers were older men, ten years his senior.

  Maybe a fluke? thought Adam. His soup came, served by a different waiter. His dark, unblemished skin glowed with health; his hair was buzz cut to form a shape like a shark fin on top. He had hazel eyes that seem to shimmer. His name tag read Peter. Adam also discovered all the waiters were lean, flexible, and with little muscles. Their features were a bit feminine. “Thank you,” said Adam.

  “You’re welcome,” Peter said, placing a napkin on the table before walking away. Already having a napkin, Adam picked it up and turned it over, seeing the number 15 in red written small in the corner. He placed both items in his pocket and ate his lunch, while his servers watched him.

  He finished his meal and even though signaling no one, Cole walked up.

  “Enjoying your soup?” he asked with a smile.

  “Yes, thank you.”

  “You’re so welcome. Will there be anything else?”

  “No, just the check.”

  “Well, here you go.” Normally a server would place the bill on the table, but Cole held it out to Adam, waiting for him to take it.

  Unsure if he should, Adam didn’t want to make waves. He reached out and grabbed the bill trying not to make contact. Once he grasped the paper, Cole purposely brushed his fingers against Adam’s. Adam flinched for just a second and pulled the paper out of Cole’s hand, continuing to smile.

  Cole didn’t care that Adam flinched, he just smiled back. “Hope to see you soon,” he said before walking away to deal with his other customers.

  Adam went to the register at the host’s table to pay his bill. Shawn walked up and flashed another warm smile.

  “Did you enjoy your meal?”

  “I did,” said Adam, handing him his bill. Shawn accepted it and rang up the charges. Adam paid with his business credit card, signing, and Shawn gave him his copy of the receipt.

  “Come back soon.”

  “Thank you.” Adam left, heading back to his jeep when he took a glance at his receipt. In the upper right corner was the number 2 in red.

  Adam returned to the diner, going back to the host named Shawn.

  “You’re back?” Shawn said, surprised.

  “Yeah, I forgot something,” Adam said.

  “An item you left?”

  “No, to ask a question.”

  “All right.”

  “Do you know a Christopher Huge?”

  Adam watched Shawn’s expression flicker for a second, then return to normal.

  “Sorry, never heard of him,” Shawn said too fast. Then he glanced around hoping he was needed somewhere.

  “Perhaps you know the last name, Huge?”

  “Sorry.” Shawn shook his head, looking down at the podium at his seating station book. “I need to get back to work.”

  “Why are you so nervous?”

  “I’m not!” he snapped, looking back at Adam. Shawn’s eyes drifted over Adam’s shoulder.

  Adam watched as Shawn’s mannerism shifted back to normal.

  “Busy day, Shawn,” said a man’s raspy voice. Adam turned and saw a blonde-haired man. He wore a firefighter-issued blue tee with logo, over-trousers, and issued boots.

  “Hi Bray,” Shawn answered.
>
  Adam noted he seemed relieved.

  “Let me get you seated,” Shawn said, grabbing a menu.

  “Well, he was first,” Bray said, looking at Adam.

  “Oh, no; please go ahead. I’ve already eaten and just came back for something I’d left,” Adam said, stepping aside.

  Bray walked past him. He caught Adam’s eye before looking at Shawn, who smiled attentively, avoiding Adam’s gaze.

  “I’ll take a seat at the counter, Shawn, I’m eating alone today.”

  “Sure, Bray,” Shawn said with the same cheery attitude he showed Adam.

  But Adam still saw that flicker from before.

  He left the diner and returned to his jeep. Climbing into the driver’s seat, he checked his cell, finding several missed calls left by Patrick. How did I miss these? he wondered. He started to call Patrick back when someone knocked on his window, stopping him. He turned and saw his server, Cole, from the diner. He wasn’t smiling this time; he seemed scared. Adam rolled his window down. Before he could say anything, Cole tossed in a folded piece of paper that landed on Adam’s lap. Bewildered, Adam watched him rush down a side alley.

  “What the hell was that?” Adam asked. Instead of going after him, Adam opened the folded paper and saw an address. He grabbed his cell and texted a quick message to Patrick. He hoped it would hold him until he’d finished his investigation. He started his engine and went to check out his lead, unaware of someone watching him.

  CHAPTER 23

  Go

  Patrick took a shower and changed into long flannel pants and a long-sleeve top. He rested on his bed barefoot, holding his cell, staring at the ceiling. A knock came at his door.

  “Come in,” Patrick said.

  The door opened, and his father peeked inside.

  “In the mood for company?”

  “Sure,” Patrick said, sitting up and crossing his legs. His father walked over and grabbed a chair sitting beside him. Patrick tried to force a grin of content, but it only turned into a pout.

  “Adam hasn’t contacted you yet?”

  “He will.” Patrick looked at his cell again.

  “Some of our guests have arrived. Will you come down to dinner to greet them?”

  “Do I know them?”

  Raoul sighed at his son and smiled at his childish behavior; he showed when things weren’t going his way.

  “You have met them.”

  “All right, I’ll come down. Where’s Mother?”

  “She’s with our guests.”

  A sudden chime came to Patrick’s cell. He checked and saw Adam’s name. He looked back at his father and smiled.

  “I see you received your response. I’ll leave you alone to read it.” Raoul rose to leave, but not before kissing his son’s forehead.

  Patrick waited until he left before opening the text.

  Sorry baby, I had to follow a lead; will be late. Don’t wait up.

  Patrick read it again before he sent Adam another text telling him for a second time where he was. He waited for a response, but none came. He tossed his cell to the foot of the bed, frustrated.

  “Fine, if you’re going to work, I’m going to do what I want.” Patrick jumped up and dressed and headed downstairs.

  Patrick attended dinner. He was happy to see his uncle Bernardo and twin cousins Miguel and Reyes. Even his uncle Philip and cousin Davet had arrived early among other friends of his parents. Everyone toasted Drusilla and Raoul and enjoyed a wonderful meal. Patrick took pleasure in the wine more than anything else. His parents noticed.

  Bernardo interrupted Patrick, pouring another glass of wine. “Patrick, tell me about your new lover, Adam Potter.”

  Patrick looked toward his uncle and saw sincerity. He cleared his throat and placed his wineglass down. “He’s a private detective who has his own business. He saved my life countless times,” said Patrick.

  “Countless times? Are you involved in his detective business?” his uncle asked, concerned.

  “No, but—well, it’s hard to explain.” Patrick stammered on his words.

  “Your boyfriend puts you in danger; how hard is that to explain?” Miguel asked.

  “He doesn’t put me in danger.”

  “Then how does he save your life?” Bernardo asked.

  “Things—just happened.”

  “All right, enough interrogating,” said Drusilla. “You will all meet Adam when he arrives.”

  “When is that?” Bernardo asked.

  “Well—” Drusilla wasn’t sure how to help her son more. She glanced at him apologetically.

  “Adam will be here in the morning,” Patrick said.

  “Then I look forward to meeting him,” Bernardo responded.

  The staff served dessert, and Patrick resumed his drinking. When everyone went to the library for coffee Patrick wandered away with a bottle of wine.

  His father found him sitting by the indoor pool on a lounge chair with half the bottle finished. The tiles echoed from the tap of Raoul’s Italian leather shoes as he walked toward his son. “Everyone is asking where you’ve gone,” Raoul said.

  Patrick nearly drained his glass and tried to fill it again when his father took the bottle from him.

  “Enough, Patrick.”

  Patrick stayed quiet as he drank what little wine he had in his glass.

  “You’re going to bed to sleep this mood of yours off.”

  “I’m a grown man Father. I can do what I want.”

  “Not if it means hurting yourself.”

  Patrick’s feelings were overwhelming him as he let his father help him to his feet and hugged him.

  “I don’t understand how you can let that man do this to you.”

  Patrick pushed away from his father, staggering. He righted himself without aid. “Do what? Adam isn’t even here.”

  “Any time you’re upset, you drink. It’s your go-to medicine.”

  “I’m not drinking because of Adam.”

  “Why don’t I believe you?”

  “Because.”

  “Go to your room and sleep it off, Patrick.”

  “Fine, whatever!” Patrick stormed off to return to his room. But not before stopping in the vacant library to grab another bottle of wine from the minibar. He climbed the grand staircase, weaving down the hallway toward his bedroom. When he entered his room, his cell phone rang.

  CHAPTER 24

  LEAVe

  Adam went to the address on the note Cole tossed him and found a normal home. A single two-story house, with a detached garage and front lawn, on a quiet block. Adam parked his jeep and considered knocking on the door. But what would he say? He couldn’t mention he knows Jamie or that he is a detective. He needed to know who his stepfather was.

  He saw someone approaching walking their dog. A young pregnant woman in her twenties wearing jeans, boots, and a thick hoodie. She was allowing the brown-and-white bull terrier to pull her along while she stared at her cell phone. Adam climbed out of his jeep and walked toward her. He met with the dog first, who was friendly as it panted at Adam. He stooped down and petted the dog. “Hey, aren’t you friendly?”

  The female dropped her attention from her phone and took notice of Adam. She smiled and tugged on the dog’s body harness.

  “Freddie, what did I tell you about strangers,” she said playfully, looking at Adam.

  Adam stood flashing a grin at her. “He’s a beauty.”

  “More like a bully,” she giggled. “He always wants his way.” The dog looked back at her and panted, wagging his tail. “See? he always lays on the charm and gets his way. That’s why Mommy loves her Freddie,” she cooed. The dog barked, bouncing around her.

  “I was wondering if you could help me,” Adam asked. “I’m looking for a family that I believe lives around here.”

  “Sure, what’s their name?”

  “Huge.” Adam watched as the perky expression on the girl’s face turned distant and frightened.

  “You know them?” she ask
ed, a shake in her voice.

  “No, but I’m looking for someone named Christopher.”

  “I don’t know them,” she said flatly, pulling the leash on her dog to bring him closer to her.