6 Death Takes The Blue Ribbon (9 page)

Chapter Seventeen – a week later

I was sitting in the back booth of the café with Trixie sitting across from me. Harold’s funeral had been held two days prior, and it was more of a celebration of his life. People who had grown up with the Norwells but moved away came back for the services, but it turned into more of an Irish wake. Gladys alternated between laughter and tears, and I think it did her good to have so many friends around who were so supportive.

We hadn’t talked since the night the Martins were arrested. They were still sitting in the county jail, and both had been indicted on various charges. I gave the assignment to Bruce, because I didn’t want to deal with either one of them. I didn’t think I could be objective, especially after I found out it was Crandall who had tried to run me over that day, the rotten jerk.

Dale was still out of town, but things were running smoothly at the newspaper. Jake had disappeared the day after the arrests, and nobody knew where he had gone. The papers I had gotten a week ago were from my crazy half-aunt’s lawyer. I hadn’t really taken the time to go over them, and now I had the legal papers from Dale’s lawyer about the terms of the sale of the newspaper. Everything was on hold until I could talk to Jake about it.

“Earth to Lizzie,” Trixie said, waving her hand in front of my face. “What are you thinking about so hard?”

“About the way life changes when we least expect it. Sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst. But it all seems to balance out in the end, doesn’t it?”

“Sounds like you are talking about karma, toots,” she replied, taking a bite of her blueberry pancakes. She waved her fork at the two big envelopes on the table. “Are you going to tell me what all this has to do with whatever is in those envelopes?”

I scratched the back of my head. Trixie was my best friend, and I usually talked to her about everything, but for some reason, I had kept all this to myself. “Dale is thinking about selling the newspaper.”

“Really? To who? Jake?”

“Yeah.”

Trixie almost choked on her coffee. “Are you serious?” I nodded. “How do you feel about that? Why not sell it to both of you? That makes more sense than just selling it to just Jake.”

“You’d think so, but no, that’s the way he wants it.”

“Did he say why?”

“No, just dropped that bombshell on me and left.”

“If he does sell it to Jake,” Trixie said as she took another bite of pancake, “do you think you will keep working at there? Or will you quit?”

“I don’t know. I haven’t really thought about it yet.”             

“And Jake doesn’t know about the sale yet?”

I shook my head. “He hasn’t been seen in town since the day after the Martins were arrested, and Dale left yesterday. ‘You handle it, Lizzie. I’ve got faith in you.’ He left me holding the proverbial bag, as it were.”

“You can do it. Just don’t ask me to be around when you do.”

“Oh, thanks a lot. Some best friend you are.”

“We aim to please,” she grinned.

“Mind if I join this little party?” T.J. said. I hadn’t seen much of him in the last week, either, except at Harold’s funeral.

“You can have my seat,” Trixie said, wiping her mouth on her napkin as she grabbed her purse and stood up. “I have another meeting with the interior decorator. I’m either going to go insane, broke, or both, by the time this remodel is done.” She kissed T.J. on the cheek. “I’ll pay the check before I go. Talk to you later.”

“Would you mind some more company?” he asked, still standing next to me.

“Oh, sit down,” I replied.

“Thanks.” He pushed Trixie’s plate to the side. “How are you doing?”

“Busy as ever. Dale and Jake have both skipped town, leaving me hanging at the newspaper, as usual. Mother is still on her honeymoon trip, or cruise, or whatever they’re calling it. Different day, same chaos.”

“Well, at least you’re being consistent,” he laughed.

“What about you? How are things going at the sheriff’s office?”

“Pretty good. It’s great to be working with everyone again. I’m still renting that apartment from Mrs. Greene, but I’d rather find a different place.”

“You mean a place that isn’t connected to your boss?”

He laughed. “Something like that.”

“I’ll check with the ad department for you. I’m sure we can find something for you.”

“I would appreciate that, thanks.”

“No problem,” I said, glancing around the café. Gladys and Iris were at their usual table in the front with Charlene. The men were at their table, and it was weird not to see Harold sitting with them.

“So, I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me sometime.”

“I’m sorry, what?” I said, turning my attention back to him.

“I’m asking you out on a date.”

“A real date? No hidden agendas?”

“Yes, a real date. I think we’ve gotten to the point where we can do that, don’t you?”

I looked at him for a minute. Had we? I remembered what Ellen said a week ago, about how T.J. was still the same person I fell in love with last year. Did I still care about him? Yes. Could I find it in my heart to forgive? I was working on it. “Okay.”

“Okay? Is that a yes?” I nodded. His smile lit up his eyes. “Great! Tomorrow night work for you?”

“That’s fine.”

“Alright then,” T.J. said, standing up. “I’ll pick you up about six.”

“Sounds good.”

He stood on my side of the table, bent over and kissed me. “Thank you for giving me another chance,” he whispered, kissing me again.

“Oh, for the love of all that is holy,” Gladys exclaimed from the front of the café. “Young people nowadays have no sense of modesty or decency.”

“Oh, dry up, Gladys,” I said before kissing T.J. again.

“Is that any way to talk to your elders, Elizabeth Crenshaw?” Gladys replied. “You just wait until your mother comes home and hears about this.”

I watched T.J. leave before looking over at Gladys. We stared at each other for a minute, the old animosity back again. Then she winked at me and turned her attention back to the other women at the table.

Ah yes, things were getting back to normal in Brookdale. And I was just fine with that.

###

Acknowledgements

As always, my thanks go out to my support crew:

My everlasting gratitude to Jamie Livingston-Dierks for designing another awesome cover, her awesome formatting skills, and her never-ending support.

My son: brainstorming partner, sounding board, whip cracker.

Kristi Spinks: proofreader, editor, brainstorming partner.

My proofreaders/editors: Kathy Evans, Corey Damerell, Kim Lynch Frederick, Mom and Dad.

To my husband, my strong, silent partner, who shakes his head and laughs at the crazy things I make my characters do.

To all my readers, who have embraced Lizzie and the characters of Brookdale. Thank you for the wonderful comments and emails you send me!