Adams Grove 03-Wedding Cake and Big Mistakes (18 page)

“No one knows her? Maybe she was just passing through.”

“Maybe. You didn’t see anything odd last night at the artisan center? No one hanging around?”

“No. It was quiet.”

“Do you check down near the pond as part of your daily rounds?”

“Sure do. I ride the whole perimeter at least once a day, checking for trash, fallen limbs, whatever. I didn’t see anything out of the ordinary.”

Scott’s words sounded thoughtful. “She could’ve been a runaway. Someone has to be missing her. Well, let me know if you think of anything that might help.”

“I’ll do that.”

She heard Scott get up and move toward the door. “Hope you feel better soon.”

Carolanne stepped out from where she’d been eavesdropping and tried to look as if she’d just walked up. “Good morning, Scott.”

“Here to pick up your dad?”

“Hope so. He gave me quite a scare.” Carolanne slid between Scott and the door.

“I bet,” Scott said. “When you get a chance, can you stop by the station? I need to get your statement from yesterday.”

“Absolutely,” she said as he walked away. She hesitated only a moment before walking into her dad’s room. He looked pale and more tired today than he had last night.

“How’s your head feel this morning?” She squinted as she looked closer. “The skin is so tight around that goose egg it looks like you might hatch a baby ostrich.”

“Feels that big, too.”

“I hear the nurses gave you a run for your money last night.”

He pushed the button to raise the bed a little more. “The squeak-squeak-squeak of those shoes they wear is about as annoying as a hound dog scratchin’ fleas. Between that and them coming in to ask me if I knew who I was all night, I didn’t get a lick of sleep. I can’t wait to get home.”

“The nurse said the doctor already made rounds. They’re just waiting on your release papers.”

The scowl on his face said it all. “They’re probably just trying to get another day’s pay from the insurance. It’s all a racket.”

“Your nurse was right. You are cranky!”

“I don’t mean to be like that. I’m just tired.” Ben repositioned the pillow under his neck. “What do they make these things out of—old tires? It’s impossible to get comfortable.” He ran his hand through his hair in an unsuccessful attempt to smooth it down.

She’d never seen his hair in such disarray. He normally had it so slicked in place with Brylcreem that it didn’t move. This morning it was sticking up in six directions. He looked a little like Jack Nicholson in
The Shining
. That was a little disturbing—and funny, at the same time. She sat down in the chair next to his bed and tried to think of something to talk about that might lift his mood.

“I barely slept a wink. It’s like they waited in the hall for me to drift off before barging in to check on me. They probably have a points system. Extra points for being a real pain in the—”

“Watch your mouth.” Miss Merry strolled in as Ben complained. “I heard that, Mr. Ben.”

“You’re not going to deny it, are you?”

“Oh, heavens no, and I’ve got good news.” Miss Merry tapped her clipboard with her long bright purple fingernails. “I’ve got the release form right here, plus a long list of all the stuff you need to do and shouldn’t do. A couple prescriptions to get filled, too. Maybe your sweet daughter will take care of that for you. I’ll get you to sign that I delivered this message because I won’t be held responsible for your hardheadedness when you don’t follow these guidelines and you land back in here.”

“I won’t be back.” Ben scribbled his name at the bottom of the page.

“I’ll help him.” She watched her dad for a reaction. “I mean, unless you’ve got folks from the Senior Circle or church whom you’d rather have help you.”

He looked up, paused, then said, “No, no. I appreciate your help. Thanks.”

“OK, well, then let’s get you out of here.” Carolanne jumped up from the chair. “Where’s your stuff?”

“In the paper bag in that drawer,” Ben grumbled.

She pulled his clothes out of the bag. The pants were fine, but his white dress shirt was caked in dried blood. “Dad, you can’t wear this. It’s a biohazard.” She held it between two fingers and dropped it back into the bag.

Miss Merry shook her head. “Lord no, people would think right poorly of us if we sent you out of here looking like that. You can just slip on your pants and wear that hospital gown home. They gonna charge you a fortune for it anyway.”

“Problem solved.” Ben shifted to get out of bed.

Miss Merry threw an arm out toward him. “You take it slow there, mister.”

Ben wobbled.

“See? Told you. You’ll be having Bambi legs for a little bit. You take your time, and you’ll be just fine. Don’t fall, or you’ll be back here on my floor again, and I’ll be taking big joy in messing with you.”

Ben steadied himself and muttered, “There’s incentive to follow orders.”

She smiled a toothy white smile. “That’s me. Full of helpful tips. You holler if you need us.”

Carolanne walked out into the hall and waited for Ben to get dressed while Miss Merry went to get a wheelchair to take him downstairs.

Ben grumbled the whole time Miss Merry helped him into the wheelchair and then all the way down the hall. Carolanne wondered how much of his crankiness was due to the secret he was keeping from her.

When Miss Merry stopped at the front desk to sign out, Carolanne whisked by them. “I’ll go get the car and pull it around.”

By the time she had driven up to the front doors, Miss Merry was helping Ben stand up. He slowly negotiated the shift from wheelchair to her car.

Miss Merry buckled him in before waving good-bye.

Carolanne waved back. “She’s sweet.”

“You only say that because she wasn’t waking you up all night.”

I didn’t have a picnic of a night’s sleep, either.
“I’ll take you straight home, and then I’ll go get your prescriptions and anything else you need.”

“Or we could stop by the pharmacy on the way.”

Was that a little panic in his voice?
“I wouldn’t want you to have to wait in the car. You need to get some rest.”

“Well, if you don’t mind,” he said, “I would like to lie down.”

Carolanne pulled her car into his empty driveway and then ran to the passenger side to help her dad get out of the car.

He pushed himself up and steadied himself against the door. “I can walk. Just give me a second.”

She held her arm out like a spotter with a gymnast. “Do you have your keys?”

He stopped mid-step. “Nope. I guess they’re with the car at the impound lot.”

“Do you have a hide-a-key?”

Ben shook his head. “No, but I think we can get in through the patio door.”

“You left your patio door open?”

“No.” Ben moved slowly through the yard with Carolanne at his heels.

When they got to the patio, Ben lifted up on the sliding glass door, and it pulled right open.

“How’d you know how to do that?”

“A friend told me.” He looked pretty surprised that it had worked. “I never tried it before now. Works like a charm, though.”

A friend?
“Handy if you’re a criminal. I’d suggest you replace those old doors with some secure French doors sometime soon.”

“Not a bad idea.” Ben walked in and surveyed the room.

He seemed to be disoriented, the way he stood there looking around.

Is he looking for Gina? Anything out of place that might let me know that someone else has been staying here?
She scanned the room, too. “Dad? Are you OK?”

“Yeah, sorry, I’m just trying to get my sea legs here. Come on in.”

Carolanne walked in behind him. “Are you going to rest in bed or out here on the couch?”

“I think I’ll just lie on the couch.”

She went into the kitchen and came back with a plastic bag of ice. “Here. Put this on your head. It should keep the swelling down.”

He laid back, wincing as he placed the bag of ice on his head.

She winced right along with him. Just looking at the knot on his head made hers hurt. “I’m going to go get your prescriptions.”

Ben balanced the ice on his head, kicked off his shoes, and then closed his eyes. “Just leave the front door unlocked. I don’t know where my spare keys are.”

“OK. While I’m out, is there anything else I can pick up from the store for you?”

“If I need anything, I’ll call your uncle Reggie and have him get Mary Claire to run something over from the market. Really, I’m fine.” He reached for her hand. “Thank you for being here for me.”

“I’m glad to do it.” And she really felt that way. Better memories pulled forward, replacing the harsh thoughts she’d carried for so long. She let go of his hands and wrapped her arms around him.

She’d hugged him more in the past week than she had in the last fifteen years total. He had to have a good explanation for Gina being here the other night.

“I love you.” He patted her on the back.

“I’ll be right back,” she said.

“Hey, before you go, I just remembered Connor telling me that you’re moving into your house this week.”

“Yes. I can hardly believe it. I’ve never in my life heard of a builder delivering early.”

Ben shifted the ice bag. “That Garrett, he’s a hard working son of a gun, just like his pop. Let me know when you’re planning to get started. I’d be glad to help you move.”

“Dad, you just got out of the hospital. I’m thinking helping me move is the last thing you need to be worrying about.”

“Don’t be silly.” He threw a dismissive hand in the air. “I’ll be back at work by Monday. You helped me. I’ll help you. That’s the way it works.”

“Back to work tomorrow? Don’t push your luck.”

“We open the center on Saturday. I’ve got a lot to do.”

“Don’t you worry about that. I know Scott told you what happened during the reception. With all that going on, I’m not even sure if they’ll be allowed to have the grand opening.”

“Don’t say that. Garrett and Jill have worked so hard to keep that timeline on schedule.”

“I know. I don’t wish it on them. I’m just being realistic, but even if they do, Jill will not expect you back at work tomorrow. You know we’ll all pitch in to be sure everything gets done. You need to just plan to take it easy.” She glared at him. “You promise me.”

“I hear you. We’ll play it by ear.”

It was probably the best she’d get out of him. Carolanne started to walk back toward the door but paused at the dining room table. The big family photo album sat on the edge of the table. “I didn’t know you even still had this.”

“What?” Ben couldn’t see her from the couch.

She cleared her throat. “Our big family album. It’s here on the table.” She picked up the book and a bright-yellow-and-white potato chip bag folded like an accordion fluttered to the ground. She knelt to pick it up.

“I haven’t looked through it in years myself.”

“Then why was it on the table?”

He didn’t answer at first. “I was just using it to hold something down.”

“A potato chip bag?”

“No. Don’t be silly. That’s just trash.”

No, it’s not. That’s those bags Gina was collecting. Don’t lie to me, Dad.
She placed the photo album back on his bookshelf. “You know…”

“What?”

“Um…”

I can’t. Not now. I’m not even sure I want to know. What if part of Gina’s past is linked to Dad? What if my dad is Gina’s dad? Did he cheat on Mom while she was so ill?
Her stomach turned.
Impossible. He loved Mom, or maybe that was the crushing blow, that he’d cheated and let me down?
She forced her curiosity to the side.

“You know, Doris said she has some new mysteries in. I’ll pick a couple up for you.”

“Thanks. That would be good. Sitting around here isn’t going to be much fun.”

“It won’t kill you to take it easy for at least a couple days,” she said as she pulled the door closed behind her. As she got into her car, she glanced at the tall shrub where she’d hunkered down the other night while Gina used her dad’s phone and drove off in his car.

It’s a wonder Gina hadn’t seen her. That shrub didn’t offer much coverage. Why hadn’t she just confronted Gina? She had more right than that girl to be there in the first place.

She glanced at the note she’d written to herself to call Farm Bureau for her dad.
No sense bothering Glenn on Sunday.
Besides, if she could stall them on the rental car, Dad wouldn’t have a way to go back to work too soon.

Connor must be rubbing off on me. It might be manipulative, but it sure would be convenient in this case.

She drove around the corner and parked behind the pharmacy, wondering who would take care of her if she was in an accident.

Chapter Sixteen