Boo Who (11 page)

“Okay,” the reverend said. “Let’s just get this over with.” He lifted Wolfe’s book and started reading. “All right. Looks like we get him seated.” He looked up. “Okay, good. Now, it says here that I’m supposed to lay my hands on him and say, ‘Everyone step back. I’m not sure what’s going to happen.’”

The whole room took a giant step backward, except Wolfe, who was standing there looking shocked, and Butch, who’d pulled out some sort of large military knife.

“And then my hands are supposed to tremble because I’m nervous.” Everyone glanced at the reverend’s hands. “Okay, we’re right on track there.”

Wolfe was about to say something, but the reverend continued. “Now, at this point, looks like the demon-possessed is going to struggle and spit on me. Can someone get me a towel?”

Melb ran for the kitchen.

“And I’m supposed to stand my ground, look him in the eye”—the reverend’s voice rose with each word—“and say, I command you, demon, to leave this man
now!”

Everyone gasped, waiting in anticipation, but the mayor just continued to read his sailing book. After a few anticlimactic moments, the sheriff asked, “Well? What’s supposed to happen then?”

“According to the book, he’s supposed to turn green, his skin starts to melt, and he talks in a weird voice … and, oh my, well … Let’s just say he curses.”

“Oooooh.” The crowd studied the mayor, then suddenly, all eyes were on Wolfe, who could only shrug.

The sheriff said, “This obviously isn’t working. Maybe you skipped a step.”

“Or maybe he’s not demon-possessed,” Wolfe offered.

A few nods indicated that might be a possibility.

“Well, you’re the expert,” Butch said. “What’s your assessment?”

“I’m not an expert,” Wolfe said, “but I’d say we might be more effective if we joined around the mayor and prayed for him.”

“Ohhhhh,” said the crowd, and by the way everyone scurried toward the mayor, it was evident prayer was a much more comfortable solution than exorcism.

And so, for a few quiet moments, the group prayed for the mayor. Afterward, there was a peacefulness in the room that didn’t come from the Christmas lights or the smell of turkey. Everyone smiled and hugged one another.

And then, from the doorway of the kitchen, Ainsley said in a cheerful voice, “Pie, anyone?”

“Come here,” Wolfe said, beckoning Ainsley to the floor in front of the Christmas tree. As dusk lulled Christmas evening into a quiet slumber, and the entire house was filled with sparkling tree lights and golden-orange sunlight, she fell into his arms, exhausted.

“My goodness,” she sighed. “It can’t already be evening, can it?”

Wolfe smiled down at her. How beautiful she was! He couldn’t wait to be her husband. He looked around and they were finally alone. Butch was passed out on a couch in the other room. Apparently in combat he could fight fatigue off for days at a time, but that’s no match for what turkey can do to you. The sheriff was upstairs, concerning himself with a cat he thought was acting particularly weird because he wanted to lie around all day.

“Here,” he said, handing her a present.

She clapped her hands together like a little girl. “I’ve been waiting
for this all day! This doesn’t happen to be a clue to where you’re taking me on our honeymoon?”

“Not a chance! You find that out after you say, ‘I do.’”

After admiring his wrapping job, she pulled apart the bow and opened the package. She covered her mouth and gasped. “Wolfe!”

“Do you like them?”

She held up the diamond earrings, looking at him with tears in her eyes. “I don’t suppose it’s a coincidence that these are exactly like the ones my mother used to wear?”

“I had a designer in New York make them.” He smiled. “I noticed your mother wearing them in that portrait you have of her on the mantel. Your dad let me take the picture to get it copied so I could send it to the designer.”

“They’re exquisite.” She touched them with delicate fingers. “Thank you.” She hugged him tightly, then kissed him. “I am so in love with you.”

“Good thing, since we’re getting hitched in two and a half months!”

She giggled. “Here. Open mine!”

Wolfe copied Ainsley by looking at the wrapping job, which included shiny gold paper, a huge satin bow, and trinkets hanging off the sides. She smiled at him, acknowledging that he’d taken the time to look at the package before ripping into it.

Then he ripped into it.
“Mere Christianity!”
he exclaimed. “How did you know I’ve never read this book?”

“Because,” she smiled, “every book you’ve ever read is on a bookshelf somewhere in your house. I know you’ll like it. C. S. Lewis is one of my favorites.”

“I’d been wanting to read this! Thank you,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “What do you say we just sit like this all weekend until I have to go back to work on Monday?”

She laughed. “It’s strange to hear you talk like you have a regular Monday-through-Friday job.”

“I know. I’ve only been to work one day, though, so I guess I can’t judge it yet.”

“Is Oliver okay to work with?”

“Yeah, as far as I can tell.”

She shook her head. “I have to admit, I have a hard time picturing you selling cars.”

“Maybe that’s because I haven’t sold one yet. I might be good at it, you know.”

“Maybe.” She smiled, and then they held each other and stared into the fire for a moment. But the silence was shattered by a frightened gasp from Ainsley. She sat up.

“Ainsley? What’s the matter?” he asked.

Her mouth hung open as she pointed to the mantel. “Where are the Wise Men?”

Dr. Hass stepped out onto his front porch, which extended the entire length of his new home. He’d only seen pictures, so it was nice to see it in person now. He could eventually hang his sign from the porch using a pole so it stuck out, easily read. He smiled at the thought.

For him, Christmases were usually spent at lavish parties where women wore dresses that seemed to completely undermine the reason for the holiday, yet nobody complained. Now he stood alone in a small town with nobody to party with. He had to admit, the silence was soothing.

A cat leapt onto the porch, its tail strung high in the air. She rubbed against his arm as he leaned against the porch rail. “Good kitty,” he said. “You look hungry.” He started to dart inside for a saucer of milk but then remembered the sheer number of cats in town. He didn’t want to send a message that he was a soft touch, always good for a free meal. The cat purred loudly and made an attempt to come inside, but Dr. Hass stuck his foot out as he opened the screen door. “Nope. Not today, kitty. Go find another home.”

Inside, the house was not empty, thanks to the family who had decided to sell the furniture along with the house. His footsteps echoed
as he crossed the old wooden floors. He would buff those, make them nice and shiny. His suitcase and other things were still in the foyer. For a third time on this day, he wandered around the three bedrooms, the two bathrooms, and eventually ended up in his large office, where he knew he would be spending an exceptional amount of time. It was perfect. All the wood was dark walnut, with built-in bookshelves and a nice view of the backyard through a large picture window. From there, he could also see the garage apartment.

But as he stood in his office, one overwhelming thought canceled out all the excitement of his new life. How was he going to make a living? He’d never worried about it before. Since he was sixteen, he’d managed to make it on his own. But that was always in the big city.

He’d resigned himself to the fact he would no longer be living the grand lifestyle to which he was accustomed. He was okay with that. No more fancy cars, fancy pads, fancy women. But there was still the question of whether he would be able to make a living. That single question had driven him for years and years, far beyond its answer, which was yes. But the fear of not making money made him continue to make money and eventually become the man everyone liked to hate. He sighed, looking around the house once more, and decided to unpack his few belongings. The old life had chewed him up and spit him out. Now he hoped it had regurgitated him into a new life.

Standing in front of the beautiful bay window that gave him a good view of Skary, he reminded himself not to fall into the trap of believing he was going to have to take desperate measures. This was Skary, Indiana. Life was simple here. Things worked out as they should, when given enough time. The pace was slow.

Dr. Hass was turning over a new leaf. He’d said good-bye to his old self. But he knew old habits were hard to break.

“Who would take the Wise Men?” Ainsley’s desperate cry had roused Butch off the couch and brought the sheriff downstairs in a hurry. They
all stood in front of the mantel, gazing at the place where the three Wise Men once stood.

“You’re sure you set them out?” Butch asked, a quizzical eyebrow pointed toward his nonreceding hairline.

“Butch! Of course I set them out! Do you think I would forget the Wise Men?”

Apparently Butch was the only man in the room who did. He shrugged and then wandered around, looking for clues. Ainsley just stood there, perplexed. Nobody had any answers.

Wolfe rubbed her shoulders, but she didn’t seem comforted. She turned to him. “I know those Wise Men were there this morning. Somebody took them during Christmas dinner. Who would do that?”

“Maybe it’s intended to be a little joke,” Wolfe said. “I’m sure they’ll bring them back.”

“Some joke.” She sighed.

“Perhaps it was the mayor. He isn’t in his right mind today,” the sheriff said.

Ainsley moped into the kitchen, where she fixed herself and Wolfe cups of hot cocoa. Handing it to him after sprinkling slivers of chocolate on top, she shook her head. “Seems like every major holiday ends up with some crazy event occurring, some crisis.”

“I guess it does kind of seem that way, doesn’t it?” he said.

“What’s the next holiday? Valentine’s Day?”

“Yeah.”

“Well thank goodness, there’s already a major event scheduled.”

“Melb and Oliver’s wedding.”

“Let’s just pray that’s enough for fate to leave that holiday alone.”

CHAPTER 11