Death of a Pumpkin Carver (3 page)

“Would you relax? I'm not going to get sucked back in by Danny!” Hayley said, parked on a stool at her brother Randy's bar, Drinks Like A Fish. She had met Liddy and Mona for a quick happy hour round of drinks after work, and the conversation quickly steered toward the hot topic of the day.

Danny Powell was back in town.

“We've heard you say those exact words before, Hayley. Right before you announced the two of you were getting back together,” Liddy said. “Right, Mona?”

Liddy glanced over at Mona hoping for some support, but she didn't respond. She just sat on her stool, slumped over the bar and chugging down a Bud Light.

Mona clearly had no interest in jumping into this discussion.

“Well, that was before I married the guy and had two kids with him and put up with his crazy antics for the best years of my life. I've come out on the other side. I'm immune to Danny now.”

Liddy eyed her warily. “I'm just worried about you, that's all.”

“Well you don't have to be. Look, I can see Danny is working hard to impress me and to pretend he's gotten his act together, but sooner or later he is going to slip up and the old Danny Powell will finally show up again.”

“I just want you to be careful . . .” Liddy said.

“Oh for the love of lobster, Liddy, would you stop squawking at the poor woman? She said she's got this. Didn't you hear her? Danny's got no power over her anymore!” Mona screamed, guzzling the rest of her beer and slamming the empty bottle down on the bar.

Randy snapped to attention and spun around from the far end of the bar, noticing her bottle was empty.

He zipped over to the cooler and fetched her another.

“Did she just say ‘for the love of lobster'?” Liddy asked.

Hayley nodded. “Yes, she did.”

“I say whatever comes to my mind,” Mona growled.

“As you should,” Liddy said, patting her on the back. “Never keep a thought inside your head. It'll get very lonely.”

Randy delivered Mona her next beer and she nodded, took a swig, thought about what was just said, and slammed it back down.

“Did she just insult me?” Mona barked at Randy.

“Big time,” Randy said before sailing off to the other end of the bar to tend to his other customers.

Liddy spun back around on her stool to face Hayley.

“Look, I believe you, Hayley . . .” Liddy said, fingering the rim of salt around her half-empty margarita glass and scraping some onto her finger before licking it off with her tongue.

“Thank you,” Hayley said, sipping her Jack and Coke.

“I believe you because I know you have come to accept in your mind that Danny is the past and Dr. Aaron is the future,” Liddy said with an impish grin.

“Oh God, here we go . . .” Mona moaned.

“
What
?” Hayley yelled loud enough to garner some curious looks from a few grizzled fishermen at the other end of the bar. “What are you talking about?”

“She was going on about this before you got here,” Mona sighed. “She thinks you've still got the hots for the boring animal doctor.”

“The proper word is ‘veterinarian,' Mona, and he's not boring. He's very nice. He's got a good career, and he's still not seeing anyone. He's a wonderful catch.”

“Except for one little thing. He broke up with me!” Hayley screamed.

“That's just because you didn't make enough time for him,” Liddy said, slapping the bar with her palm to punctuate her point. “If you ask for a second chance, I'm positive he'll grant you one, and you two can finally be back on track.”

“Liddy, read my lips . . . It's over! I didn't fight for Aaron when he ended it because I knew in my heart he was right. We're better as friends. I'm done with that chapter of my life. And right now, I'm very happy and content being single and I have absolutely no interest in jumping back into another relationship anytime soon.”

She thought she was being definitive and crystal clear about her intentions, but Liddy just nodded, a skeptical look on her face.

The door flew open and Danny ambled in, wearing jeans and an open plaid shirt and a brown leather jacket and boots, looking like some kind of sexy Easy Rider. He ran a hand through his thick, wavy hair and flashed that smile, which caused even Liddy to drop her mouth open.

She whipped around to Hayley. “Oh, he's looking really good.”

Danny strutted right up to Liddy and enveloped her in a bear hug, squeezing her head against his rock-hard chest. “I'd recognize that gorgeous face anywhere. You discover some kind of fountain of youth or something, Liddy? Because you haven't aged a bit.”

When he let her go, she was blushing and giggling and had no idea how to respond. She just just kept fixing her hair as she struggled to stop the silly noises coming out of her mouth. Not knowing what to do, she finally picked up her margarita glass and sipped on it until it was empty.

When Danny spied Randy reaching to grab Liddy's now-empty margarita glass, he grasped his hand and held it instead of shaking it. “There's my sexy stud brother-in-law. Look at you. Man, I'm just a no-nothing nobody, but I'm telling you, bro, you should have stuck it out as an actor! I swear with your movie-star looks, right now you'd be bigger than that Thor guy . . . what's his name?”

“Chris Hemsworth?”

“Yeah, him,” Danny said, not letting Randy's hand go.

“He's like an Australian sex god!” Randy squealed before catching himself, embarrassed by his high-pitched voice.

“He's got nothing on you, in my opinion,” Danny said, a seductive smile on his face. He was always good at charming the socks off both women
and
men.

Especially gay men.

He had an easy way about him, and unlike a lot of heterosexual men, Danny was not threatened by his gay brethren.

In fact, he was flattered by their attention.

Which made him all the more desirable to women.

And that's where he made out like a bandit.

“Oh, stop . . .” Randy said, giggling alongside Liddy now.

“Yes, Danny, please stop. You're laying it on a bit thick . . . even for you,” Hayley said, rolling her eyes.

“No he's not. I don't mind if he keeps going,” Randy said with a big fat grin on his face.

“It's a shame I'm straight and a lousy shot,” Danny said, shaking his head, disappointed.

“Why is that?” Randy asked.

“Because if I was gay, I'd probably challenge that Brazilian husband of yours, Sergio, to a duel in order to steal you away for myself.”

“Oh . . . wow . . . that's so sweet . . .” Randy stammered, now redder than Liddy, who had finally gotten herself under control.

“I've always said, if I were to flip, you'd be the one, Randy,” Danny said, using his flashy smile to maximum effect.

“Okay, Danny, that's enough . . .” Hayley said.

“Drinks all around, Randy. On me!”

Everyone in the bar burst into applause and raised their glasses in Danny's honor.

Hayley's jaw nearly dropped to the floor.

Danny was buying a round of drinks?

For the entire bar?

Another first.

Randy leaned down and whispered in Hayley's ear, “I always wondered why you left him!”

“Seriously? Have you forgotten about the week you had your grand opening of this bar and he stole cash from your register?”

“He paid me back. With interest. Even after I told him he didn't have to.”

Hayley couldn't believe Randy was still susceptible to Randy's alluring personality.

He had certainly been around for all the tears and drama and when the kids were little and asking why their daddy was never around.

But Danny just had this way of making people forget his bad side when he cranked up the charisma.

“Mona! I didn't even see you sitting there!”

Danny breezed over and put an arm around Mona, who slowly turned her head and stared up at him.

Danny flinched.

“Mona, you look . . .”

“Cut the crap, Danny. I look exactly the same. Maybe a few more wrinkles on my face. The point is, you can save your breath.”

“So what's new?” Danny asked.

“I had my gall bladder removed. That's about it.”

“Well, it's good to see you . . .”

“No, it's not. I make you nervous.”

Mona made a sudden movement, as if she was going to lunge at Danny, and it caused him to jump back.

“See? You're about to piss your pants.”

Danny decided to double down.

He stepped bravely forward and put his arm back around Mona. “You don't scare me, Mona. We've known each other ever since we were kids . . .”

“If you don't remove your arm I'm going to cut it off and use it as fish bait the next time I take my boat out.”

Danny quietly complied, removing his arm. He tried to laugh off the awkward moment. “You haven't changed a bit, Mona.”

Mona turned and looked him up and down with a dismissive glare. “Neither have you, Danny.”

God bless Mona.

Gemma was busy coaxing a rather reluctant and moody Maine Coon cat into a carrier so his owner could take him home. She didn't see Hayley and Danny enter through the front door into the waiting room of Dr. Palmer's veterinarian office.

“Come on, Ridley, you're all better now. It's time for you to go home and get back to chasing all the squirrels in your neighborhood,” she said softly, giving him a gentle shove on the butt until he was all the way inside and she was able to close the door and turn the latch.

Danny watched his daughter, a big, wide grin on his face.

Hayley could tell he was just bursting with pride.

Gemma was a young woman now, in the middle of a work-study program, gaining real-life experience and hoping to one day start her own veterinary practice.

“Thank you, Gemma, I've never had an animal who didn't want to leave the vet's after an overnight stay. You must have some kind of magic touch,” a redheaded woman in a fur overcoat said, picking up the carrier.

“Well, we had some time to bond while I was putting on his ointment,” Gemma said, laughing.

She bent down and peered into the carrier where the Coon cat stared out at her, meowing. “See what happens when you chase a raccoon and actually catch it? They can get pretty vicious. Do me a favor and stick to the squirrels, okay?”

The redheaded woman laughed and then turned and walked out of the clinic with her cat and carrier, passing Hayley and Danny and giving them a friendly nod.

Gemma brightened at the sight of her mother, not noticing her father standing just behind her. “Did you come to give me a ride home? I just need another five minutes.”

“Look at you. All grown up and wearing a lab coat like a real doctor. This is just too much,” Danny said, shaking his head, resisting the urge to get emotional at the sight of his mature, professional daughter.

Gemma's eyes widened and her mouth dropped open. “Dad . . . ?”

Danny stepped around Hayley, his arms spread open. “Come give your papa a big hug, darling!”

Gemma darted across the room and fell into her father's arms, squeezing him tight and resting her head on his broad chest. “Dad, I can't believe you're here! Why didn't you tell us you were coming?”

“Wanted to surprise you,” Danny said. “I made your mother promise not to say anything until I could greet you in person!”

“How long are you here for?” Gemma asked, still not believing he was standing here right in front of her.

Hayley was happy Gemma asked that question.

She too wanted to know just how long he was going to stick around.

“I got no set schedule. I'm definitely hoping to spend time with you and Dustin while I'm here.”

“Well, yes, I'm working every day but I have nights and weekends off and . . . Dustin's going to freak when he sees you!”

“Where is he?”

“He's at home hanging out with his friend Spanky. Are you coming over for dinner tonight?”

“Well, I don't want to put your mother out . . .”

Hayley opened her mouth to suggest he take the kids out to dinner and she would stay home, but Gemma never gave her the chance.

“I'll cook. I'm actually getting pretty good. Mom, you don't have to do a thing. Just relax, have some wine, and leave everything to me.”

Hayley nodded, biting her lip, not enthused by the prospect of spending an evening at home with Danny and the kids like they did as a family before the divorce.

Dr. Aaron's elderly full-time assistant, Edna, a severe woman whose typical expression was a sour face as if she were constantly sucking on a bitter lemon, walked out from the back of the clinic and took her place behind the reception desk. She wore an unflattering print dress and a gray wool sweater and blew into her cupped hands because she was cold.

Hayley marveled how someone could always look so resoundingly miserable.

Gemma raised her index finger to her parents. “I just need to talk to Dr. Aaron about something before I leave.”

She dashed back over to Edna. “Is Dr. Aaron still with the Labrador?”

“Yes. Why?” Edna asked, lowering her glasses to the edge of her pointy nose.

“I just wanted to talk to him before I leave.”

“If you have anything to say to the doctor, you speak to me first.”

“Oh, okay. I just wanted to run an idea by him.”

“What kind of idea?” Edna said, sighing.

It had been clear from day one that Edna was not happy about Gemma working at the practice. She was obviously threatened by her youthful energy and positive attitude and wanted to maintain a general feeling of musty gloom.

“It's silly, really, but it could be fun,” Gemma said, plowing ahead, either unaware or willfully ignoring Edna's disapproving stare. “I was thinking since Halloween is right around the corner we could host a pet costume contest. You know, people could come by the office and we'd take pictures and put them up and then they could vote and we would give out a prize, something like free shots or maybe a gift certificate to Petco in Bangor.”

“That's a terrible idea,” Edna said, her voice slightly rising and cracking.

Hayley bristled.

She didn't appreciate a nasty old woman putting down her daughter.

But she held her tongue.

Gemma was an adult now and needed to handle her own prickly situations.

“I would take care of all the details,” Gemma said, not quite ready to give up. “You wouldn't have to do a thing.”

“It's already a circus around here. We are out straight all day long. I don't think the doctor would want to add to all the stress. I'm sorry, Gemma, it's just not appropriate.”

“Well, I for one think it's a wonderful idea,” Danny said, staring down Edna, his eyes boring into her. He looked as if he was trying to resist leaping over the reception desk and strangling her like a rag doll.

“Well, since you don't work here, your opinion doesn't count,” Edna said, unperturbed by Danny's borderline threatening manner. She turned to Gemma. “And please don't bring this up again, especially to Dr. Palmer. He's got enough on his plate right now and needs to stay focused.”

“I understand,” Gemma said, disappointment in her voice.

As if on cue, Aaron sauntered through the door in khaki pants and a blue dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up, carrying a file folder in his hand, which he passed to Edna. “I'm keeping the Labrador overnight just to be safe. Would you call Mrs. Finch and let her know?”

“Certainly, Doctor,” Edna said, adding a slight sweetness to her voice.

Danny bounded across the room and grabbed Aaron's hand, pumping it a few times and startling him. “Danny Powell, Aaron. Nice to meet you.”

“Hello. . . .” Aaron said, his voice trailing off, trying to place him.

“We have something in common,” Danny said.

“What's that?”

“My wife.”

“Ex-wife,” Hayley chimed in, a bit too quickly.

“Oh, you're
that
Danny . . .” Aaron said, getting it, looking to Hayley who wanted the earth to swallow her up at that moment. The last thing she ever expected or wanted was for her ex-husband and ex-boyfriend to come face to face and compare notes.

“She give you as much trouble as she gave me?” Danny laughed.

“No . . . not at all . . .”

“Kidding. Kidding. We just swung by to pick up our daughter. She doing a good job for you?”

“Excellent,” Aaron said with a smile to Gemma. “I'd be lost without her.”

Edna cleared her throat just to make it known she was still in the room.

“Yeah, she makes her daddy proud every day. She works really hard and her head is full of creative ideas . . .”

Hayley's heart sank.

She knew what he was going to do.

And there wasn't anything she could do to stop him.

“Like that Halloween pet costume contest. That sure sounds like a winner to me.”

Edna sat upright in her chair, seething.

“What's that?” Aaron asked, genuinely intrigued.

“Go on, Gemma. Tell him,” Danny said, encouraging her.

“Oh . . . it was nothing . . .” Gemma sputtered, keeping one eye on Edna whose head looked as if it was about to explode.

“Tell me,” Aaron said.

“Well, I thought for Halloween we could have people dress up their pets in costumes and we'd take pictures . . .”

“And then you could hang them up here in the office and people could vote and you would hand out prizes to the winners! Doesn't that sound like a totally awesome idea?” Danny bellowed, slapping Aaron on the back.

“But I know it's really busy around here so it might not be something we want to do . . .” Gemma said, now in full damage control because she knew she would have to work with Edna every day until Christmas and they already had an undeniably frosty relationship.

“I love it. As long as you're in charge and I don't have to do anything,” Aaron said.

“No. I'll do it all,” Gemma assured him.

“Let Edna know if you need any help,” Aaron said. “I have to make a few calls. Nice to meet you, Danny. Hayley . . . you look great.”

He let that one linger a few moments before turning and hightailing it back into his office, which connected to the front reception area.

Edna glared at Danny, incensed.

“Something wrong, Edie?”

“It's Edna.”

“Right. You look a little flushed, to be perfectly honest, Edna.”

She looked around her desk, completely discombobulated.

“The printer is out of toner,” Edna said, her voice shaking.

The tension in the air was palpable as she stood up and stormed in the back to the office supply closet.

“Let's go home and eat!” Danny said, hooking an arm around his daughter's shoulders, a self-satisfied smile on his face.

He opened the door for Hayley and Gemma and ushered them out before yelling back, “'Night, Ethel!”