Five Minutes Late (17 page)

Cedric looked for the box with the officer’s name and his mouth fell open. “Cunnings. I knew it. I didn’t even think to look for his name there.”

“Be careful. If he’s bold enough to cut your tire in broad daylight, you need to watch out for that guy. I’ve seen his type before and it usually doesn’t end well.”

Cedric pulled his car into his driveway, hopped out, and jogged to the front door. The plan was to pick up Tofu and go straight to Michaels’s home for the barbecue. He opened the front door of his house, and Tofu made a beeline for Cedric.

“Arf. Arf, arf, arf.”

He smashed into Cedric’s legs, his tail spinning like a propeller, and his mouth wrapped around his favorite toy, the stuffed squirrel. Cedric closed the door behind him and scratched Tofu on the head.
 

“Hey, buddy, drop it, time to go for a walk. Then we’ll go see Michael and Veronica.”

Tofu dropped the toy and licked Cedric’s hand as he clipped the leash on the dog. He just wanted to do a quick loop around the block, hoping Tofu would poop before they got in the car.

Not this time. Tofu seemed more interested in getting in the car, and Cedric had to practically pull him down the street.

“I shouldn’t have told you about visiting Michael,” he told Tofu. “Okay, I give up. Let’s go back.”

“Arf.” Tofu agreed it was the best plan.

They returned back to the house, and Cedric grabbed a bottle of wine from the kitchen.

As Cedric drove, his cell rang. He hung the blue tooth on his ear and answered the phone. “Hey, Tony.”

“Hey. Have you been to the online auction website for the property recently?”

“No, why?”

“I just went to the website you gave me and Papa George’s old place has disappeared from the list.”

Cedric swallowed hard and waited for Tony to continue.

“Are you there?”

“Yeah. Please tell me this is just a screw-up that will be corrected.”

Tony let out a sigh. “I don’t know. I sent an email to the Webmaster and the County Tax Collector. We’ll find out soon enough. It could be just a glitch.”

“I hope so.”

Twenty minutes later, he pulled up to the house.
 

Cedric’s friends, Michael and Veronica Vela, lived in Monte Sereno, a quaint city just outside of San Jose, where the average home price was over two million dollars. Just a drop in the bucket for the psychologist and his restaurateur wife, who owned his and her Teslas.
 

Cedric pressed the button and grinned as the doorbell projected the chimes of Westminster throughout the house. Tofu sniffed the door and wagged his tail in anticipation, obviously happy to be there. And who could blame the dog? If Michael and Veronica gave Cedric half of the treats they gave Tofu, he would probably be sniffing the door too—and be about fifty pounds heavier.

Tofu barked again, waiting impatiently for someone to open.

“Don’t get your hairy panties in a bunch. You won’t go away hungry.” Cedric scratched the top of Tofu’s head. “
You
are a spoiled doggie, you know that, right?”

“Arf,” admitted Tofu.

The door swung open and Veronica smiled as Tofu ran right by her. “Hey, you.” She hugged Cedric. “You’re late.”

“You’re surprised?” Cedric handed her the bottle of wine. “Sorry. I was trying to get Tofu to take a crap before we got here.”

She laughed. “And were you successful?”

“Not at all. He was in sniff-mode and didn’t deliver the goods, but I brought one of
these,
just in case we get lucky.” Cedric pulled a plastic poop bag out of his pocket and waved it in the air.”

“You may not need that. The last time he took a poop in the backyard, he buried it so well, we have yet to find it.”

“Sorry.” Cedric followed Veronica through the house to the backyard.

“No worries.” Veronica stopped next to the granite island in the kitchen and grabbed Cedric’s arm. “By the way…” Veronica glanced through the screen door to the backyard, and then back to Cedric “…not sure if Michael told you but Sam and Lucie are here.”

Sam and Lucie were two of the coolest people and Cedric enjoyed their company. They were fun, positive, and passionate, and had no problem with public displays of affection. Cedric loved watching their connection.
 

“Yeah, he told me they’d be here. Why are you looking at me that way?”

She crinkled her nose.

“Crap.” Cedric tried to keep his voice low. “Soledad is here?”

Veronica nodded. “I guess Michael didn’t tell you that part.”

“No. The sneaky bastard failed to mention that important detail.”

Veronica laughed. “In his defense, he didn’t know until this afternoon she would be coming.”

“Guess he didn’t feel it was necessary to update me.”

“Probably afraid you would’ve canceled.”

“I would have.”

“Well, then.” She squeezed his arm. “I’m glad he didn’t tell you.”

Lucie and Sam had the best intentions in their effort to set-up Cedric with their friend, Soledad, but it just wasn’t going to happen. Cedric tried not to judge people, but sometimes you just don’t click with someone, no matter how hard you try.
 

“You think she’s pretty, right?” asked Veronica.

“Of course, even a blind man could see that, but I need more.”

She smiled and nodded.

Cedric wanted great conversation and a woman who wasn’t afraid to speak her mind. Soledad agreed with everything Cedric said, didn’t matter what they were talking about. She never offered her own ideas or opinions and that got boring. Ellie, on the other hand …

Cedric should have known his thoughts would drift to Ellie again. The woman had enough personality and intelligence for ten people.
 

“Where did your mind just go?” asked Veronica. “That was some grin on your face.”

Cedric laughed. “Maybe I’ll tell you later.”

“I hope so.”
 

They stepped down into the backyard and smiled as Tofu lay on the grass with all four legs in the air while Lucie rubbed his tummy. “You little cutie. I’m taking you home with me. Cedric will never ever know.”

“Oh yes I will,” said Cedric. “And I wouldn’t know what to do with the extra room in my bed. That flea bag is a serious bed-hog.”

“Arf.” Tofu protested.

“Okay, sorry, you’re not a flea bag. But you
are
a bed hog.”

“Arf.”

“Liar.”

“Extra room in your bed?” Soledad said, quickly moving in on Cedric.

She doesn’t waste any time.

She bit her lower lip and tried to look sexy as she kissed Cedric on the cheek.

Nope. Not doing it for him. Little Cedric was out cold. In a coma.

“Hi, Soledad,” Cedric said, looking around the yard.

Michael and Veronica had the kick-ass backyard—to die for—complete with full outdoor kitchen, pizza oven, swimming pool and jacuzzi, a lawn area under the king and queen palm trees, a bronze fountain with dolphins that appeared to be jumping out of the water, and a state-of-the-art bocce court.
 

“Hey, Cedric.” Sam grabbed a beer from the outdoor fridge and handed it to him. “How’s the garlic biz?”

Cedric popped the top off the beer and took a sip. “It stinks.”

Sam laughed. “I never get tired of that one.”
 

Cedric and Sam clinked bottles.

Michael was busy working the barbecue. “Cedric, get your ass over here. I need a hand.”

“Yes, sir.” Cedric sent Michael a military salute. He set his bottle on the counter next to the barbecue, inspecting the salmon and chicken on the grill. “Looks great. You don’t really want help, do you?”

“Hell no. Just wanted to say sorry for Soledad being here. Try to have some patience, and remember, it wasn’t my idea. Here she comes. Act natural.”

“So, Cedric,” the vulture said, swooping down on him again, this time brushing her claws against his chest. “You said you’d call me after that wonderful chat we had last time.”

Wonderful?
 

Thank God, Veronica came to the rescue. “Dinner is served.” She balanced three platters of food and set them on the patio table. “Caprese salad with avocado, pasta with white wine, garlic and mushrooms, and garlic bread.”

 
Veronica was an amazing chef and she loved to cook for others. It didn’t matter if she was in her restaurant or at home. Michael brought the platter of salmon and chicken from the barbecue and placed it on the table.

Michael turned to Cedric. “How’s the volunteering going at the library?”

Veronica’s eyes opened wide. “I didn’t know you were volunteering.”

“Well, technically, I haven’t started yet. I just finished the training.”

“What will you be doing?” asked Lucie.

“Reading to kids.”

Veronica snuck a piece of chicken under the table to Tofu. “How fun.”

Cedric smiled. “I’m looking forward to it. You know how much I loved it when my mom read to me.”

“You were obsessed.”

“I prefer to say I was eager.”

Veronica laughed. “How often will you volunteer?”

“Just once a week to start. They have a book shortage in the children’s section at the moment. Someone broke into the library and vandalized a bunch of books, tearing out pages, and marking up others with Sharpie pens. What were they trying to prove by doing that?”

Michael sat up. “That they were assholes.”

“Yeah. Well, the good news is, the library is doing a fundraiser, so hopefully they’ll be able to replace the books with new ones.”

“When’s the fundraiser?”

“Next week. You want me to send you the info?”

“Definitely. If we can’t make it, we’ll cut you a check.”

“Us too,” said Lucie.

Cedric wasn’t surprised Lucie wanted to be involved. Not only did she have a heart of gold, she and Sam had a truck of gold. That happens when you win four hundred million dollars in the Powerball Lottery—although they chose the cash option and came away with a tiny check for two hundred and twenty-three million. They were two of the most generous people he knew. Sam and Lucie immediately gave half of their lottery winnings to their ten family members—eleven million each person.

Good people.

He looked over at Soledad to see if she was interested, but she was busy texting someone. Perfect. He didn’t have to ask her.

Around forty-five minutes later, everyone had finished eating, and Michael stood up. “Cedric, grab a few of those plates. We’ll let these lovely ladies relax.”

“Good idea.” Cedric hoped he would be able to fill Michael in on the Ellie saga.

“Don’t I get to help?” asked Sam. He pursed his lips and fluffed his hair. “Or do you consider me a lovely lady?”

Michael waved him over. “Come on tough guy.”

Veronica laughed. “Look at these macho men clearing the table. We’ve trained them well.”

“Yes we have,” Lucie said, laughing with Veronica.

Michael, Cedric, and Sam cleared the table and went inside.
 

“Okay, Cedric,” Michael said, setting some plates on the counter. “Tell me the latest with what’s-her-name. Ellie, isn’t it?”

“Yes, and she’s driving me crazy.”

“That’s a woman’s job.” Michael opened the dishwasher. “It’s in their DNA.”

Sam scraped leftovers from the plates into the trash. “It’s also on their resumes. But God, I would be nothing without Lucie.”

“You got that right, brother,” said Michael. “So, have you gone out with her yet?

Cedric shrugged. “It’s complicated.”

“It’s a yes or no question.” Michael rinsed off the plates and handed them to Cedric to put in the dishwasher.

“Okay, remember I called you when I was outside of the library, getting ready to go in and ask her out.”
 

Michael nodded and turned to Sam. “She’s a librarian.”

Sam smiled. “Nice.”

“So,” continued Cedric, “I go inside and she’s not there. And her co-worker tells me she’s at a memorial because her brother died.”

“That sucks,” said Michael.

“Tell me about it. So anyway, I go to the memorial, Ellie’s crying, and next thing you know, I see her dick ex-boyfriend kissing her in front of everyone.”

Michael scratched his head. “Was tongue involved?”

“He practically swallowed her head.”

“At a memorial? No way, I don’t believe it.”

“I saw it. “

“Then what happened?” asked Michael.

“The ex got in my face and pushed me into a bunch of chairs. Then Ellie kicked us both out of the funeral home.”

Michael laughed. “Your life is never boring.”

“Never. She did call and leave me a message, apologizing for kicking me out.”

Michael slapped him on the shoulder. “See? Did you call her back?”

Cedric shook his head.

“God. How much do you like her?”

“Too much.”

“So what’s the problem?” asked Sam.

“Her ex is a cop with a couple of screws loose. He doesn’t look stable, plus, he may still be sticking his tongue down her throat. Is it really worth it?”

“Hell yes,” said Michael. “It’s probably not what you think. Talk with her. Be straight up with her and tell her how you feel. And ask her what’s going on!”

Michael was right. Why speculate when you can just ask and find out the truth? Cedric wasn’t going to give up so easily. Next time he saw Ellie, he would ask her out. Again.

Sam smiled. “Things will work out. And I look forward to the wedding.”

Veronica entered. “What wedding?”

“No wedding,” said Cedric. “But you’ll be happy to know I’m officially interested in the opposite sex again.”

“Great!” Veronica kissed Cedric on the cheek as Soledad came in.
 

“Glad to hear it,” said Soledad. “I wanted to ask you something …”

Cedric’s timing was always perfect.

“Cedric was just telling us that he’s very interested in a particular woman at the library,” said Michael, to the rescue.

Cedric wanted to kiss him on the lips.

Soledad looked as if someone just ripped the head off of her favorite Barbie doll and set it on fire. “Oh, that’s … great.” She glanced up at the clock. “Oh wow, is that the time? I better get running along, lots to do. Where is my purse?” She practically ran outside.