Hot Tea (30 page)

I smiled, “Sorry, you have the characters in this play a little confused.  My mother is more likely to kill you.  My father might not approve, but would never say anything, because he has a strong live-your-own-life policy.  And Teagan would just be happy for me, besides, any and all drama that surrounds me, will keep the limelight off of her and Jessie, so it can only work to her advantage.”

“I see.  I’ll have to think about all of that.  In the meantime, I’m going to straighten up the kitchen.  I’ll be right back.”

I didn’t say anything.  For the first time in my life, I decided that I would just sit back and see what happens.  I decided not to try to drive this particular boat.  Or do you pilot a boat?  And why a boat?  Probably because it doesn’t really qualify as a runaway train.  Yet.  I should really go and get my psyche checked.  Even I’m beginning to worry about the way my brain works.  Why it wanders around like it does.

We spent the rest of the evening watching movies and eating popcorn with way too much butter and even more salt, just the way we both like it.

We cuddled on the couch, till the wee small hours.  When I started to drift off, AJ escorted me to the door of my room, kissed me on the forehead, and said goodnight.

It wasn’t until I’d taken my shower, put on my best smelly good stuff, and wedged myself between my cool crisp sheets that it dawned on me.  As much as AJ had thrilled every cell in my body, he’d yet to kiss me on the lips.  I rededicated myself to flossing more regularly, and fell asleep.

EIGHTEEN

I caught my phone on the second ring.  It had to be Teagan because no one else would dare to call me so early in the morning.  I about bit off her head, “I swear to God, Teagan, this had better be good, cause if it isn’t, I’m telling Mom exactly what you said yesterday, and she’ll have you in Confession so fast it will make your wee little head spin.”

“Good morning Cara.  This is Billy.”

“Oh, sorry.  I thought you were Teagan.  I was up late last night.  I’m a little grouchy.”  Poor Teagan, I’d just told the family priest she had things she needs to confess.  She’s gonna kill me.

Billy, because he is nice like that, didn’t even acknowledge my screw-up, “No problem.  Your mom suggested that I give you a call.  I ran into her at the grocery store last night.  She said that you were going through Bernie’s stuff and organizing it.”

“Teagan and I are doing it.  Mom asked.  Is there something Bernie promised you Billy?  Should we be keeping our eyes open for something?”

“Oh, no, nothing like that.  I have a family here in the parish that is in need of someone to do the same thing for their family that you are doing for Bernie.  Actually, the man that died was in the parish.  His brother is out in Washington state and won’t be coming here to sort things out.  He asked that I make whatever arrangements I see fit.  When your mom said you were sorting things out for Bernie, and that you are between jobs, I thought maybe you would be interested.  I’m not sure how long it will take, or what all is involved, but I can assure you it will pay very well.  I don’t like the brother at all, and I don’t mind telling you, it won’t bother me to send him a large bill.  He has money.  It won’t be a burden for him.”

“It was really nice of you to think of me Billy, but I’ve never done anything like this before.  I’m not sure I’m qualified.”

“Cara, just what qualifies someone to do a job like this?  This man didn’t have a lot of material things, I just don’t want to call and have some anonymous organization come in and go through his personal belongings.  Cara, I know it isn’t very priest-like of me, but I just don’t trust that some corporate entity would be as honest and as respectful as you would be.  That’s all the expertise I’m really asking for.”

“Can I think about it Billy?”

“Sure, but I need an answer some time today.  If you choose not to do it, I need to try to find someone else.”

“Tell you what.  I’ll take a shower, talk to Mom and Teagan, and have an answer to you before noon.”

“That’s more than fair.”

“Talk to you soon Billy.”

I jumped out of bed, called Teagan on the way into the kitchen to put the kettle on, was walking back to my room when it dawned on me that AJ could be home, and I was prancing around in no more than I was born in.  Not bright.  I raced the rest of the way back to my bedroom, just as Teagan picked up the phone.

I gave her my best cheesy, “Good morning.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing.”

“Why are you calling so early?  You never call early.”

I explained the situation with Billy.  Teagan thought it a marvelous idea.  Even if it didn’t go any further than this one family, it was a nice thing to do for Billy, and having a priest on your good side is never a mistake.  Besides, maybe it was putting some credits on the positive side of the God ledger.  We can always use those.

I told her I would take it under advisement, and called Mom.  Mom was quick to remind me that I am unemployed and that even if it was not a major paycheck, it was more than I was making sitting around waiting for the police to let us back into Bernie’s house.  She also said that Teagan and I were to go down to the police station and submit our fingerprints as exclusionary, if the police decided that they were going to treat Bernie’s house as a crime scene.

That woke me the rest of the way up.

“What do you mean a crime scene?  I thought Bernie just stopped living.  Mom, the woman was 712.  I thought Bernie died of old.”

“I understand that Love, but it turns out that the medical examiner doesn’t share your opinion, and although the rest of us always bow to your wisdom, I don’t see that happening in this case.”

I was horrified, my usual grace-filled self blurted, “Bernie was murdered?”

“I’m not saying that Love.  I’m saying that they have some investigating to do.  I’m sure it will turn out to be nothing, but until they figure that out, we need to steer clear of Bernie’s and let them do their work.”

“I can do that.  On another subject, what’s happening with Liam and Morgan?  I thought they were going to marry on your anniversary.  They had better get a move on.”

“They’ve decided to hold off just a bit.”

“Oh oh, trouble in paradise?”

“Not at all.  They’ve just decided that with Bernie’s passing, and the church down the river being so small, and Jordan deciding that he needs to be the best man, that they are going to take some time and really plan something proper.”

“So do they have a new date?”

“Not that I’m aware.  Perchance they are waiting for you to join them in a double ceremony with that handsome young man from the back of the church at Bernie’s service.”

“Mom, I gotta go.  Billy’s waiting for me to call him back.  I’ll talk to Liam and see if there is anything I can do to help.”

By noon, I not only had the answer to Billy’s proposal, but I had the keys to the apartment of my new project as well.  I was pretty sure I could talk Teagan into helping me if it was all too much, but decided to try to do it on my own.  I emailed my new client, I have a client, how cool is that?  His name is Steven.  I asked that he send me authorization to go into his brother’s condo.  I’d hate to get arrested for breaking and entering.  Can they arrest you if you have a key?  35 minutes after I’d hit send, I received his response.  Efficient guy.  That could be scary. 

Ms. O’Flynn,

Thank you for taking on this project.  As I explained to Father Parker on the phone, I have no idea the state of my brother’s affairs.  I would appreciate daily advisories via email.  I’ve mailed the initial check in the amount Father Parker and I discussed.  Should you require appraisers or other consultants, please advise me before incurring cost.  Per your request, I’ve included a letter authorizing you to act on my behalf.  You should have no problems with access to the condo.  I’ve also called the woman that seems to be in charge there and told her to expect you.  She has been excellent about watching my brother’s condominium.

Sincerely,

Steven Arcillio

Note from Steven and key from Billy in hand, I typed the address into my little GPS gadget and was off. 

On the way to the condo, I wondered why Steven sounded so unemotional about the death of his brother.  If one of my brothers or sisters died, I would be inconsolable.  I’d lose it.  A part of my heart would wither and die along with them.  I don’t even want to think about how I would react if one of my parents died.  I’ve pretty much convinced myself that I will never lose either of them.  I just am just way to immature to deal with it.

I got to the condo complex without any problems at all.  GPS is a wonderful invention.  I don’t care if Teagan is right and the government is watching my every move, at least I don’t have to do 27 u-turns and try to read a map every time I am going to a new place. 

When God was handing out sense of direction, I was in the thin hair line.  Again.  This explains why I have hair as soft and thin as a two-year-old, and can’t find my way out of the grocery store parking lot without help.

The lovely man inside the GPS said, “Arrive at Louis residence, in two hundred feet, on right.”  I love his oh so sexy Australian accent.  I programmed him to sound like that.  Isn’t technology grand?

The condo complex was smallish.  Maybe 50 units visible from the street.  Looked like eight units to most buildings, four up and four down.  The landscaping was basic, but very well kept.  The walkways were spotless, which is tricky in Florida.  Because of the humidity, things seem to go from spotless, to green, to black and slimy in almost no time.

Each building was painted a different color.  Very ‘South Beach’.  There was a nice sized pool and what I assumed to be a shared community building, which was teeny tiny, at the end of the complex.