Laid Out and Candle Lit (15 page)
Read Laid Out and Candle Lit Online
Authors: Ann Everett
An elderly woman sat at a nearby table holding a miniature Poodle dressed like Raggedy Ann. Three old men were across from her, and Oleta Harmon and Fannie Solomon, two ladies he’d questioned at the church, occupied a table in the middle of the room.
Tizzy glanced up at Ridge and then quietly spoke to Rayann.
Rayann smiled a wide grin as she approached. “What can I get for you, Cooper?”
He looked around her at Tizzy. “She’s not coming over here, is she?”
“Nope. She’s still pissed, and if looks could kill, you’d be laid out and candle lit,” she said softly.
“Yeah, no lie,” he said.
Rayann leaned in close. “We’re having an engagement party out at the McAlister’s on Saturday at three. Since she’s so mad at you, I doubt you get an invitation from her, so I’m inviting you.”
“Yeah, Bubba told me. I‘ll be there.”
Pattiecake and Sugarpie were behind the counter restocking cupcakes when Sugarpie looked out the front door and gasped. “Oh Lord, here comes Inez Kindred. Whatever you do, don’t ask her how she’s doing.”
“Why not?” Ridge asked, focusing on the old woman.
Pattiecake answered. “Bless her heart, she’s always got something wrong with her and it’s the worst that’s ever been. No one has ever been sicker or worse off at any given moment. I swear, when that woman dies, she’ll be
deader
than everybody else!”
He broke into laughter as Tizzy walked past him and spoke to the woman and her dog seated at the table. “Here you go, Nana, a little piece of pound cake for Alexandra, and have you decided what you want?” Tizzy asked.
Nana smiled. “I want a piece of that new pie y’all put on the menu. That Chocolate Coconut Pecan pie sure sounds like something I‘d like.”
Tizzy giggled. “All righty then. I’ll bring you a piece. Where are you and Alexandra off to today?”
“Doggie spa day,” Nana said. “She’s getting the full works. Bathed, groomed, pedicure. Isn’t she cute as Raggedy Ann?”
Ridge’s ears perked up. He walked to the table and addressed Tizzy. “Is this your grandmother? Aren’t you going to introduce us?”
Nana McAlister was a small woman about five feet tall who possibly weighed a hundred pounds soaking wet.
Tizzy drew her face into a scowl. “Of course . . . Nana, this is Texas Ranger Ridge Cooper. The man who’s trying to send me to prison.” She glared at him. “There. Are you happy?” She spun around and walked away.
Ridge offered his hand, leaned over and whispered. “I’m not trying to send her to prison. She’s a little upset with me right now.”
Nana motioned for him to come closer. She cupped her mouth and whispered back. “I think she
likes
you. McAlister women have a thing for lawmen. We think they’re sexy.”
Ridge chuckled. “Thank you, Nana. May I call you Nana?”
“Absolutely.” She smiled. “Since you’re a Texas Ranger, I may need your help. I can’t find my wristwatch. I think someone came into my house and stole it.”
Pattiecake interceded. “I don’t think so, Nana. You’ve just misplaced the watch. Saint and I’ll come over this afternoon and help look. You know, this is not the first time this has happened, and we always find it. So, I don’t think we need to get the law involved.”
Nana stood up, holding Alexandra. “Excuse me. I need to go to the ladies room. Pattiecake, I know you’re trying to help, but I really think someone took the watch. It has diamonds in it, you know.”
Pattiecake spoke to Ridge. “Sorry about that. She loses that stupid watch every other day. The last time, Saint found the thing in her freezer.”
Oleta Harmon called out to Tizzy. “Have you been to the cemetery lately?”
“Yes ma’am. I was there this morning, and I’m sorry. Herman still hasn’t seen Elvis.”
“Shoot! What about Frank Sinatra?” Oleta asked.
“No ma’am. Not Frank, either.”
“Dean?”
“No ma’am.”
“What about John Wayne? Has he seen him?”
“No ma’am. I’m sorry.”
“Well, has he seen any movie stars at all?”
“He hasn’t mentioned any,” Tizzy said.
“Well, thanks for checking anyway.” Oleta said, turning her attention to Fannie.
“Do you think it’s possible they have a Hollywood heaven where movie stars go and the common folk go to regular heaven? Herman’s been there for over a year and hasn’t seen one movie star yet.”
Fannie Solomon rolled her eyes. “You ever thought all those people you mentioned may not be
in
heaven?” she said. “That would explain why Herman hasn’t seen any of them.”
“Oh, I hadn’t thought about that. I guess it’s possible.” She craned her neck around Fannie. “But keep checking for me, Tizzy. Okay?”
Tizzy smiled. “Yes ma’am. I will.”
Tizzy picked up a box from the counter and shoved it in front of Ridge.
He snapped his head up. “What’s this?
She didn’t answer.
He repeated. “What’s this, Tizzy?”
“Your muffins. I’m assuming that’s why you came in.”
“Thanks, but actually I came in just to see you.”
Nana emerged from the ladies room and announced. “Hey! Good news, everybody! I found my watch. It was in my girdle!”
Everyone laughed and Pattiecake lifted her eyes toward heaven.
Ridge stood up and headed for the door.
Pattiecake called after him. “Oh, Ridge? Have a safe trip and we‘ll
all
look forward to seeing you when you get back.”
Tizzy yelled from the kitchen. “I heard that, and I wouldn’t bet on it if I were you!
CHAPTER NINETEEN
A
s Tizzy helped Rayann gather the last of the dirty dishes, Rayann paused and rested her arms on the counter. “You’ve been really quiet today. Got anything to do with Cooper leaving this morning?”
Tizzy started to answer, but the door opened and Pattiecake and Sugarpie rushed in. “We’re back. I hate you girls missed the funeral, it was quite the show,” Pattiecake sang out.
“Tell us all about it. Tizzy needs to be cheered up. She’s depressed,” Rayann said.
Pattiecake came to Tizzy’s side, slipping her arm around her waist. “What’s wrong, sweetie?”
“Nothing.” Tizzy shrugged away. “Can’t I just have a day when I’m not all perky every minute?”
“Of course you can.” Sugarpie baby-talked as she pinched her cheek. “I think you’ll cheer up as soon as Ridge gets back.”
Tizzy stiffened and tried to draw a deep breath. “I don’t want to talk about Cooper. Tell us about the funeral.” She cleared Ridge from her mind and began to smile as Pattiecake and Sugarpie talked.
“Well, all his kids were there. Marceline, Fayrene, Maudine, Lujean, and Roy Dean. Against their better judgment, they asked John Moody to be one of the pallbearers. He has Alzheimer’s. Some days are good, and some not so good,” Pattiecake said.
“Well, the service was going pretty well, but John thought it was running a little long. So right about the time Brother McDaniel had Doyce at the pearly gates, John stood up, waved his hands in the air and said real loud, ‘
Preacher, we’ve done all we can do for old Doyce, so let’s throw the dirt on ‘im!’
Lord! Everybody in that church house burst into laughter. Even Miss Eunice, Doyce’s wife was laughing. We hate you girls missed it.”
“Speaking of entertaining, do we have everything ready for the party tomorrow?” Sugarpie asked.
Tizzy grinned. “I’ve got everything checked off my list. The tee shirts are here. The cake is done, and Daddy has all the fixin’s for the cook out. Now, if the weather will cooperate, we’ll be in good shape.” She smiled at Rayann. “Are you excited?”
Rayann‘s voice trilled. “Yeah. I think we’re gonna have a pretty good crowd. Dwayne and I aren’t gonna swim. I don’t wanna mess up my hair.”
“Of course not. You need to look pretty for the pictures.”
“Oh my Lord. Somebody’s getting a plant,” Rayann said, focused on the front door.
Tizzy snapped her head around. “Probably for you, from Bubba.”
Rayann met the delivery person at the door and accepted the pot, looked down at the card and laughed. “They’re not for me. The envelope says ‘to
Margie Lou.’
”
Tizzy jerked the envelope from her hand and slid the card out. “I hate him,” she huffed.
Pattiecake leaned forward. “What does the card say?”
Rayann grabbed the card. A grin slowly spread across her face. “It says. . . ‘
I’m sorry’
and signed, ‘
you know who.’”
“Okay, that’s enough!” Sugarpie shouted. “He has groveled. He’s sent you flowers, plus he saved your life. You’ve got to make up with him. I’m right, aren’t I, Pattiecake?”
“You’re absolutely right. One hundred percent right. Totally right. Without a doubt right.”
Tizzy threw her hands in the air. “Okay! Okay! I get it. Y’all
luv
Trooper Cooper. You’re all for him and against me.” Her stomach cramped, head throbbed, and her lungs lost their capacity.
“That’s not true, sweetie. We would never choose him over you,” Pattiecake said, slipping her arm around Tizzy.
“So, y’all think Ridge Cooper is the man for me?” She shook her head back and forth in disgust. “Well, he’s not. He’s only gonna be here for a while, then he’ll go back to his life in Dallas, and I’ll stay here with mine. Besides, I hardly think a shrub and a simple
I’m sorry
qualifies as groveling.”
“C’mon, Tizzy, all we’re saying is for the first time in a long time, a good man is interested in you, plus he’s crazy about Gracie and she’s crazy about him. In the hospital, I saw the way you two looked at each other. If you want to admit it or not, you have feelings for him,” Pattiecake said.
“I’m not denying the chemistry between us. I’m saying we can’t let it go anywhere.”
Rayann sat down next to her. “Look how fired up you get when you talk about him. God, girl, if the mention of his name gets you this excited, think what he could do to you in the bedroom.” She cut her eyes around. “Sorry, Pattiecake.”
“Honey, no need to apologize,” Pattiecake said. “I’m thinking the same thing.”
“Mama! Since when do you approve of me fornicatin’? All my life, I’ve heard, ‘Tizzy, make those boys keep their hands to themselves and you keep your hands to yourself’ and now you’re encouraging me to hop into bed with Cooper?” She placed both her hands to her temples and started to make small circles. “Lord, what is this world coming to? Y’all need to settle down and go back to the way it was before he showed up. Stay out of my business, out of my love life, and most of all, out of my sex life!”
“Listen, sweetie,” Patticake said. “Why do you think you work so many different jobs? I’ll tell you. You’re trying to fill a void and you think work is the answer. Maybe Ridge isn’t the man for you, but it’s time you start dating again, Tizzy. I know you’re scared. You’ve suffered a great loss at an early age, and you don’t want to risk that kind of heartbreak again.
“But you can’t live your life like that. Love always involves risks. Since Boone died, you’ve focused on Gracie and you’re a good mother, but you’re keeping her from having a daddy in her life. I know we tease you, but we want you to be happy more than anything.”
Tears pooled in Tizzy’s eyes. “FYI, I have a date for the party tomorrow, and it’s not with Ridge Cooper.”
Rayann’s eyes got as big as marbles. “Oh my God! Who?”
Tizzy placed her thumb and finger at the top of her nose to pinch back tears. “Jared Medina.”
“What did you do, retain him as your lawyer and ask him out at the same time?” Rayann asked.
“As a matter of fact I did. Why not? He’s good looking, single, and gainfully employed. I could do worse.”
Rayann’s face drew into a scowl. “I just think it’s a mistake, that’s all. I’ll be willing to bet the entire time you’re with him, you’ll be thinking about
you know who
.”
“Amen to that,” Pattiecake said.
“Uh-huh, Sugarpie agreed.
Tizzy removed her apron, tossed it on the counter, gathered her purse, and headed for the door. “I’m gonna go get a drink. I have a splittin’ headache.”
Rayann followed her to the door. “Hey, don’t forget your azalea,” she said, shoving the pot into Tizzy’s arms.
A blast of hot air hit her in the face as she opened the door to her car and slid in. She placed the plant on the front seat next to her and laid her head over on the steering wheel. Her chest was hurting. Her stomach ached. She turned the engine and another blast of hot air shot out from the air conditioner.
She hated all the questions. She hated all the advice. She hated the hot weather. She hated him.
She wheeled into the tavern lot and parked in the space closest to the door. She clutched the pot in one hand and pushed the bar door open with the other. Except for two men sitting at a back table, the place was empty. She slumped down onto a stool, set the plant on the counter, and yelled to Saint. “Hey, Daddy, can I get a shot of tequila?”
Saint McAlister gave his brows a quick lift. “You’re about three hours early for work. What’s wrong, baby girl? Whatever the problem is, you think a shot’s gonna fix it?”
