She Only Speaks to Butterflies (21 page)

Alan blinked and spoke into the microphone. “Um…we’ve done some investigatin’ into the fire on Hawkson St., just the other side of Grogan St. For y’all who don’t know, someone set fire to an abandoned car. The car’s owner we’ve discovered to be a Wayne Carlisle.” Alan paused. “Now nobody’s ever heard of this Wayne person, and apparently he ain’t never lived here since there’s no record of him. We had to dig into the state’s records to find him and his last known address was in Bakersfield, California.”

He placed his hands on his waist. “Since a lot of y’all are here, anybody ever heard’ve this Wayne Carlisle fella?”

Ned spoke. “Sorry, Alan. We can ask around if you’d like.”

“Thanks, Ned. Can y’all do that?” Alan requested. “Anybody hears anything let me or any of the guys at the fire hall know. Thanks.” Alan walked off and took his seat.

“Anybody have anything else to add to the meetin’?” Bob asked.

“If y’all are in agreement, we’ll have a restriction placed on some who prevent these meetin’s from bein’ productive,” Robert Decker added.

“Sounds good, Robert,” someone said. “That’s a good idea.”

“That’s what we’ll do then,” Robert confirmed. “We’ll restrict them all for the next coupla meetin’s then put ‘em all on probation.”

“This meetin’s adjourned.”

Chapter 16

Sherry drove to Sarah’s house right after the meeting. When she pulled up she saw Mark’s car in the driveway and the lights still on in the living room. As she lifted her hand to ring the doorbell, the door opened, startling her. Sarah was dressed in her silk robe and her hair was tied up in a high ponytail off her face.

“Come on in,” Sarah greeted. “Saw ya pullin’ up. I thought I might see ya tonight.”

“How ya feelin’?” Sherry asked, sitting on the couch.

Sarah waved in the air. “Doug’s overreacting.”

Mark walked in, interrupting. “No he’s not, now would ya listen to yerself?” he chided. “You was the one who told him yer ankles ‘r swellin’ up so bad ya can’t see ‘em anymore.”

“Aw, hush!” Sarah growled. “Sherry didn’t come all the way over here just to hear yer lips flappin’!”

Mark shook his head and walked away. “I’ll be upstairs readin’ if ya need me.”

Sherry felt bad for him. “Thanks, Mark.”

“Don’t be so harsh, sweetie.” Sherry patted her on the leg. “He just cares for ya’s all.”

“He’s drivin’ me crazy.” Sarah propped her feet up on the ottoman beside the Lazy-boy chair she was sitting in. “How’d the meetin’ go? I assume it got cut short again seein’ as yer here before eight o’clock.”

“Reggie and a bunch of ‘em got kicked out by Tracy Bowers.”

Sarah’s eyes widened. “Yer serious? They had the Deputy Sheriff there this time? They ain’t messin’ ‘round no more, huh.”

“Seems so. They’re not allowed to come to anymore meetin’s for a month, then they’re on probation.”

“My Lord.” Sarah shook her head in disbelief. “This town’d sure benefit from prohibition. All these drunks are messin’ everythin’ up for everyone.”

“Anyway, they’ve decided to use the land over by the highway for the hospital.”

“I figured,” Sarah conceded. “Makes sense to me, anyway.”

“Same here.”

Sarah lifted her head. “Who’d ya sit with?”

“Lee. Momma and daddy decided to sit it out, and Martha’s lookin’ after Henry.”

“Ah, so that’s the only reason ya sat with him, was it?” Sarah peered at Sherry speculatively through the corner of her eye.

Sherry frowned, cocking her head. “Why not? I asked him. Alan was with him, too.”

“Alan have anything to say about the fires?”

“Just that they found some unknown owner to the car. Nothin’ noteworthy.”

Sarah changed the subject. “So what happened after we left the night of the lodge dance? I heard you and Lee spent the night together. Is it true?”

“Technically, yes,” Sherry admitted then turned to Sarah quickly. “But it ain’t what ya think.”

“Do ya mean he didn’t make mad passionate love to ya like the rest of the town thinks?” Sarah teased.

Sherry rolled her eyes. “I passed out. He didn’t touch me.”

Sarah leaned toward Sherry. “Did ya want him to touch ya?”

“I ain’t ready for that yet. You know that.” Sherry stared intently at her hands.

“I was just teasin’, love.” Sarah patted Sherry on the hand. “Lee’s a real nice guy and if I was you I’d take things slow anyway.”

Sherry picked nervously at her finger as though deep in thought. Sarah noticed. “Are ya okay? I apologize, hunny. I didn’t mean to hurt yer feelin’s.”

Nodding, Sherry said, “It ain’t that.”

Removing her feet from the ottoman, Sarah sat right next to Sherry on the couch placing her arm around her. “Tell me.” She rubbed her back.

“He’s hurtin’ a lot. He’s had it rough,” Sherry explained forlornly. “I don’t know if I’d want to get involved seein’ as I’ve got enough problems.”

“You mean Denise?”

“My past, too. I still ain’t over Chris, ya know,” Sherry choked saying his name.

Sarah took Sherry’s chin in her hand and gently forced it over so they were face-to-face. “Now you listen here…” Her tone was firm but soothing. “We all got hurt inside us. If ya don’t, ya ain’t human, that’s the way it is. The way we get through it is by believing in God, ourselves and the ones we love.” Sarah wiped a tear falling down Sherry’s cheek. “Denise ain’t a problem. Now I know ya didn’t mean it that way, but remember she ain’t gonna be like this forever, and neither will you.”

“How do you know that,” Sherry said, like it was a statement more than a question. “Sarah, he’s lost a child. He’s seen enough trouble. He…”

“Deserves better?” Sarah ventured. “Now listen. God bless him for goin’ through the loss that he has, and God bless you, too. But I don’t ever want ya to think you ain’t good enough for somebody just ‘cause yer daughter ain’t perfect and ‘cause no matter who he is, he’ll never be Denise’s daddy.”

The young widow looked at her best friend with rounded eyes. Sarah looked at her apologetically. “Ya know I love you and yer family like my own, but Sherry, hunny, life goes on.”

Sarah went to the kitchen. She returned with two mugs of tea and offered Sherry one as she took the seat beside her.

“Now, are ya gonna let that little girl a yers go to that barn sleepover?” Sherry picked up on the accusatory tone.

“I have to think about it.”

Sarah looked at her simply. “She loves butterflies. It ain’t no accident.” She paused. “Why don’t ya let her have her wings?”

…

Four paper lawn bags lined the side of Lee’s house as Sherry walked by. “Hey, pretty lady,” he greeted. “Fancy findin’ you walkin’ out here.”

“I was just goin’ to meet Doug…err…Dr. Baker.” Sherry looked at the fresh layer of topsoil and newly planted flowers.

Lee frowned. “Everythin’ alright?”

“Yeah. Just discussin’ a few things is all.”

Walking closer to the garden, Sherry sniffed the freshly-bloomed roses, the pink petals tickled her nose. “I never knew Jinny Marx even
had
a rosebush.”

“She didn’t,” Lee said matter-of-factly. “I just planted ‘em today.”

“I never knew a fireman could have a green thumb.”

“I figure every time I ask ya to come over and help me fix somethin’, at least I could offer ya a fresh rose for yer troubles,” he winked.

“It’s no trouble.” Sherry changed the subject. “We’re havin’ a barbecue on Sunday, would ya like to join us? Should be some line-dancin’ if you’d like to brush up.”

“Sure. Hey, why don’t I take you and Denise on that tour of the fire hall on Saturday?”

“That’d be great, but…um...there’s the annual barn sleepover happenin’ on Saturday,” Sherry hesitated. “People are expectin’ Denise to be there.”

Lee’s brow furrowed. “You say that like ya don’t want her to go.”

“I don’t…really. But Luke’s gonna be there and more of her friends.” Sherry swept a piece of dirt off her shoe with the other shoe. “I don’t wanna disappoint anyone. ‘Specially Ned, he’s built a sleepin’ bunk in the loft special fer her.”

Taking a step toward her, Lee draped his arm over her shoulder. “Yer a good momma, ya know that?”

“Am I?”

Planting a gentle kiss on her cheek, he rubbed her shoulders. “You are.”

…

Ned stood at the front door with his hand on his hip as Sherry walked up the cobblestone driveway. “Where’s the little one?” he said expectantly.

“She’s at home with momma ‘n daddy.” Sherry looked at her feet. “I need to talk to Doug.”

“What’s wrong, dear?”

“Oh, nothin’ serious, Ned. I just need to talk about that research hospital with him.”

Ned’s face visibly relaxed. “Oh, thank the Lord.” His hand was on his chest. “Katie told me about that. If ya want my opinion, love, just do what’s right in your heart.”

“I know, Ned. I just wanna make sure I’m doin’ the right thang. Hopefully Doug can offer more insight.”

“He’s just in the office there, go on ahead,” he gestured.

Sherry approached the office door and gave it a gentle knock. Doug’s voice called from inside for her to come in.

“Hiya, Sherry. Nice to see ya.” He gave her a quick kiss on the cheek.

“Thanks for seein’ me, Doug. It won’t take long.”

“Take all the time ya need, dear, I’m not expected at the hospital for another hour.”

Sherry took a seat beside Doug. “So what was your gut feelin’, Sherry? Did ya feel at all at ease after speaking with Dr. Nathan?”

“To be truthful Doug, no.” She shook her head. “He seemed a little pushy to me.”

Doug nodded. “From what I know of him he’s young and very spry. He’s a go-getter; definitely not from a small town.”

“Definitely not,” Sherry agreed.

“Well, did he explain things to ya clearly? Is there anything I can try to elaborate for ya?”

“No. He was clear. That wasn’t what worried me at all.”

Doug waited.

“I dunno. He just. He treated her like a number rather than a patient. Maybe I’ve been spoiled by you and Dr. Malcolm, but I got the impression he wasn’t goin’ to take good care of her. I got the feeling he was more worried about pushin’ his program than lookin’ after her best interests.”

“That’s sometimes the case with these new doctors from big cities.” Doug wrote a note on his file. “Well, he certainly offers a good program. But even the best programs don’t have any guarantees if the patient ain’t cared for the way they need to be.”

“That’s what I thought.”

“If it’d make ya feel better I can talk to him,” Doug offered. “Maybe I can have more of an impartial opinion. It’s up ta you, Sherry. I don’t mind.”

“Sure. That sounds like a good idea,” Sherry smiled. “Maybe it’s a woman thing, too. Sometimes men get nervous and talk all macho around a woman.”

Doug blushed. “Could be.”

“Talk to him and let me know whatcha think, Doug.” Sherry rose. “I won’t keep ya.”

“Take care, Sherry.”

…

Alan sat in his office, sipping a late afternoon coffee. The phone rang and he picked up quickly. “Arkansas Fire, Alan speakin’.”

“Err…Alan, it’s Ryan.” Ryan’s voice was gravelly and noticeably weak; like he was barely awake. Alan checked his watch, realizing Ryan Bennett was expected at the fire hall a half an hour ago.

“Ryan, what’s up? Everything okay?” Alan scratched his head.

“I’m afraid I’ve been throwin’ up my guts all day.” He paused to cough. “Maggie just woke me up and I can’t even lift my head enough to plant my feet on the floor.”

Alan didn’t question. Ryan had been a member of the fire hall for the last five years and this was probably his second time calling in sick.

“You stay in bed then, Ryan. I’ll get Lee to cover for ya. I know he ain’t doin’ anything tonight anyhow. Rest up and don’t worry.”

“A…thanks Alan. Listen, I gotta go. Not feelin’ too good.” The phone clicked.

Alan called Lee, arranging for him to take Ryan’s shift. Just as he hung up the phone, it rang again. Alan raised his brow, his phone hadn’t been this busy for as long as he could remember.

“Arkansas Fire, Alan speakin’,” he greeted.

“Alan Wilkins?” The woman on the line asked.

“Yes it is.” Alan sat up taller, pulling his chair closer to the desk.

“This is Greta Steinbrook calling from the forensics lab over in Little Rock.”

“Yes, Greta, what can I do for ya?”

Greta cleared her throat. “Um, we’ve traced a set of prints found on the car that was set on fire to a Wayne Carlisle…but you knew that, right?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“And I understand that you needed more information on Mr. Carlisle?”