Thirty-Three and a Half Shenanigans (4 page)

“But I know how terrible I’ve been.” She searched my face. “How can you forgive me?”

“I’m not going to lie. It’s not easy. But we’re off to a good start, don’t you think? Let’s just take it a day at a time.”

She nodded. “Okay.”

My phone dinged with a text, and I dug it out of my pocket, trying not to cringe when I read it.

If you don’t come see me, I’ll find you
.

Crappy doodles.

I stuffed my phone into my coat pocket. “Vi, I have to go. I’ll call you tomorrow about picking up Ashley.”

Her gaze landed on my pocket, then rose to my face. “Is everything okay?”

I forced a smile. “Of course. I just remembered that I need to stop by the store to pick up something for dinner. Maeve’s spending the night. She did all the cooking last time she stayed with us, so I want to make sure she takes it easy.”

Violet looked suspicious. “I thought you were still banned from the Piggly Wiggly.”

I scowled at the reminder. “Mason’s working that out.”

“Then how are you going to shop there today? And what about Muffy?”

At the sound of her name, Muffy came running out from the back room and sat at Violet’s feet.

I bent down and scooped her up. “Maybe I’ll order take-out from that new Mexican restaurant. Jonah took his secretary there a couple of days ago.”

“Jonah Pruitt’s dating his secretary?”

I shook my head. “You’re slipping, Vi. I told you that days ago.” I gave her a quick hug and moved toward the door, Muffy following. She’d eagerly sniffed every last corner of the store. “Now I really have to go.”

“Be careful, Rose.”

I was sure gonna try.

Skeeter Malcolm was not a patient man. I wasn’t sure why that irritated me so much. It wasn’t like it came as a surprise. He couldn’t expect me to drop everything and come running, but after his last text, I couldn’t very well continue to ignore him. I wouldn’t put it past him to show up at my front door during dinner, asking me to set an extra plate.

I started my truck and drove out of the parking lot while I called him back.

He answered on the first ring and laughed. “I figured that would get your attention.”

“What do you want, Skeeter?”

“I need your help.”

“I already gave you my help and almost got caught!”

“But you didn’t. I made damn sure of that.”

“I helped you before because I needed my money back. I don’t need anything from you this time.”

He paused. “Are you sure about that?”

Something in his voice gave me pause. What was he talking about?

“What do you want, Skeeter?” I repeated, not feeling as cocky as before.

“I need you to read someone.”

“
Excuse me?
” I pulled up to a stop sign. “What does that mean?”

“You know,” he fumbled. “I need you to tell me if somebody did something.”

“I’m not a living lie detector, Skeeter Malcolm. I see visions of the future, not the past. I have no idea how I’d go about doing something like that, even if I wanted to. Which I don’t.”

“Well, I need you anyway, so figure something out.”

“I can’t. I have to get home to make dinner.”

“What is it with you and making dinner?” he asked in disbelief. “What are you? Julia Crocker or something?”

I groaned. “It’s Julia
Child
and
Betty
Crocker. And no, I’m just a normal person going home to make dinner like most normal people do.”

“Baby, there’s nothin’ normal about you. Get over to the pool hall in ten minutes.”

“Skeeter!” I protested, but he hung up.
Damn him.

A car behind me honked, and I realized I was still at the stop sign. I drove through the intersection and pulled into the parking lot of the Burger Shack, going over my options.

First, I could ignore him, but I was certain he’d send someone for me or even come himself. How would I explain that? Which of course was what he was hoping would drive me to my second option: go to him and do as he asked. But if I jumped as soon as he called, I’d be setting a bad precedent. Maybe we could figure out some sort of compromise. I had Muffy with me right now, and I really didn’t want to expose my poor dog to the seedy underbelly of Henryetta. She’d already endured enough.

Instead, I sent a text.
I’ll meet you tomorrow morning. But not at the pool hall. I can’t be seen there after what happened on Thanksgiving. Pick a place where no one will know me or my truck.

He took so long to answer, I was sure I was gonna turn up dead in a ditch, just like Mr. Sullivan from the bank. Instead, he texted me back five minutes later as I was pulling into the Mexican restaurant’s parking lot.

Fine. I’ll let you know when and where.

My mouth stretched into a smug grin. Round one: Rose 1, Skeeter 0.

But my smile fell just as quickly. I was a fool if I thought I could best Skeeter Malcolm. Not that I had any desire to. I just wanted to stay off his radar, but I suspected that was a pipe dream.

Maeve hadn’t arrived yet, so I took the aluminum pan of enchiladas into the kitchen and put them into the oven to keep warm. Then I went back outside with Muffy, shivering in the cold northern wind, thinking about Violet. Could I trust her? Over the past several months, she’d manipulated me and turned on me time and again . . . Part of me yearned to have my sister back in my life, but I knew I had to be careful.

Mason’s car turned down my gravel drive, catching me by surprise. It was barely five o’clock. Butterflies took flight in my stomach, and I wondered if that feeling would ever go away. I sure hoped not.

He got out of his car, and I walked toward him, surprised when he swept me into his arms and kissed me with abandon.

“What are you doin’ home so early?” I asked when I regained my senses.

“I wanted to celebrate getting the leg brace off before my mother showed up.” He kissed me again before lifting his mouth inches from mine.

“You’re definitely off to a good start.”

Without another word, he bent down and scooped me into his arms.

“Mason! What are you doin’?” I shrieked as he took a step forward.

“Now that I officially live here, I’m carrying you across the threshold. Something I couldn’t do with that damn leg brace on.”

Muffy heard my cry and came running over, then stood barking at Mason’s feet.

“I don’t think Muffy approves,” Mason said.

I giggled as he climbed the porch steps, still holding me fast. “She’s worried that you’re going to ravish me.”

“Then Muffy has cause to worry.” His mouth lowered to mine, and he kissed me again. Muffy’s bark changed, though, and it was accompanied by the sound of a car crunching on gravel. Mason stiffened and looked over his shoulder before setting me down on the porch.

I glanced around him to see a sheriff car coming down the drive. “That can’t be good,” I murmured.

“No. I suspect it’s not.”

The car pulled to a stop, and a female deputy I didn’t recognize got out of it. She was short and a bit stocky, with unruly red hair that she’d tried to tame with a messy bun. “Mr. Deveraux,” she said. “There’s been a development you should know about.”

Mason gave her a quick nod, then turned back to me. “I’m sorry, Rose. I have to go deal with this.”

“What’s it about?” I asked, anxiety churning in my stomach.

“Official business. Nothing for you to worry about.”

Only he looked so serious I couldn’t help but be anxious. He started toward the steps, and I grabbed his arm to stop him. “Mason?”

He pulled me to him for a gentle kiss. “Sweetheart, don’t look so worried. Everything’s fine. Why don’t you take Muffy inside? I’ll be there in a minute.”

Muffy was yipping at the woman who didn’t appear to appreciate her watchdog behavior. Maybe Muffy had an aversion to redheads after all of Hilary’s nonsense.

The deputy turned to look at me, making me uncomfortable with her piercing stare.

“Muffy. Come on,” I hollered toward her.

She stopped barking and sulked as she crawled up the steps.

“That’s got to be one of the mangiest dogs I’ve ever seen,” the deputy said in a disgusted tone. “Are you sure she’s caught up on her shots?”

Mason’s back stiffened. “Deputy Hoffstetter, do you have a purpose for being here other than to insult our family pet?” He sounded furious, and I felt like cheering.

The deputy’s face reddened, and she shot me a glare before muttering something too low for me to hear. If it was an apology, it was a poor one.

Mason nodded, then shot me a sympathetic look. “Rose, this should only take a minute.”

“Okay,” I grumbled, irritated that Deputy Crankypants had successfully ruined my quality time with Mason. I took Muffy inside and peered through the curtains. I watched them for several moments, although there wasn’t much to see. Mason leaned with his forearm across the top of the open car door, and the deputy stood next to him talking. Finally, the deputy nodded at something Mason said and moved to get into the car.

I dropped the edge of the curtain and ran into the kitchen to grab a bowl for the tortilla chips the restaurant had given me. Muffy stopped next to her dog bowl and started crunching her dry dog food.

Moments later, Mason came up behind me and grabbed my hips as his mouth lowered to my earlobe. “Have you added lip reading to your list of skills?”

I froze, my hand in mid-air, before I recovered and pulled the bowl down from the shelf. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

He turned me around, a sly grin lighting up his eyes. “I know you better than you think I do, Rose Gardner.”

With everything I’d been up to lately, I sure hoped not.

“We could save a lot of time and effort if you would just tell me what you were talking about.” I lifted my eyebrows as encouragement.

He laughed. “Sorry, sweetheart. Not this time.”

“But you tell me everything.”

He gave me a kiss. “Not this time.”

I wasn’t sure what to think about that. I knew that Mason dealt with official, confidential Fenton County business all the time, and usually I didn’t care. But I had a gut feeling that this mystery news somehow involved me. Or rather the Lady in Black. “Is it about that big auction on Thanksgiving Day?”

He cocked his head with an ornery grin. “Good try.” He slid his hand around my back and pulled me to his chest. “Where were we when we got interrupted?”

Mason was doing a good job of reminding me when Muffy started barking again.

“Hello!” Maeve called out from the living room. “Is anyone home?”

“Your momma’s here,” I said, breathless as I pushed him away and straightened my shirt. “She’s early.”

Mason groaned. “The universe is conspiring against me.”

It was conspiring against both of us.

We found Maeve in the living room squatted down next to her overnight bag so she could pet Muffy. She smiled at us. “I wondered where you two were hidden.” Picking up on the teasing tone in her voice, I blushed.

“You’re here early, Mom,” Mason said, putting his arm around my back.

“The movers finished a couple hours ahead of schedule.”

“Well, we’re so glad you’re here!” I said. “You must be exhausted.” I pulled her into a hug, then steered her toward the sofa in the living room so she could take a seat. “You don’t have to worry about a thing. I have dinner taken care of.”

Maeve’s eyes lit up. “You can go back to the Piggly Wiggly now?”

I heaved out a sigh of frustration. “No. Mason’s still working on that.”

Mason laughed. “It’s taken some impressive negotiating on my part, but I think we’re close to an agreement.” His face lit up with a mischievous gleam. “Did you get Neely Kate to go shopping for you?”

I put my hands on my hips and scowled. “No. I picked up enchiladas from the new Mexican restaurant—Buenaza Zarigüeya—on the way home.”

His eyes widened. “I’m having a hard time trusting food from a restaurant whose name means Kind Opossum. I hope you got the
vegetarian
enchiladas.”

“Fine, mister,” I said in a haughty tone. “Suit yourself. I’ll give your share to Muffy.”

Hearing her name, Muffy shot toward me, shaking her tail so hard her back end swayed.

“See?” I said. “Muffy’s not so particular.”

A stench filled the room, and I gagged, waving my hand in front of my face.
Traitor
.

Mason burst out laughing. “I suspect Muffy’s already had my share, and she’s taken a bullet for me.” He bent down to pet her head, then stood up, choking. “That dog deserves a medal of honor.”

I stomped off to the kitchen, and Mason followed on my heels.

“Rose, I was teasing. I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings.”

“You didn’t,” I sighed, pulling the pan out of the oven and setting it down on the stove top with a plop. “I’m just frustrated that I can’t go grocery shopping.” I shut the oven door and put my hands on my hips, still wearing the oven mitt. “It’s embarrassing, Mason.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll put more effort into getting your Piggly Wiggly privileges reinstated. In the meantime, why don’t you go to Peach Orchard Grocery?”

My mouth hung open. “Are you serious? That place fails the health department inspection on a regular basis. At least Buenaza Zarigüeya rated a ninety-two on their inspection.” I lifted my eyebrows in an
I-told-you-so
look. “Yes, I checked.”

He wrapped his arms around my back and tugged me to his chest. “God, I love you.”

“Why?” I asked, my voice muffled from being buried in his shirt. “Because I’m serving you food that may or may not contain road kill?”

He chuckled, his chest rumbling against my cheek. “No, because I would never in a million years have expected to have this conversation with anyone, and I love every minute of it.”

I leaned my head back to look up at him with narrowed eyes. “Don’t think you can sweet talk your way into getting some enchiladas.”

“You’re a harsh woman, Rose Gardner.”

“Yeah,” I teased. “Remember that the next time you insult a woman’s dinner, whether she cooks it or not.”

“I have so much to learn.”