Dog Days Page 6

  “If you have no objections, and the computer is cleared, I’d like to talk to her about some upgrades, and virus protection programs.”

  “Be my guest.”

  “Roger that. Thanks.” His head wagged. “I can’t believe she hasn’t been hacked before now. They’d have had a field day, and she’d be— There’d be nothing left.”

  “Anything else?”

  “Nope. That’s it for me.”

  “Me, too.”

  “All right then, as soon as y’all are finished eating, take off. Be back here bright and early Monday morning. Rick, you’re on tonight?”

  “Affirmative, boss. As previously stated.”

  “Who’s on dayshift tomorrow?”

  “Officer Barrows, at your service.”

  “Tomorrow night?”

  Court raised a hand.

  “Make sure y’all coordinate handing off the radio. Need anything, call. You have Maggie’s and my cell numbers, right?”

  Rick snorted.

  Paul looked amused.

  Becca nodded, trying to hide a grin.

  I rolled my eyes.

  “I have them saved in my phone.” Court got more elaborate. “And if I ever happen to lose them, they’re posted prominently on everyone’s desk.”

  “Smart ass.”

  Laughing, he removed his red-framed specks to wipe away an imaginary tear.

  “Be safe out there. Don’t try to be heroes. Call for backup if you need it. Got it?”

  All agreed, and everyone left.

  I’d just turned off my PC when the phone rang. Wyatt, on his way out to start the Jeep (to give the air-conditioning a head start), made a U-turn and stood at my desk.

  “Mossy Creek Police Department, Maggie speaking. How may I help you?”

  “Hey, you! I heard there was a commotion over at your house the other night. Isn’t Harley doing his guard dog duty well enough?”

  “Hi, Dandy. Harley was in the truck with us.” Small towns. Gotta love ’em.

  Wyatt went to his office knowing I might be a while. Sometimes conversations between Dandelion Jones and me are … marathons.

  I didn’t think this would be one of them.

  She snorted. “And you’re at work! Are you kidding me? I’d be a basket case. Are you okay?”

  “Other than furious? Yeah.”

  “And I still can’t believe…. I’m just so upset about Thomas. Poor Lavender.”

  “Me, too.”

  “Any suspects?”

  “No, not yet. But even if there was, I couldn’t tell you.”

  “You’ve hounded me about that often enough, you’d think it would sink in.”

  “I wish there was a person of interest. Company line is: We’re pursuing all avenues.”

  “I’d say, keep me posted, but I’ve learned that lesson better. So just be safe, and keep your eyes and ears open.”

  “Ha! Yes, I can do that.”

  “Anyway, that’s not why I called. We’re still on for next Saturday, right?”

  “Oh shoot.” With all the other activity we’d had, I’d forgotten all about our girl’s day out. “Ah, no. I’m afraid I won’t be able to. That’s Gage’s birthday. We’ve got a … thing planned. How about the week after? The, uh….” I craned my neck to peek at the calendar. “Um, the 29th?”

  “Oh. Well, let me see.” I heard paper flipping. “Yes, that actually works out better for me. So, okay. We’re on for the 29th of August. Right?”

  “Yes. I’m writing it down. I’ll confirm the time with the moms and Lancy, and let you know.” I stuck the Post-It on my monitor. Wyatt would have to dog sit, not that he’d mind.

  “How about I call you that Friday night? Okay?”

  “Sounds good. Thanks for reminding me.”

  “Glad I called. Take care, Maria-Louise!”

  She hung up before I could reach through the phone and…. Yes, it is my name—two of many—but she was the only one who ever called me that, usually when I couldn’t retaliate. I do call myself Maggie Lou occasionally, but—

  Ahem.

  Never mind.

  I glanced again at the calendar. Tom Grayson had been dead two weeks. Were we any closer to finding his killer?

  Sadly, it didn’t feel as though we were anywhere near.

  “Wyatt! Let’s go home.”

  Chapter 5

  … SUNDAY….

  * * *

  … August 16th…

  * * *

  IN THE KITCHEN over morning coffee.

  “What are your thoughts on having the three musketeers as ring bearers?”

  I stopped chewing toast to answer. “Bet they’d get a kick out of it.”

  “That’s what I thought, too. What say we drop in at The Inn and ask ’em?”

  “Shouldn’t we run it by their parents first?”

  “Ah.” He paused, then pulled out his phone. “Harlan, hey. How’s it going?”

  Harlan? Huh. The hardware store was his first choice. I’d’ve thought he’d call Dandy, but I guess it’s a guy-thing.

  Wyatt rolled his eyes. “Z’at right? Well, tell him next time he goes fishing up there, he should get the owner’s okeydokey first. All right. Uh huh. Yup. Listen. Is Ed around?” There was a long pause, and a few chuckles. “Yup. Thanks, Harlan. Right. See ya.” A second later, Wyatt looked at the phone, cleared his throat, scratched his whiskered chin, and redialed. “Ha. Yeah, ya did. Thanks.” Grinning, he shook his head. “He hung up on me. He’s— Hey, Ed. Wyatt. You got a sec? I was wondering if you would have any objections to Josh being in the wedding?”

  There was no reason to be specific about which wedding. Ours was the talk of the town. Had been for … much too long.

  After speaking with the fathers of all three, we were now on a search for the actual participants to invite them to lunch, and officially ask them if they wanted to do it. As usual, they were all at Josh’s.

  “Hey, boys. Getting ready for the back-to-school rush?”

  The reactions were different for each one.

  Blake voiced his irritation. “Stupid shopping. I got enough clothes. Can’t figure out why Gram thinks I need a bunch o’ new ones.”

  Wyatt eyed me over Blake’s head. “Guess it’s something mom’s and grams do to make us guys even more miserable about going back to school.”

  The boys thought that was just hilarious. My eyebrows rose, but I was amused, too.

  “How about going to lunch with Miss Maggie and me? Y’all up for some burgers?”

  Oh, yeah. Eleven year olds are … boisterous. How could I have forgotten that?

  No offense to Dandy, and the great food at the Inn at the End, Wyatt opted for lunch at Annetta’s Diner. Besides, I think I mentioned once that one would need to call ahead to get a table in Miss Dandy’s dining room.

  Once the burgers, fries, and most of the drinks were gone, Wyatt got down to business.

  “Fellas. We need your help. You know Miss Maggie and I are getting married soon, right?”

  Three heads bobbed.

  “Well, we need a ring bearer.”

  Josh’s face scrooched up. “Always thought that was for little kids.”

  “Yeah, like two or three year olds,” Blake agreed. “Then when everybody laughs at them cuz they screwed … er, messed up, they don’t know enough to feel bad about it.”

  “My dad says every part of a wedding ceremony is special.” Luke sounded almost pompous. “I think we should say yes. We could do something nobody else ever did before, and…,”—he nodded at Wyatt—“he’s helped us out a bunch of times. We should help him now.”

  Josh and Blake’s heads nodded, a bit too solemnly for me. Touching, none-the-less.

  “Yeah, Luke. You’re right. I think we should, too. Blake?”

  “Sure. But, y’know, they’re gonna make us wear those fancy suit-things, and a tie, and shoes that make your feet hurt, and stuff, don’tcha?”

  “For reals?”

  Obviously Josh
hadn’t recently been to a wedding.

  “Aw, man.” Luke sighed. “I forgot about that.”

  Josh looked at the other two. “Maybe we should think about this some more.”

  “Guys, the ceremony’s only thirty minutes long.” Wyatt tried to accentuate the … plus side. “You could bring your regular clothes with you, and change before the reception.”

  “What’s a reception?”

  “Duh, Josh. It’s where everybody goes to eat stuff.”

  “Yeah, and there’s cake, too.” Blake looked at me. “Right?”

  I laughed and ruffled his hair. “Yes. There will be lots to eat, and there will be cake.” I was, for sure, going to have to pay a call on Vicki at Sporelli’s Bakery, to make sure I didn’t just lie to the kid. Maybe when I went in to order Gage’s birthday cake. Kill two cockroaches with one marble.

  The other two boys seemed to be taking that into consideration, and liking it.

  “Thank you. We really appreciate your help.” Wyatt shook hands with each of them. “How about, as soon as we’re all finished here, we head on over to Dizzie’s for ice cream?”

  Oh, my goodness, yes. Boys make a lot of noise when they’re excited.

  On the way out, we had a chat with Dandy. She says they have to shop for B.T.S. (back to school) clothes; what’s one more stop?

  “Are you taking all three of them?

  “Are you insane?”

  She was right. Definitely too rambunctious.

  Chapter 6

  … MONDAY…

  * * *

  … August 17th

  I CALLED DANDY to see if she could take some time to come pick me up and go to Posies by Pam. Should have asked her when we were over at the Inn yesterday, but with all the—

  Okay, I forgot.

  I really needed to make a decision about what flowers I wanted for the wedding, and I didn’t want to create more of a hardship for Pam, in case she had to special order anything. And she had threatened me, via Declan and Gus.

  As expected, Miss Dandelion was ready for a break.

  At 3 PM, I sidled into Wyatt’s office. He was typing something on the computer, but stopped and lifted his head. It always surprised me that he could type almost as well as I could, sometimes faster. It was impressive.

  “Dandy’s coming by in half an hour, or so. We’re going to Pam’s; then she’ll drop me off at home.”

  “Okay.”

  “Shouldn’t take more than an hour. Do you want me to bring supper?”

  He grinned. “You sure she’ll let you out at Annetta’s?”

  My eyes rolled. “You okay to drive home by yourself? We’re going to your place tonight, right?”

  Yes, I know he isn’t supposed to drive yet, but sometimes … it’s a necessity.

  “Very funny. And, yes, my house.”

  “Anything special you want from Annetta’s?”

  “Good thing you qualified it. No. Surprise me. You know what I like.”

  I wiggled my brows. “I do, indeed, cowboy.”

  A deep chuckle. “So, you’re finally going to order flowers.”

  “Yeah.” I sighed. “I don’t want to make her mad. And besides, if I wait any longer, the only thing available will be Queen Anne’s Lace, from along the freeway.”

  “Just more fodder for the grapevine.”

  “No thank you.”

  “Speaking of…. The guys and I have an appointment to get our Tuxes fitted. It’s next Saturday morning.”

  “Next? Or this coming?”

  “Next. The 29th.” He leaned forward, hands laced on the desk, serious face. “Would you do me a favor, and have someone with you, so you’re not alone at the house that day? Please?”

  My bitchy side had a biting retort, but the sane side overruled. “Harley’s good company, but I’ll make sure there’s a human, too.” If he’d made it an order, I would have baulked. But this creep scared me. No sense in making Wyatt worry more than he already was.

  “Thank you, sweetheart.” He sat back, stretching his arms overhead. Then his body jerked, and his hands hit the desk, involuntarily.

  Shocked, frozen, I sucked in air. “Wyatt?”

  After a several long seconds, “All good.” It was more of a grunt than words. “Just moved too fast.”

  My lungs expelled. “Why would moving be a problem? Are you in pain?”

  “No. I’m fine.” He was still forcing the words out. “Just every once in a while, stretching has to be done slowly. Just a little hitch. No big deal.”

  Didn’t sound so little. “I worry about you.”

  “I know, baby.”

  I stepped around the desk and leaned in for a kiss. “I’ll see you around, lover.”

  “That you will.”

  He sounded more like his normal self, but was moving gingerly. Made me think he wasn’t being totally truthful. I’d have to keep a closer eye.

  “Before I go. When you said the guys, who all are you talking about?”

  “All us guys, except the dads. Mac, Dodge, Rick, the musketeers, me, and your two.”

  “My two? Really?”

  “Yeah. Surprised me, too.”

  “And the little guys? Dandy gave up control, huh?”

  “Yeah. When I called over there earlier, she protested, but I said how it was a guy-thing, and they’d be with all us older guys. It’d either intimidate them, or give their egos a boost. She capitulated pretty quick after that.”

  “Capitulated, huh?”

  He chuckled.

  “That’s good. You’re right, though. Being around all you guys will be good.”

  Mentally, I was counting who all would need boutonnieres, corsages, and bouquets. The eight Wyatt’d mentioned, plus him, the dads, and Reverend Blanchard. So, twelve boutonnieres. MOB and MOG would both need corsages. Bouquets for Dandy and Lancy. Nothing for me.

  I heard the front door open and close, and glanced at the clock. “That must be Dee. You’re sure you’re okay?”

  “I’m fine, Magdalena.”

  Another kiss. “Better be. Bye.”

  “Now scoot. See you later.”

  Hurrying down the hallway, I saw her. She was laughing at something Gus was telling her.

  I waved.

  “You ready?”

  “Just let me close down the machine, and grab my purse.” As the computer screen went dark, I studied my friend. “You look like a cold glass of lemonade on a hot day. How do you do that, and not be all wilted?”

  Her white teeth gleamed. “All in what you get used to.”

  “Yeah, right. I’ve lived here all my life, and I’m still not summer acclimated.”

  She laughed, linked arms with me, and headed towards the entrance. “It was really sweet of you and Wyatt to include Josh and his friends in your wedding.”

  “It was all Wyatt’s idea. I’m glad they agreed. Should be an interesting day.”

  “Oh, girlfriend. There’s no doubt, at all, about that.”

  In the end, it took over an hour and a half, but the flowers were all on order, or would be by the next morning. Finally. Another check mark in the DONE column.

  The girls would be carrying bright gold, yellow, orange, and rust bouquets of asters. Five of the boutonnieres would be rust chrysanthemums; seven would be gold. The moms’ corsages were a smaller variation on the bouquets. Since I wasn’t carrying any flowers, Pam, with enthusiastic help from Dandy, talked me into a sort of crown of asters. I’m still thinking it won’t look right with my dress, but Pam was adamant. Dandy had a dreamy oh-it’ll-be-perfect look on her face.

  “Oh, and sweetie, you always wear your hair up. You should wear it down for the wedding. It would be so beautiful with those flowers in your hair.”

  I’m the only one who knows what my dress looks like. Trying to picture it, with long flowing hair and a tiara of fall flowers…. Nope, just can’t get there.

  In the car, after we’d both made a pit stop at Annetta’s, she’d asked again about my hair
. My blank stare seemed to tick her off.

  “Come on, Maggie. Surely you have this figured out.”

  “I haven’t had five minutes to myself for over a week now. And before that I was dealing with Wyatt’s recovery. I’ll figure it out when the time comes.”

  She just huffed at me, not looking happy.

  I had to admit, she was right. My hairstyle might need a bit more thought than I usually gave it.

  Her lips were poked out of her face, and if she hadn’t been driving, her arms would’ve been hugging her middle. “I swear, Maria-Louise, you’re going to give me a stroke one of these days.”

  “Why are you so worried about it? I’m the one who should…. I’m trying my best to tick things off my list, not the people around me.”

  She let out a big breath. “I know. You’re right. I’m sorry. I do this to Ed and Josh, too. I get mad at myself for doing it, and they get mad at me, and we’re all miserable for a while until we … I, let go of it.”

  Figured it was time for a subject change. “Is Devon coming? You gave him the invite, right?”

  “I did. He hasn’t decided, yet.”

  “Okay. It’d be good to see him again, all grown up.”

  “Yeah. I haven’t even seen him for about a year. Hope is pregnant with their second. They just found out.”

  “Aw, that’s great. You’ll be an auntie again.”

  “I feel bad for Josh, that he’s not getting to know his little cousins. Well, there will be more than one soon.”

  “Any chance Devon will move back here? It’s not a bad place to raise a family.”

  Dandy hesitated. “It used to be. I’m not so sure, anymore.”

  “It’s getting bad everywhere, Dee. But, it’s still relatively safe here, and if he were closer, you wouldn’t worry about him so much. I know you do.”

  “True. But honestly, I don’t know if he’s even thinking about it.”

  She pulled up in front of Wyatt’s house, and reached over for a hug. “I love you, Maria-Louise.”

  “You are aware that I want to bop you one whenever you call me that, aren’t you?”

  Her smile was brilliant. “Of course I am.”