RG2 - Twenty-Nine and a Half Reasons Page 9

  I paid for my paint and rollers, glad to have gotten information but suddenly paranoid that someone from the Henryetta Police Department was outside waiting to bring me in. I breathed a sigh of relief when I drove out of the parking lot.

  After I got home, I opened the door to Momma’s bedroom. I’d kept it closed since Joe had slept in there weeks ago, back when he’d worried someone was going to break into my house again.

  The room was hot and smelled musty with a faint hint of Estée Lauder, Momma’s perfume. Violet and I had disposed of all her personal items about a week after her death, but the odor must have permeated the walls. While I moved the furniture to the middle of the room, I mulled over what Anne had said about Frank Mitchell. He’d owed money to people, but why? And how much and to whom? Maybe that person killed Frank Mitchell, but how in heaven’s name would I find out who it was? As far as I could tell, I was at a dead end.

  I went out to the shed to get the rest of my painting supplies. Muffy followed behind me and the shrieks of the little boys next door caught her attention. While I slid the shed door open, Muffy pressed her face between the slats of the fence, studying the commotion. Heidi Joy sat in a lawn chair under the shade tree reading a magazine and her four boys ran around the yard, jumping in and out of a splash pool. Her baby sat on a quilt, chewing on his fat fist, his eyes wide as he watched.

  Muffy whined.

  “What is it, girl?” I asked, squaring my shoulders. I dearly hated going into the shed, but was determined to paint. Heavens knew I needed the distraction from everything else.

  After I gathered the drop cloths, tape and paint tray, I headed back to the house. Muffy whimpered up a storm. Bending down, I rubbed her head. “What? What is it, girl?”

  She barked and ran for the fence gate.

  I dumped my supplies on the kitchen table. Muffy had stopped and watched me from outside.

  “Okay, keep your pants on.” I shook my head, realizing my mistake. “Never mind. Come on.”

  She ran in circles in her excitement. When I opened the gate, she burst through and made a beeline for the wading pool.

  “Muffy!”

  The boys shrieked when she jumped in and splashed water everywhere.

  Horrified, I hurried over to Heidi Joy. “I am so sorry!”

  Her eyes widened in surprise as she laid her gossip magazine on her legs. “Why?”

  “My dog…she just jumped in your pool.”

  Scoffing, she waved with her free hand. Her other hand clutched a glass of ice water to her chest. “My boys love it and if your dog keeps them entertained and out of mischief, please, I’ll sell my soul to keep her around.”

  I stood next to her in the shade, watching Muffy prance around. I could swear she was grinning. “They do seem like a handful.”

  “You don’t know the half of it.”

  “How’s your move goin’?”

  Her lips twisted. “As good as can be expected in the middle of a heat wave with five boys underfoot.”

  “I can imagine.” Muffy jumped up and down in the plastic pool and the boys squealed in delight. “Muffy seems to love them.”

  “They’ve been beggin’ for a dog, but it’s all I can do to take care of them, let alone a dog…” Her voice trailed off with wistful tone, her guilt evident.

  “You know, Muffy loves kids. Look at her. She’s having so much fun. Maybe your boys could play with her sometimes and it would be the fun of having a dog without the work.”

  Heidi Joy looked up, her chin trembling. “You would do that?”

  Shocked at her tears, I shrugged. “Sure. Muffy would love it too.”

  “I’m so tired of feeling guilty all the time.” Wiping a tear from her eye, Heidi Joy laughed. “There’s just not enough hours in the day and Andy’s at work and I’m left takin’ care of these little boys. I love ’em, I do, but sometimes I can hardly keep up. And when I tell them no every time they ask for a dog…”

  “Well, then it works for all of us, doesn’t it? Your boys get to play with a dog and Muffy gets to play with kids.”

  Muffy used that moment to pass gas in the pool, tiny air bubbles breaking the surface of the water.

  “Ew!” the boys shouted.

  My mouth dropped in horror. “Oh my word! I am so sorry!”

  Heidi Joy shrugged. “It’s a Jacuzzi now.”

  It was hot standing outside, even in the shade, and that room wasn’t going to paint itself. “Muffy, we have to be goin’ now. I’ve got a fun afternoon of painting ahead.”

  The boys shouted their protest and Muffy turned up her chin.

  “Could Muffy stay for a little while, Miss Rose?” Keith asked, his eyes pleading.

  My gaze searched out Andy Jr. and his face paled. “Andy Junior, I’m makin’ you in charge of Muffy. If I find out you weren’t…” I remembered his mother didn’t know about the incident that morning, “that you weren’t watching her properly, you and I will have to reach a new understanding.”

  He swallowed nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  I knelt next to the pool. “What do you say, Muffy? Want to hang out here?”

  She splashed her response. Traitor. Now I had to paint alone.

  “That settles it!” Heidi Joy exclaimed. “You go paint and we’ll dogsit.”

  Reluctantly, I left Muffy in their yard after giving Andy Jr. and Keith half a dozen rules to follow. No going out front. No table scraps. No being mean to her in any way. Andy Jr. nodded, his eyes serious, while Keith petted her head. I took comfort in the knowledge that Heidi Joy was watching them too.

  I spent the rest of the afternoon transforming Momma’s dreary, light gray room into a soothing blue oasis, but my thoughts still tumbled. Too many things were out of sorts in my life. As hard as it was to admit, I realized that I might be pouting. Muffy would rather be with the rambunctious kids next door than me, not that I could blame her. If I were a dog, I’d rather play with kids than smell paint fumes. But I couldn’t get over feeling like Muffy had betrayed me—and that she wasn’t the only one.

  That wasn’t fair. Joe hadn’t betrayed me. We just didn’t see eye to eye on this trial. There was a big difference. But it was our first real disagreement since we’d officially started seeing each other, and it pricked my insecurities. Joe was in Little Rock with women like Hilary. Women who were normal, something I most definitely wasn’t. It dredged up the question I continually asked myself: Why was Joe Simmons, a handsome undercover policeman, with Rose Gardner, a freak who saw visions and was the town of Henryetta’s outcast?

  I shook my head. I needed to trust Joe’s word. He wanted to be with me, whether I understood it or not.

  I reminded myself that couples fight. Even Violet and Mike fought when they were happy. But their unhappiness was like an earthquake, shaking up everything I’d believed. If Violet’s world could fall apart, what could I count on?

  Chapter Nine

  A knock on the kitchen door jolted me out of my wallowing. I set the roller in the tray, wiping a strand of hair out my face with my forearm. Glancing at the rooster clock on the kitchen wall, I was surprised to see it was a little after six. I’d lost all track of time in my musings and the afternoon had gotten away from me. It was probably Andy Jr. and Keith bringing Muffy home.

  I was halfway across the kitchen when the door flung open, catching me off guard. Releasing a shriek, I tripped backward and grabbed the broom in the corner to defend myself.

  “What is it with you and brooms?” Joe asked, irritation making his words prickly.

  I lowered my weapon, still holding onto the handle with one hand. The look on Joe’s face told me I might still need it. “What are you doing here?” My own irritation overshadowed the excitement of him standing in front of me.

  What was Joe doing here?

  Joe sucked in a deep breath, still holding onto the door handle. “You scared me to death, Rose. I’ve been trying to call you all day. Why didn’t you answer my calls?”

  Oh, crap
py doodles. Where was my phone? I panicked as I scanned the room, realizing I hadn’t seen it all day. I found it on the coffee table, where I’d left it the night before. I’d completely forgotten about my phone as I raced to get to the courthouse that morning. Since I hadn’t charged it overnight, I’d bet my grandma’s prize-winning cornbread recipe it was dead.

  While my heart leapt with joy that Joe was here, his implied accusations and assumptions lit a fire in my chest. “Why didn’t I answer your calls? I could just as easily turn this around on you, Joe Simmons.”

  He shoved his hand through his hair, a low growl rumbling from his chest. “I told you already, Rose. I was working late Monday night and then Hilary took my phone yesterday. And trust me, Hilary has been dealt with.” The hard look in his eyes left no question that she had.

  My grip on the broom handle tightened. “Why are you here, Joe?”

  His chest expanded and hardness on his face fell away to reveal worry. “I was scared.”

  “Of what? That something happened to me? You could have called Violet.”

  He took a hesitant step toward me. “That too, but more scared you didn’t want to talk to anymore.”

  I bit my lip. “Joe, how could you think that?”

  “After our argument, and you hung up on me…”

  I stared at him, unsure what to say. I was still mad at him and I’d needed space the night before, but I couldn’t believe he thought I wouldn’t want to talk to him anymore. Could Joe feel as insecure as I did?

  My silence filled his eyes with panic. “I’m sorry, Rose. Really I am. I wasn’t very understanding of your situation. I was looking at it from a police perspective, and I didn’t take into account what you were thinking or how you were feeling. I wish I could take it all back and start over.” He walked forward, stopping several feet in front of me.

  I shook my head, tears burning my eyes. He’d driven all the way from Little Rock because he was scared I’d decided to not talk to him anymore. All my doubts about his interest in me floated away, leaving a burning lump in my throat.

  He took my free hand, his eyes searching mine. “Say something, Rose.”

  “Joe…” My voice broke.

  “Is that a ‘Joe, I forgive you’ or ‘Joe, go away’? Because I’m warnin’you, I’m not leaving that easily.”

  I wrapped my hand around his neck, while still holding the broom.

  His mouth lifted into a grin. “I’m worried you’re gonna beat me with that broom.”

  “You deserve it.”

  “Maybe so, but I think I’ll play it safe.” He snatched the broom from my hand and tossed it on the floor. “That’s better.” Then his hand tangled in my hair and pulled my mouth to his, his other hand sliding up my back.

  I lost myself in him, my heart bursting with happiness.

  “I don’t like fighting with you,” he mumbled against my lips.

  “I don’t like fighting with you either.”

  His kiss softened as his hand cupped my cheek. “God, I’ve missed you. Three days is too long.” He crushed my chest to his, and his tongue explored my mouth, leaving me breathless.

  “Ewww!” a small voice squealed.

  I leaned back to see Andy Jr. standing outside the open door with Muffy at his side. “Did you take good care of Muffy?” I asked in a stern voice.

  Joe squinted at me in surprise.

  “Yes ma’am.” Andy Jr. looked down at the ground. “I’m sorry about this morning.”

  “Well, thanks for entertainin’ Muffy for me. Maybe you could watch her again sometime.”

  He grinned. “That would be awesome! Thanks!” Andy Jr. took off running to the backyard.

  Joe tilted his head to the side. “Do I want to know what just happened there?”

  “No.” I pulled out of his embrace. “And I’m still mad at you.”

  With a grin, he rubbed my forehead with his finger. “It’s hard to take that scowl seriously when you have blue paint smeared across your forehead.”

  I reached up to swipe it off but the paint had dried. “You’ve been lookin’ at me all this time with paint on my face?”

  “It makes you look adorable and it’s only on your forehead. What are you painting? I didn’t know you’d planned on painting anything.”

  I hesitated. “Well…neither did I …until this afternoon.”

  His face froze as his eyes narrowed slightly. I recognized it for what it was—the Joe Simmons Arkansas State Police face.

  Time to change the subject. “I’m hungry and you’re gonna take me out to dinner to make it up to me. After I take a shower.” I turned to walk down the hall to the bathroom.

  Joe grabbed my wrist and tugging me back into his arms. “Who said I was done making up?” He slowly covered my lips with his, his tongue continuing its sweet torture.

  I knew what he was doing. He’d used these questionable interrogation attempts over a month ago when he thought I was involved with Daniel Crocker. He hoped to distract me with his mouth and make me give up my secrets. “I’m taking a shower.”

  A slow sexy grin spread across Joe’s face as his held my hips to his. “Now that’s the best idea I’ve heard all day.”

  I swatted his arm and stepped backward, breaking his hold. “Alone. I’m showering alone. That’s your punishment.”

  “You’re a cruel woman, Rose Gardner. Gettin’ a guy’s hopes up like that.”

  “You and Muffy can watch TV while you’re figuring out where to take me.”

  “Well, hurry up,” he growled, but his eyes twinkled. “I’m hungry.”

  I rolled my eyes. “That’s why I told you to figure out where to go.”

  “That’s not what I’m hungry for.”

  A blush crept up to my face. I still wasn’t used to that kind of attention.

  Fifteen minutes later, I emerged from the bathroom showered and in fresh clothes. Joe stood in the doorway of Momma’s bedroom and turned to look at me.

  “I put the paint tray and roller in a bag so they don’t dry out. I like the color.”

  “Thanks.”

  “If you’d have waited until the weekend, I would’ve helped you.”

  “I know, but we got out of jury duty early today and I couldn’t face an afternoon of nothing.”

  “You could have spent the day with Violet.”

  I pinched my lips. “We’re not exactly speakin’ right now.”

  His eyes widened in surprised as he led me down the hall to the kitchen. “Let’s go and you can tell me on the way. The sooner we eat dinner the sooner I can have dessert.”

  “You’re awfully confident for a man who’s in trouble.”

  Joe leaned down and kissed my neck. “Good thing I know your weak spots.”

  Dear Lord, wasn’t that the truth?

  We went to Little Italy, one of only two nice places to eat in Henryetta. The other was Jaspers, and I refused to go back there after the disastrous first date that Violet had arranged for me a month ago. Between getting left at the restaurant by the Pillsbury Doughboy, running into Daniel Crocker and feeling guilty about Sloan, the nice bartender who’d helped me and gotten murdered, I had no desire to ever walk through those doors again.

  After we ordered, Joe reached across the table and took my hand. “Why are you and Violet fighting?”

  I had to admit it was hard to stay mad at him. He was a charming man and the dark atmosphere and candlelight in the restaurant dampened my irritation. We needed to talk about what happened the night before, but it wasn’t like we could discuss Bruce’s situation in public. That discussion needed to happen at home. Talking about Violet wasn’t going to solve our disagreement, and I worried it would be throwing another log onto the fire. Maybe going out to eat wasn’t such a good idea after all. “I don’t think you want to know why we’re fightin’.”

  He leaned back a few inches, confusion crossing over his face. “Why not?”

  There was so much to tell and none of it good. Mostly, I didn’t w
ant to hurt him. “Violet’s been unhappy lately.”

  “Why?”

  “She and Mike seem to be havin’ problems. It started right after Momma died.” I paused, unsure whether to continue. Yet I knew honesty was the best way to go. Secrets had nearly been our undoing in the past. “If I’m honest, I’d have to say it all started after I started seein’ you.”

  “Me?”

  I sucked in my lip before I blew a breath away. Staring Joe in the eye, my fingers tightened over his. “Violet thinks I’m settling.” Hurt filled his eyes and I hurried to add, “It’s nothing against you, Joe. She says I’ve never dated before and that I need more experience so I can be sure.”

  Joe sat in silence.

  “Mike was her first and only boyfriend, and they got married soon after high school. As hard as it is to believe, I think Violet’s a little jealous of me.”

  A scowl lowered his brow and his gaze pierced mine. “Why is that hard to believe, Rose? You’re a beautiful woman and you’re sweet and funny. You’re wonderful.”

  My face grew hot. “But how can Violet be jealous of me when she has everything I ever wanted?”

  Joe sat as still as a statue.

  Crappy doodles. I’d freaked him out.

  His voice softened. “What does she have that you want?”

  I looked away. “This is embarrassing, Joe.”

  He put his finger under my chin and turned my face back to look at him. “No, it’s not. What does she have that you want?”

  After sucking in deep breath, I released it in a gush. “A loving husband, beautiful children. A family.”

  His gaze held mine.

  I tried to turn away in my horror, but Joe’s grip on my chin tightened. Why on earth did I admit that? I’d always heard talking about that kind of stuff too early was the kiss of death for a relationship.

  He smiled. “I want that stuff too.”

  This was a first. Other than me moving to Little Rock, the only long-term subject we’d discussed was whether five-day-old Chinese food was still good. I grinned. “You want a husband?”

  Joe laughed, releasing my chin. “No. I want to be married and have a family someday.”