Ever Present Danger (10 page)

“I know. But it would be less of a struggle if I could unload all this guilt about Joe’s death. But I can’t do that without going to jail, which is out of the question until Montana’s secure with my parents. And who knows how long that’ll take? He’s going to have such a hard time without you. We both are.” Ivy put her face in her hands.

“Make peace with God, Ivy girl. He wants to help you.”

I sincerely doubt that
. “Did I tell you Pete was here last night and came by the café this morning? He’s still trying to pressure me into going to our class reunion.”

“Maybe he wants to go out with you.”

Ivy sneered. “Hardly. The man finds me repulsive. And frankly, he scares me.”

“Why?”

“I’m not sure how to describe the look he gets in his eyes sometimes, but I feel threatened, like if he thought I was going to cross him, he could just as easily strangle me as he did Joe.”

“I wish you’d stay away from him.”

“I’m trying. But he’s the one who keeps showing up on my doorstep. It feels as though he’s trying to keep me on a short leash.”

Ivy heard footsteps on the stairs and what sounded like the rattling of a dog collar. Seconds later, Sasha charged into Lu’s room and ran in circles, then sat at the foot of the bed and barked.

Montana came in after the dog and grabbed her by the collar. “Bad girl! You have to be quiet in here. Sorry, Gramma Lu.”

“Maybe Sasha just needs a little girl talk.” Lu reached over and scratched the dog’s chin. “Is that it?”

Montana smiled, seemingly pleased that Lu was in good spirits. “Did that hospice nurse leave?”

“Yes, Sonya’s gone. She’ll be back tomorrow afternoon.”

“I don’t like it when she’s here.”

“The medicine she gave me made me feel better,” Lu said. “Why don’t you go get your favorite books, and let’s read awhile?”

Montana flashed a jack-o-lantern smile. “Okay. But
I
get to read
Green Eggs and Ham
.”

He ran into his room and came back with several books, including the threadbare copy of Dr. Seuss’s
Green Eggs and Ham
that Lu had bought at Goodwill years ago. He crawled into Lu’s bed and sat with a pillow propped behind him and started reading in a typical first-grader monotone.

“Are you sure you’re up to this?” Ivy said.

Lu looked over at Ivy, her eyes starting to look glassy from the painkiller Sonya had given her. “Every second of it.”

Ivy memorized the moment, then left Lu’s room and went into her own and shut the door. She put her face in her hands and wept quietly.

LATE SATURDAY MORNING, Brandon Jones followed Kelsey into Jewel’s Diner, his eyes peeled for Buzz and Maggie Easton.

“I’m sure they’ve already come and gone,” Brandon said. “Man, this place is packed out. Looks like there’s one table open over there by the window.”

Ivy Griffith came over with menus in hand. “Hi, you two. Right this way.” She led them to the empty table. “Today’s special is meatloaf and whipped potatoes. But I’m sure you know we serve breakfast anytime.”

“I’ll have the Hungry Man Special,” Brandon said. “Orange juice and coffee.”

Kelsey smiled. “Cheese blintzes for me. Heavy on the strawberry topping. And coffee.”

“Okay, coming right up. By the way, Montana’s really excited about you taking him out snowmobiling this afternoon. That’s all he talked about all last night.”

“We’re looking forward to it,” Brandon said. “Elam said we could borrow the Suburban and trailer the snowmobiles up to the state park where the snow’s still deep. There’s a ton of powder up there and plenty of room to play.”

“I’m grateful for Montana to have something fun to do. It’s getting intense at home with Lu’s situation, and I don’t want him worrying too much about it.”

Brandon nodded. “We’ll do what we can to keep him entertained. Maybe we’ll take Sasha with us. He seems attached to her.”

“Thanks. You guys are too much. I’ll be right back with your coffee.”

Brandon put his hand on Kelsey’s. “You’re a good sport to give up part of your Saturday to entertain Montana.”

“He’s a sweet little boy whose world’s turning upside down. It’s the least we can do.”

Ivy brought two mugs and a plastic pitcher of coffee and set them on the table. “There you go. Your breakfast will be out in a few minutes.”

Brandon waited until Ivy was out of earshot, and then said, “If you didn’t know, how old would you guess her to be?”

“I don’t know—somewhere between thirty-five and forty. Certainly not twenty-eight.”

“I would never have recognized her from the picture on the bookshelf at the Griffiths’ house.”

Kelsey blew on her coffee and took a sip. “She can’t help looking older than she is, but you’d think she’d wear makeup or style her hair or something.” Kelsey set down her mug and looked at Brandon. “Sorry, that sounded really petty. I’m just surprised she doesn’t try to look her best. She’s never going to attract a husband looking that drab.”

“Maybe she doesn’t want a husband.”

“Then she’d better go to trade school because she’s not going to make it on her own waiting tables.”

Brandon noticed two young men come in the door and walk over to Ivy, who was busy brewing a fresh pot of coffee.

“Ivy?”

Ivy Griffith turned and saw two men about her age standing there. “Yes?”

“It’s me: Reg Morrison,” the tallest one said. “Don’t look so surprised. I haven’t changed
that
much, have I?”

Ivy couldn’t find her voice and turned her eyes on the
redheaded man next to him and heard herself say, “Denny?”

“That’s me,” Denny Richards said. “It’s great to see you, gal.”

Ivy hugged both of them, surprised that she was actually glad to see them.

“We were in town for the weekend and thought we’d say hello. Pete told us you were working here.”

I’ll bet he did
. “I’m curious how you both just happened to be here for the weekend. Pete said he hadn’t seen you in ages.”

“Actually, we came to see you,” Reg said. “Pete called and told us you were back, and we thought it’d be fun to get together like old times. How about meeting us for coffee at Grinder’s when you get off?”

“Sorry, I can’t. There’s something I have to do this afternoon.” Ivy saw a man, woman, and two kids walk in the door. “I really need to take care of those customers.”

Reg gently held her arm. “Surely you can make time to have coffee with old friends?”

“Not this afternoon.”

“What about tonight then? Or tomorrow?”

A party of six got up from a table in the back and ambled toward the register. “Guys, I can’t talk about this now. Excuse me.” Ivy picked up four menus and walked over to the family waiting at the front door. “Welcome to Jewel’s. We’ll have that empty table cleaned off in just a minute. Would you like booster seats for the little ones?”

Reg and Denny shuffled past her with the party of six, smiles on their faces, and Ivy knew she hadn’t seen the last of them.

Ivy zipped up Montana’s coat and pulled his stocking cap down over his ears.

“Mom, you’re obsessing again,” Montana said.

Ivy stifled a grin and handed him his gloves. “Where’d you learn a big word like that?”

“Watching Dr. Phil. I’m seven now. You don’t have to dress me like I’m a baby or something.”

Ivy tilted his chin and looked into those brown puppy eyes. “You’re right. Sorry.” She resisted the urge to take the tube of ChapStick out of her pocket and apply it to his cracked lips.

Sasha barked playfully outside, and Montana ran to the window and pulled back the curtain. “Brandon and Kelsey are here!” He pulled open the front door and went out on the porch.

“Hey there, big guy,” Brandon said. “You ready to rock and roll?”

“Yeah. Can I drive the snowmobile?”

“If you pass your driver’s test. We need to have a lesson first.”

Kelsey came up on the porch and hugged Ivy. “Don’t worry about a thing. Brandon’s great with kids, and he won’t take any chances.”

“Here’s a tube of ChapStick,” Ivy said. “Don’t tell Montana I gave it to you or he won’t use it.”

“I’ll never tell.” Kelsey slipped it in her pocket and looked at Brandon and Montana, tussling with Sasha. “Looks like it’s going to be me,
two
boys, and a dog. Why don’t you go do something this afternoon and get your mind off Lu?”

“That’s an excellent idea.” Carolyn Griffith came outside and stood next to Ivy. “Lu’s asleep, and I plan to be here all afternoon.” She handed Ivy a piece of paper. “Reg Morrison just called. He and Denny Richards are in town and wanted to know if you could meet them at Grinder’s. Why don’t you call them back? It would do you good to see old friends.”

“Mom, I can’t dump my responsibility on you, especially after you spent the entire morning watching Montana.”

“We made cookies. It was fun. Your dad’s gone till supper, and I’m going to curl up on the couch and read my new issue of
Woman’s Day
. Why don’t you go meet your friends?”

Ivy sat in the car in front of Grinder’s Coffee House and moved the rearview mirror until she saw her reflection. She applied the lipstick she had shoplifted from the drugstore, and then wondered why she had bothered. It did nothing to change the fact
that she looked thin and pale and dried-up. She ran a comb through her limp hair and wished she had the money to have it shaped and styled. Why did she care what Reg and Denny thought, anyhow?

Ivy got out of her mother’s Jeep, went in Grinder’s, and spotted Reg and Denny sitting in a booth.

“Hey, girl,” Denny said. “Glad you decided to fit us into your schedule.” He moved over and patted the empty seat. “Sit down. I’m buying.”

“It’s great to see you guys,” Ivy said, realizing she actually meant it. She took off her ski jacket and slid in the booth. “I think the last time we did this was the week before we all left for college.”

“Man, does that seem like forever ago.” Reg’s hearty laugh hadn’t changed.

The waitress came over to the table. “What can I get for the lady?”

“I’d love a chocolate latte.” Ivy decided this was her chance to finally try one, and she’d pretend to like it even if it tasted horrible.

“Anything to go with it?”

“No thanks.”

“Oh, come on, Ivy. Have one of those giant cookies or something gooey,” Denny said. “You obviously don’t need to worry about calories.”

“I’m still pretty full from lunch.”

“Bring her a chocolate-chip cookie,” Denny said. “If she doesn’t eat it, I will.”

The waitress nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

Denny grinned and nudged Ivy with his elbow. “My wife’s thirty pounds overweight and has to fight it all the time. You’re lucky you don’t.”

Ivy stared at her hands. “Look, guys, I know how different I look. We don’t have to tiptoe around it, okay?”

No one said anything for a long time.

Finally Reg said, “We heard you had a drug problem, but Pete told us you kicked it.”

“I did.”

“Well, good for you.” Denny patted her hand. “So what’re you up to now?”

“I have a seven-year-old son, Montana. No husband. And not much else to tell. I’d rather hear about you.”

Reg and Denny didn’t hesitate, and Ivy became absorbed in listening to them talk about what they’d been doing for the past decade. She glanced at her watch and realized that forty-five minutes had gone by.

“So when’s your wife due?” she said to Reg.

“June eighth. I still need to paint the nursery blue, but I’ve already bought cigars. Zack Winfield Morrison. Sounds like a jock, eh?”

Ivy smiled. “It’s a great name. Congratulations.”

The door opened and Ivy saw a flash of light and then Pete Barton walking toward the booth.

I should’ve known Pete-the-control-freak wouldn’t be able to resist being here
, Ivy thought.

Pete slid into the booth next to Reg. “Hail, hail, the gang’s all here.”

“Gee, what a surprise,” Ivy said, wondering if anyone picked up on the sarcasm in her tone.

“Hey, it’s a momentous occasion having the fab four together again.” Pete lowered his voice, and Ivy could barely hear him above the drone. “Plus I didn’t want to pass up the opportunity to fill you all in on my conversation with the sheriff’s investigator. I’m happy to report he doesn’t suspect a thing.”

“What kinds of questions did he ask?” Denny said.

“A lot of the same stuff the sheriff asked everyone on the team right after Joe disappeared. You know, was Joe having trouble with anyone? Was he depressed? When was the last time you saw him? How did he seem? But this time he asked me what I was doing the afternoon Joe disappeared and if anyone could confirm that. And I just stuck with the pact. Piece of cake. If we all say the same thing, we’re home free.”

Reg leaned forward, his arms folded on the table. “What if he checks out our story and finds out no one down at Louie’s remembers seeing us?”

“How can anyone prove we weren’t there? And who remembers details that far back anyhow? I think we’re fine as long as our stories mesh.”

The waitress brought Ivy’s latte and a chocolate-chip cookie the size of a salad plate. “Anything else?”

“Pete, you want coffee?” Denny said.

“No, I’ve got to get back to the deli.”

The waitress left, and a few seconds later a young man with wavy dark hair and navy coveralls got up from a table and walked over to the booth, a toothy grin connecting his ears. “I thought I recognized you guys!”

Pete held his gaze. “Do I know you?”

“It’s me, Bill Ziwicki.”

“Who?”

“Bill Ziwicki. I hung out with you guys in high school.”

“Sorry, I don’t remember.”

Bill rolled his eyes. “Yeah, right.”