Grave Homecoming (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 1) (13 page)

By the next afternoon, Maddie had almost managed to convince herself that Christy would keep her secret. She had no doubt the effervescent redhead had every intention of keeping things to herself, but Christy was gossipy by nature. There was no way Maddie could be sure. She just had to have faith.

When the bell over the door at Magicks jangled, Maddie almost expected Christy to be standing there with half the town – some of them with pitchforks and torches – so Todd’s arrival threw her for an obvious loop.

“Hello,” Todd said, smiling brightly.

“Hi.” Maddie felt like a deer caught in headlights. He’d called her three different times since their disastrous date, and Maddie had conveniently dodged each call. She had no idea why he was here now. He couldn’t possibly want a repeat of that torturous experience.

“You’ve been a little hard to reach,” Todd said, wandering around the store so he could take in the ambiance and kitschy trinkets. “I figured, if I wanted to talk to you, it would have to be face to face.”

“I … I’ve been really busy.”

“I heard,” Todd said. “Are you spending all of your nights up at Kissing Point with Christy Ford these days? Is that why you’re dodging my calls?”

Maddie’s face colored. “We were just out for a drive.”

“At Kissing Point?”

“I’d never been there before.” Maddie felt like an idiot.

“That’s because you spent all of your time with Nick Winters in high school,” Todd said. “He has no idea how to please a woman.”

Maddie balked. “I really wish you wouldn’t talk about Nick like that.”

“Why?”

“Because he’s my friend,” Maddie said. “I don’t like it when people talk badly about my friends.”

“And he’s just your friend, right?”

“I’ve already answered that question.”

“You have,” Todd agreed. “That was before he interrupted our date and tried to dump his girlfriend on me so he could take you home, though.”

Maddie had no idea how to respond to that. “Is that why you’re here?”

“I’m here for you,” Todd said. “I thought we should try dating again.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Oh, I’m serious,” Todd said. “I feel I was at a disadvantage at the restaurant. After Winters’ little show, it was impossible for me to measure up. I’d like a chance to wow you on my own terms.”

“And how are you going to wow me?”

“When is your lunch break?” Todd asked.

Maddie glanced at the clock on the wall. “Fifteen minutes.”

Todd sat down in one of the open wingback chairs next to the front window and plastered a bright smile on his face. “Wow. What great timing.”

“For what?”

“I’ll show you in fifteen minutes.”

“But … .”

“Finish your work,” Todd said. “I don’t want any distractions. I have a surprise for you.”

Maddie sucked in her cheeks. She didn’t like the look on his face. It was almost … animalistic. She was legitimately worried the surprise he wanted to show her was in his pants. “I … .”

“You can’t say no,” Todd said. “I deserve a second chance after the first one blew up in my face because of your … friend.”

Maddie sighed. “Fine. Fifteen minutes.”

“WHEN
you said you had a surprise, I didn’t realize it was on my front lawn.” Maddie studied the blanket and picnic basket Todd had laid out under the large elm dubiously. “Are you really taking me on a picnic?”

“I was under the impression that you liked picnics,” Todd said, settling on the blanket and patting the spot next to him. “Didn’t you and Winters spend your teenage years having picnics in the woods?”

Maddie frowned. Todd was obsessed with Nick. Part of her understood it. He was trying to ascertain if Nick was competition. The problem was Todd always looked at Nick as competition – no matter what they were competing for. Maddie had trouble believing she was anything more than just another trophy for his shelf, something to lord over Nick.

Of course, that wasn’t the only problem. Despite how handsome he was, Maddie wasn’t even remotely attracted to Todd. She had to find a way to let him down without making it seem like she was calling his manhood into question. That would only make him redouble his efforts. She was sure of that. “Your obsession with Nick worries me,” Maddie admitted.

“Excuse me? I am not obsessed with Winters.”

“You bring him up constantly.”

“Maybe that’s because he’s always in my face.”

Maddie sighed. Arguing the point wasn’t going to make her case. She needed time to think of another plan. “What’s in the basket?”

Todd shot her a lazy smile. “Open it.”

Maddie indulged him. “Is this chicken salad?”

“It is. You like chicken salad, don’t you?”

“It’s good,” Maddie said. “Is this from Ruby’s?”

“I only buy the best for my dates.”

Maddie couldn’t figure out how Todd equated smugness with charm, but he clearly did. “Well, let’s eat,” Maddie said. “I only have an hour before I have to open the store again, and I’m sure you have to get back to the dealership.”

“I’m the boss,” Todd countered. “I employ people to make sure the dealership runs smoothly.”

“Oh, I’m sure you’re invaluable to the operation,” Maddie said, feeding into his ego. “You can’t become the boss if you’re not, can you?”

“You’re a smart woman,” Todd said. “When you add your intelligence to your smoking-hot body, you’re the perfect package.”

After mentally rolling her eyes so hard she almost tipped over, Maddie forced a tight smile onto her face. “So, tell me, how is it that you’re not married yet?” An idea was starting to form, and she wanted to test the boundaries of it.

“I’m not really ready for marriage,” Todd said, digging into his sandwich enthusiastically. “I like to practice for it, though.”

His wink was so disgusting Maddie momentarily wondered if she would be capable of hiding his body if she choked him with the sandwich he was inhaling. After giving up on the idea – Maude wasn’t strong enough to help her drag Todd through the woods without anyone noticing, and the wheelbarrow was broken – Maddie continued with the next step of her plan. “But you must want children,” she said.

“Not really.”

“Oh, come on,” Maddie said. “I want at least five of them.”

Todd coughed, clearing his throat. “Five?”

“Yeah,” Maddie said brightly. “I’m going to have to get going soon. I’m going to be thirty in two years.”

“So, you’re saying … .”

“My biological clock is ticking away,” Maddie said. “Tick. Tick. Tick.” She rubbed his hand suggestively. “I’ll bet a car dealership could easily support five kids.”

“I … are you being serious?”

“Of course,” Maddie said. “I’ve always dreamed of a big family.”

“And what about Winters?” Todd asked. “Does he want a big family, too?”

“You’ll have to ask him,” Maddie said. “We never really talked about it. I don’t see how it matters. It’s not like I plan on having kids with him.” It was a calculated risk.

“Are you just saying that to placate me?”

“Nope. It’s the truth.”

Todd narrowed his eyes. “Do you really want five children?”

“Absolutely,” Maddie said. “This sandwich is great, by the way. We should plan another dinner.”

Todd balked. “I’m not sure … I’m really busy this week.”

“Oh, come on,” Maddie said. “I thought you wanted a real date?”

“I do,” Todd replied hurriedly. “I just think … I’ll look at my calendar and get back to you.”

Maddie smirked. “That sounds great.” Mission accomplished.

“SO,
what did that jackass want?”

Maude was sitting in one of the chairs and staring out the window when Maddie returned to the store.

“Oh, he wanted to mark his territory,” Maddie said. “He wants to make sure word gets around that we’re dating.”

Maude snorted. “He wants to make sure that word gets around to Nick that you’re dating.”

“Yeah, I got that feeling, too,” Maddie said. “I don’t think he’s interested in me. He’s just interested in getting a dig in at Nick.”

“I’ve always hated Todd Winthrop,” Maude said. “He always thought he was such a … lothario.”

“Lothario?”

“You know, a ladies’ man.”

“He still thinks that,” Maddie said.

“So, why did you agree to have a picnic with him?”

“Because he wouldn’t leave.”

“He’s such a douche.”

“Granny,” Maddie scolded. “You shouldn’t say things like that.”

“Am I wrong?”

“No.”

“Are you going to go out with him again?” Maude asked.

“Why? Do you think I should?”

Maude bit her lip, considering. “Maybe.”

“You just said … .”

“Yes, but the more you go out with Todd, the more Nick will freak out,” Maude explained. “Nick will break a lot quicker if Todd is in the picture.”

Maddie faltered. “What are you talking about?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Maude said. “This little-girl thing you’re running doesn’t work on me.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Maddie said stubbornly.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about,” Maude said. “You want Nick to be jealous. Admit it.”

Maddie pressed her lips together and mulled the statement over.
Was that true?
“I don’t want Nick to be jealous,” Maddie said finally. “I want Nick to be … happy.”

“No, you want Nick to be happy with you,” Maude corrected. “Let’s stop playing games here. You didn’t just come home for me.”

“Granny, I love you.”

“I love you, too, Maddie girl,” Maude said. “You still came home for Nick.”

“Nick has a girlfriend.”

“Oh, you’re like a broken record. Do you want to know what I think?”

“Not really.”

Maude ignored her. “I think you’re relieved Nick has a girlfriend right now. You know he doesn’t have real feelings for her, so you’re safe trying to figure things out without losing him.”

“That is just … ridiculous.”

“I’m right,” Maude said. “I’m always right, by the way, but I’m especially right on this front. You’re trying to come to grips with your ‘peculiarity,’ and that means you’re eventually going to have to tell Nick. When you do, and he doesn’t shun you, you’re going to have to accept that he’s your match.”

“I … Christy knows.”

Maude raised her eyebrows, surprised. “You told her? I’m proud of you.”

“I didn’t tell her.” Maddie told Maude about the previous night’s excursion.

“Wow, that’s a lot of information for one old woman to absorb,” Maude said. “Okay, first off, how much danger do you think the Stilton girl is in?”

“I don’t think it’s good.”

“Well, we need to keep an eye on her,” Maude said. “I think most of the teenagers in this town are dead weight, but she’s one of the good ones.”

“I would be worried about her if she was one of the bad ones, too.”

“That’s because you’re a walking angel,” Maude said. “I’m going to ignore the Nick situation. I have a feeling he’s piecing things together on his own. He’ll approach you when he’s ready.”

Maddie was floored. “No. He can’t … .”

“The boy isn’t dumb,” Maude said. “He’s been searching for a reason for years. He wants to know why you cut ties. He needs a reason before he can woo you. Now that you’re back in town, it won’t take him long to find that reason, because he desperately wants to woo you. This is good.”

“This is not good,” Maddie argued. “And who says woo anymore?”

“You’re right,” Maude said, patting her hand. “This is not good. It’s actually great. What about Christy? Do you think she’ll tell anyone?”

“She says she won’t.”

“Then she won’t.”

“But … she’s gossipy.”

“She’s also loyal,” Maude pointed out. “She won’t betray you.”

“I hope you’re right,” Maddie said, rubbing her forehead. “I just wish … I just wish I could be sure.”

Maude wrinkled her nose. “Have you talked to your mother about this yet?”

For the second time in less than five minutes, her grandmother had managed to stun Maddie. “You know she’s here?”

“I know,” Maude said. “She won’t leave until I do.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because a mother is never supposed to outlive her child,” Maude said, fighting back tears. “How is she?”

“She’s good,” Maddie said. “I think she’s still trying to get a hold of the whole … .”

“Death?”

Maddie nodded. “She shows up out of the blue, and then she disappears for a couple of days.”

“Well, she’ll get used to it,” Maude said. “The next time she’s here … can you… ?” Maude looked uncertain.