NOT What I Was Expecting (28 page)

“They can’t all be
heroes like you, I guess,” CeCe said as she looked adoringly into his eyes.

His smile lit up
his whole face and then some. 

“No kidding,” said
Fry in awe.  “I didn’t even see you hit the guy.  How did you take him down so
fast?” 

“If I tell you,
then I’d have to kill you,” Ben said slyly.  See, sneaky.

We all went down
to the station and gave our statements.  Fry called the sisters to let them
know he was safe, and they were so relieved that they only fussed at us a
little for waiting so long to call.  The police had more questions for Luke
than the rest of us, so Fry decided to wait for him to finish. 

CeCe and Ben were
having a whispered conversation at his desk, and I hated to interrupt, so I
chatted with Fry for a few minutes.  The few minutes turned into 40 minutes,
but at least they were finally smiling and seemed to be concluding their peace
talks.  CeCe came over to let us know she was going to pop into the ladies
room, and then she and I could leave if I was ready.  I wanted to wait for Luke,
but didn’t have a good reason and felt weird about it.  I gave Fry one more
bone crushing squeeze and walked over to Ben’s desk.  It looked like he forgave
CeCe, and I was glad, but I needed to tell him something as well. 

“Uh, Ben, I know
we owe you several apologies and thanks,” I began, tripping over my words and
my feet.  I was so busy trying to decide how to finish that sentence I didn’t
see the leg of a chair sitting at the edge of the path I was taking.  As I stumbled
forward face first, I tried to correct my fall by throwing my arms out in front
of me and waving them wildly.  It was not a pretty picture and not at all
effective.  I fell into Ben’s lap with my arms wrapped around his neck as my
head landed buried in his big shoulder.  It must have been the embarrassment
that caused me to start laughing, because I honestly didn’t find it funny at
the time and didn’t think I ever would.  Ben caught me, because he was sitting in
his chair with nowhere to go and no way to get out of my way.

Either my laughter
was contagious, or he was also embarrassed, because he was laughing when he
asked, “Whoa, are you okay?”

As I pulled my
laughing face out of his big ol’ shoulder, I started to assure him I was fine,
until I looked up and saw Luke and CeCe standing right behind Ben’s chair with
their mouths hanging open.  CeCe was standing with her arms crossed, and Luke
had his hands on his hips.  I didn’t think either one of them were wondering if
I was okay.

“Hey!  So, Luke,
are you finished?  Um, I was coming to apologize to Ben, and – wow, that was a
quick restroom visit CeCe,” I babbled.

“Yeah, I think
they’re done with me for the time being,” Luke said, as he watched Ben help me
out of his lap.

“They were
cleaning the ladies room, so I decided to wait until I get home,” CeCe
explained, leaning sideways to see where Ben’s hands were as he helped me up.

Now I was a little
offended.  “Look, I was walking over here to thank Ben for his help and
apologize for – you know, everything – and I tripped, and landed on poor Ben,
probably knocking the wind out of him.  But I’m okay, not that you guys asked –
nothing sprained, nothing twisted,” I rambled awkwardly.

“Well, I think we
assumed that was the case with all the laughing,” CeCe said.

“That was nervous
giggling – NERVOUS GIGGLING!” I said clearly enough for everyone to
understand.  “Geez, I’m in a sheriff’s station, and I fall on a deputy I’m
trying to apologize and say ‘thank you’ to!  You don’t think that would make me
kind of discombobulated?”

At that moment,
CeCe and Luke turned to each other and cracked up laughing.  I looked at them
the same way you would look at any aliens from a galaxy far, far away.  That’s
when I realized Ben hadn’t said anything in his own defense.  I turned my
piercing stare on him but said nothing.

“Yeah, I saw Luke
wink at CeCe just before they adopted their ‘you better explain yourself’ postures,
so I knew they were playing you,” Ben said shaking his head at CeCe and Luke.

“Is there some
reason you didn’t tell me?  What did I ever do to you?” I asked Deputy Ben all
innocent.  “You know, besides the stuff I was already apologizing for?”

“Well, when you
fell on me you did flatten my muffin,” Ben said, holding up a crumbled
blueberry muffin. 

Fry joined us at
Ben’s desk and informed us that the sisters had just sent him a text inviting
us all to their home for a celebratory barbeque tomorrow night.  I was glad
that Ben quickly said he would be there.  Glad for CeCe, that is.  I didn’t
realize I was doing it, but when Luke said to count him in I let out the breath
I’d been holding, so I guess I was glad for myself.

CeCe and I were
thinking the same thing, but she was the first to ask.

“Why,” she began,
“would our mothers – and don’t take this the wrong way, ‘cause I know they love
you – but why would they invite us over for barbeque by sending you a text
instead of Maggie or me?”

“Probably because
you guys don’t answer fast enough when they text you, or so I’m told,” Fry said
with a good-natured shrug.  “Besides, we’re Twitter Buds.  We Tweet.”

When Ben came to
pick up CeCe for their celebration dinner that night, he told us that Luke had
given the sheriff’s department permission to search his Uncle Barney’s house
and property for the painting.  They found it in an old umbrella holder in the
locked work shed behind the house.  Ben said there were a few old umbrellas, a
few old posters, and one extremely valuable rolled up painting standing there. 
I guess Barney thought that was a good place to keep it.  Actually, I guess he
was right.  Now, Eliza’s brother in Ohio would have their family’s painting. 
Thank goodness for that.  I don’t think Luke would have been able to rest until
he located the painting that was the cause of his Uncle Barney’s death.  A
little peace would be nice.

The ringing
doorbell at the sisters’ house brought me out of my contemplative trance.  I
hauled myself up to answer the door, until I heard my mother yell that she had it. 
I sat back in the big, comfy chair in the den, sipped coffee, and continued my
thoughts about everything that had happened during the last week and a half. 
Had it really been only a week and a half?  So much had happened that it seemed
longer. 

It was a busy day
at the Big and Blessed shop since CeCe and I seized every moment between
customers to catch up on paperwork, straightening, and gossip.  We closed the
shop at 6:00 and came straight to the sisters’ house so we could help with the
preparations.  CeCe insisted I’d disrupt her system of setting things up
outside if I helped her, so I went inside to help in the kitchen.  When the
sisters banished me from the kitchen while they fussed over the last details of
the celebration, I decided to enjoy some coffee and quiet.  That’s when I
became contemplative.

Fry was back with
us now, not only safe, but also happily fielding interview and appearance
requests ranging from the New Orleans morning news shows to the Ellen show and
David Letterman.  Since Fry’s middle name was resilient, he seemed to be going
with the flow.  He enjoyed the attention, but when you got right down to it, he
was still our same ol’ Fry.

Luke and Ben were
unharmed after their scuffle with the murderers who had abducted Fry.  Ben was
even going to receive a commendation for solving the town’s only murders in
years, after he singlehandedly (according to the Sheriff’s department, anyway –
since they don’t recognize civilian assistance) brought the murderers into
custody.  Ben tried to point out who was responsible for solving the case, but
was reminded by the Sheriff (a.k.a. his boss) that it was an election year.  He
told Ben the public wanted to feel their law enforcement agency had these matters
under control, and Ben didn’t want to disappoint the public, now did he?  CeCe,
who had related all this to me after her celebration date, said Ben apologized
to Luke for the spin his department had put on the capture.  She said Luke shrugged
it off, and assured Ben he was satisfied having it solved and his name
cleared. 

Ben’s success
delighted CeCe to no end, which delighted me.  I got the impression their
relationship was destined to grow without any help, but each of them seeing how
the other could have been in danger seemed to give them both a clearer
understanding of their true affection for each other.

Then there was
Luke.  Next subject.

Although, if
you’re wondering how Luke and I left things, you aren’t alone – I’m wondering
the same thing.  After the paramedic checked out Fry, he suggested a follow-up
with his regular physician, but said that overall he was in good shape, maybe a
little dehydrated, but otherwise fine.  While the paramedic’s partner was still
with Fry, he took Luke and Ben aside, which of course meant CeCe and I
eavesdropped.  He suggested it was probably a good idea if Fry was not alone
his first night of freedom.  CeCe and I were all over that and invited Fry home
with us.  When he said he appreciated the offer but declined because he really
wanted to get back to his place, Luke asked if Fry could put him up, just for a
night or two, since Barney’s house was still a ransacked mess.  Fry insisted
Luke stay with him as long as it took and not worry about going back to
Barney’s house until Luke was ready.  They were both coming to the sisters’
house tonight, along with Ben, CeCe, and me to indulge in the barbeque feast
the sisters prepared.

Apparently, I was
lost in thought again, because I jumped when Fry came into the room.

“There you are!”
Fry practically shouted and came over to give me a hug.  I stood up to hug him
so hard he’d beg me to let go.  I topped it off when I planted a big wet one on
his cheek.

“It’s so good to
have you back where you belong!” I informed him as I attempted to squeeze the
life out of him.

“I know, Mags,” he
choked.  “You told me six times yesterday.  You know, each time you decided I
didn’t need to go on breathing!”

“Oh, sorry, Fry,”
I said backing off.  “I’m just still so relieved you’re okay!”

“Thanks, Maggie.  What
are you doing in here?” Fry asked looking around.  “I went out back and saw
everybody else when I arrived a few minutes ago.  When I didn’t find you, I
cornered your mother and forced her to give up your location.  She said she
came in to tell you to come on outside, but you were staring at the wall and
didn’t answer.  She thought you might be sleeping with your eyes open, which
would be way cool, by the way,” Fry added with a chuckle.

“Everybody else is
here?” I asked excitedly.

“Yeah,” Fry nodded
and took my hand in an effort to lead me toward the back yard.  “CeCe and Ben
are out there with the sisters.  So what is the deal with CeCe and Ben anyway? 
Are they like a real couple now?”

That sounded like
a rhetorical question, so I decided to treat it that way and switched to a
subject I really needed to talk about.

“And Luke’s out
there?” I asked, trying to sound casual.

“Not yet, but he’s
on his way.  Oh that’s right, you didn’t get to hear the good news about Luke
that I just told the others.  They were all excited for Luke, except CeCe who
asked me not to tell – oops!  Oh, man, I’m sorry, Mags!  I really wish
sometimes my brain worked faster than my mouth,” Fry apologized as he lowered
his head, rammed his hands in his pockets, and shuffled his feet as if he
wanted to kick something.

“Wh-what are you
not supposed to tell me, Fry?” I asked slowly, not completely convinced I
wanted to know.

“Well, see there’s
this guy,” Fry began slowly, obviously trying to find a way to tell me
something other than the thing he wasn’t supposed to tell me.  “And he sort of,
like, called another guy?”

“Fry!” I said a
little more harshly than I’d intended.  “I’m a big girl.  CeCe doesn’t make my
decisions for me – or yours for you, for that matter.  So forget what she said
for a minute.  Stop beating around the bush.  Spit it out.  Spill it.  Come
clean.  Tell me.  What do you know?”

“Aw, Maggie,” Fry
said softly as he looked over his shoulder.  “You make it hard to act like I
don’t know what you’re asking when you put it that way.  Okay, here’s the
deal.  This guy Luke worked with in the Peace Corp called him last night.  He
started out telling Luke how sorry he was to hear about his Uncle Barney.  They
ended up staying on the phone for a long time, and when the call ended, Luke
told me the guy offered him a job building condos and resorts in the Pacific
Islands.  The Pacific Islands, Maggie, can you imagine?  How awesome is that?”

I tried to smile. 
I thought I was smiling and nodding, but I guess that wasn’t what it looked
like from where Fry stood.

“Oh hey – yeah, sorry,
Maggie,” Fry said all bummed and deflated.  “This is so conflicting!  I mean, I
want Luke to stay so we can hang out, and I want Luke to go be a Pacific
Islander which is beyond awesome, and I want Luke to stay so he can be your DF
prospect.  Anyway, Luke said the guy would be a great boss, and he enjoyed
working with him before, but he’d have to make sure his obligations here were
all covered before he could leave Oakman.  Sounded pretty much like a done
deal, but I don’t think he’s leaving today or anything.  Aw, I can’t look at
your face anymore, because my eyes are going to start to perspire.”

Fry turned to go
but quickly added, “Just join us outside when you’re ready, but don’t take too
long, okay.”

“Wait, Fry, I have
one more question.  What’s a DF prospect?” I asked, hoping it wasn’t something
else painful to hear.

Fry shook his
head, gave me a little grin to let me know I amuse him, and said, “DF is Dude
Friend, of course!  Mags, you and CeCe really need to get a texting lingo
dictionary.”  He was still shaking his head as he went out the door and back to
the barbeque.