Sweet Tea and Secrets (11 page)

“I think you should stay with someone while you’re here, or at least until we figure out what’s going on,” the sheriff said to her.

“Are you kidding me right now? No way. I’ll be fine staying right here. I’m sure it was just kids, like you said.”

Scott and Garrett exchanged a glance.

“I saw that look,” Jill said.

“I’ll write up a report in case you find anything of value missing and need it for the insurance,” Scott said. “Allison Keller just went to a class in Richmond on dusting for prints. She’s doing dispatch part-time and working some cases now. I know she’d be thrilled to use that stuff. I’ll send her over if you don’t mind. It’ll be good practice.”

Garrett nodded. “Thanks Scott.”

Scott waved as he got back in the car and drove off.

Jill sat on the couch, picking long dog hair off her black skirt, too tired to do anything else.

Garrett came back in and sat next to her. “It’s getting late. Why don’t you stay at my place tonight?”

“No. I’m not going to be run out of my house just because some kids made a mess of it. I have Clyde. I’ll be fine.”

“You sure? I have a nice guest room. This girl I used to date, she decorated it real nice.” He paused, giving her a chance to change her mind. “I could show you my latest designs.”

“That sounds more dangerous,” she teased. “I think I’ll pass. I’ll be awake half the night cleaning this up anyway.”

“I’ll stay and help then.” Garrett shot her an exaggerated wink that made her giggle, then started righting chairs and stacking books.

Jill went into the kitchen and got a trash bag. She stooped to pick up the pieces of a ceramic bowl she’d made for Pearl years ago to hold potpourri that was now scattered everywhere. Her childhood artwork was in a dozen pieces now. She swept the flower petals and herbs into a pile and then scooped them up with one of the larger shards. Broken pieces, like her heart. Like her life.

She sat back on her heels, and pushed the bag and its contents away.

“Why?” she whispered and bowed her head. It wasn’t just a bowl. It was Pearl. It was everything falling apart. Things she counted on being safe forever, were suddenly gone or had been shaken. She drew in a staggered breath.
Hiccup.

“I’ll get you a glass of water.” Garrett went to the kitchen and got her a glass of water.

She sipped it backwards. It was the only thing that ever worked. Garrett squatted next to her and drew her close.

“You’re going to be okay. It’ll get better.” He dipped his head, and pressed his lips against her forehead. He moved slow, cautious this time. He caught her lip and pulled it in softly, then dropped a soft kiss on the tip of her nose. “You okay?”

She nodded and answered by returning his kiss this time. The strength of his body, even the rough stubble of his chin, was welcome against her cheek.

He swept her into his arms and carried her to the bed.

“I just want to hold you.” He laid her down on the bed and crawled next to her, still fully clothed. “Don’t say a word.”

His long body aligned against her own smaller form, her head in the crook of his arm, tears puddling on his skin. “It’s been a long day.” He walked his fingers through her hair.

“It’s been a long year.” She hugged his other arm to her chest, wishing she could roll back the last year and never have left this town, or Pearl.

Chapter Seven

Jill rolled over and squeezed her eyes tight in hopes she was dreaming and morning wasn’t really here. She wasn’t ready to face the day or Garrett for that matter. She never should’ve let him stay the night. Pearl was probably doing cartwheels and handsprings in heaven claiming victory. He’d caught her in a weak moment last night. Comfort when she needed it most. She’d have to set things straight with him today.

She opened her eyes, and did a cat-like stretch. Then she screamed and scrambled toward the headboard. The sight of Clyde’s huge tri-colored head staring at her from the side of the bed sent her scooching backwards like a crab until her mind put all the pieces together.

“Clyde,” she yelled.

The dog thumped his huge tail at the sound of his name.

Hiccup.

Clyde retreated to the doorway with his head low and tail slung between his legs.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you, but you scared me first.”
Hic-cup
The quilt was damp from his hot breath and slobber. “Eewwww, Clyde, why do you always have to be so drooly?”

His mouth dropped open, and his tongue hung long as he panted. He looked downright amused.

“That wasn’t a compliment.” She patted the bed twice. “Fine. Come on.”

Clyde made the easy leap to the bed, and edged close to her. He took up as much room as Garrett had the night before. She swept her hand across the cool pillow where Garrett had slept, then snuggled against Clyde rubbing his soft ears.

She didn’t feel like getting up, and why should she? She didn’t have anyone to answer to today. But every time she’d start to drift off, the phone rang. The sound was driving her nuts. She dragged herself out from under the covers and answered the phone, just to silence the darn thing.

“Hello,” she said, way too loud.

“I thought I’d hear from you last night.”

“Bradley?” Jill rolled her eyes and let out a sigh. “Why are you calling me on Pearl’s number?”

“I’ve been trying your cell. Did your battery die?”

“Probably. The last twenty-four hours have been grueling.” Jill carried the old princess phone from the hall to the edge of living room like she had for all the years she’d lived there. Why hadn’t she ever thought to buy Pearl a cordless phone? The twenty foot cord was a hazard.

“I’m sorry,” Bradley said. “I know I didn’t help things either.”

“You got that right.” Too tired to even get into this conversation right now, she regretted saying the words as soon as they slipped from her mouth.

“I don’t know what got into me. I guess I let my own jealousy cloud my thoughts. I wish I’d reacted differently. I wish I’d been there for you.”

Jill leaned against the door jamb. “I wish you had too. It was a horrible day. The worst in my life.” She pushed her hair behind her ear, then balanced the phone between her shoulder and chin so she could pet Clyde who’d decided to get up, too.

“I’m sorry, baby doll. Really. I’ll make it up to you,” he said.

“I don’t want to talk about that. The truth is, you didn’t help me any, but nothing in the world could make me feel better right now short of bringing Pearl back. Think you can do that?”

“No. I guess I can’t. How is everything else?”

“I had a special surprise when I got back here yesterday.”

“You mean something besides about a million plants, flowers and homemade casseroles?”

“Yeah. This wasn’t a welcome gift. Someone broke into the house. They made a huge mess.”

“What?” His voice rose with concern. “You’re okay, right? Was anything taken?”

“I’m fine. Whoever broke in was already gone when I got here.”

“Lucky for you. Who knows what would’ve happened had you walked in on them. You should come on home.”

Jill didn’t see any point in mentioning that Garrett had been the one taking all the risk. “I’m fine, Bradley. The only thing they took was my suitcase. Well, the suitcase was one of yours actually. Sorry about that. Isn’t that weird? Anyway, the sheriff came out. They dusted for prints, but said that the break-in was probably the result of kids with nothing better to do while everyone in the county was at Pearl’s funeral.”

“They dusted for prints? I’m surprised that podunk sheriff’s department has the skill. But seriously, I don’t like the sound of this one bit. I wish you would just pack up and get home before you get hurt. I don’t want anything to happen to my girl.”

“I need to be here.” Too exhausted to keep soothing his insecurities when she felt so low herself, she regretted having answered the call. “Look. I’ll call you later.” She hung up, unplugged the phone from the wall and wrapped the long cord around the handset.

Small town pluses were small town minuses when you wanted to be left alone. If it wasn’t Bradley calling, then it was sure to be every one of Pearl’s friends or the folks from church trying to comfort her and show their support. But she didn’t want to feel better yet. She was sad, and she had every right to be.

She tousled the top of Clyde’s head as she walked by him toward the bedroom. Clyde was her kind of guy. He was perfectly happy to lounge around all day. No questions, no lectures, just a warm body to snuggle. She climbed back in bed. Clyde clomped into the room and sprawled out on the cool wooden floor as Jill fell into an exhausted sleep.

A knock at the door woke her.

Clyde let out a woof and trotted down the hall, sniffing the whole way. She pulled the covers over her head and prayed that whoever was at the door would just go away. Apparently, it worked because Clyde came back and jumped up on the bed, resting his heavy chin on her tummy. She lifted her hand out from under the covers and patted his head. She’d have to get up and feed the beast sometime today else he might resort to gnawing off her foot or something. She rolled over into the pillow, promising herself she’d feed him the next time she woke up.

The room was dark when she opened her eyes again. Clyde’s tail wagged like crazy. She wondered how long he’d been watching her. She sat on the edge of the bed. Clyde stuck his nose in her crotch, then ran toward the bedroom door, waiting.

“I know. I promised.”

He tilted his head. When she didn’t move, he came back over and laid his head on her knee. His huge golden eyes looked sad, like he was begging her to come make him a little grub.

She rubbed his big lips and muzzle, then slid off the side of the bed. When her feet hit the floor, the ‘oh shit’ mantra came to mind, but she’d just have to make up for that another day.

Clyde beat her to the kitchen. He looked pitiful until she filled his bowl with food.
Did he just smile and wink at her?
She turned her cell phone on and deleted the seven messages from Bradley without listening to them. Sitting at the kitchen table, staring off at nothing in particular, was about all she had the energy to do.

Clyde stopped his munching and looked at her.

“No. I don’t feel like eating. You go ahead.” Her cell phone rang. “I just talked to the dog. Great.”

Clyde stopped eating only long enough to raise a brow and giver her ‘the look.’ Jill looked at the caller ID on her cell. Carolanne. Safe to answer. “Hey gal.”

“Hey. I called the house earlier, you didn’t answer,” Carolanne said.

“I was here. I just wasn’t answering. That phone has been ringing off the hook.”

Carolanne laughed. “You know how Adams Grove folks are. Everyone will be checking on you for at least a week.”

“I know,” she said. “I’ll think twice before I call during that first week to pay condolences in the future. I’d rather just be left alone right now.”

“You doing okay?”

“Yeah. I’ve mostly been sleeping. Me and Clyde,” Jill said.

“You still have that dog? I figured you’d pawn him back off on Garrett.”

“We’ve found a peaceful coexistence.”

“With Clyde or Garrett.”

“I kind of like having old Clyde around,” Jill admitted. “He doesn’t mind sleeping most of the day away, and he likes to spoon.”

“You avoided my question.”

“You know me too well. I can’t hide anything from you.” Jill tsked and then began to spill all the details about Garrett to Carolanne.

“You might have to give the guy a break.”

“Don’t start,” said Jill.

“Fine. Nothing I can do for you?”

“Nope, not a thing,” Jill said. “I’ve slept away one whole day. If each one gets easier, I’m on my way. The only reason I got up was to feed the dog. I was afraid if he got hungry he might eat the furniture, or worse, one of my limbs.”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t test that theory either,” Carolanne said.

They said their goodbyes and promised to check in later in the week. Jill clicked the end button and then powered off the phone. There wasn’t anyone she wanted to talk to. Clyde shoved his head under her hand. “I guess you want to go out now.”