Down Home and Deadly Read online

  “Well, we have several hills and curves in this part of the country, so that may not be a good idea.” I spoke quickly, lest she look too long and miss a curve.

  “You know, I hadn’t even hardly thought about Jimmy Dean for the last few years. I’d really put him out of my mind. He was just a youthful mistake, you know?” She looked over at me, and I nodded.

  After what seemed like an eternity, she looked back at the road. “But ever since that lawyer guy called, I keep remembering when we was together. I thought there wadn’t no good memories, but now most of ’em seem good. Ain’t it funny how our minds can play tricks on us?”

  It was. My mind was tricking me into believing that if we didn’t stop while we talked, somebody might be cashing in on my will. “There’s a scenic overlook up here on your left that’s really beautiful.” I crossed my fingers that she’d pull in.

  She obligingly whipped the little car in and killed the motor. We got out and looked across mountains faintly colored with fall leaves. My legs still trembled a little, but I walked over and sat down, willing myself to relax.

  In front of us, mountain after mountain fell away until they faded into blueness. I never tired of looking at the majestic beauty of this scene. Jolene stared at it a long time without speaking. Almost a miracle. Then she slowly lit a cigarette and took a long drag.

  She loosed a stream of smoke and looked at me. “I’d like to ask you a favor.” She spoke soberly. “I know we just met, and you don’t owe me a thing. But I’m kinda in what you might call a pickle. Turns out I’m the executor of Jimmy’s will. He hadn’t got no close kin left. So I have to decide how to dispose of the body when they get done with it and release it.” She stared out at the mountains then back at me. “I thought I’d just have him cremated and get on back to my life, but now that I’m here, I don’t think I can do that.”

  I wondered again about Jimmy Dean Finley. What kind of life must he have lived to have no one who wanted to plan a funeral for him? “You know, his grandma lived here. She died a little while back. He came to the funeral and just stayed on.”

  “Yeah? Her and him never did get along when I knew him. But I guess, like they say, blood’s thicker’n water. You think I oughta have him buried here?”

  “There were folks in town who were quite fond of him,” I said carefully. “They might get a sense of closure if you have a funeral.”

  She snorted. “Closure? Reckon that’s why someone killed him? So they could get closure?”

  “Do you know why someone might have killed him?”

  She threw her cigarette down and ground it into the dirt with her heel. Then she carefully picked up the butt and stuck it into her pocket. “I have no idea. Unless Jimmy changed quite a lot, it coulda been just about anything. Wonder how much a funeral would cost? I could spend a thousand or so of what I’m getting, I guess. After all, if it wadn’t for him, I wouldn’t have any.”

  “I could show you where the local funeral home is.”

  “Tell ya what—you do that later on. Right now I’m ready to find the nearest watering hole. I’ve had about as much of this dry-county stuff as I can handle for one day.”

  We climbed into the Mustang, and the engine roared to life. She spun gravel as she peeled onto the road and headed back to town.

  *****

  The next night, Carly walked into the deserted dining room as I was wiping the crumbs from the last dirty table. “Think you and I can handle the cleanup if I let the others go on home?”

  “Sure.” We hadn’t had a chance to talk since the diner opened. I followed her into the kitchen.

  Debbie and Susan both looked relieved when Carly told them their shifts were officially over.

  Susan picked up her purse. “I’m dog tired. I’d forgotten how hard this was.” She must have noticed Carly’s funny look, because she quickly clarified, “I’m thrilled to have the job. It’s just been several years since I’ve waitressed. I’ll have to get back in the groove.”

  “You’re doing great,” Carly assured her. “Thanks for pulling a double yesterday.”

  “See y’all tomorrow.” Debbie followed Susan out the door. “I’m going home to put my feet up.”

  Carly and I finished putting the dishes away. Together we walked out to do a last-minute check of the dining room before tackling the bathrooms.

  Marco was standing near the front door.

  “Marco!” Carly said. “I thought you were already gone.”

  “No. Is there anything else I can do? I will be happy to put the dishes away or sweep.” Dark circles under his eyes made him look exhausted.

  Carly and I exchanged glances. “Um, Marco, I told you your shift was over. Why don’t you go on home now and get some sleep?” Carly smiled at the waiter. “I appreciate your willingness to work, but we’re almost finished.”

  “Okay. If you are sure there isn’t anything I can do.” In spite of his agreeable words, he didn’t move. “I just wanted to help out. I really appreciate you giving me this job.”

  “You do a great job. Harvey says lots of people ask to be seated in your section.”

  “I do my best.” He smiled modestly. “I make good tips, too. I think a lot of people just like to hear me talk.”

  His accent did stand out in our little Southern town. Not to mention his European charm and Italian good looks. And according to Harvey, older women, especially, liked to sit in his section. Maybe because he had the courtliness of an old-fashioned gentleman.

  “Well, we have to finish cleaning up, hon.” Carly made a shooing motion at him. “You probably need to go on home and study.”

  “Yeah, I get to clean the restrooms.” I pulled latex gloves out of my pocket. “I can’t wait.”

  “Would you like me to help? I can do the men’s room.” He picked up a pair of gloves.

  I glanced at Carly. She must have read my mind. There were some gift horses you didn’t refuse. An offer to clean the men’s room definitely fell in that category. “Sure. You can if you don’t mind.” She handed him an apron. With the extra help, it didn’t take but a few minutes to finish up the cleaning and put the supplies away. As we gathered up our personal things, Carly stepped back and looked at Marco’s face. “Are you getting enough sleep?”

  “Between studying and working here, I don’t sleep a lot. But I rest plenty.” He pulled off his latex gloves. “I need to work all the hours you will let me have so I can make enough to pay for school.” He tossed his apron into the laundry hamper. “And I have to maintain good grades, so I have to study a great deal, too.”

  “Wow, you do have a full schedule. Not much time for a social life, I suppose.” Carly smiled at him.

  “Social life? What is that?” He grimaced. “The only females I see are right here at the diner. Remember the woman with the snake tattoo?”

  I smiled as I thought of Jolene.

  “Hiding from her. That is my idea of a social life.”

  “You need to get out more, honey,” Carly said as she carefully locked the front door.

  We walked out onto the back porch. Carly locked it, too. We all started out to the vehicles together. Marco veered off toward his old van.

  Carly looked at me. “I forgot I parked around front.”

  I motioned toward my car a few feet away. “I’ll give you a ride around there. It’s safer that way.”

  She climbed into the passenger seat, and I started the car.

  “Poor Marco. He looked so exhausted tonight. Kind of overwhelmed.” My tenderhearted sister sounded distressed.

  “Well, no wonder with his busy schedule. I don’t think I could face going to school and studying plus working here as many hours as he does.” I put the car in reverse and slowly drove around the building.

  Carly sighed. “Yeah, and he looked worried, too. I guess he really needs the money.”

  A sudden memory of Marco standing by the cash register when we’d walked into the dining room an hour earlier flashed through my mind. “
You don’t think he needed it bad enough to kill J.D. and rob him do you?” I dismissed the idea as soon as the words came out of my mouth.

  Carly shook her head. “No way do I think that sweet boy would even think about such a thing.”

  “Me either. But you know Mama always told us some people would do anything for money.”

  “True. But I don’t think Marco falls into that category. Do you?” She glanced at me as I pulled up beside her car. “Besides, I hadn’t heard J.D. was robbed. Was he?”

  “No idea. If he was, that bit of gossip hasn’t hit the streets yet.” I wondered if I could pry that information out of John with a free piece of pie. Probably not.

  Carly turned toward me. “Not to change the subject or anything, but I hope you have a good time tomorrow.” She leaned back in her seat. “Are you nervous about spending the day with the ‘in-laws to be’?”

  I shook my head. Then I nodded. Then I shrugged. Talk about mixed signals. “I don’t know. You know I always loved Alex’s parents even when we were kids. I guess I’m afraid our engagement will change things some.” I turned off the motor. “But having premium seats at a Cardinal’s game will be worth overcoming my nerves.” I grinned at Carly.

  “I’m sure they knew that, too.” She climbed into her car. “Have a good time. Call me when you get home.”

  “I will, but it’ll be really late. Don’t work too hard without me.” As I pulled out of the parking lot, I realized that Carly and I hadn’t ended up getting to talk alone after all. Pretty soon we’d just have to sit down and visit.

  *****

  Dear Pru,

  I’ve been married three months to the man of my dreams. Our marriage couldn’t be better. Except for one minor detail. His parents hate me. They tell him they like me, but I know they don’t. They’re not rude, but if you could see how stilted they act when I’m with them, you’d know they can’t stand to be around me. I really don’t know what to do.

  More Outlaw Than In-law

  *****

  Dear Outlaw,

  Be patient. Chances are that if you find a common interest and work to get to know his parents better, they’ll like you. And even though I know you can’t see it, some reserve could be normal for them. Sometimes our imaginations wreak havoc in our lives. Be sure paranoia isn’t part of your problem.

  *****

  *****

  Chapter Seven

  Everything is lovely and the goose hangs high.

  When Alex rang the bell, it was morning but still dark outside. I yanked the door open and pulled him inside. “I need your help.”

  “Whoa, water girl. What’s wrong?”

  “Is this shirt okay?”

  He looked at my red Cardinal’s shirt then back up at my face. “Is this a trick question?”

  “No!”

  “Of course, it’s fine.”

  “Just fine?”

  “Perfect. As usual,” he said with a slightly uncertain smile.

  I stared in the foyer mirror at my wild curls. “Why did I leave my hair down? Everybody knows you wear a ponytail to a baseball game.” I swooped my hair up and secured it.

  “Uh-oh,” Alex said.

  I turned to him. “Uh-oh what?”

  “Uh-oh, I didn’t get the ponytail memo.”

  I smacked his arm. “Very funny.”

  He held up a bag. “But I did bring you something that actually goes with that hairstyle.”

  I opened the bag and pulled out two red caps emblazoned with the team logo. “Thanks.” I froze with it halfway to my hair. “You don’t think it’s too much for us to be matching?”

  He placed his own cap on his head. “Too much?”

  “Too. . .like we’re shoving our engagement in your parents’ face?”

  He laughed then stopped when he saw my face. “Honey, let’s sit down and talk about whatever’s got you so frantic.”

  “We can’t sit down. If we’re late, we might miss the beginning of the ball game.” Or worse, cause his parents to miss it. I’d looked on the Internet after Alex told me about their engagement gift to us. I felt sure they’d had to pay at least a hundred dollars each for four tickets right behind home plate.

  Neuro and Mr. Persi paced around me as if they knew my happy ending was about to explode into a million pieces. I gave them each a pat. “We’ll be back late tonight, guys. Zac will be by a few times to visit. Be good and take care of each other.”

  Alex escorted me onto the porch then put one hand on my back as we walked to the truck. He helped me in and shut the door. I think by now he wasn’t sure I wouldn’t run.

  We didn’t speak until we were leaving Lake View, and he glanced over at me. “Want to tell me what that was all about back there?”

  “What?” I stared out the passenger window at the trees and pastures flying by.

  “The meltdown.”

  “Just because I had a hard time deciding what to wear? That represents a meltdown?” I joked. “Remind me never to take you shopping with me.”

  “Fine,” he said, a slight frown crossing his face. “Obviously, we’re going to spend a four-hour drive pretending that nothing’s wrong.”

  I forced my shoulders to relax and blew out the breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. “I’m a little nervous about seeing your parents.”

  “You saw them when they came through town a few weeks ago,” he pointed out in a reasonable tone.

  “Yes, but then I was just your girlfriend, and they were in town about an hour. This is going to be an all-day thing, including going to their house after the game.” I cut my gaze over to him. “And now we’re engaged.”

  He shook his head and tapped his hand on the steering wheel. “Which my parents are thrilled about.”

  I snorted. “Of course that’s what they’re going to tell you.”

  He drove for a minute then sighed. “You want to know the truth? If I married anyone else, they’d be disappointed.”

  I opened my mouth, and he held up his hand.

  “And no, that’s not why I’m marrying you.”

  I sighed. He knew me too well. But he’d calmed my nerves. For now, anyway.

  *****

  “He’s out of there,” Coach Campbell roared.

  The Cincinnati batter didn’t move out of the box, and Alex’s dad threw out his hands in disgust. “What was that?”

  Demaree patted her husband’s arm. “Honey, just because we have seats behind home plate doesn’t mean you’re the ump.”

  “Maybe I should be,” he grumbled, but his grin gave him away. He leaned forward and looked across his wife at me. “What do you think, Jenna? Was I right or wrong?”

  Alex cleared his throat. “Now, Dad. Jenna—”

  While Alex was trying to protect me, St. Louis’s pitcher wound up for another pitch and released it. The umpire called strike three, and the inning was over.

  I laughed and interrupted. “Coach, I think you were absolutely right. He’s out of there.”

  “You always were a wise one,” he said.

  Yeah, like when I was wise enough to know my swimming career was all washed up. I pushed the negative thought away and scolded myself like Carly and I always did when the kids got a little self-centered. It’s not all about you, I reminded myself.

  Demaree slipped her hand in mine and gave it a small squeeze. She leaned over and spoke softly in my ear. “Forgive our enthusiasm, Jenna. We’re so happy that you and Alex are going to be married. I’m afraid we’re a little giddy.”

  “Are you sure?” I blurted out.

  Puzzlement crossed her face. “Of course I’m sure. Why would you ask that?”

  I shrugged. “No reason, I guess. I know I let Coach down when I lost the Olympics.”

  Her pretty face grew stern. “Let him down?” she said, no longer lowering her voice. She flashed a look at her husband. “Mike, Jenna thinks she let you down by losing in the Olympics.”

  His eyes widened with surprise, and either he missed
his calling as an actor, or his shock was genuine. “How did you let me down? You were the best swimmer I ever coached. You did everything I asked of you, even when you thought you couldn’t. You were a joy to coach, Jenna.”

  I resisted the urge to go into it further. Now was neither the time nor the place as the first Cardinal batter approached the batter’s box. “Never mind,” I said, smiling. “Thank you.”

  By the time the Cards won a rowdy victory, I’d almost managed to stop thinking of Alex’s parents as my ex-coach and his wife. If they could get over my early failure and the impact it no doubt had on their lives, surely I could, too. I was a grown woman, after all.

  But when we got to his parents’ house after the game, all my earlier nervousness returned with a vengeance. I climbed down from the truck. “Whoa, it’s beautiful,” I said to Alex, as we approached the white two-story house with its bright green roof. “I especially love the front porch and the swing.” His folks came out just as I finished speaking. They’d left the ball game only a few minutes before us, but when Alex called them ten minutes ago to tell them we were stopped for road construction, they were already home. One of the joys of being a local and knowing all the shortcuts.

  They accepted my compliments and ushered us into the house. We bypassed the formal living room and went straight to the family room, a comfortable area with overstuffed chairs and a fireplace.

  And walls and shelves covered with pictures. I noticed one of Alex as I remembered him from childhood. He was so cute, even then. I followed his pictorial progress from infancy to adulthood. All those moments I’d missed. There he was at bat in a baseball game; here he was shooting a long shot on the basketball court. There were pictures of him swimming, camping, graduating college. Holding up his shingle. There were several of him in groups, both formal and informal. None with him and a girl alone. I wondered if his parents wished he’d married someone from his college days instead of the girl who choked under pressure.

  “Hey, water girl,” Alex said from near my shoulder. “Your wall’s over here.”