Chirp(33)

The thought stopped his nostalgia. He wondered if she’d ever necked with anyone. Even been kissed? Must have. Because during his search of her room, he’d seen birth control pills. Hell, just because she hadn’t attended public school didn’t mean she hadn’t had contact with boys.

He stepped from the shower, leaned on the porch banister, and watched a pair of black-bellied whistlers swim in the pond. It was the first time he’d seen them since he’d been back, but they’d been nesting here since he was a kid. He and Seth spent one summer trying to locate their eggs but never found them.

He loved this place more every day. It was his sanctuary. His saving grace. The one place he felt safe. Houston had once been his home, but now it might as well be a foreign country.

After dressing, he strolled into his new bedroom and peered outside. He had a clear view of the garden spot. Like always, the kid was busy planting something. Muttly scampered about, and Rance could tell from Blaze’s head movements she was talking to the dog.

Funny how she had no trouble yakking with an animal, but conversation with Rance made her uneasy. However, she was changing on that front. During their dinner question-and-answer game, he’d learned she had no siblings. When it came her turn, she’d been a bit too interested in Seth. Maybe she was simply curious about his brother’s bride-to-be, but it seemed like more. She wanted information about his job, his engagement, his wedding date, and if the festival visit had been nailed down.

The thought occurred to him that she was nervous about having extra people to deal with and planned to stay somewhere else. That was probably the reason for the interrogation. She needed to make arrangements in advance.





Blaze


As hard as Blaze tried, she couldn’t get Hanna and Noah off her mind. The last few days she’d attempted to get information from Rance without much luck.

She’d learned Seth’s new job with the fancy law firm was because his betrothed was the boss’s daughter. That called his ethics into question. If he was Noah’s father, why didn’t Hanna think him worthy enough to tell? And now, his future hinged on nepotism. Maybe he thought only of himself and did whatever it took to advance his career.

She flipped a page in her notebook and studied the instructions for her next client, seventy-four-year-old Clyde Bonner. Men were easier than women. With a little foundation and a dusting of powder, they were good to go. Well, it took longer if they needed a haircut, which Clyde didn’t, because he’d been a member of a local country-and-western band and had worn his in a ponytail.

She removed the protective cape, tightened the knot on his tie, then smoothed his shirt and jacket. After checking him off the list, she studied her word of the day. Alacrity, meaning eagerness, willingness, or readiness. She’d been judging Seth unfairly. She hadn’t even met him.

At two o’clock she sat in the break room eating a peanut-butter sandwich and enjoying the solitude. The area was small with only one table, four chairs, a fridge, and a couple of vending machines. Since she was about the only person who used it, she wished she could redecorate. A rug would improve the tan commercial tile, and if the white walls had a splash of color, it would cheer the place. Original artwork wouldn’t hurt either.

Cam’s voice echoed down the hallway and shattered her musing. Hoped he wouldn’t make a last-ditch effort to escort her to the banquet. But if he did, now she had a legitimate excuse to refuse.

The door flew open. He stepped inside and gave her the eye. “Hey, how’s it going?”

“Fine.”

“You coming tonight?”

Her stomach clenched. “Yeah.”

“Good. I’ll save you a seat.”

Before she could answer, Mrs. Walters peeked inside and shoved a white box tied with a ribbon toward Blaze. “Handy I found you in here because this needs refrigeration.” She retreated, leaving Blaze alone with Cam again.

She stared at the imprint. Bluebird Blossoms. The local shop delivered funeral arrangements all the time, but to see a tag with her name on it surprised her. She unpinned the envelope from the bow and read the card. Looking forward to tonight. +1.

A rush of adrenaline pushed a knot into her throat. She tugged the satin. Inside was a wrist corsage of white orchids surrounded by baby’s breath tied with ribbon the color of bluebirds. Dad had given her a bouquet at her art show. She’d picked flowers with Helga and then Dessie, but she’d never gotten a corsage. Much less one from a man—like Rance.

“Looks like I won’t need to save you a seat.”

She’d forgotten Cam was in the room. “Uh? Oh yeah. I’m bringing someone.”

“I didn’t think you dated.”

She didn’t like his tone or the sneer. “He isn’t a date. A plus one.”

“I’m bringing a basketball buddy. Figured I needed another guy to help me turn a boring banquet into a party.”

Blaze wasn’t sure what he meant. Were they going to shoot hoops? Didn’t have to wait long for an explanation.

“Yeah, I’ve already bought the vodka,” Cam said. “You can drink it and no one knows because it don’t smell.”

“You shouldn’t do that. If your dad finds out, you’ll get in trouble.”

“Yeah, well, I already stay in trouble with my old man. He keeps harping about me taking over the business one day. Like dealing with dead people for the rest of my life is what I want to do.” He scooted a chair from the table and dropped into it.