Chirp(8)

A pair of bluebirds flew to a nearby box. The male poked his head in the hole, while the female fluttered to the fence. He danced in and out of the opening, as if coaxing her to come, but she wasn’t interested. Damn bird couldn’t get the female to stay, and Rance couldn’t get one to leave.

Hanna came around the end of the building, pulling her jacket tighter. “So, you don’t look too bad.”

He sucked on his cigarette, then flicked ashes. “Oh yeah. Prison was a real party. Nonstop.”

She scooted her butt onto the tabletop and rested her feet on the bench. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to make light of it.”

He smirked. “I know what you meant. Been out a year. I’ve had time to gain weight and get over the beat-down persona. But enough about my exciting life. What about you? Don’t see a wedding band. Thought you’d be married with babies by now.”

“Not yet, but close.”

“Don’t see an engagement ring either.”

Hanna laughed. “Okay, here’s the thing. I’m involved, and he’s asked, but I haven’t answered yet. Still considering it.”

Rance sat next to her. “That tells me a lot.”

“What does that mean?”

He should tell her it meant she didn’t love the guy or she wouldn’t be hesitating. He remembered her being the same age as his younger brother, Seth. That’d make her twenty-five. Old enough to settle down, and there couldn’t be that many available dudes in town. But her body language told him the subject wasn’t up for discussion. “Forget it. None of my business.”

“No, that’s okay. Here are the CliffsNotes of my life since I last saw you. Almost have my teaching degree by way of online courses. Work part-time here and substitute at the elementary school, while trying to get a bath-and-body business off the ground. I’m dating Dylan Carver. Did you ever meet him?”

Rance wanted to ask more, but her tone said to drop it. Bottom line: she wasn’t available. “Don’t think so.”

“Was Blaze surprised to see you?”

“Didn’t seem to be. Who is she, and why is she living in Gran’s house?”

Hanna shrugged. “All I know is three years ago, Dessie told me a girl was coming to live with her. Asked me to make friends. So I did.”

Rance cocked his head. “No idea where she came from or her connection to Gran?”

“Nope. But it was the best thing that could have happened. A year after she moved in, Dessie got diagnosed with cancer. Had it not been for Blaze, your grandmother would have spent her last days in a nursing home. She would have hated that.”

Rance pulled more nicotine into his lungs. Hanna was right. One of his grandmother’s greatest fears had been ending up in a nursing facility. “I don’t get it. Gran never said anything in her letters. Seth or Nick didn’t mention meeting a caretaker at the funeral.”

“Pretty sure Blaze didn’t go to the service. She works at the funeral home. Probably said her goodbye there because she’s practically a recluse,” Hanna explained.

“Why isn’t she in school?”

“She’s older than she looks. Twenty.”

“No way.”

“She has her cosmetology license, and you can’t take those courses until you’re in high school, so since she had her certification when she got here, that’s proof. Are you going to let her stay?”

“Not a chance. Something isn’t right with her. She might be in trouble with the law, and the last thing I want is any involvement with cops.”

Hanna hung her head. “I’m sure that’s not the case. She may be odd, but she’s a good person. And Dessie loved her.”

Wasn’t like she didn’t have the means to go somewhere else. It confirmed his theory. Anybody with that much cash would never live in Bluebird unless they were trying to disappear. Like him. “Well, I appreciate that, but she’s freeloaded long enough. Time for her to find a new home.”

Hanna checked her watch and slid off the table. “Not freeloading. I take care of her business and deposit a rent payment into Dessie’s bank account every month. A clear sign of integrity.”

Rance dropped his cigarette and ground it into the dirt with the toe of his boot. “You don’t want me to kick her out, do you?”

The breeze caught threads of Hanna’s hair and blew them across her face. She raked the strands aside and looked up at him. “I understand your concern, and I agree she’s hiding. But if she had anyone else to depend on, she’d already be gone. Just consider it. She’s so shy, you probably won’t know she’s there.”

Rance stared after Hanna until she disappeared. Damn. He hated she was taken. As small as the town was, there wouldn’t be much to choose from. Most women his age were already married, or divorced, usually with brats in tow. He didn’t need the responsibility of raising another dude’s kids. Hell, he wasn’t sure if he wanted to produce any of his own.

At least the spot-in-the-road had a bar, and if he remembered right, the neighboring town had several. When he got to Danvers, he’d find out. Just because he wasn’t traveling anymore didn’t mean he had to give up women. Another reason he needed to get rid of the problem houseguest.

As he drove out of town, he passed Over the Rainbow Funeral Chapel. Must be where the kid worked. Farther down were Bird Bath Spa, Bird Watcher’s Optometry, and Bluebirds Fly-Inn. Yep, definitely gone overboard, but he couldn’t help but laugh at some prime possibilities they’d overlooked. Bird Brain Psychiatric Hospital, Bird Legs Dance Studio, Bird Shit Sanitation.