Darkness at the Edge of Town (Iris Ballard #2)(5)

“Hey, Carol, it’s Iris.”

She squealed like a little girl on the other end. “Oh, I’d hoped it was you!” she shrieked in excitement. “How’d it go? Is Shelly real short? I read somewhere she’s barely five feet. Is it true? Did you get me an autograph?”

“It went fine. She is short. And yes, I got you an autograph.”



She squealed again, so loud I had to pull the phone away from my ear. “I can’t believe you got to meet Shelly Monroe. I am so jealous.”

“Well, next time I go, I’ll get you backstage so you can meet her too.”

“I am going to hold you to that, Iris Ballard.”

I smiled to myself. “How’s Gus?”

Yeah, I missed the big lug. I adopted him after the Meriwether attack for protection but spent most of the time protecting him from the various creatures who inhabited the woods behind my house, mainly squirrels and the stray cats I feed. Yet when Shepherd broke into my house, Gus stepped up, biting that maniac’s leg, and getting shot in the process. But my Gus wouldn’t let a little thing like losing a leg stop him. After a few weeks he was running around, galloping like a small pony, or at least that’s what the videos Carol sent me showed. She did tell me he milked his wounds for everything they were worth. When she’d skimp on the dog food, he’d begin whining and licking his stump until she acquiesced. So I now owned a 120-pound, three-legged dog with no shame. It wasn’t exactly what the breeder advertised in the brochure.

“Hungry.”

“Glad to know he misses me,” I chuckled.

“Of course he misses you. We all miss you. When you comin’ home?”

“Soon. Probably the day after tomorrow. I’m gonna rent a car, drive back down. Spend the night in D.C.”

“Spend the night in D.C., huh?” she asked with an air of mischief. “Are you plannin’ on seein’ a certain hunky federal agent while you’re there?”

Two months before, if I’d even mentioned the name Luke Hudson to Carol she’d sneer and roll her eyes, but after his encounter with Shepherd she practically had a hot flash. I was sure it had something to do with the fact that he almost died saving my life. That would have certainly done it. Okay, I was blushing again. Just the thought of going on a date with him made me blush.



“Actually, that’s why I’m calling,” I admitted. “I just got off the phone with him and…” I couldn’t say it.

“And what?” she asked impatiently. “Did you two get into another fight?”

“No! Nothing like that. In fact, he…” I just couldn’t say it.

“Girl, spit it out!”

“He asked me out to dinner and the symphony, and I said yes,” I blurted out.

There was that squeal again. “Y’all are going on a date! About damn time.”

“It’s not a date,” I clarified. “It’s a…it’s a date?”

“Isn’t it?”

“I don’t know.”

“Well, do you want it to be?” she asked.

That was the question. Did I want Luke? The question made my stomach lurch. “I don’t know,” I replied in a hollow voice. “I mean, he’s my best friend. We have such…history. I…” I sighed. “I don’t know if I’m ready to be in a relationship with anyone, let alone Luke Hudson.”

“Hon,” she said sympathetically, “it’s been over two years since Hayden died. That’s long enough to put your life on hold. He’d want you to move on. Be happy.”



“With the man I cheated on him with? Even Hayden had his limits.” I looked down with a frown. “I still miss him, you know.”

“I know. He’d be so proud of you.”

“I hope so.”

“As for the date thing, just…go with the flow. If it’s right, it’s right. You’ll know.”

“You’re such a romantic.”

“I know, but I ain’t wrong.” She pauses. “Oh, and I almost forgot to tell you. Your mother called.”

My eyes narrowed. “My mother?”

“Yeah. Not ten minutes ago. She was looking for ya. Said it was real important, and she didn’t have your new number.”

That couldn’t be good. My mother never called me, except on holidays and my birthday, and even then the conversations never lasted more than a few minutes. “Okay, thanks, Carol.”

“Hope everything’s all right. She sounded mighty upset.”

“I’m sure everything’s fine. I’ll see you in a couple days, okay?”

“Yeah. Or longer. Just go with the flow.”

“Not funny,” I said sternly. “Hug your son and Gus for me. Bye.”

I hung up the phone, but after a long sigh, I called my mother. She picked up on the first ring. “Hello?”

“Hi, Mom, it’s Iris.”

“Oh, my good Lord, Iris!” she said breathlessly, sounding utterly relieved, as if I’d just told her the tumor was benign. “Thank you, God! I’ve been trying to reach you all day! Nobody had your number!”

“Yeah, I had to get a new phone. I forgot to send you the new number. Sorry. So, what’s up?”