by CC Dragon
I saw his car and took a deep breath. We’d only been dating a few weeks, so I wasn’t expecting anything, but I did need to figure him out a bit more to see if I was wasting my time. Maybe he had our relationship on the fast track and I was still warming up.
I walked in and he spotted me. He stood up at the back booth so I could find him. Luke had very gentlemanly manners most of the time—when we were alone. The hostess walked me back and set out a menu.
Luke kissed me on the cheek.
“Did you have a good afternoon?” I asked.
He nodded. “My brother is a good guy and his profession is very caring, but sometimes he hangs out with men with bad habits.”
“A couple drinks isn’t that bad when you have the night off,” I replied.
“I know. He just doesn’t plan. He drops in without even calling.” Luke’s jaw tensed.
“That is a bit rude. But when you jump at an alarm and have to be ready for any emergency, I guess you’re good to at the drop of a hat. Maybe he got the time and it’s nice he wanted to see you.” I flipped through the menu and picked something new.
“Good day at the shop?” Luke asked.
“Very. People love that hazelnut smoothie and all the lemon items were popular,” I said.
He frowned.
“That’s bad?” I asked.
“No, I just hate that you don’t have a day off. You’re in that shop seven days a week. Sunday is for rest and family,” he scolded.
The waitress moved in and took our order, so I had a few breaths to collect my thoughts. I took a sip of water.
“You’re saying we should close the shop on Sunday?” I asked.
“Well, you could hire people to work those days, if you must,” he replied.
“You obviously work on Sunday,” I countered.
“I have to, and that way we could spend the day together. You’re good with people and like to help.” He shrugged.
“If we become profitable enough to have more employees, rotating the schedules so everyone gets two days off a week is definitely a goal. But Gran generally chats with people, especially on Sundays, so I don’t think it’s unfair to her. I love the shop so it doesn’t feel like work,” I explained.
“We need to talk about a few things if this is going to be serious,” he said as he fidgeted with his silverware.
“I agree. You coming to the bar and acting like I’m dancing on the tables or stripping instead of helping my friend with her business is not okay.”
He sat back and looked a little stunned. “My brother wanted to meet you. I’m not a fan of bars, but I admire your work ethic and helping a friend.”
“It still felt like you were there checking up on me,” I said.
He looked around. “Other men in the club might be bothering you.”
I chuckled. “I can handle myself. Katie’s brothers are like my brothers. They’d protect me no matter what. It’s a safe small town.”
He drummed his fingers on the bar. “I think it looks better if your boyfriend is with you.”
“You think that will fix my reputation? My parents’ story? You can’t change who I am or whitewash over it.” Maybe he thought I was dating him to change how people looked at me?
“I do care about you and like you, Belle. I wanted to help and see if we were compatible,” he admitted.
Help? I took a long drink of water. “No, I don’t think we are compatible. If you’re going to disapprove of me helping my friend or working on a Sunday at my own business, no. I’m not trying to become a saint. I want people to judge me for me, not my parents. And not by you. I’m clearly not cut out to be a pastor’s girlfriend or wife.”
“I wanted to help, but you’re a rebel. It’s in your blood,” he teased.
“Rebel? Life is a game played with marked cards,” I shot back. “Help is a bad thing?”
“You think you have all the answers. That everyone needs you. Your gran needs you, of course, but Katie and everyone else around managed just fine before you returned to town. It’s not an invitation for you to change up everything. You meddled with a murder investigation because you thought you knew how to do it better,” he said.
“No, I had information and access the new sheriff didn’t,” I defended myself.
“And it only grows. You move Martha around so she’s working in three places now? She’s a mother,” Luke scolded.
“And her ex isn’t exactly generous in supporting his kids. She needs the money and he should spend more time with his kids. She only works at my shop or the bar when she has childcare and it works for her. If you’re that old-fashioned, we’d never work as a couple,” I countered.
“What? Because I want children to have their mother?” he asked.
“They have their mother. You want all the women to stay home with the kids and only dads work? That’s not possible, not in this world. I wouldn’t want that to be the expectation or rule either. Wow, this was a major mistake.” I slid from the booth and stood.
“It’s what women really want. A man to support and take care of them and their kids. They can work on charity and help others. Women wanting to take over and boss around men is why the world is going to hell,” he said.
“You’re insane. What about abusive men or cheaters? Women should just tolerate it?” I stood toe-to-toe with him—sometimes I couldn’t back down.
“Men can change and be forgiven. Women like that should rely on their families for help,” he explained.
“You’re nothing like I thought you were. What about me? My father ran off, my grandfather died. There are no brothers or uncles to count on. Should Gran and I go begging?” I asked.
“That’s why I was trying to help you. There is potential in you. Your grandmother did nothing wrong. Life can be unfair, but you’re a rebel deep down. I did my best to help but you’re not willing to change.” He shook his head.
“Help? Help by dating? By making my family respectable. You took pity on me in your warped perception of this?” I asked.
Luke sighed. “I tried. You could’ve had a good life as a pastor’s wife. Your gran would have her shop and be respected in the town. The pity would go away with one wedding. You think you don’t need me, but you can’t do it by yourself.”
Help. Pity. Respect. My hands trembled as I realized how badly I’d misjudged the situation. I grabbed my glass of water and splashed it in his face.
“We’re done. I’d rather become a groupie for that band and follow them around the south than date you for another second.”
I stalked out of the restaurant, hungry and pissed off.
“Men! Like licking honey off a thorn.” I slammed the door to my pickup and peeled out of the parking lot.
Chapter Three
I’d hidden out in the back of the shop for most of Monday. A public break-up scene wasn’t exactly the image I was going for. Who dumps a pastor like that? Word had spread despite everyone saying Luke hadn’t been seen in public all day. His car was parked in front of his home.
Tuesday morning, I refused to hide. The morning rush was crazy. Most people just asked how I was doing.
“Fine. Mr. Right is hard to find,” became my standard answer.
“If you need to take a break, we’re good.” Martha had come in before her grocery store shift to help out.
“I’m fine, thanks. I can’t thank you enough for helping out yesterday. Luke might be taking the high road, too, but I can’t avoid people forever,” I said.
Martha nodded. “True. The girls had a blast baking with you in the back. Free babysitting and we took home the imperfect loaves.”
“You girls are all single again. You should get on an app,” Gran suggested.
“Why is Katie single? She’s gorgeous, always around men and outgoing,” Martha asked.
Gran sighed. “Her poor mother was very unlucky in love. She tried hard, made the men marry her—she wasn’t a bad girl. But things never worked out. Katie saw that. I think she’s afrai
d of making the same mistakes. If you don’t have a good example of a healthy relationship, how do you know when it’s worth working at or not and it’s time to cut and run at the first sign of trouble?”
“She does have a good business. Marry the wrong man and get divorced, he might want a piece of it,” Martha speculated.
“Exactly. Her success makes her a target for men who want to sit around and do nothing. I have no objection to a stay-at-home dad situation, but some men want a mommy.” Gran sighed.
I was distracted and the coffee cup overflowed a bit. “Darn.” I pulled my hand away.
“Oh, Belle, I didn’t mean that had anything to do with you and the pastor. He’s a caveman. Certainly not the right man for you. It was the right call…just a bit public,” Gran advised.
“I know. I was lucky to get to see you and Grandpa be so happy. Katie will find the right guy. She might test him like the ten plagues, but the right man will prove himself. Good men are hard to find, harder these days.”
Gran shook her head. Her group of four guys who acted like they helped around the shop were at their usual table. Gran sat with them when things were quiet.
“I can’t believe he let you go,” called out Milan, one of Gran’s admirers.
“We weren’t a good fit,” I argued.
Martha re-poured the coffee I’d spilled and wiped up the counter. “It’s weird, though. Normally Pastor Luke does his shopping every Monday morning, like clockwork. Then he has lunch with a couple of the volunteers and staff. I worked the register from opening until two and he never came into the grocery store.”
“He could’ve skipped it to avoid the talk,” Milan suggested.
“He’s ashamed of himself. He should be.” Gran wagged her finger.
I shook my head. “That’s not how people are telling it. But I did lose my temper. I yelled and threw my water in his face.”
“And he deserved it.” Martha nodded.
“Thanks for the support. It’s over and I’m free to focus on my shop and my friends.” I felt lighter. It was the right choice, even if I could’ve been more dignified about it. “He’s a lot more conservative in a lot of ways that I thought a younger man wouldn’t be, even a pastor.”
“Oh, there are threads of real deep conservatives all over the south. Gotta watch your modern views there, young lady,” Joe said.
“I lived in Atlanta for a while, but it’s not like I’m walking around naked and telling people not to go church.” I frowned.
Gran scoffed. “I’d smack you upside the head and cover you with one of my old house dresses.”
“You never know someone until you spend a lot of time with them. Even if you marry them, sometimes they aren’t honest until it’s too late.” Martha restocked the cups and cleaned one of the machines while the shop was slow.
“Your ex is an idiot. You’re so nice and hardworking,” I teased.
She smiled. “But when you’re the one doing all the work without help—it’s awful. Might as well just be a single parent.”
Gran reorganized the pastries we had left. “If you ever feel like we’re working you too much, you just say no. Some women never learn to use that word and mean it. Moms need to take care of themselves too.”
“I didn’t mean you. I love working here and the bar. It’s a nice variety and I can use the extra cash tips. My mom is actually proud of me and helping by watching the girls more.” Martha smiled and gave Gran a hug.
“Independence isn’t a four-letter word!” I declared. “Marry a handsome man and you marry trouble.”
Gus and Lou, one of the deputies, came in the shop.
“What’s your poison?” I asked.
When they took off their hats, I knew something weird was up. Touching the brim or tipping their hats might be good old southern manners, but taking them off…
“What’s wrong?” Martha asked.
“You had dinner with Pastor Luke Sunday night?” Gus asked.
I blushed. “Not exactly. We didn’t make it to dinner. We broke up.”
“But you saw him and he was fine when you left?” Gus asked.
“Yes, I drove off and he was sitting at the table. I haven’t talked to him since, but I don’t want to. Doubt he’d want to speak to me. That’s over,” I said.
The edges of Gus’ mouth quivered a bit but he didn’t actually crack a smile.
“I’ve been looking for his brother, but he’s staying at the motel on the edge of town and wasn’t answering. We need to start an investigation. I’m sorry to inform you that Luke is dead.”
Martha dropped a coffee mug. “Sorry.”
“Dead?” Part of me wanted to laugh. Was this a joke? Before it was the sheriff, now Luke? We don’t have that many deaths in a small town like Sweet Grove. Was it a car crash? Luke was young and healthy.
Martha cleaned up the pieces. “What happened?”
“Please heavens, let him be okay,” Gran prayed.
“Gran, the sheriff said that Luke is dead, not missing,” I reminded her.
“The church secretary called us when she’d been trying to contact the pastor for most of Monday when he didn’t come into the office or call. His car is clearly in his driveway but he’s not answering the home phone or his cell.” Gus sighed.
“I haven’t tried to call, but he hasn’t called me.” I pulled my phone out of my pocket.
Gus waved away my phone. “I believe you. The home is technically the property of the church, so we got the okay and entered. Any ideas what we found?”
I grabbed my water bottle and took a drink. “Luke, dead.”
“How?” Milan asked.
“First we found something else. Which is why we’re pretty sure you’re not involved. But it’s a bit confusing,” Lou said.
“I don’t understand. What else did you find?” I asked.
“I’m confused too,” Gran agreed.
Lou showed me a picture on his phone. I moved back.
“A snake? A rattler got in his house?”
Gus shook his head.
“People can be allergic, if he was and got bitten—he very well could’ve died before he could even call for help,” Martha said.
“That’s not a rattler,” Gus argued.
I frowned and looked closer. “It’s not a cottonmouth or coral.” Those were the snakes we’d grown up learning about as kids. They were the dangerous ones.
“We got Animal Control on the scene now. They believe it’s a Burmese Python. From the looks of Luke, he was crushed around the torso.”
“Wait, don’t those snakes eat what they kill?” Milan asked.
Lou nodded. “According to the research, they do. There were bite marks on the body.”
I shuddered and Martha gasped. Gran sat down at the table with her guys.
“I saw something about that on one of the nature channels. The snake’s jaw can’t open wide enough to swallow the human shoulders.” Martha shuddered.
“Please stop.” I took another drink of water. “How big is that snake?”
“About four feet and a good two inches around. Not near fully grown but strong enough to kill a man. Some people keep them as pets,” Gus said.
“No one I know.” I shook my head. “I’m sorry, I don’t know anyone who wanted Luke dead.”
“You get the timing is unfortunate,” he said.
“I couldn’t handle a four-foot snake of any kind. Luke and I didn’t work out, but I didn’t want him dead,” I answered.
“A bad break-up could be viewed as a motive. We can’t rule you out because you say it was amicable. Any ideas who would? Luke having any problems with money or people?” Gus asked.
I folded my arms and took a deep breath. “He brought his brother to the bar, but you know that. He’s in town for a bit. They didn’t seem super close, but coming to town and meeting everyone just to kill your brother doesn’t really make sense.”
“No, it doesn’t. He wasn’t having trouble with anyone in the church?
” Gus asked.
I frowned. “He didn’t tell me about counseling sessions or stuff like that. I know deep down he’s more conservative than he tries to appear most of the time. He didn’t like me working in a bar, even if my friend owns it. I’m not sure what else I don’t know about him, but I found out enough to know we weren’t a good match.”
“My friend Lolly Mae moved to Florida. They have a lot of those types of snakes down there in those swamp areas. Maybe they’re just on the move? Or someone had it for a pet and it got loose? It could all be an accident,” Gran suggested.
“We’ve put the word out, but no one’s reported a lost pet snake,” Lou said.
“The pastor’s house was newer and well-maintained. If a snake got in there, odds are it’d be a harmless type or an eastern diamondback. But he’s not on the outskirts with acres and acres of land. The house is near the church. When’s the last time you’ve seen a snake in town?” Gus asked.
“Never, now. In my back yard, a few. I whack ’em with the shovel,” Gran admitted.
“Hopefully it’s only one snake and nothing else,” Martha added.
Gus’ phone rang and he stepped outside to take the call.
“Sorry, Lou, can I get you a coffee or water?” I offered.
“Not right now, thanks,” Lou answered.
“Belle, you should sit down,” Martha said.
I shook my head but took another drink of water. “We only dated for a few weeks. It was very casual, nothing serious. What’s the old saying? You never know the length of a snake until it’s dead. Why did that pop in my head?”
Gus walked in and looked relieved. “They have the snake and it’s still alive for now. There were no other animals in the home. We can go over there and photograph, get any evidence, but the coroner is on the way as well. Let’s go, Lou.”
“You guys want to take some coffee and rolls for all the people?” I offered.
He grinned at me. “Probably should. Thanks.”
Lou and Gran went over to get the pastries while Martha and I set up ten coffees to go with sugar and creamer they could add later. Not our fanciest, but practical.