Strong Tea

by Sheila Horgan

  I toyed with the idea of telling Rory — maybe he could have a little one-cop-to-the-other chat — but decided I’d wait to see if anything happened.

  For the next forty-eight hours, life was fabulously boring. A.J. and I danced in the living room. A.J. and Evelyn danced in the back yard. My father came over and did his magic with my plants.

  I heard from Teagan several times, but only so she could tell me she didn’t have anything new to report. Gord had decided to take a few days off. He and his wife were going to go to a sister church in Texas where she would preach and he would heal. Teagan didn’t argue the fact he really hadn’t been at her company long enough to earn any more time off. Probably because he was pretty much sent away. They didn’t discuss whether or not he expected to be paid.

  It was late in the afternoon when things got weird.

  More weird than normal.

  First, Joy called. She said Joynessa — Jessie’s daughter — had a head cold, and she was going to take her to the doctor. She thought Jessie would want to know.

  A couple of hours later, she called again and said the doctors thought it was more than a cold and sent her to the emergency room. They were running a bunch of tests.

  I tracked down Jessie and Teagan, and they said they were on their way to the hospital.

  They called a couple of very long hours later and said it was a very minor lung infection. Just one of those things. The doctor said Joy had caught it early and Joynessa would be fine. Joy was taking Joynessa home, and Teagan and Jessie were going to run to the grocery store, pick up some stuff for Joy, and drop it off. It all sounded very domestic, and I was proud of Teagan for handling it so well. She’s got so many things going on in every area of her life, but she seems to be keeping everything moving in the right direction.

  I really should think about my thoughts before I go too far down the path with them, because an hour later, Teagan was at my house, near hysterical.

  “What is wrong?”

  “I’m tired.”

  “Then shouldn’t you be home sleeping?”

  “It’s all too much, Cara. The stuff with Gord, and the audit stuff going on at the office. They’re going to do a deeper forensic kind of thing because something isn’t adding up.”

  “Gord has only worked for you guys a short time. How long could it take to do forensic investigations on what he has had access to?”

  “I don’t know. The guy said something about deleted data, which showed some questionable practices. He said we were lucky it hadn’t been written over, but I remember the other guy saying we had a lot more computer than we actually need, and most of our stuff really isn’t done on our computers; it’s on a cloud so it isn’t using any space anyway. The way the original computer guy has it partitioned was really smart. We could have files on there forever, plus we have all kinds of computer memory that’s just put to the side because we didn’t want to get rid of it. It’s one thing to erase your own data, but I’ve always felt funny about erasing our clients’ data, so when memory filled up, we pretty much just replaced it and stuck it in a metal box. Mr. Fisher was supposed to buy some military-grade program that would go back and pretty much shred our old files — digitally — to dust. He wanted to do it a while ago, but I told him it was a good selling point that we had all of our historical data securely stored. We would come back to the discussion about once a quarter. He always said he would take care of the old files, but then we would have to change all our paperwork and brochures, so I guess he never got around to it.”

  “It sounds like you’re tired and worried about things you don’t need to worry about. So what if people who don’t know anything about your business or your processes come in and say they see something strange? They’re probably looking at something that has a perfectly good explanation, but because they don’t know your business, they don’t know what they’re looking at. The fact you guys have all your historical data might seem strange on its own.”

  “You’re probably right. Jessie said basically the same thing.”

  “We agree a lot lately. Makes me nervous.”

  “Very funny. But you’re right. I gotta go. I told Jessie I was coming over here to drop something off to you. I can’t be too long.”

  “You’re hiding this from Jessie?”

  “No. I’m not hiding it. I’m just not telling him about it.”

  “Wow, and you used to give me a hard time about not filling A.J. in on everything.”

  “Jessie has a big thing going at work. He’s stressed enough. Now with Joynessa being sick, I decided it would be easier to come over and vent all over you.”

  “Well, glad to be of service. Is there anything we can do?”

  “No, the whole thing is just annoying. If the computer people can’t figure out whatever the problem is, I’ll call Mr. Fisher. It’s not like he has completely abandoned me. He does still own a piece of the company. He’s got to have some time on his hands. It’s not like he eased into retirement. One day he was at the office every day, and the next he was done. He’s gotta be going a little crazy by now, being with Honey twenty-four seven.”

  “Good point.”

  The phone rang while A.J. was in the shower. “You have plans for the day?”

  “Teagan, good morning to you, too. No real plans. I have some stuff I need to get done, but it doesn’t matter when I do it. What’s up?”

  “I need you to go with me to follow Kendra.”

  “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Her boyfriend is pretty big, and he seemed bound and determined not you — or anybody else — was going to bother her.”

  “There’s just too much at stake. I talked to Gord already this morning. He’s coming back to work. I need to decide if it’s a good thing or a bad thing, and the only way I can do that is to find out what the hell happened. The only way to find out what really happened is to talk to Kendra.”

  “And the phone is a bad idea because?”

  “Too easy to hang up, and I don’t have her number.”

  “So what’s your plan?”

  “I thought we could park in the Publix parking lot. She’s going to have to drive right past there when she comes out of her gate. Then we’ll follow her until she gets where she’s going. You pop out of the car and explain we only want to know if Gord getting kicked around was personal and has nothing to do with him working for me, or if I need to worry.”

  “And the reason I’ll be jumping out of the car?”

  “Two reasons. I’ll be behind the wheel, and it will be easier for you to jump out; and it will be easier for me to drive away if something goes wrong.” She laughed.

  I wished she were within reach.

  “Funny. How about I drive and we apply the same logic?”

  “But she already saw your car.”

  I filled my lungs all the way up with air and let it out with such force she couldn’t miss the meaning. She was dancing all over my last nerve. “Fine. When?”

  “We should be there early in case she decides to leave the house early.”

  “A.J.’s in the shower. I’ll jump in when he gets out. I’ll be ready in about half an hour, maybe forty-five minutes.”

  “I was thinking more like two.”

  “Two minutes?”

  “Yeah.”

  “But… ”

  “I’m in your driveway. You ready?”

  “Come in. Let me grab a hat. My hair is sticking up in every direction, and I’m not leaving the house before I brush my teeth.”

  “I’ll just wait out here. Hurry.”

  I brushed my teeth and explained to A.J. — around some terrible tasting toothpaste that we won’t be buying again — how my sister was insane, and I was going to go with her.

  He laughed at the first comment and told me to be careful about the second. “That boyfriend of hers, the cop, seems a little on the aggressive side.”

  “He knows I’m an O’Flynn. He isn’t going to do anything stupid. He knows my brother’s
a cop.” So, how many times does that make that I flipped back and forth on this particular path? I’m beginning to worry about myself.

  “Depends on how crazy he gets and if he’s on steroids. You don’t go anywhere near him, promise?”

  “Promise. I doubt this is actually going to come to anything. My guess is we’re going to drive around for a while, Teagan’s going to get frustrated, we’re going to stop to get something with way too many calories, and then she’ll drop me off.”

  “I hope that’s the way it works out. Text me. I’m gonna worry until I hear you’re home safe.”

  “I’m not going to do anything to put myself at risk of anything more than Teagan embarrassing me.”

  “Good. I love you.”

  “Me too.”

  Publix has the best French bread in the whole entire world. I could smell it, which was probably just my imagination since we were at the far end of the parking lot, but if you’re going to let your mind run around, the smell of fresh baked bread is a good place to let it go.

  “There she is. She’s in the blue car!” Teagan started the engine.

  “You sure?”

  “Yep. Hold on.”

  We went zooming through the parking lot. I was grateful we were in Teagan’s car when she completely ignored the speed bumps.

  For the record, I’m well aware Florida might have the worst parking lots in the country. It isn’t really a point of pride or anything, but if you’re going to be the worst at something, parking lots seems like a pretty astute choice.

  Until your sister is driving like a lunatic.

  Then the fact so many of our parking lots have only one exit and entrance point, and they’re all full of cars that stop for no reason — a problem on Florida roads as well — becomes less a charming thing and more a terrifying thing.

  “She’s gonna notice someone driving like this.”

  “She’ll figure we’re visiting from Texas. Watch her.”

  We made it all the way down Barnum to Baily without Teagan hitting anything, which was a minor miracle.

  Kendra was getting out of her car when Teagan slowed down almost enough for me to get out of the car without bodily injury.

  I still don’t know why the car door didn’t slam shut on my leg when she took off.

  “What do you want?”

  “I’m really not trying to cause any trouble, Kendra. Can you just answer one question so my sister can get on with her life and leave us both alone?”

  “What’s the question?”

  “All we need to know is if Gordon Gryzbowski getting beat up was personal or had something to do with his professional life.”

  “What do you mean by professional life?”

  That confused me.

  “He works for my sister. We just want to know if his troubles have anything to do with her offices. If they don’t, we walk away and mind our own business. If they do, then she needs to protect herself and her other employees — as well as the company — from the ramifications of whatever is going on.”

  “Is that all you wanted?”

  “That’s all we want.”

  “Gordy getting his ass handed to him had nothing to do with your sister’s company. Or my boyfriend. Nothing.”

  “Thank you, Kendra. We’ll leave you alone.”

  “Good, ’cause you’re into something you don’t want to know nothing about.”

  “Good to know. I mean, I don’t know anything, but I’m glad you told me that.”

  “So now the only question is how I get rid of Gord without getting sued.”

  We were at Teagan’s favorite restaurant. Her purse was hung on the back of one of the curlicue-enhanced white chairs, and we had enough calories between us to put weight on a manatee. If a manatee were dumb enough to eat stuff like this. I think they are more salad prone.

  “How can he sue you? He’s on probation, right? You don’t need a reason to fire him, but if you needed a reason, isn’t the fact that he disappeared for days without calling and then extended his time off without permission enough? Just how many days was he supposed to be gone? Did you guys even talk about that?”

  “I’ll talk to my human resources person. I just have a bad feeling about Gord and his wife. Like they’re out to get something for nothing, you know?”

  “Then give him a couple weeks severance pay, as a goodwill gesture, and call it done.”

  “Then I’m setting a precedent for all other people I let go.”

  “Talk to your human resources people. It sounds to me like it would be worth some money to get rid of him. Kendra made it sound like he’s really bad news. I get the feeling that he’s involved in things we don’t even want to know about.”

  “Aren’t you even the littlest bit curious, dingleberry?”

  “I have a wedding to plan. I’m not going to get myself in the middle of something illegal, immoral, or more important, hazardous to my health. I’m not walking down the aisle black and blue. Not even for you.”

  “I wouldn’t put you in that position.”

  “You thought you might be putting me in a sketchy position this morning, remember?”

  “If she’d made any moves like she was going to hurt you, I’d have just run her over.”

  “And missed me?”

  “Yep, that was the plan.”

  “Not a good plan, Teagan.”

  “It worked.”

  “She didn’t pull anything.”

  “It’s like an airplane.”

  “How is it like an airplane?”

  “Any landing you walk away from is a good landing.”

  “How’s that like this morning, you weirdo?”

  “You walked away, dingleberry.”

  I couldn’t even come up with a comment for that one. I’m slipping. “You want to come over tonight? We could start planning the wedding.”

  “I would love to. What time?”

  “You want dinner? You want to bring Jessie?”

  “Dinner, yes. Jessie? I’ll let you know. He might have meetings.”

  “I’ll make enough for everybody, and just let me know in time to set the table.”

  “Who’s everybody?”

  “I thought I’d ask Troya, Sinead, Maeve, Morgan. Valerie and Becca. Suzi will already be there, of course.”

  “Is everyone coming to dinner?”

  “I don’t know. I haven’t invited them yet.”

  “And she’s back.”

  “What?”

  “Last-minute-invite Cara. She’s back.”

  “Who’s back?”

  “B.B. Cara is back. Inviting everybody so late in the game they can’t possibly make it, but they will.”

  “If they can’t make it, they can’t make it. If they think another day is better, we can do that, too.”

  “I like it. I’m not complaining. I bet you a dollar they all make it.”

  “How come you’re so sure?”

  “Because we’ve all missed B.B. Cara.”

  “B.B.?”

  “Before Barry.”

  I wanted to smack her, but really, she’s right.

  A.J. took Evelyn to his grandmother’s for a visit while Suzi enjoyed the evening with the rest of the girls. The original thought was for Jessie to keep A.J. busy, but this was so much better.

  To my family’s credit, everybody made it.

  Sinead was late, but she looked so cute it was worth the wait. She does maternity well. She has her normal body, with a volleyball tucked under her shirt. Actually, what’s a little bit smaller than a volleyball?

  Valerie has the opposite maternity thing going on. She’s huge. She said people are already asking her when she’s due, and she isn’t due for quite a while.

  It’s weird that it seems to take some people no time at all to have a baby, and then others seem to be pregnant forever.

  Becca is like that. When she and Rory first told us she was pregnant with their first child, it seemed like it took years and years for her to hav
e the baby. Everyone teased her that she was like an elephant. Pregnant for two years. She agreed. Said she felt like she was carrying a baby elephant. A couple of hundred pounds. Their first was five pounds six ounces, and she lost all her baby weight in about twelve seconds.

  Morgan agreed it was totally unfair, but she admitted she’d lost her baby weight pretty fast, being a teen and having youth on her side. She said she and Liam have been talking about having another one, but she didn’t look forward to the pregnancy part. Being pregnant with Jordan had been taxing on just about every level.

  I tried not to let my mind wander to pregnancy. I’m not ready for dealing with all of it yet. Nobody held back, although I did get a couple of concerned looks when the topic started. I can’t live the rest of my life trying to avoid the subject of loss. I can’t allow myself to dwell on it. It’s an ugly place to be stuck.

  Knowing I had a couple of preggo people coming to dinner and not knowing what their cravings for the night would be, I decided to do brunch for dinner. That way there would be lots of choice. I had everything from ham steak to hash browns, and I even had a do-it-yourself waffle and pancake area on the counter. Multiple kinds of juice. Multiple kinds of cereal.

  And waffle cinnamon rolls. I know. I love those things. All you have to do is buy the ready-made cinnamon rolls in the paper canister thing, pop them open, cook the cinnamon rolls in the waffle iron, and then add some vanilla, milk, and powdered sugar to the icing so there’s enough to really drizzle around. They’re so good.

  Two things came up at dinner that really surprised me.

  Aldo is sicker than I thought. According to Troya, Daddy called her with questions about care. They are talking about having a nurse come to see him several times a week. It’s either that or put him in some kind of long-term care, and his wife doesn’t want to do it. It’s so sad. How can Daddy go through death again so soon? I know losing your friend is nothing like losing your spouse, but losing two people that have been in his life forever — so close together — is going to be devastating.

  The other thing I found amazing, Valerie is seriously considering not going back to work after she has the baby. She has always been so devoted to her career, her statement kind of surprised me. Actually, it shocked me. A lot. She said that the reason she was so focused on her career was because she didn’t have kids to focus on. She sure fooled me. I would have bet a lot that she was all about work and kids weren’t part of the plan.