The Truth Seeker

by Dee Henderson

  “Very true. Page me if you get anything on those notes.”

  “Deal.”

  Quinn hung up the phone and ran his hand through his hair. He was too old for this kind of emotional mess. He didn’t mind a long wait if there was hope at the end of it. But life didn’t always give him what he hoped for; he knew that more than anyone. “It would help if Lisa believed. It would help if I didn’t,” he said quietly to his God. He was staring at an impasse.

  The yard looked gorgeous. Lisa leaned against the back deck railing, feeling relieved to be back home, if only for a short time while she packed.

  “Lisa, are these two suitcases it? You’ve got everything else you need?”

  She turned as Quinn stepped out onto the deck. “Those two cases and the garment bag. Would you read my instructions on the animals’ care, see if they make sense?”

  “Already scanned it. Other than warning Todd that Iris considers your finger something interesting to taste, I think you covered everything.”

  “Iris and Todd get along just fine. I think the problem is you’re a guy who doesn’t have pets, and Iris was smart enough to know that. She was just joshing you about it.”

  “I just think she thought my thumb was another peanut.”

  Lisa picked up Sidney who had come wandering over the threshold to the deck. “Can we stop by the gallery next and pick up the picture?”

  “If you like.”

  “Might as well get all the errands done at once. Come on, Sidney, time to go back to your home. Quinn, I promised Kate a call when we were done here. I want to see this chair she bought as a wedding gift.”

  “Lizzy, you can’t even imagine it. Any bow she uses is going to disappear.”

  “White?”

  “Probably the only color that isn’t in that chair.”

  Eighteen

  “No. Hold it like this.” Quinn reached over and corrected Lisa’s hold on the harmonica. “Use your left hand to move it and your right to change the air flow.”

  They were somewhere over the state of Missouri, flying south to Houston. It was a gorgeous day, the plane now above a bank of clouds so the sun lit a bright white blanket beneath them. Kate had just moved forward to join Dave in the cockpit. Stephen and Marcus were deep into a game of chess while Jack had settled back in his chair to take a nap.

  “I can’t figure out how you remember the right distance.”

  “Think eights. Divide the harmonica in half, divide those two pieces in half as well. That gives you the four major sections. Then think left side of a section or right, and that gives you eighths. Every sound you make is a combination of which of those sections you cover and how you breathe.”

  She lowered the harmonica and looked at it with frustration. “Something this simple should not be this hard to play.”

  “Actually, it was a good choice. It will help your lung capacity come back.” He laughed at her look. “Try again. You’ll get it.”

  She leaned back in her seat and raised the harmonica. “Maybe I should just admit defeat and tell Jack he won.”

  “Before your first lesson is over?”

  “I didn’t say I was going to, only that I should.” She tried a simple scale again.

  Quinn settled back in his seat, did his best to keep a straight face.

  “Quit looking like that,” she muttered.

  “Like what?”

  “Like you swallowed a lemon.”

  “Would you murder me if I bought earplugs?”

  “Slowly,” she promised.

  “Breathe.”

  She tried again. He couldn’t cover the wince. “A deeper breath and you’ll get musical notes instead of a screech.”

  “After the wedding, we’re not going to do the traditional walk down the aisle,” Jennifer explained from her chair in the center aisle, where she had been orchestrating this walk-through of her wedding. “Tom and I are going to stay at the front of the chapel and greet our wheelchair-bound guests so those who need to return to the clinic can leave first and those able to stay for the reception can have some extra time to make it over to the hotel.”

  Quinn listened with half his attention while he watched the more interesting byplay going on between Lisa and Kate. There was an animated, whispered conversation going on between the two of them as they sat on the top step of the stage. He knew trouble when he saw it. They’d only been in Houston twenty-four hours and the two of them were conspiring to drive him crazy.

  One of them, and he wasn’t quite sure which, had snuck into his hotel room and unpacked for him, then stolen his hat and returned it with a garland of flowers around the brim, alternating white and yellow daisies of all things. He was sure the choice of flowers had been Kate’s, but swiping his hotel room key—that had to be Lisa.

  Lisa giggled.

  “Lizzy, what did I just say?” Jennifer asked.

  She looked over at her sister, trying to look chagrined at being caught. “The reception starts at 3 P.M. sharp. And will Stephen please stay away from the cashews until after the guests have left.”

  Jennifer set aside her notebook. “What are you two deciding now?”

  “You don’t want to know,” Lisa replied cheerfully.

  “What if there’s a fire alarm? How do you want to manage clearing the room?”

  “Jack, thank you for that delightful thought; it was farther down on my list, but we can talk about it now. There are two handicap-accessible entrances, the doors by the choir loft and those at the front of the building. Jack, can you and Stephen manage thirty special-needs guests should the need arise?”

  “Quinn, Marcus, Dave, you’re recruited to keep the front aisle cleared,” Jack decided.

  “What about the lights going out?” Marcus asked from his seat on the front pew, his arm wrapped around Shari.

  “I think the more relevant question is, what if the air-conditioning goes out?” Stephen asked.

  “Guys, please don’t give me worst case here. Nothing bad is allowed to happen at my wedding.”

  “Can I light the candles?”

  “No, Jack. I have responsible people to do that. And no, you are not carrying the ring either.”

  Quinn coughed. He had to love this family.

  “Everybody know their cues?”

  “We’re ready, Jen,” Marcus replied. “And you’ve still got to decide if you want to throw your bouquet here before you go to change or later over at the reception.”

  “Reception. And I’ll stay in my wedding dress too through the end of the reception.”

  “No you won’t.” A chorus of voices all vetoed that idea.

  Jen’s fiancé leaned over her chair to kiss her nose. “Pictures only. Then you change and watch the happenings from a comfortable seat.”

  “I’m feeling fine.”

  “Good. This way you’ll stay that way.”

  “I want to stand for the ceremony.”

  “If you cut it to twenty minutes. Move the second song up to the prelude before you come down the aisle.”

  “Tom.”

  “Live with it.”

  “Then you owe me another kiss.” Tom complied, drawing long wolf whistles from the family. He rested his hands on her shoulders, gently tugged her wig, and studied her blush. “You look good as a blonde.”

  “I was thinking about wearing a purple wig for the reception. That was my patients’ vote.”

  “Knowing you, you’d do it too.”

  “I still might. Rachel, did I forget anything?”

  “Rice.”

  “Oh—very important. Jack, if you cook the rice so I get hit with white soggy stuff I’m going to make you eat it.”

  Jack burst out laughing. “Jen, I hadn’t even thought of that one. And why are you always picking on me? You know Kate dreams most of this stuff up.”

  “Whitewashing my car windows this morning—are you telling me that wasn’t you?”

  “I claim the fifth.”

  “I thought you would.”r />
  “And Dave helped.”

  Jen looked over at Dave. “Let me guess, you were trying to keep Kate out of trouble.”

  “Hey, he can get into plenty of trouble on his own,” Kate protested.

  “I just want you all to remember I have a long memory. This might be the first O’Malley wedding, but I doubt it will be the last.” Her amused threat was met with laughter.

  “Marcus and Shari are next,” Jack agreed.

  “Only if I can’t talk Kate into walking the aisle first,” Dave countered.

  “We’re eloping,” Kate replied immediately.

  She was greeted with a chorus of boos. “Sorry, you get the full wedding deal,” Marcus insisted on everyone’s behalf. “Jen, what else?”

  “Rachel has managed a minor miracle getting the reception ready at the hotel. Kate’s already volunteered to do the face painting for my young guests. I need someone to blow up the balloons for the animals Shari is making.”

  “Dave,” Kate volunteered.

  “Sure, I’ll do it.”

  “Friends from church are going to handle the cake and punch tables. Anything else I forgot?”

  “Where are you going for your honeymoon?”

  “You think I’d tell you guys?”

  “Home.”

  There was a burst of laughter from the family as Jennifer and Tom contradicted each other.

  “Okay, we’re done here. I’ll see everybody tomorrow morning for church.”

  Marcus got to his feet and crossed over to kiss Jen’s cheek, officially breaking up the walk-through. “Take her home, Tom.”

  There were numerous hugs and the group began to disband.

  “So where do we want to go for dinner?” Jack asked the group, turning his attention to the upcoming evening.

  Quinn settled his arm around Lisa’s waist, stepping in to take over. “Lisa and I are going back over to the hotel.”

  “We are?”

  “Yes.”

  She was puzzled but nodded, looking over at Kate. “I guess I’ll catch up with you later.”

  Kate looked at him, then back at Lisa. “I’ll wait up for you.”

  Quinn winked at Kate. “We’ll be late.” He looked over at Marcus, got a slight nod. Earlier this afternoon the two of them had planned out the next few minutes. “Come on, Lizzy.” Quinn turned her toward the side door.

  “Is there a reason we’re not going with the others for dinner?”

  “Yes.”

  Lisa laughed. “Going to tell me what it is?”

  “I thought I’d show you.” He held the door for her.

  “Where are you parked?”

  Quinn nodded to the right and jiggled his keys. “Over there.”

  He led Lisa over to a fire-red convertible.

  “Wow. Nice car.” She slid into the seat as he held the door.

  He walked around to the driver’s side, started the car. “The keys are getting handed to Jennifer tomorrow. Tonight we’re just getting her to admit she wants one so that tomorrow she won’t be able to refuse the gift.”

  Lisa’s reaction was everything he could have hoped for. He wished he had a camera. He reached over, put a finger below her chin, and gently closed her mouth.

  “The family bought her a car.”

  “You did too. We can debate who picks up your portion of the bill later. I may take it in kind for that Sinclair watercolor.”

  “Quinn.”

  “Honey, they wanted to surprise you too. Personally, I think it worked.”

  “They didn’t think I could keep it a secret.”

  “Maybe one percent of it. Hold on a minute.” Quinn backed up to the canopy entrance where Jennifer and Tom had just appeared.

  “Jen, what time is the service in the morning?”

  “Nine o’clock.” She was studying the car. “Want to give me a lift tomorrow to the reception? I can arrive in style. And I don’t think Stephen and Jack could fill a convertible with balloons.”

  “I thought you might like it.”

  “Anything red is hard not to like.”

  “I’ll give you a ride tomorrow,” he agreed. “You’d best get off your feet so you’ll be up to walking down the aisle tomorrow. We’ll see you in the morning.”

  “Till tomorrow,” Jennifer agreed.

  Lisa waited until he pulled onto the interstate. “She’s going to be so surprised.”

  “I already told Marcus I’d bring a Kleenex box. Knowing Jen, she’ll need it.”

  “She’s good at happy tears. She’s never going to make it through the service.”

  “Probably not. Tom will be ready.”

  Lisa ran her hand over the dash. “I’m glad they chose this. She needs her dream while there is still time to enjoy it.”

  Quinn looked over at Lizzy, concerned.

  “The remission is just that, a remission. It’s going to get worse.”

  “Don’t borrow trouble,” he said gently.

  “I’m trying to be realistic. I just hope she gets a decent couple months with Tom before she’s back in the hospital.”

  “Lizzy—”

  “Ignore me. I just hate the reality. She is so happy—it’s not fair that she’s the one who is sick.”

  “She’s at peace with the situation even if the worst happens. So is Tom.”

  “Because they believe.”

  “Yes.”

  “I think that makes it worse. It’s false hope.”

  “You’re wrong.”

  Lisa shoved back hair that was blowing in her eyes. “You really want to debate the question of whether life after death is possible with a forensic pathologist?”

  “You don’t have a monopoly on the truth, you know.”

  “About this subject I do.”

  “Kate’s right. You’re close minded.”

  “Quinn.”

  “I’ll grant you that now is not the right moment to have this discussion, but we will have it, Lizzy.”

  “You’re as stubborn as Kate.”

  “Tenacious. Especially when I’m right.”

  Lisa changed the subject. “Where are the speakers in the car?” She turned on the radio and turned up the volume. Quinn reached over and showed her which button changed the woofers. “Try that.”

  He pulled into the hotel parking lot as Lisa rummaged through the glove box. “Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm, hairbrush—let me guess, Rachel stocked it.”

  “Shari, actually.”

  “Did we get Jen any CDs?”

  “Tom did.”

  Quinn circled the car to open her door. She didn’t move. He chuckled. “Yes, you have to leave the car. It’s not yours.”

  “I bought a piece of it, didn’t I?”

  “You just used it up on the drive here.”

  “Shoot. I was hoping we could go for a long drive tonight.”

  “You like convertibles?”

  “Are you kidding? Look at this car. It’s like a dream on wheels.” She reluctantly got out of the car. “I want to know when I can get a matching one, only in blue. How much did this cost?”

  “Honey, if you have to ask, you can’t afford one.”

  “Well, I have to admit, the artwork will probably appreciate better.”

  Quinn walked with her toward the hotel lobby. “I want to talk to you about this mysterious invisible roommate I seem to have acquired.”

  “What now?”

  “It seems someone replaced my jeans with several pairs several sizes too big.”

  Lisa giggled. “Did they?”

  “You really are pushing it.”

  “I know. But you’re so much fun to get.”

  “I was thinking you might want to turn some attention to Marcus.”

  “What did you have in mind?”

  “If he sees me, I’m going to be toast.”

  “Then don’t get caught,” Quinn replied, amused. “Ready?”

  “If you double-cross me . . . ”

  “Have a little faith. G
o.”

  Lisa took the room key and disappeared down the hall.

  Quinn stepped into the vending machine area and dug out change for a soda, killing time while he listened for the elevator. They all had rooms on the same hotel floor although they were spread out. As it had worked out, the guys were at one end of the floor, the girls at the other.

  His soda was half gone when he heard the elevator doors open. He heard Shari and Marcus talking about dinner plans. Quinn glanced at his watch, then tamped down the amusement in his expression and went to intercept them. He needed to delay Marcus for two minutes.

  “Hi, Shari, Marcus. Did either of you see Lisa downstairs?”

  “No.”

  “I’ve lost her—again. I’m going to have to put a bell on her. Marcus, did you talk to Tom about Kate’s gift? And note, I’m using that word loosely.”

  “Tom’s going to help us smuggle the chair into the reception while Jennifer is changing. When she comes to the reception, it will be her throne for the afternoon. I’ve even got the photographer in on it. He’s bringing a Polaroid camera so he can take pictures of the kids sitting on her lap and hand them out on the spot.”

  “Great plan. Let me know how I can help. If you see Lisa, tell her I’m looking for her.”

  “Will do.”

  Quinn headed toward his room, knowing Marcus would be a couple steps behind him once Shari turned the other direction toward her room. Lisa had had six minutes. She’d requested he make sure she had five.

  He paused as though he were unlocking his hotel room door, then pushed open the door, catching the piece of paper Lisa had slipped into the door frame to prevent it from locking. He stepped inside to see Lisa rush into his room from the connecting room, her hands full.

  “I thought you were going to intercept him for me!”

  “I did. I got you the five minutes you asked for.”

  “I should have asked you for ten.” She collapsed into the chair by the window, out of breath and giggling.

  “Did you leave him anything?”

  “From his razor on down the list, he’s going to have to find everything again. I never realized how many places there were to hide things in a hotel room.” She twirled the toothbrush between her fingers. “Who do you think we should give his toothbrush to?”

  “Shari.”