Frannie cleaned up the dishes and swept. It was almost calming having to do it, since the work helped bank the fire. What was she going to say to them? Nothing ever helped. It was almost not worth the energy it took to yell at them when they never listened anyway.
Half an hour later Olympia knocked on the glass front door.
The woman’s wide frame was enveloped by a floral dress accentuating her dark Greek features, which she’d passed on to Matthias. Frannie gave her a small smile and opened the door to admit his mother.
“Hi.”
Olympia didn’t reply, she simply eased into Frannie’s space and surrounded her with comfort and love. Until that point, Frannie wouldn’t have admitted it was what she needed, but it sure felt good.
Frannie stepped back from the hug, certain her warm face was now pink. She reached up and tucked the loose strand of hair behind her ear. “Was there something you—” That was when she remembered.
She surveyed the tables for any sign of the cupcakes her mom and sister—and goodness knew who else—had consumed last night. Blue paper casings and smudges of blue and red frosting… Her heart dipped into her stomach.
She raced to the kitchen and hauled open the fridge door.
All gone.
The two dozen cupcakes Frannie had baked for Olympia’s twin grandsons’ fifth birthdays were gone.
Rage burned hot in her eyes, blurring her vision with unshed tears. Her grip on the fridge door handle was so tight it made her hand spasm in a cramp. She slammed it shut and turned to Olympia, now standing in the kitchen doorway. Frannie didn’t know how she was going to break the news. That was probably why Matthias had come, to pick up the cupcakes before the party later this morning. And all she’d done was yell at him.
Frannie would close the bakery for the morning before she disappointed Olympia.
The older woman’s gaze softened. “Precious.”
Frannie had no idea why Olympia always called her that. The Greek matron did most of the cooking for community dinners, so when Frannie provided the desserts they worked side by side. Olympia only ever called her precious.
Frannie sucked in a breath. “I’ll have them ready in time. The boys won’t be without cake on their birthday. I’ll make sure of it.”
“I know you will.” Olympia nodded and then, bizarrely, rubbed her hands together. “And you’ll stay for the party, too?”
“Oh, I couldn’t.” Mostly just because Matt—Tias would be there.
No. Thinking of him and using his nickname…she would only let it slip. Then everyone would think there was something between them.
Chapter 2
“Dude, what is wrong with you?”
Matthias looked back at the barn’s side door to make sure it was still attached. He had slammed it pretty hard.
Bolton Farrera, his boss who was more like a partner, stood with his head cocked to the side and a frown under the brim of his hat. Matthias didn’t blame him. Everything about this was confusing. “You’ve been acting weird since you got back from town. I thought you were just going to get the twins’ cupcakes for the party.”
Matthias smiled at the big, rough looking ex-DEA agent saying “cupcakes.” “I had my mom go get them.”
“You chickened out? You didn’t even go talk to her?”
Matthias felt the smile drop from his face. “I talked to her.”
He explained to Bolton about the mess and Frannie’s reaction, even though it was more than humiliating she yelled at him and didn’t even let him help. The woman obviously had bigger problems to deal with than his hurt feelings. Even if he knew what it meant when a woman yelled at him to get out.
Bolton didn’t waste a second before he said, “She knew who did it.”
Matthias frowned. “Seriously?”
Bolton nodded. “She’s embarrassed. Whoever it is, she’s covering for them.”
Matthias pressed his lips together. He knew Frannie lived with her mom and sister. Most folks knew, although she was rarely seen with them outside of the fact they lived together, and Mimi and Izabelle both pitched in at the bakery. Occasionally.
There was a walking train wreck waiting to happen, and likely when it did, it’d have something to do with Diego.
“Just because she yelled at you it doesn’t mean anything bad.”
Matthias shot his boss a look. “It doesn’t mean anything good, either. And why are you giving me relationship advice?”
Bolton’s lip curled. It was safe to say Nadia Marie had pinged on Bolton’s radar in the last few weeks. After the new sheriff arrived in town and the Mayor’s wife was murdered, the chief suspect had been Nadia Marie’s best friend, Andra—a former assassin who may or may not have been working for the government back when she’d killed people for a living. Matthias wasn’t real clear on the details.
The deputy sheriff had been killed trying to deliver Andra to her enemy. The schoolteacher was arrested in the conspiracy to frame her. And the doctor’s wife had committed suicide over the shame of implicating Andra in the first place.
Cleared of the charges by the president, Andra had recently returned to town after a long stay at the hospital. She was now happy in a relationship with the sheriff and they were getting married soon. Life had settled down, and their battle had blown over. But Andra’s best friend, Nadia Marie, had remained in the spotlight—for Bolton, at least. Despite the fact she wanted nothing to do with him, the man wouldn’t let the idea of her go. But neither did he seem to have any intention of actually starting something with her.
And why not? It wasn’t like there was anything holding Bolton back from having a romantic relationship. Not like Matthias. There was next to no point in him even talking to Frannie. It was a nice idea, and a good dream on most days. But Frannie was like the unattainable prize.
He’d slipped, telling her to call him Tias. For a second it had been sweet hearing the nickname come from her lips, but it wasn’t like he’d be around her anymore. She would hardly call him that on the odd occasion he came in the bakery because he couldn’t resist the temptation to see her any longer.
He needed to let her go.
“So your girl’s having some troubles.”
Matthias let a snort slip out, the sound too much like his horse, Danser, when she was getting impatient. He needed to quit doing that. “Frannie isn’t my girl.” But she did have trouble. “If she needs anything she knows to go to the sheriff. He’s the one who can help her.”
“You really think she’ll do that?” Bolton scratched under the brim of his black cowboy hat and then pressed it back into place. “Seems like if she doesn’t want anyone involved, she’s not likely to go to the sheriff. Maybe you should go over there later. Make sure she’s okay.”
Even before Bolton was finished, Matthias was already shaking his head. He glanced aside at the ranch house Bolton lived in. “She doesn’t want my help.”
Matthias stayed with his brother and the other two ranch hands across the way, in what would have formerly been called a bunkhouse. Like it was something quaint and nostalgic, instead of a basic building that smelled like the inside of his boots in June.
“Doesn’t mean she doesn’t need someone.”
Matthias would like to see Bolton try that tactic with Nadia Marie. It was likely to go down real well with the strong-willed woman. Frannie was the type he’d have to be careful not to bully into his way of thinking. “I can’t. Between the party and then tomorrow’s rehearsal, I won’t have time.”
Bolton laughed. “Who knew you had such a busy social life?”
“I tried to get out of doing the play, but Shelby and Aaron called my bluff.” Matthias sighed.
“How do you think I wound up volunteering to build the set? I’m supposed to meet with Aaron during the twins’ birthday party.”
Matthias folded his arms and kicked at the dusty earth under the toe of his boot. The town was surrounded by a ring of mountains capped with snow from the rain last night, but it wo
uldn’t snow in town for weeks yet.
Simeon and Reuben’s fifth birthday was in two hours, just before lunch.
Matthias turned to look where the road from town stretched out, east of the ranch. Diego should be bringing the boys to the ranch any time now so the family could set up while the twins were out from underfoot.
He glanced back at Bolton. “Have you seen Diego?”
His boss shrugged. “He was assigned to check W2 this morning, before he went to get the twins.”
Bolton had divided the ranch into quadrants, W1, 2, 3 and 4, since it was essentially a rectangle before the forest started on three sides. Dan Walden, whose farm was east beyond the town, had done the same with his land, designating it E1, 2, 3 and 4. Only instead of a herd of cows, Dan had crops and greenhouses in each of his quadrants.
Sanctuary had been designed to be as self-sufficient as possible. Some things had to be shipped in on the transport which came and went every Monday morning, but for the most part their food was grown—or raised—locally. There were three trucks, five golf carts, a couple of ATVs and two dozen or so bicycles in town. Most everyone walked where they needed to go, unless it was all the way across town. Often when he was in town picking up supplies, someone would ask him for a ride.
A few of the older residents had been in town forty years, since it was first founded. Matthias had been his nephew’s ages when his father testified against the drug lords he’d double crossed; mostly because without WITSEC they would’ve all been killed. Matthias, his brother and his three sisters had all grown up in Sanctuary. He could barely remember what the world was like beyond the mountains.
“The ranch truck is still here.” Bolton walked away in the direction of the bunkhouse.
The other truck belonged to the former DEA agent. Matthias and the rest of the guys used the second truck, which was much older.
Bolton had done something in his previous life that warranted enough pull to be the only person in town who could bring their personal vehicle with them. Matthias remembered a few years ago when it was flown in by military helicopter. That had been fun to watch.
The bunkhouse had been constructed of logs using trees they’d cut down from the forest circling the town. The furniture was made by a guy with carpentry skills and then upholstered by his mom and her sewing machine. The whole place would probably look and smell a lot better if any of them knew the first thing about cleaning, or if the rest of the guys had any inclination to pick up after themselves.
Matthias was tired of being the one who mopped behind the other guys. Most of the time he cooked his meals at the ranch house, since Bolton couldn’t do anything except grill a steak. In exchange he used the bathroom where Bolton had a housekeeper who came over from town once a week.
It was a good trade-off.
When they got closer, music was playing inside the bunkhouse. Bolton opened the door and it increased to deafening levels. Diego was stretched out on the ratty couch, asleep.
Matthias resisted the urge to kick his brother, but shook him awake instead. Diego smelled like…well, he didn’t want to dwell much on that. Neither, it seemed, did Bolton. Though Matthias saw the curl of his lip as he inhaled through his mouth.
Diego puffed out a rank breath and opened his eyes. “What? Whaddaya want?”
Matthias decided having a brother who wasn’t useless would be a good start. Instead he said, “You were supposed to be back with the twins already.”
Diego looked at his watch and ran a hand down his face. “I’ll go right now.”
“Forget it.”
Bolton said, “He’s right. There’s no way you’re driving in this state. Guess you’ll be late for the party since you’ll be cleaning out the horse stalls.”
“Seriously?” Diego groaned. “I can’t drive when I’m tired, either. That’s why I was taking a nap.”
“No,” Bolton said. “You were taking a nap because you rolled in at three-fifteen this morning and you’re hung over. I should fire you.”
“Fire me?” Diego’s eyes widened. His dark hair and smooth face capped a body toughened by ranch life. Still, he was more slender than Matthias.
With his broad shoulders, Matthias would probably snap Frannie’s ribs if he ever hugged her. But it wasn’t like he could stop being so big. Diego could stop being a moron any time he wanted.
Diego lumbered off the couch to stand up. “I need this job, man.”
Matthias shook his head. “Then maybe you should act a little more grateful for the fact you actually have it.”
Diego’s gaze swung around. “Who asked you, Mr. perfect-all-the-time know-it-all? No one cares what you think.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah, momma’s-boy. Why don’t you get out of my face for once? What I do doesn’t have squat to do with you. You’re not dad.” Diego lifted both hands and slammed his palms into Matthias’s shoulders, forcing him to take a step back.
Matthias curled his fingers into a fist and slammed it in his brother’s face.
**
Matthias turned right before he reached Main Street toward the residences on the south side. The town was shaped like a wrapped piece of candy. The stores, businesses and the Meeting House were along the center and the residential streets wrapped around to the north and south.
Frannie’s bakery was on the west end of Main Street, so he saw it even when he didn’t want to because it was on the way to…everywhere.
The twins’ mom, Matthias’s oldest sister, Maria, lived in the center of Third Street in one of the rare four-bedroom houses. All the residences were basic, following the same seventies-style décor with only a few exceptions. Nothing much had been updated since the town was founded on the government’s spending budget. Forty years later most people’s homes were woefully outdated and held together with scraps of wood and duct tape.
Maria’s husband Tom was former FDNY and the town’s fire chief, although he also held down a job landscaping. The flowers out front of their house were there courtesy of Matthias’s other sisters, Antonia and Sofia. It was worth trying anything to cheer up Maria.
The front door opened and two now five-year-old hooligans tore down the front walk, elbowing each other to get ahead as they ran. Matthias felt the knot in his chest loosen as he caught his twin nephews, swinging them both up over his shoulders.
“Uncle Matt!”
“It’s our birthday!”
Matthias mock-gasped. “It is? Did I know that?”
They started to laugh, but they were nervous—like they didn’t know for sure if he was joking. “I probably should have gotten you boys a present.”
Identical faces fell.
“Although, I did find two huge wrapped boxes in my closet this morning. Maybe those have something to do with your birthday?”
They both squealed.
“Birthday presents!”
“Cake!”
Matthias chuckled and set them down. This being-an-uncle gig was pretty sweet. “Hey, how about you guys call me Uncle Tias?”
Reuben started dancing, little more than a shimmy. “Tee-yas…Tee-yas…” Simeon shoved him. They both fell, and the wrestling portion of the morning commenced.
Matthias grabbed two elbows and hauled them up. “You boys want to come to the ranch for a while before the party?”
“Presents!” “Cake!” Simeon and Reuben both jumped up and down.
“I’m just gonna tell your mom we’re leaving.”
Both the boys reacted. It wasn’t overt, but they were still young enough they didn’t know how to temper their feelings so people wouldn’t see. He didn’t want them to be affected by how Maria was, but how could they not be? At the very least, they knew their mom wasn’t like other mothers.
Simeon mushed his lips together and said, “She’s in the bathroom. She’s been in there for an hour already.”
Which begged the question of what they’d been up to during that hour. Matthias wasn’t sure he wanted to ask. He set hi
s hands on a shoulder of each twin. “You boys go grab your shoes, and I’ll let your mom know we’re leaving.”
They raced inside and through the house. Matthias jogged up the stairs, slowing as he neared the top. He had to get this done quickly if he wanted to minimize the upset it would cause the boys.
He didn’t knock on the bedroom door. The curtains were still drawn, so he flung them open. Tom’s side of the bed was pulled straight, like he’d made it as soon as he got out. Maria’s side had a collection of pill bottles on the nightstand and the blanket was rumpled. The mattress had an indentation where she’d probably lain there for most of the morning.
Matthias trailed to the bathroom. The door was cracked, so he pushed it open. Maria was slumped on the toilet lid as though she’d simply lost all her energy and needed somewhere to sit.
He leaned against the door frame. “Ree?”
Her hair hung straight and unwashed. The sleeves of her sweater were long enough they covered her fingers. She looked up, her eyes lined with yesterday’s mascara.
“You have two hours until the party.” Matthias shoved aside the shower curtain and started the water. “You need to get ready and get over to the park by eleven forty-five. Can you do that?”
She nodded without looking up and lumbered to her feet like she was eighty instead of barely thirty.
Matthias sighed. “It’s Reuben and Simeon’s birthdays. They need you today, and you’re going to have to get it together.”
Her eyes lifted to him then, and the sight sliced through Matthias the same way it had every time she looked at him since that night so many years ago.
From across their father’s dead body.
“I’ll try.”
Matthias took a step back. She needed to do a whole lot more than try if she didn’t want to ruin today for his nephews. He needed to find Tom and have a word with Maria’s husband. It was still early November, which meant this would only get worse over the next few weeks until the anniversary. Chances were Tom was completely aware of that, and it was why he’d chosen to work the morning of his son’s birthdays, leaving Matthias to pick up the slack.
Sanctuary Buried WITSEC Town Series Book 2 Page 3