by Debby Mayne
“That’s why I called you. She wants us both there.”
“Yes,” he said. “I know. Do you want to go?” He still wasn’t sure how she took Naomi’s invitation, and he certainly didn’t want to mess anything up—for himself or for Naomi. “I think it would be fun.”
“Yeah, me too.” She chuckled. “They have some pretty crazy talent over at the Village.”
“So, do you want me to pick you up?”
“I’d like that.”
Then Pete remembered Naomi hadn’t given him a time. All she’d said was she needed him right away. “Do you know what time it starts?”
“In about an hour. Mom said we can meet at her place, and she’ll fix us something to eat.”
“I haven’t eaten yet, so let’s do that. Let me take a quick shower and change clothes. I can be at your place in fifteen minutes.”
She laughed. “When you said quick shower, you weren’t kidding.”
Pete hung up and let out a deep breath. Naomi could be the most annoying woman he knew, but at times like this, he wanted to give her a big fat hug.
The full visitor parking lot surprised Bethany. “I can’t believe it’s so hard to find a parking spot. Normally, I can find one on the first row.”
Pete turned down the last row. “Maybe everyone is here for the variety show.”
“Could be,” Bethany said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if my mother invited every single person in town.”
They found a spot at the far end of the lot, got out, and walked straight to Naomi’s condo. She opened the door before they knocked. “You’re late.” She stepped back so they could enter. “Come on in and grab a bite to eat. I put some plates on the counter, and all the food is still on top of the stove.”
Pete took a deep breath and smiled. “Smells delicious.”
“It is. Both of you like barbecue sandwiches, so that’s what you’re having.” She took a step toward the credenza. “I have to run on down to the multipurpose room and help out. I’ll save you two seats as close to the front as possible, but don’t take forever.” She grabbed her handbag, hustled toward the door, and then stopped. “We’ll have dessert after the show.” Then she left.
Pete chuckled. “Hurricane Naomi.”
“That’s an excellent description.” Bethany pointed to the kitchen. “We better eat and run, or we’ll have to deal with the storm’s wrath later.”
The barbecue was delicious, but not as yummy as the man sitting across the table from her. Bethany found it increasingly difficult not to notice the way a small lock of his hair occasionally fell across his forehead or how the corners of his eyes crinkled when he smiled. The man’s masculinity oozed from his pores, yet he had sensitivity unlike anyone she’d ever known.
Charlie had been a sweet guy, but he was sometimes clueless about what she wanted. If she didn’t come right out and ask for something, he assumed she didn’t want whatever it was. Pete, on the other hand, seemed to have much stronger intuition, and he acted on it. Plus he made her laugh.
She needed to stop comparing the two men. It wasn’t fair. Charlie loved her and provided an excellent home for her and Ashley. He worked hard during the week and spent time with his family on weekends. They rarely missed church, and he loved the Lord as much as anyone. She had absolutely no complaints about her life with Charlie.
Comparing anyone to Pete wasn’t fair to him either. He’d never been married, so the biggest thing in his life was his family business. She’d noticed when she returned to Bloomfield that the Sprockett Family Plumbing Company had thrived under Pete’s management. Before she and Charlie moved away, she vaguely remembered the Sprocketts struggling to stay in business. Pete had even confided in Charlie that he didn’t always receive a paycheck because his dad barely had enough to pay the other plumbers. Charlie asked Pete what was keeping him in Bloomfield, and Pete said he could never leave his family when they needed him. Now Bethany saw exactly why. If it weren’t for Pete, the business might have gone belly-up.
“Bethany?” Pete had finished his sandwich and sat watching her. “I don’t want to rush you, but you heard Naomi. If we don’t get on down to the recreation room, we’ll hear about it later.” He made a face. “Or worse, she’ll come looking for us.”
She nodded as she chewed what she had in her mouth. “I’m full anyway.” She stood up from the table, carried her plate into the kitchen, put the uneaten part of her sandwich in a baggie, and tossed it in the refrigerator. “I’ll eat the rest of this later.”
Pete rubbed his tummy. “Not me. I’m having some of that delicious looking cherry cobbler I saw in the oven.”
Bethany laughed. “Snoop.”
He playfully shrugged. “Guilty as charged.” He extended his elbow. “Ready to be amused, m’dear?”
She stuck her hand in the crook of his arm and nodded. “Most certainly. Let’s go watch a variety show.”
Being with Pete felt natural and lightened her heart. His playful manner brought out the joy she’d long since tucked away.
When they reached the hallway leading to the multipurpose room, a screeching sound (followed by shouts and gasps) halted them in their tracks. “Uh, oh.” Pete glanced down at her. “Sounds like a Murray moment to me.”
“Too bad Andy has to bring him practically everywhere he goes.” Bethany shook her head. “I can’t imagine being that tied down to a bird he never asked for.”
“How do you know he didn’t ask for him?” Pete grinned. “For all we know, he could have begged his sister to leave Murray to him.” He laughed.
Bethany tilted her head. “That doesn’t sound likely to me. If it weren’t for Murray, he and Pamela might get married.”
“Maybe Andy likes it that way.”
Bethany instantly went numb. Was there some hidden meaning in his words?
A shrill scream echoed through the entire area. Pete shook his head as he pulled away from Bethany. “I better go see if I can help.”
“I’m right behind you.”
They took off running toward the multipurpose room, where pandemonium had hit hard. Murray fluttered slightly above the reach of the tallest adult. Some folks had jumped up onto their chairs, flailing their arms, and the emcee stood at the front of the room, eyes wide, appearing more shocked than anyone else.
“Where’s Andy?” Pete hollered above the din. “He’s still here, isn’t he?”
“I’m right over here.” Andy shot his hand up. “You don’t think I’d take off at a time like this, do you?”
Naomi walked toward Pete and Bethany, looking over her shoulder at Andy. “I wouldn’t put it past you. You knew better than to bring that bird to this show. What were you thinking?”
“I had a talk with him before we left the house, and he promised to behave.” Andy’s sheepish look belied his belief in the bird.
“Mommy, that birdie’s gonna bite me.” Lacy burst into full-blown sobs as Murray flew in circles above the little girl, still out of reach of everyone around. “Make him stop.”
Gina cast a helpless glance at Jeremy, who sprang into action. “Please calm down, folks. We have to get this bird under control, and all this commotion isn’t helping.” The pleading sound in Jeremy’s voice seemed to work as people lowered their pitch.
Jeremy jumped up and tried to grab Murray, but the bird flew away toward Andy. Instead of lighting on his master, though, he swooped down and grabbed one of Pamela’s earrings. She lifted her silvery fingernails in a claw-like motion and made a hissing sound.
Murray dropped the earring as he perched on the indoor flagpole. “He’s on the flagpole,” Pamela said as she put her earring back on. “Someone go up there and get him down.”
“Flagpole . . . squawk . . . I pledge allegiance to the flag!”
Jeremy quietly slipped up behind Murray and whispered something. Murray glanced over his should
er and said, “Murray wants candy . . . squawk . . . Murray wants candy.”
Andy approached Jeremy and handed him a bag of sliced carrots. Then Andy gestured for everyone to slowly back away.
“Everyone can relax,” Jeremy finally hollered. “I’ve got him.”
Within a minute, the audience had settled down, and a low murmur filled the room. Blood dripped from one of Jeremy’s hands as he held Murray, but he didn’t flinch. Finally, he handed the screeching parrot back to its owner.
“Why don’t you take him on home now, Andy?” Naomi said.
Pamela walked right up to Naomi, her fist on her hip. “After all we went through, are you kicking us out?”
“Nope.” Naomi planted her own fist on a hip and got right in Pamela’s face. “I’m kicking Murray out. We have a policy.”
“Ladies,” Andy said as he placed a hand on Pamela’s shoulder. “I think it’s best to get Murray out of here so everyone can enjoy the show. Pamela, why don’t you stick around? Murray and I can stop back by later and take you home.”
“We’ll take her home after the program,” Pete said.
Bethany stifled a groan, but she knew Pete had done the right thing by coming to Pamela’s rescue. Naomi looked at her with concern, so Bethany turned away to prevent showing how she really felt about sharing her date with Pamela.
Chapter 13
The emcee had lost some of his savoir faire, and he stumbled over every single introduction of the evening. Before the Maroon Clowns came on stage, he gestured toward them and said, “We’d like to welcome the moron . . . er, buffoon . . . um . . . the . . .”
He glanced over at the lead clown who slapped his forehead and went straight up to the microphone, grabbed it from the emcee, and gently pushed the befuddled man to the side.
“We don’t normally talk when in costume, unless we have extenuating circumstances.” He gestured toward the emcee. “And this is obviously one of those times. We are the Maroon Clowns, and our goal is to entertain and delight each and every one of you.” He popped a suspender over his maroon-colored billowy shirt. “We are named after the glorious color maroon.” He lifted a tiny horn and blasted it over his head. This was clearly the signal for all his clown friends to join him on stage.
As the grown men in clown suits bounced around on stage, their painted faces smiling at the audience, a cacophony of sounds erupted throughout the room. Horns blaring, carnival music playing, and clunky thuds reverberated with every movement.
Bethany sank back in her chair, surveyed the crowd, and studied how mesmerized everyone was by the antics on the stage. Even Lacy, who’d been shrieking earlier from fear of Murray, sat in her chair transfixed by the horns, bounces, fumbled juggling, and silliness of the Maroon Clowns. When they finished their act, the audience applauded. Bethany wondered how many people were clapping out of joy that the clowns were finished.
Next up was Johnny Johnson’s polka band. Johnny walked up to the microphone and announced that due to the large crowd in the room, there would be no dancing. A few people groaned, and he held up his hand. “I know, I know, but there’s simply not enough space for everyone to dance. So we’ll keep it short for those who have happy feet.” A few people snickered, and he waved to his band to start playing. After they finished, he and his buddies took a bow and left the stage.
There were still a few acts standing to the side of the stage when Pamela left her seat and walked straight up to Pete and Bethany. “I’m ready to go home now.”
“But—” Bethany pointed to the stage where a new act was about to begin.
“Now.” Pamela raised her eyebrows, and her voice grew louder. “Do I need to find another ride?” She glanced over her shoulder and had a stare-down with the man who couldn’t see around her.
Pete leaned over and whispered, “Do you want to stay here while I take her home?”
Bethany shook her head and got up. “No, that’s okay. I’ll go with you.”
Naomi stood guard by the door at the back of the room. “Where do you think you’re going? The best act hasn’t even performed yet.”
Pamela walked right past Naomi without saying a word, leaving Pete and Bethany to explain. Pete looked at Bethany, and she gestured for him to go ahead. “I’ll be right with you.” After he left, she told Naomi what had happened.
“That’s ridiculous. All that woman ever thinks about is herself.” She scowled. “I reckon it’s for the best, though. If she’s miserable, she’ll take everyone else down with her. You and Pete can come back and have dessert with me.”
Bethany nodded. “If Pete wants to come all the way back.”
“All the way?” Naomi made a silly face. “It’s not like the Village is in the outback. It’ll take you ten . . . fifteen minutes tops to take Pamela home and drive back.”
When Bethany walked up to the truck, Pamela was already buckled in the front seat next to Pete, so she slid into the tiny backseat. Pete gave her an apologetic look in the rearview mirror. All the way to Pamela’s house, the older woman delivered commentary on the variety show.
“I can’t believe I’m saying this, but the best part of the show happened before it even started.” She chuckled. “Can you believe that little bird had everyone in such an uproar?”
“Little bird?” Pete laughed. “He’s a monster.”
“Tell me about it.” Pamela shook her head. “But seriously? Why did everyone freak out just because he got out of his cage? If folks had just stayed calm, he would have eventually gotten back in without all that hullaballoo.”
“We don’t know that,” Bethany interjected.
“Oh, but I do. He gets out of his cage all the time. All Andy has to do is pull out that bag of carrots, and Murray will do anything.”
“Maybe next year Andy can sign up for the show. Murray can do tricks for carrots.”
Pamela wiggled her fingers and flapped her hand, practically blinding Bethany with the sun reflecting off her shiny fingernails. “Not a bad idea, but I’m afraid that would be too undignified for Andy to even consider. Maybe we can get someone else to do it.” She glanced over her shoulder at Bethany. “I hear you have more items for the festival. When do you plan on taking them to the community center?”
“After what Murray did to some of the collectibles, I think I’ll hang onto them until the festival.”
Pamela scowled. “Andy’s right. People in Bloomfield really do have it out for his bird.”
Pete cut a glance in her direction. “It sounds to me like you’re a Murray fan.”
“I didn’t say that.” Pamela grew quiet as she turned toward the window. “But I do sort of relate to the little guy.”
Bethany locked gazes with Pete in the rearview mirror as he pulled up to a traffic light. The corners of his eyes crinkled.
Pamela angled her body sideways to face Pete. “Murray and I don’t see eye-to-eye on a lot of things, but we both stand out in a crowd, and people don’t understand us.”
Bethany thought Pamela had a point as she stared at the woman’s profile, with the extra-long eyelashes, brightly blushed cheeks, and deep red lips. Both Pamela and Murray commanded attention everywhere they went. As Pamela fluttered her fingers around in the air to make her point, Bethany had to bite the insides of her cheeks to keep from laughing about how much she reminded her of Murray flapping his wings.
“Do me a favor, you two,” Pamela said, tossing a glance over her shoulder at Bethany and then back to Pete. “Don’t tell Andy I said any of that. I don’t want him thinking I actually like Murray . . . or that I can relate to him.”
This time, Bethany couldn’t help herself. She belted out a loud chuckle that started Pete laughing. Before either of them could stop, Pamela joined in to Bethany’s relief.
Pete pulled the car up in front of Pamela’s house. “We’ll keep your little secret.”
“Than
ks.” She got out of the car and leaned over. “What do you think you’re doing, girl?” She yanked the back door open and gestured. “Don’t stay in the backseat. Come up to the front and ride with your guy.”
Pete lifted an eyebrow and gave Bethany a humorous look. “You heard her.”
As Bethany got out of the truck to join Pete in the front, Pamela leaned toward her, cupped her hand, and whispered, “And stop letting Naomi tell you what to do all the time. She might be your mother, but that doesn’t give her the right to be so bossy. Do what you want to do and don’t give any mind to what other people say or think.”
“I’ll try.” Bethany smiled back. “It was nice seeing you, Pamela.”
“Oh, and don’t forget to replace all those things Murray broke. I know you have more stuff, because Naomi said Mary was spending time at your place going through your junk.”
“Bye, Pamela.” Bethany lowered herself into the car, buckled herself in, and waved.
Pete waited until Pamela went inside before pulling away. “Talk about bossy. The pot calling the kettle black.”
“Yup. And it’s so Pamela.” Bethany cut a glance over to Pete. “I’d be disappointed if she acted any differently.”
“You have to admit, she’s hilarious.”
They rode in silence for a while, until Bethany noticed Pete’s expression had turned a little sullen. “What’s wrong?”
“I just remembered something I said to you not long ago.” He looked in her direction and turned his attention back to the road. “I made a negative comment about all your knickknacks. I hope you don’t think I was being disrespectful or bossy.”
Bethany remembered that day he’d fixed her faucet. “I wouldn’t exactly call you bossy.”
“Whatever you call it, I had no right to make such a rude remark. I’m sorry.”
“No worries.” Actually, Bethany was getting numb to all the comments about her décor. “It is what it is.”
He flinched. “Ouch. That’s what I’m talking about.”