“Raven?”
I wasn’t sure how long Newt had been saying my name, but it must have been numerous times if I were to go by the expression on his face.
Four, but who’s counting? Do I win anything for being right? I feel like there should be a prize or something.
“I’m sorry, I was just…” I sighed in disappointment, but never once was I frightened in Newt’s presence. I’d known the man since moving to town over two years ago, and even Leo had mentioned that Nan had brought her vehicle into the garage to be serviced every now and then. Nan would have been the first to realize if Newt hadn’t been a good person. “Newt, I know that you’re the one who has been leaving Mom notes for her to find.”
Why would you be worried? You can literally shoot an energy ball from your palm, Raven. No pun intended, but I’d say that you have things well in hand.
Leo began to cackle in that strange laugh of his that sounded more like he was hacking up a hairball as I struggled to figure out how to deal with our current situation. Mom’s wedding would take place in less than five hours, and I wasn’t sure how to deal with this specific revelation.
By this time, color had rushed into the older man’s cheeks as the work order in his hand began to shake with the comprehension that he’d been caught red-handed. When his gaze landed on the tablet that Leo had now pushed to the edge of the counter, it was clear that he realized his mistake. Oddly enough, the sadness in his expression tore at my heartstrings.
“Newt, talk to me,” I said softly as I made my way around the counter. “Why would you scare Mom that way? She truly thought that Beetle’s life was in danger.”
“What?” There was no denying the shock that crossed Newt’s features. He shook his head vigorously in denial. “I would never hurt Beetle! Why would anyone think such a thing? I left notes in hopes that your Mom would reconsider marrying him, that’s all. I dated your mother when we were in our early twenties, you know. Honestly, it was the best time of my life back then.”
“Here,” I said softly, motioning toward an old rickety stool that had been near the workbench. “Take a seat. You and I can—”
My phone began to chime with an incoming call, and I had no doubt that it was Rye. I didn’t want him to think that I was in any danger, though. I quickly answered and told him that I was safe and sound, all the while motioning to Newt that I wouldn’t be long.
Does that mean I can go crash at the Ted-Shed? You’ve got this from here, right?
“Why wouldn’t you be okay?” Rye asked warily, his deep voice getting drowned out a bit by the crowd in the bakery. “Raven, the circuit breaker was just worn out. It literally short-circuited. Truthfully, it was a good thing that I…well, you know. Double-checked it and all. I’m handy with that type of stuff, but this is a little outside of my field of expertise. I called in an electrician. Bart should be here in under an hour, which means that the ovens aren’t to be used until he’s fixed things. Your mom is definitely not getting those cupcakes that she wanted at the reception.”
Yeah, I’ll let you break the news to her on that one.
Rye clearly didn’t want anyone to overhear his conversation with me, but I got the gist that Newt hadn’t been involved with any type of sabotage. As a matter of fact, I wasn’t exactly sure what he’d done other than write Mom the notes and leave them behind for her to find.
“I appreciate the call,” I said, ensuring that Rye understood that I, too, was in the company of someone who I couldn’t speak freely in front of at the moment. “We’ll see you at the wedding?”
Don’t include me in that we, Raven. I already told you that my short-term memory issues are going to surface around five o’clock today. I’ll be in the Ted-Shed until you all get back.
“Yes, I’ll see all of you this evening,” Rye replied, though he drew some of the words out, clearly recognizing that all was not right. “Are you still at Newt’s garage? Is there something that I should know about?”
“I’m just picking up my car and then heading back to the cottage,” I replied, catching Leo roll his eyes at the fact that my tone suggested the complete opposite of anything being fine. “Seriously, just be at the wedding. I’ll fill you in then.”
I quickly hung up and then crossed my arms to level Newt an arched brow that always seemed to work for my mother. My ability to do so wasn’t as effective as hers, but it would do in a pinch.
“Does your mother really believe that Beetle’s life was in danger? For that matter, hers? Oh, I’m going to have to make things right, aren’t I?” By this time, the work order that Newt held in his hand was nothing but a crumpled piece of paper. He was visibly upset by the fact that we’d all thought it was a serious threat instead of what appeared to be nothing more than someone not knowing how to express their feelings. “This is terrible! When Otis was hit on the head with that—”
“Wait a second,” I declared in astonishment, holding up a hand to stop Newt from starting in the middle of his story. Obviously, a lot had taken place before Otis was accidently hit on the head. “Newt, start from the beginning. Were you in town square yesterday when Otis was hurt?”
Does the old fuddy-duddy have to start from the beginning? Seriously, Ted has this awesome jacket that I like to sleep on when he’s not around. It’s softer than the new cat bed that you got me a couple of months ago. Starting from the top is going to take forever, Raven.
“Yes, but I don’t understand,” Newt replied as he rubbed his forehead in shame. “I left your mother some notes, and I was going to try and talk to Otis about him officiating the wedding. I was hoping that if he would say he couldn’t do it that it would give your mother more time to think over her decision to marry Beetle. Don’t get me wrong. He’s a great guy. I just thought that I had more time to get reacquainted with your mother.”
“So, you didn’t hit Otis on the head?”
All of the color that had infused Newt’s cheeks from before had completely drained until he was as white as a piece of chalk.
Way to go, Raven. Look at the old fuddy-duddy. He’s ready to keel over, and I’m not going to be here if our local grim reaper decides to pay him a visit. I’ve seen how he acts on poker night when his schedule is interrupted by someone kicking the bucket earlier than what was penciled in, and I’m not going to hear about it for six hours while I’m trying to win the pot in the middle of the table.
“You believe that I would—”
“No, no, no,” I quickly replied in a reassuring manner, realizing that Leo might be right about Newt’s appointment in the grim reaper’s planner. “We thought that originally, but Liam discovered the metal shield that had come apart from the heater. I was just clarifying that you didn’t hit Otis in the head.”
For the love of all catnip, would you hurry this along so that I can spend the rest of the day hiding out in the Ted-Shed?
“I left a note in your mother’s car, hoping that she would remember that I did the same way back when,” Newt revealed softly, his shoulders hunched over in disappointment. “I then wrote a couple more, but I had a feeling that she wouldn’t change her mind. Once that woman sets her sights on something, there is no stopping her. As for Otis, I had been about to go for help when you fell and discovered him. You called 911 before I had a chance to retrace my steps, and I thought it best that I stay out of the way.”
Liam had pointed out that the notes left behind hadn’t truly been against the law, but I couldn’t just ignore the fact that Newt had wanted to ruin one of the happiest moments in Mom’s life.
Could I simply brush this under the rug?
Is that a figurative inquiry or a literal one? I say yes to both, because the Ted-Shed is waiting for me with an open door.
“Newt, I know this might sound a bit odd, but do you know anything about the seamstress misplacing Beetle’s favorite bowtie?”
“Bowtie? I don’t know anything about a bowtie.” Newt shook his head in remorse. “I guess I’m going to have to go and apolog
ize to your mother. I never in a million years thought that she wouldn’t remember our time together, but I guess it meant more to me than her. Don’t get me wrong, Raven. I’m glad that your mother found happiness with Beetle. I remember when Leland and Paul were crushed when she didn’t even bat an eyelash at them in high school. Desmond and I were smart, though. We waited until after high school, when those who weren’t going to stay in town left for brighter horizons. Neither one of us were happy when your mother decided to join those who left town.”
Uh, Raven? We should really go now. Seriously, we have things to do and events to get ready for. I’ve changed my mind, by the way. Doesn’t that make you happy? I’ll even let you put that hideous bowtie on me if we leave right now.
My thoughts had already begun to take me in the direction that Leo was doing everything in his power to veer me away from, but he was a little too late. I’d already made the decision not to make a big deal of Newt leaving notes around town for my mother to find, and I would quietly explain to Liam and the others that my mother’s overactive imagination had led us to this crossroad.
Let’s just keep driving, Raven. No need to stop at all. I call shotgun, even if it is in that death contraption that has no heated seats, no cruise control, and smells like a sweaty gym bag that’s filled with dirty socks.
It was a crossroad that I hadn’t even planned on stopping at, because it honestly felt more like the entrance to one of those roller coasters that never seemed to end. I even had to put my hand on my abdomen in a feeble attempt to stop the queasiness that had taken up residence in my stomach.
“Newt, you don’t have to say a word to anyone,” I somehow managed to reply after patting him on the shoulder with my left hand. “Mom does love Beetle, and she is going to marry him. I know that’s not what you want to hear, but she does look upon you as a dear friend. She doesn’t need to know anything else. I’m sure that she’s even forgotten about finding the notes by now, and she won’t give them a second thought once she walks down the aisle.”
Not to get off the life-changing topic that I’m sure we’re about to discuss regarding your conception, but you did just tell a forlorn fuddy-duddy that his fond memories of your mother don’t mean diddly squat to her.
“Newt, I didn’t mean—”
“I know what you meant, dear Raven.” Newt compressed his lips and nodded his head in acceptance. “Your mother is in love with someone else. What I’ve held onto all these years were just memories of a lonely man. You know what? I think it’s time that I stop pining away for lost years of football championships and the girl who got away. I’m going to go to the rescue shelter and adopt me a nice, shaggy dog.”
Look at what you’ve gone and done, Raven. Fix it!
“Here are your car keys, Raven,” Newt said, handing me the keyring that he’d set aside on the workbench. “This one is on the house. I appreciate your discretion concerning my foolheartedly attempt to reclaim my lost youth. If there’s anything that you need, you just let me know.”
Bite your tongue, Raven! Do not ask the question that is on the tip of your tongue! Forget I said anything about the attack dog this old fuddy-duddy is probably going to rescue, and let’s make a clean getaway before he decides to charge you for fixing that death contraption.
I managed to go through the motions and escape to the car without Newt any the wiser that I’d come to a major conclusion—Newt or Desmond Barnes might very well be my biological father.
I never thought I’d say this, Raven, but having short-term, medium-term, and long-term memory issues might actually be a blessing in disguise. I’m so glad that I don’t know the answer to that riddle. We should just shove that pesky little puzzle right under the couch. Right? Raven? Right?
Chapter Seventeen
“Raven, you don’t know anything for sure,” Liam reminded me gently as we waited for the bride and groom to appear through the garland trestle that we’d rented from the same place as we had leased the tables and chairs. “There is a solution, though. You could simply ask your mother.”
The good ol’ sheriff makes it sound so easy, but the Mistress of the Dark has him completely snowed when it comes to her true nature. Now that I think about it, she utterly hoodwinked my VVBFF. On the bright side, he’s already dead. I guess the whole death-do-you-part thing is a foregone conclusion.
I tried not to appear sullen as I sat back in the metal chair that was quite warm thanks to the strategically placed heaters that had started this whole mess. Mom might never have told me about the hand-written notes if I hadn’t discovered Otis unconscious behind a snowman. This was Mom’s day to be happy, and I needed to suck up my hurt feelings about never being told the truth about my biological father.
Once I’d returned home from picking up my car, I had no choice but to tell Mom and Heidi the truth. Mom had still been worked into a tizzy, having convinced herself that something horrible would happen to Beetle should they go through with the ceremony. We had all come to an agreement not to say a single word to anyone, so as not to embarrass Newt any more than he already was…although I could see a bit of fondness and a tinge of regret in my mother’s expression about not recognizing how hurt Newt had been when she’d left town all those years ago.
“I’m going to go and get you a flute of champagne,” Liam murmured, pressing a tender kiss to my temple before he stood up from the table. “Or two. I won’t be long.”
Don’t look so forlorn, Raven. If you look on the bright side, no one wanted to off my supplier. And now that the wedding is over and done with, my VVBFF should go back to being the same old vampire that he’s always been. Just like you.
“What about me?” I asked, leaning forward so that my elbows were on the table. The heaters might be keeping the interior of town square relatively warm, but that didn’t mean there still wasn’t a chill hovering over the evening air. “I’m not a vampire, Leo. Just how much of your premium organic catnip stash did you eat before we left the house?”
Wait! What? Are you serious? We left the house?
I wasn’t sure if Leo was just saying that to get me to crack a smile or if he really didn’t know that we’d gotten through a beautiful ceremony where Ted had walked Mom down the aisle in the most gorgeous red silk dress that I’d ever seen. Heidi had smiled like a star-struck teenager through the entire ceremony, Beetle’s gasp of admiration had been heard by all, and Leo had bravely sauntered down the aisle in what even I could admit was the most hideous green and red bowtie that I’d ever laid my eyes on.
Otis had done a beautiful job in officiating the private wedding, and now the gathered guests for the reception were all waiting to catch sight of the bride and groom. I needed to take a page out of Leo’s book and plaster a smile on my face so that no one could see that I wasn’t truly enjoying myself. I had tried, really tried to be happy for my mother today, but that didn’t mean it hadn’t been a struggle.
To answer your question, two of my emergency stashes are now depleted. Truthfully, I don’t even remember my soulmate tying this hideous thing around my neck. Were there wedding bands attached? I didn’t start acting like a dog or a squirrel at any point in the ceremony, did I? Whose car did we ride here in, because I don’t remember heated seats, either.
“We drove everyone here in my car,” I replied with a half-smile, noticing that Heidi and Jack were talking to Desmond and Cora over near the open bar that Mom and Beetle were paying for, all the while Chef Amereldine and his assistant Debra tended to the appetizers and other delectable delights. “Heidi’s vehicle is parked by the teashop. I’m sure that Jack will walk her safely to her car after the reception.”
The chef probably preferred that I call them hors d’oeuvres, and I would make sure to use that term when telling him what a superb job he had done with the catering. I can’t imagine how hard it was for him and Debra to continue all on their own without Cecelia. One would never know that their friend and colleague had just been arrested for murder. They were the utmost
professionals, and my mother had taken an hour to spend with them and the band before the ceremony. They were all grieving, and it was clear that Billy still harbored guilt over firing Rebecca.
I never did understand how an unexpected death could erase the bad a person has done in his or her life. My doppelgänger fired the woman because she technically wouldn’t do her job. I get that she was trying to warn him that there was a stalker in the making, but that doesn’t mean she shouldn’t have been let go of her duties. It’s hard to oversee a group who just isn’t up for the task. I mean, look at me! I’ve had to fire numerous wildlife critters that had no idea how to prepare for the squirrelpocalypse.
I had been going to say to Leo that this situation was a bit different, but I’m not so sure that he would have seen it that way. Besides, it was only a matter of time before Mom and Beetle arrived, which would kick off the live band. Billy and the other members were already tuning up their equipment.
“Thanks for coming tonight and not hiding out in the Ted-Shed,” I said softly, trying my best to get out of this funk that I’d found myself in.
Leo’s whiskers began to twitch now that I’d gotten all emotional on him for a second time today, but it was important for him to hear just how much his support meant to me.
“Here you go,” Liam announced, having already gotten our champagne from the open bar. It turned out that he had gone to high school with the bartender, so he’d been able to skip ahead of everyone else. Sure enough, he’d brought three flutes of champagne to set on the table. “Two for you, and one for me.”
Look at that, would you? The good ol’ sheriff has perfect timing. I wonder if they taught him that at the police academy.
Frosty Blend (A Paramour Bay Cozy Paranormal Mystery Book 15) Page 14