A Dad for Charlie

by Anna J. Stewart

  “No.” A topic better avoided. “There’s something I want to ask you, but I’m not sure how.”

  “Well, that doesn’t sound suspicious at all. Go ahead.”

  Uncertain whether he was venturing into dangerous terrain, he took the plunge. “You and Matt have been seeing a lot of each other lately. How’s that going?”

  “Matt Knight?” She said his name as if he were a passing acquaintance, but the flush of color to her pale cheeks told a different story. “Yeah, I guess. It’s not serious, if that’s what you’re wondering. We’re...friends.”

  “That’s all?” Those weren’t the vibes he’d picked up from his fellow deputy, the army vet. “What’s stopping you?”

  The suspicion she rarely presented around him shot up like a force field. “What’s stopping me from what? Who says there’s anything to stop?”

  “I was just wondering how you guys are doing as friends as opposed to...whatever else you might be.” He really needed a personal Jiminy Cricket to tell him when to shut up.

  “Whatever else...” She trailed off, inclined her head. “Please don’t tell me this is the long-awaited big brother sex talk. I’m twenty-six years old, Fletch. Trust me, I’m well acquainted with the birds and bees.”

  Fletch gagged a little in his throat. He did not need to know that. “Yeah, great, no. That’s not what this is about. Look, are you and Matt dating or not?”

  “You’re not allowed to have the talk with Matt either. We’re friends, Fletch.” She stirred a spoonful of chemical-laden sweetener into her coffee and nearly caused a tidal wave. “That’s all.”

  “Exactly. But what does that entail? How do you become friends with someone you want more from?”

  “Since when do you need help making friends with a...oh.” Her attitude dropped and she smiled. Leaning her arms on the table, she grinned. “This is about Paige, isn’t it? As Gramps would have said, you’re smitten.”

  “Sometimes I swear you live in a 1950s sitcom. And yes, if you must know, this is about Paige. I’m interested, but the feeling isn’t mutual.” Especially now that she seemed to have declared war on him and his suspicions regarding Jasper O’Neill. Then again, maybe Paige had inadvertently given him the perfect excuse to keep bumping into her. “She acts differently around me than everyone else. I can’t find anything to latch on to with her. I don’t suppose you know much about her.”

  “You know.” Lori looked at him as if she was trying not to laugh. “If you’re really sneaky, you can pass a note to Holly in homeroom and she can ask Paige if she likes you, too.”

  “I’m serious, Lori.” Although he couldn’t help but chuckle. He did sound a bit...high school.

  “I know what matters. She works hard, she’s super-reliable and she’s a great mom. Should be something there for you to, um, latch on to. Charlie especially. She’s nuts about you.”

  The feeling was mutual. The kid was a spinning ball of positive energy that lit up his day with those crooked pigtails and wide-gapped smile of hers. “I’m not using Paige’s daughter to get close to her. That’s just wrong.”

  “Sometimes I think you’re too good a guy, Fletcher Bradley. How about you stop trying so hard. Maybe then Paige will get over whatever it is she needs to get over and open up. If she wants to, that is.”

  So much for any answers from his sister. “You women are really tricky, you know that? Tricky, frustrating and confusing.”

  “Yeah, I know.” Lori smiled as Jason delivered Fletch’s breakfast. “We all know.”

  * * *

  “FOR THE LOVE of all that is right in this world, would the two of you leave already?”

  Paige covered her mouth to stop from laughing at Ursula’s frustrated order. The barely five-foot former navy cook who presided over the kitchen at the Butterfly Diner with an iron spatula waved a wooden spoon in Holly and Luke’s direction as if landing a helicopter. “You’re already a day behind on the honeymooning, so get your butts in the car and move it on out.”

  “Here.” Paige handed over the padded picnic basket she and Charlie had put together earlier this morning. “Sandwiches, a thermos of soup, cookies and one of Charlie’s special pies.”

  “Blackberry?” Luke reached out to pry open the lid only to have his wife slap his hand away. “I love blackberry pie.”

  “Which is why she made it for you. The, uh, crust might be a little overdone,” Paige added in a whisper so Charlie wouldn’t hear her. Not that her daughter was in earshot as she hovered over a spiral notebook that looked suspiciously like the ones Simon carried around as he plotted world domination. “But it was made with love.”

  “I kissed you for the first time after eating Charlie’s blackberry pie.” Luke wrapped his arm around Holly’s waist and pulled her against him. “The kid helped change my life.”

  “She has the habit of doing that,” Paige agreed. “But Ursula’s right. You’d best get going. Abby and I have Simon covered. Cash all settled?”

  “Already dropped him off at the station with Fletch,” Luke said. “Feel free to call on him to get your canine fill. He’s probably going to be whining a lot.”

  “Yeah, I’ll do that.” Paige shot a narrowed look at a suddenly innocent-looking Holly. “Twyla’s cleared her schedule to be here every day, so all the shifts are covered. Go. Have fun. Relax.”

  “Okay, we’re going. Bye, Charlie!” Holly called.

  “Bye, Holly! Hey, Mom? Did you have any pets growing up?”

  “Pets?” Paige almost got whiplash from the change of topic. When she was convinced Holly and Luke were actually on their way out of town, she approached her daughter. “No. I moved around too much. Why?” Please, please don’t tell me you want a puppy. Anything but a puppy.

  “No reason.” Charlie shook her head before returning to her notebook. “Just wondering.”

  “What on earth are you doing?” Paige reached for the notebook, but Charlie snatched it against her chest. “This isn’t more about those caves, is it? If you think a dog would help you, I’m sure Luke will loan you Cash.” Thank goodness for surrogate pets.

  “It’s a quiz I found in a book. It’s supposed to tell you who your perfect movie-star love match is. I wanted to see who yours is.”

  “I’m holding out for Clark Gable,” Paige told her, longing for the nights she could spend curled up watching classic movies. “Mystery solved.”

  “Clark who?” Charlie’s nose scrunched. “Is he related to Superman? I bet Simon knows who he is.”

  “Sure, yeah. Clark Gable is Superman’s uncle,” Paige fibbed. Ursula’s order up bell clanged and shot Paige’s attention back to work. “Just...keep doing what you’re doing, okay? Are you planning to walk Cash today?”

  “Uh-uh.” Charlie shook her head. “Tomorrow.”

  Paige hesitated. She could feel them getting more entrenched in Butterfly Harbor with every day that passed. The nerves had returned, as they often did when Paige began to fear they’d stayed in one place too long, but school was about to start. She’d gone against her instincts and registered Charlie under her real name...and spent the next few days waiting, petrified, for law enforcement to come knocking on her door to haul her away in cuffs.

  It had been weeks and still no knocks. Paige had just started breathing normally again.

  Charlie had made so many connections here. Even with the two months looming over Paige’s head, she couldn’t help but take the chance that...maybe she was wrong when she told Fletch they wouldn’t be staying. Maybe it was time, finally, for her to think about putting down some roots.

  Besides, leaving would break her daughter’s heart. What harm could crossing her fingers and hoping for the best do her for a change?

  “Mama?” There it was. Charlie knew using “mama” rather than “mom” tended to work magic on her. Also, spending
time with the dog should stave off any vocal desire for her to get one of her own. “I can still walk Cash, right?”

  “Definitely.” She would have to find the time—and reason—to remind Charlie about what they could share with people about their past. “Just don’t bother Fletch or Ozzy too much.”

  “’Kay. Oh, one more question. What is your perfect dinner date?” Charlie nibbled on the end of her pen like a determined reporter.

  “My perfect—” Paige gave up. At least she’d stopped chattering about that hidden treasure and the ocean caves. “Lobster bisque and a midnight cruise on the ocean.” Ha! As if that was ever going to happen. “Now, back into silent mode, Little Miss. I’ve got work to do.”

  “Okay. Thanks, Mom. You’ve been a big help.”

  Paige stumbled on the squeaky-clean tile floor on her way over to her latest customer. That statement probably shouldn’t bother her as much as it did.

  “Three mornings in a row.” Paige poured coffee into the mug and offered a friendly smile to the amused-looking woman in the back booth. She had blunt-cut hair and stark porcelain skin, and she wore a beautiful tailored pantsuit in a shade of green that reminded Paige of Fletcher’s all-too-knowing eyes. “That makes you a regular, which means introductions are in order. I’m Paige Cooper.” She set the coffeepot down.

  “Leah Ellis.” The posh-looking woman held out her hand. “Attorney at law. That your little girl?” She looked pointedly at Charlie, who was back to scribbling in her notebook, so reminiscent of Simon Paige had to steady herself.

  “Every precious inch of her.” Paige smiled. “So you’re a lawyer, huh? That’s great news.” Maybe this crossing-the-fingers thing had some merit after all.

  “It is?”

  “Well, I just learned our only other one moved out of town a while ago.”

  “Mmm-hmm. My uncle, actually. He’s moving up in the world, so I’m taking over his practice.” Leah sipped her coffee. “Okay, I don’t know what blend this is, but I think I’m in love.” She drank more deeply. “Definitely consider me a regular.”

  “So you’re settling in, then? Same offices?”

  “Just down the street from City Hall, yes.” Leah’s smile tightened. “I know that look. You’re in need of a lawyer.”

  “Me? Oh, no, actually. I’m not.” If Paige wasn’t careful she was going to get struck by lightning any second. “I mean, I have a friend, no, really, I do.” She laughed at Leah’s smirk. “Her brother might be in a bit of trouble with the local sheriff, well, deputy, actually. I don’t suppose you do any pro-bono work? They’re going through a rough time financially.”

  “I do.” Leah blinked. “But I’m afraid I’m not practicing criminal law any longer. If it’s an emergency, please, feel free to give her my card. I’d be happy to make some recommendations.” She dipped into her purse and handed a card to Paige. “Never too early to advertise. I’m specializing in family law from here on. Divorces, custody agreements, that kind of thing. Nothing exciting.” And from her tone she hoped to keep it that way.

  “Well, welcome to Butterfly Harbor, Leah. Would you like the same thing you’ve ordered before?”

  “You remember?”

  “Egg white omelet, two eggs, turkey sausage and side of wheat toast.”

  “Got it in one.”

  “Shouldn’t take too long. And I’ll keep that coffee coming.” She moved off before she overstayed her welcome. Given Leah’s thick briefcase on the seat beside her, she reckoned Leah had a few days’ worth of work waiting for her. “Order up, Ursula!” She banged on the bell as she stuck the ticket on the counter.

  “I hear ya, I hear ya.” Ursula lumbered out of the walk-in deep freezer carrying a twenty-pound bag of flour. Why she kept it in the freezer Paige had yet to figure out. “Had to get my biscuit fixins.”

  “You get the butter already?” Paige knew her offer to help would get her a spatula across the back of her knuckles.

  “In the back.” Ursula grunted. “Get it if you want.”

  “I want, thanks.” Paige unlatched the door and ducked inside, shivering as the cold hit her bare arms. It wasn’t a large space, and Holly kept the freezer well organized. Since most of their produce came fresh from Duskywing Farm, they kept mostly perishable dairy and meat inside. Along with ice cream. Lots and lots of ice cream.

  “Careful of the—”

  Paige spun around at Ursula’s warning just as the door slammed shut behind her, leaving the buzzing of the solitary fluorescent bulb as her only companion. Darn it! Not again. Her breath fogged out in front of her. She located the block of butter and hightailed it back to the door just as Ursula pulled it open.

  “How many times do I have to tell you to use this if you’re going in?” Ursula kicked the rubber stop toward her. “It ain’t there for decoration. One day I’m going to find your frozen bones in here.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” She set the frozen butter on the metal counter where she knew Ursula would soon be making her famous buttermilk biscuits. “New lawyer in town. Leah Ellis.” She joined Ursula at the grill top and stove and gestured to the back booth. “Taking over for her uncle.”

  “Heard some talk we’d be getting a fancy one from back east. Philadelphia, I think?” Ursula grinned. “Not that I pay much mind to gossip.”

  “Of course not.” But Paige knew where to come for answers if she had questions. Ursula was as reliable as the Pony Express had been once upon a time. If what you needed was information. “Going to be a busy day. I have lunch orders for City Hall already coming in.”

  “Stack ’em and rack ’em. We’ll get them taken care of. You get to hopping tables.”

  “On it.” Paige had the sneaking suspicion Ursula wanted to be feared, but the truth was the old curmudgeon only inspired loyalty and amusement. Yes, indeed. It might just be time to start thinking about settling down once and for all.

  CHAPTER SIX

  “HEY, Oz?” FLETCH realized he wasn’t going to find the file he’d been looking for the past five minutes. He waited for Oz to hang up the phone. “You have that list from Everett White about what he thinks was stolen from his shed while he was on vacation?”

  “Right here.” Oz riffled through the stack of files on his desk and brought it over to him. “That was Alice Manning. Said she saw something suspicious on her walk this morning over on Red Admiral Lane. Looks like we might have another break-in.”

  “Sure we do.” Fletch glanced at the clock. Barely 10:00 a.m. Wednesday morning and he could already feel his day slipping deeper into a ditch. The week—and the time before Luke got back—was getting away from him. “Let’s have the details.”

  Ozzy read off his notes. “Kyle Winters’s parents’ place. You want me to check it out?”

  “No. I’ll head over in a bit.” Fletch sat back in his chair, his chin resting on his fingers as he looked at the previous reports. “Not much damage that can be done. That makes four properties that we know of. All foreclosed on and abandoned.”

  Oz perched on the edge of Fletch’s desk. “All these places were in pretty bad shape to start with. Seems odd to target them.”

  “Yeah. Tells me they must have something in common that we aren’t seeing,” Fletch said. “Let’s pull up all the property records and check for any similar threads. And make a list of homes both here and in Durante that have been foreclosed on in the last year. Let’s see what might be next.”

  “It’ll take a call to City Hall to get everything you’re looking for.”

  “That’s fine. Feel free to tell whomever you speak with it’s in reference to the break-ins. Might light a fire under the mayor’s chair.” Something Fletch might be able to use to his advantage at Friday’s meeting.

  Ozzy grinned. “Good idea. You know, it’s weird. If it didn’t affect him personally, I’d think Kyle Wint
ers was up to his old tricks. But we both know that’s not possible.”

  “True.” But thinking about the troubled kid did give Fletch an idea. Kyle Winters, Butterfly Harbor’s most recent notorious teenage delinquent, was in the middle of his sentence in juvenile detention fifty miles south. “But that doesn’t mean he’s completely out of the loop. Good thinking, Oz.” Fletch picked up his phone and dialed Matt’s cell.

  Matt Knight answered in that typical devil-may-care tone of his. “Don’t tell me you guys are lost without me. I go away for a few days—”

  “We’re doing just fine, thank you very much.” Fletch rotated his half-filled coffee mug. “We had another break-in last night. Kyle’s old place.”

  “Interesting. Moving closer to town.” Matt’s suddenly serious tone confirmed Fletch’s suspicion. “You think whoever it is, is escalating things?”

  “Maybe. I want to believe that it being Kyle’s place is a coincidence, but he and Jasper used to hang out together.” Fletch didn’t believe in coincidences. “Look, this is going to sound bad, but do you think Kyle might have any idea who else other than Jasper might be behind this?” The silence that hung between them dragged. Fletch mentally kicked himself for letting Paige’s voiced doubt seep into his head. “Maybe he can give us a place to start trying to track Jasper down. Or not. I know he’s your foster kid and all.”

  “And for a minute there I thought you’d forgotten.”

  Being a foster parent was a role Matt—and Kyle—was still getting accustomed to. The last thing Fletch wanted to do was drive a wedge between them. But if Fletch was going to get this case closed and remove the target the mayor put on Luke’s back, he had to use whatever he had at his disposal. “Kyle’s the closest thing I’ve got to a lead at this point.”

  “He’s only a kid, Fletch.”

  “He’s a kid with a record for breaking and entering, vandalism, possession of a firearm—”

  “And he’s kept his nose clean ever since he went to JD,” Matt snapped. “He hasn’t had a lick of trouble while he’s been serving his time.”