Assault and Batter

by Jessica Beck

  And yet here she was.

  “It’s in the shop,” she said. “The tow truck driver was kind enough to run me home when I had troubles with it. Wasn’t that sweet of him?”

  “He must be a real doll,” I said. “Aren’t you going to need your car, though?”

  “I’ll have it back in an hour. I’ve been promised,” she said. After carefully studying me, Momma asked softly, “Suzanne, are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. Why wouldn’t I be? Emily and Max are getting married in three days, and I’m their maid of honor.” I didn’t want to talk about Jake, so what better way to distract my mother than by bringing up the other jarring news about my life?

  “You actually agreed to that?” Momma asked. “What were you thinking?”

  “That I couldn’t refuse a friend’s request,” I said simply enough. “I honestly believe that Max has changed, and it was important to Emily that I do this, so I agreed.”

  Momma nodded, and then she added a slight grin. “Suzanne, you have to admit, it is a bit unconventional.”

  “When have we ever been conventional?” I asked, matching her smile with one of my own.

  “That’s a fair point. I just can’t believe you’d take this on.”

  “Hold on. It gets better. I’m also making a donut display for the wedding. They’ve decided to have my treats instead of a wedding cake.”

  “I can’t disagree with that,” she said. Though she was a diminutive woman in size, my mother more than made up for it with the sheer size of her personality. “Are her little stuffed friends going to be in the wedding party?”

  “I’m pretty sure that she wouldn’t get married without them,” I said. “She’s going to make tuxedos for all three of them.”

  Momma’s grin got even bigger. “I can’t wait to see that. It’s almost worth the cost of admission in and of itself. I wonder what Max will think about that?”

  “He loves Emily, and that means that he’s bought into the idea from the start that Cow, Spots, and Moose are as real and as animated as we are.”

  “It sounds as though he really has changed,” Momma said.

  “I never would have pled his case to Emily in the first place if I hadn’t believed it,” I said.

  “So, once again, no good deed goes unpunished. As a reward for your kindness, you’ll have the privilege of walking down the aisle just ahead of Emily, and Max will see your face just before he sees his betrothed. What does Jake think about all of this?”

  “As a matter of fact, I haven’t told him yet,” I said, averting my gaze.

  “Don’t you think it’s something that he’ll want to know?” she asked. I knew that slightly scolding tone of voice too well.

  “This all just happened,” I said. “Jake’s on his way here, and if I get the opportunity to bring it up, I will, but I have a hunch that he’s got something more serious on his mind. He told me that we needed to talk.” As soon as I said the last bit, I wanted to clamp my jaws shut, but it was too late. I’d let my frustration with Jake’s mystery cloud my ability to watch what I said around my mother.

  “That doesn’t sound too promising,” Momma said. “What do you think he wants to talk about?”

  “I think he might be dumping me,” I said, shocking myself even more than Momma. Why in the world was I still talking?

  “He knows better than to throw you back,” Momma said dismissively. “You are a jewel of a woman, and he’d be lucky to have you.”

  “But what if he doesn’t want me anymore?” I asked. I was on the edge of tears, but I fought them with everything I had. I knew that if I started crying, Momma would not be far behind, and then we’d both be a mess. If my worst fears were realized, there would be plenty of time for tears later.

  “Have you considered the other possibility?” she asked.

  “What’s that?”

  “What if he’s about to propose?” she asked. “You said he sounded serious. It might be something good instead of bad.”

  “I don’t think so,” I said.

  “But you don’t know, do you?”

  “No, but I’ve got a pretty good idea,” I said.

  “Well, there’s nothing you can do until he gets here. I’ll make myself scarce even if I have to walk over to the Boxcar. That way, I’ll be close by if you need me.”

  “You don’t have to leave the cottage on my account,” I said, though it was my most fervent wish at the moment.

  “You are my daughter, and I love you,” she said simply as she stood and kissed my forehead. “I know you love your shower, but why don’t you take some time for yourself and have a nice long soak in the tub, instead? It will do wonders for you; I guarantee it.”

  “Maybe I will,” I said. I kissed her cheek and hugged her. “Thanks for being here for me.”

  “There’s nowhere else that I’d rather be,” she said. “You smell just like donuts; you know that, don’t you?”

  “It’s hard not to after making them and then serving them all morning,” I said as I started to pull away.

  She wouldn’t let me, though. “I wasn’t complaining,” she said. “It’s really rather quite nice. They should make a fragrance of it.”

  “Grace’s cosmetics company tried that,” I said. “We both got nice little checks for the idea, but nothing ever came of it.”

  “It’s just as well,” Momma said as she released me. “The men would never leave you alone.”

  “I have a feeling that they’d find a way,” I said. “I’m going to go take that bath now, if you don’t mind.”

  “You do that, and I’ll walk over to the diner.”

  “You don’t have to leave right now,” I said as I glanced at the clock. “You’ve got at least an hour still.”

  “I’d rather be safe than sorry,” she said. “Good luck, and call me after he leaves, no matter what.”

  “I will,” I said. “I promise.”

  After Momma was gone, I drew a bath, something I rarely did these days. As the tub filled, I turned the ringer off my cellphone, put it in my bedroom to charge, and then I shut the door. I wouldn’t be able to hear the house landline phone from in there, either.

  All I needed at the moment was a little quiet time just for me.

  Chapter 5

  I don’t know how it happened, but I must have dozed off in the tub, because when I woke up with a start, I realized that it was past my allotted hour to soak. The water was cold, and I had a stiff neck; so much for my relaxing bath. Any good that it had done was long gone. I drained the water, showered off quickly, and then dried off, put on my robe, and walked into my bedroom.

  My cellphone had a message stored on it. Had Jake called me while I’d been asleep? I entered my code and listened to my message. Sure enough, his voice came on the line. “Hey, it’s me. I’ve been called back to the office for an important meeting with my boss. It looks as though I won’t be able to make it tonight after all. Don’t try to call; I’m turning my ringer off. It’s pointless anyway, as this sounds as though it’s going to be a late night, and don’t forget, you have to get up early tomorrow morning. We’ll talk as soon as we can, but I can’t say right now when exactly that will be. Sorry about the drama and confusion. I’ll explain it all the next time we talk. Bye. Oh, love ya. Bye again.”

  The love he’d sent my way had been cooler than the bathwater when I’d climbed out of the tub. It meant either one of two things; he was already preoccupied with another case, or his feelings for me were beginning to cool as well. I didn’t know which one it might be, and I had no way of finding out now, either.

  I was still staring at my phone when it rang. I searched the caller ID, but unfortunately, it was the imminent bride and not my boyfriend.

  Trying my best to sound chipper, I said, “Hey, Emily. Any sign of the missing best man yet?”

  “He showed up three minutes ago,” Emily said. “He’s got a black eye, and the knuckles on his right hand are bruised. I don’t know what happened, but Max
is pushing him for the details right now.”

  “Who could he have gotten into a fight with in April Springs? Does he even know anybody here but the three of us?”

  “I don’t even want to think about that right now,” she said. “Mom called, and she needs to see us both immediately. Can you drop everything you had planned tonight and come over to her place?”

  “Why not? I’ve got nothing going on,” I said, although it pained me to admit it to her.

  “That’s perfect. I hope you haven’t eaten yet; Mom’s made a feast. Oh, I have one more favor to ask of you, if you don’t mind.”

  “Hey, I’m the maid of honor. I live to serve you,” I replied.

  She laughed at my attempt at humor. “We both know better than that, but would you mind swinging by and picking up Grace?”

  “Is she in the wedding, too?” I asked.

  “She and Emma both,” Emily answered.

  “Are there going to be enough matching groomsmen to go around?” I asked. Max wasn’t known for longevity in his friendships, with the possible exception of Peter, and that was one that I wished hadn’t stuck all those years.

  “He’s asked a few actors that he’s worked closely with before.”

  “How festive,” I said.

  “Emma’s already here, but it would be great if you could give Grace a lift.”

  “We’re on our way,” I said, and I hung up before she could give me any more assignments.

  “Well, if it’s not the bravest woman in all of April Springs, North Carolina,” Grace said after I pulled up in front of her house just down the street from the cottage that I shared with Momma.

  “Why do you say that?” I asked as she climbed into my Jeep.

  “You’re the maid of honor at your ex-husband’s wedding,” she said. “And you don’t think that’s brave? I think you should get a medal for doing this.”

  “I’m doing it for Emily,” I said.

  “There’s absolutely no doubt in my mind that’s true,” she answered.

  “I didn’t realize that you were going to be in the wedding party, too,” I said.

  “Emily and I are pals, too,” she said. “I’m surprised Emma’s not in it, though.”

  “She’s already there,” I said as I drove to Emily’s place.

  “To be honest with you, I’m a little surprised that she’s not the maid of honor,” Grace said, “not that you won’t make a perfectly lovely one.”

  “It turns out that I was asked because I persuaded Emily to give Max another try.”

  She grinned at me. “Oh, boy, I’m willing to bet that you’re regretting that now.”

  “You know me too well,” I said as we neared Emily’s parents’ house.

  “Suzanne, are you okay?” What was it with Momma, and now Grace? Was I giving out some kind of signal that I was in desperate straits?

  “I’m fine,” I said.

  “Really?”

  “No, I’m a train wreck waiting to happen, but I don’t want to talk about it right now. How about if we table it until after we leave tonight? Would you do that for me?”

  “I will,” she said, and then she squeezed my hand. “Whatever it is, I’m here for you, okay?”

  “I know,” I said as I squeezed her hand back. “Now, let’s go see what we can do to make the bride’s life a little easier, shall we?”

  “Sounds great to me,” Grace said. I noticed her watching me closely, searching for some kind of sign of what was really wrong with me, but I wasn’t about to tell her now. This was Emily’s time, and I was going to do my best to help make her shine.

  At least I had my early hours as an excuse to get out of there. It had all turned out to have been one big false alarm, a pretense to gather us all together so we could see how thoroughly we’d been replaced by Emily’s mother.

  “Thanks for being my ride,” Grace said as we headed back home.

  “You’re welcome. I was glad to do it.”

  “Oh, I appreciate the lift,” Grace said with a smile, “but what I really loved was the excuse to get out of there early. Don’t get me wrong. I love Emily to death, but I thought that her mother would never shut up. Do you feel left out?”

  “How do you mean?”

  “Suzanne, she took over every single one of your duties, including lining up the reverend. Can you believe that binder she had? It must have weighed twenty pounds. I’ll bet she’s been working on it since Emily was a little girl. Who knows, maybe even longer. There’s literally nothing left for you to do.”

  “Are you kidding? I just have to make the wedding donuts and show up. That sounds perfect to me,” I said.

  “If you’re sure,” Grace said. She paused a moment, and then my best friend asked me, “Will you tell me what’s going on now?”

  As I pulled up into her driveway, I said, “I’ll make you a deal. I’ll tell you, but you can’t ask me any questions or make any comments. When I’m finished, we say good night. Agreed?”

  “Agreed,” she said. Wow, she really did want to know what was going on with me to agree to those terms.

  “Jake was on his way here to discuss something serious with me when he was called back to his office suddenly. I have a feeling that he’s about to break up with me.” I managed to say it all without crying, which was a big deal for me, given how I felt about the situation.

  Grace had a look of pure shock on her face, as though I’d stunned her into silence. After a slight pause, she held up one finger, and her expression begged me for the chance to say one thing.

  “Okay,” I relented. “You can say one thing, but that’s it.”

  “I’m here if you need me,” Grace said, and then she gave me a hug before she got out of the car.

  It was the perfect thing to say.

  Now I had just one more gauntlet to run before I could get to sleep, but it would be the toughest one yet. I knew that there was no way that Momma would agree to one comment. No matter what happened, I was in for a long night when I could barely afford to give up the sleep I might still manage before I had to get up and make the donuts yet again.

  But Momma was gone when I drove the short way home, though her car was back in its rightful place. She must have been out with Chief Martin, which was fine with me. I crawled into bed at 8:30, turned off my ringer, and fell asleep from sheer exhaustion, both physical and emotional. I decided to be like Scarlett and worry about it tomorrow.

  For now, I desperately needed some sleep.

  When I woke up the next morning around one, I quietly got dressed and headed downstairs. To my surprise, the kitchen light was on. Had Momma forgotten to turn it off when she’d got in?

  Then I smelled the bacon.

  “What’s this?” I asked as I walked in to find a plate with waffles and bacon at my seat.

  “I decided to get up and make you breakfast,” Momma said. How did she manage to look so chipper when I knew that she’d gotten in after me?

  “I appreciate the thought, but I don’t have time,” I said.

  “You have five minutes to eat, and you know it,” she said. “Sit, young lady.”

  I was about to protest when I took a deep breath. It really did smell wonderful. “Okay. Thanks for this, but let’s not make it a regular thing, okay? It’s hard enough keeping my weight down making the treats I create every single day. If I start eating breakfasts like this, I won’t be able to fit into my Jeep.”

  “Agreed, for special occasions only,” she said with a smile.

  As I dove into the breakfast, Momma asked, “Do you have any interest in continuing our discussion we started yesterday?”

  I swallowed a bite of waffle, and then I replied, “Mom, I really, really don’t. Is that okay with you?”

  “It’s fine. I’m here for you, though.”

  “I know, and I appreciate it,” I said as I patted her hand. I took one last bite of waffle, added a bit of bacon, and then I savored it. “This was great, but I have to run.” I looked around the kitc
hen and saw how much work she’d put into making me breakfast. “I suppose I could stick around and help you clean up.”

  “I’m happy to do it. Go on; go make your donuts. The people of April Springs are counting on you.”

  “Well, maybe a few of them,” I said as I kissed her cheek. “Thanks again, for everything.”

  “What else are mothers for?” she asked with the hint of a smile.

  “More than I can say.”

  As I drove to Donut Hearts in the darkness, I was thankful again that I’d had a place to come home to after my divorce from Max. I’d been in bad shape, the victim of my husband’s affair, and Momma had helped put me back together again. Sure, I’d put on a brave face to the rest of the world, buying the donut shop on an impulse with my divorce settlement, but it had taken some time to see life in a positive light again, and if it hadn’t been for Momma and Grace, I’m not entirely sure I would have made it. If my life was about to go through another crisis, at least I’d have both women there to help me through whatever came my way. For now, though, I was going to make donuts and try my best to forget about the rest of the world.

  As I approached Donut Hearts, I realized that it might be easier said than done.

  Chief Martin was waiting for me, leaning against his squad car with a dark expression on his face.

  It appeared that my day wasn’t going to be quite so normal after all.

  Chapter 6

  “Why do I have the feeling that you’re not here for a cup of coffee?” I asked the chief after I’d parked and gotten out of my Jeep.

  “I could use some of that, too,” he said, “but you’re right. That’s not the real reason that I’m here.”

  “What happened?” A sudden thought occurred to me, and I felt my blood go cold. “Did something happen to Jake?” If he’d been hurt after the last conversation that we’d had, I’d never find a way to get over it.

  The police chief looked surprised by my question. “What? No, as far as I know, Jake’s fine. Why, what’s he been up to lately?”

  “Investigating crime, just like you,” I said as I unlocked the door. “Come on in. I’ll get the coffee started while you bring me up to speed on what’s happening.”