Joe had been after me to sell the Nova for months, but it had been Daddy’s car, and I’d gotten it by default when he died my freshman year in college. Violet was already married and had a car of her own, and Momma had quit driving by then. I loved the car, despite its size and gas-guzzling ways, mostly because it had been Daddy’s and was full of happy memories. But the few times I’d driven to Little Rock to see Joe, he’d been a nervous wreck, worried the car wouldn’t make it there and home. Maybe it was time to consider getting something else. Not a sedan like Joe had been not-so-subtly implying that I should buy (he e-mailed me links to local used car lots daily), but a pickup truck. We needed one for our business anyway.
When I went inside and mentioned the idea to Violet, she rolled her eyes. “What do you know about driving a pickup?”
“What’s there to know? It drives like a car.”
She dismissed me with a wave. “It’s bigger than a car. You could run something over.”
Something rose up in my chest and overflowed into my head, filling me with an overwhelming urge to stand up for myself. “You know this isn’t the last time we’re gonna need a truck. I’ll buy one and put the business name on the side. It will be like free advertising.” The more I thought about the idea, the more I liked it, despite the fact that it would mean spending even more money on the nursery. I’d already invested so many hundreds of thousands of dollars that I couldn’t think about it without hyperventilating.
“You don’t know the first thing about buying a truck.”
“You’re buying a truck?” Mason asked, coming through the doorway at just that moment.
I turned around and smiled. After not seeing him for weeks, I’d seen plenty of him in the last couple of days. “I’m considering it.”
Violet rolled her eyes. “Mr. Deveraux, tell her what a ridiculous idea it is.”
Mason kept his eyes on me, a teasing glint in them. “I don’t know. I can see you driving a truck. A shotgun in the window for when you get into trouble.” He winked.
Violet’s eyes widened.
“Driving a truck isn’t hard. It’s just bigger and higher up,” Mason added.
“She doesn’t know the first thing about buying a car,” Violet laughed, taking a new angle. “Or a truck, as the case might be. She thinks she’s just going to waltz in there and negotiate a deal.”
Why was she trying to make me look like a fool? And why was I just now seeing what she was doing? This was far from the first time she’d pulled a stunt like this, and it had always infuriated Joe to no end. He claimed Violet was jealous of me. I’d always told him the idea was preposterous, but now I wasn’t so sure. Well, starting the nursery might have boosted Violet’s confidence, but it had boosted mine too.
Mason turned an expressionless gaze on Violet. “I’m sure Rose is capable of doing anything she sets her mind to.”
Violet wasn’t sure what to say to that, and I took the opportunity to change the subject. “Is there anything we can help you with, Mason?”
He turned his full attention to me, practically ignoring Violet. “Actually, my mother is coming to visit this weekend, and I wanted to get her a gift, so I thought about your shop. I remembered you sold indoor plants. She’s always trying to grow something, despite her black thumb. I thought you might be able to recommend a plant that will take her longer to kill.”
I laughed. “Flowering or non-flowering?”
His eyes widened. “Uh…” A strange look crossed his face. “We’d better stick to non-flowering.”
“Okay. Does her house have a lot of light?”
“Not particularly. She lives in an older house in Hillcrest. Lots of older trees and shade.”
I walked to the back corner of the store where we kept a variety of indoor plants. “Hillcrest. That’s one of the historic neighborhoods in Little Rock, right?” Joe had driven us through it on one of my visits to see him.
“Yeah.”
“So you grew up there, then?”
He smiled. “I did.”
“Does your mother have any pets? Any grandkids?”
Wariness washed over his face.
What was the deal with the men in my life and their secretiveness? “I’m not pryin’. I need to know for the plant. Some are poisonous to pets and children. If that’s an issue, we obviously want to stay away from those.”
“Oh. None of either.”
“Then there are several plants you can choose from that like low light and are fairly hearty. One is a dieffenbachia.” My fingertips brushed the thick dark green and yellowish leaves. “They can get to be quite tall. Or if you want something smaller and even hardier, you could go with a zeezee plant.” I pointed to a plant that looked like a small bush. “They’re also called eternity plants since they’re considered nearly impossible to kill.”
Mason pointed to the latter. “Definitely that one.”
“That was easy.”
“I’m not that difficult to please. Contrary to what you might have thought after our first encounters.”
I smiled up at him. “I’m glad you loosened up. I thought we were going to be friends.”
His smile fell. “I told you that I regret the agreement I made with Joe. Have you talked to him? Does he know I’m no longer avoiding you?”
I squirmed. “We talked about it briefly before he left yesterday. He’s on an undercover assignment, and I can’t talk to him right now.”
Mason’s mouth pursed.
I had a feeling he wasn’t telling me something, but pressing for more information was pointless. “Thanks for backing me up with Violet,” I said in an undertone. “Sometimes she…”
“Acts like an older sister?” He teased, his earlier playfulness returning.
“Yeah.”
“For what it’s worth, I think getting a truck is a great idea. Do you have much car shopping experience?”
“No, but I’ve considered trading the Nova in for a newer used car.”
“If you’re worried about getting a good deal, feel free to take me along. There’s nothing as intimidating to a car salesman as negotiating with the assistant district attorney.”
I had been making a real effort to do more things on my own, and I was succeeding, but negotiating for a car made me nervous.
He sensed my hesitation. “If it makes you feel any better, I helped my cousin Neal negotiate for his last car. I’m not sure anyone can get a better deal than I can.”
I crossed my arms and smirked. “I bet you were the captain of the debate team, huh?”
His mouth twisted into a smug grin. “Well, of course. Pulaski Academy wouldn’t have gone to the nationals in forensics without me.”
“Such a humble man.”
He lifted his eyebrows in an exaggerated manner. “I know. I keep telling everyone that, but no one listens.”
I shook my head with a laugh. “Imagine that.” Against my better judgment, I was thinking about letting him help. “Isn’t your mother coming for the weekend?”
“Not until Saturday morning. I’m taking off early tomorrow afternoon. We could go then.”
“Are you sure? If you got an afternoon off, surely you want to spend it doing something other than haggling over a truck.”
He pointed to himself. “Hello. Have we met? I’m Mason Deveraux III, and I love to argue for the fun of it.”
I grinned. “Okay. You’ve got a deal.”
“I get off at noon. Do you want to meet at Merilee’s for lunch first?”
I had worked through lunch for the past two days, and Violet would be taking off early tonight. I figured I could go to lunch without feeling guilty. “Sure. Sounds good.”
Mason’s smile widened. “Great.”
I started to pick up his plant to take it to the counter, but he took it from me and carried it instead. While I rung up his purchase, I told him the latest courthouse gossip Neely Kate had shared with me, and he confirmed that about ninety percent of it was true.
He shook
his head in amazement. “The Henryetta Police Department should hire her as some kind of informant.”
I considered telling him about Miss Laura’s missing jewelry, but it didn’t feel right, especially if it got her niece into trouble. It was most likely a coincidence. “Neely Kate has a way of knowin’ things.”
At that moment, a vision pushed its way to the surface. Panic sent an urge to resist it, but that never did any good. I’d deal with the fallout when it was done. I saw an attractive, well-dressed elderly woman. Her mouth opened in happy surprise as I handed her the plant Mason was buying. “I love it!”
The vision faded away, and I looked up at Mason. “Your mother is going to love the plant,” I said automatically.
He smiled. “Thanks to your help, I think she will.”
Thank the Lord above I hadn’t seen anything embarrassing. Mason still didn’t know about my visions, and I hoped to keep it that way.
Picking the plant up off the counter, he headed for the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow at noon.”
Violet had been assisting someone outside, but she came back in when Mason left, watching him over her shoulder. “You do know what just happened there, don’t you?”
My back bristled. “I know you don’t approve of me getting a truck, but Mason—”
“Not that, Rose.” A smug smile lifted her mouth. “Your lunch date.”
I squinted in confusion. “What about it?”
“It’s a lunch date.”
“What?” I paused as the full meaning of what she’d said slipped in. “Oh.” No, she was wrong. “Mason and I are just friends.”
She laughed. “That’s how it starts. Then the next thing you know…” She walked outside, leaving her sentence unfinished.
Just minutes ago, she had hurt me for sport. Was this comment any different? When had she become this person? Where was the loving, supportive person who would have done anything to protect me?
Watching her through the window as she returned to her customer, all sweetness and sugar, I wondered again if I knew her at all.
Chapter Eight
When I got back to the church, I was surprised by how much progress Bruce Wayne and David had made. They were about finished with digging up the weeds and turning over the soil. I’d brought them deli sandwiches, chips, and lemonade, and they sat under the shade of a mimosa tree to eat their lunch and enjoy the breeze that had kicked up.
I took advantage of some time alone. I grabbed a shovel and finished turning over the ground before we added fertilizer and planted the flowers.
“I see you’re hard at work. I thought that was what those boys were here for.”
I jumped at the sound of Jonah Pruitt’s voice and spun around to face him. “Reverend Jonah. You caught me by surprise.”
“I didn’t mean to sneak up on you. You were very intent on your job.”
“Oh, I love working with the dirt and plants.”
“Nothin’ wrong with being one with God’s creation.”
That was one way to put it. “Yeah.”
“I noticed your necklace this morning.” He pointed to the base of my throat where the cross laid. “You weren’t wearing it yesterday. I hope this means you’re considering coming to church on Sunday.”
I reached up and grabbed the crucifix self-consciously. What was I going to tell him? Thankfully, he plunged on without waiting for an answer.
“The boys made tremendous progress,” Jonah said. “I had to force them to take a water break a little while ago.”
“Bruce Wayne is determined to do a good job.”
“I can tell,” Jonah cast a glance at the guys under the tree before turning back to me. “I found his desire to impress you rather curious. It didn’t seem to be something as innocent as a crush.”
I wasn’t sure why his announcement ticked me off so much. Perhaps because Bruce Wayne’s motivations weren’t any of Reverend Jonah Pruitt’s business.
“I can see I’ve upset you, Rose. That wasn’t my intention.”
I exhaled, trying to keep my cool.
“It’s my business to know what makes people tick.” He paused. “I know it seems nosy, but that’s how I figure out what people need.”
“I’m not sure why you care what his reasons—”
Jonah’s voice lowered. “Rose, a pastor takes care of his flock. To do that, I have to know how they’re hurting. Otherwise how can I heal them?”
“With all due respect, Jonah, isn’t it the Lord’s job to heal them? And technically neither of us are part of your flock.”
To my surprise, he laughed. “You are like a breath of fresh air, Rose Gardner, just sayin’ what you think.”
I wasn’t so sure about that.
He sobered. “I know about your connection to Bruce Wayne Decker.”
My chest tightened. “What does that mean?”
“I know you were responsible for getting the murder charges against him dropped.”
I felt like my privacy had been invaded, but I wasn’t sure why. It was public knowledge. Jonah had moved his church to Henryetta at about the time of Bruce Wayne’s trial. For all I knew, he remembered the trial. But it was far more likely he’d been snooping.
Jonah sensed my train of thought. “Rhonda made the connection. I swear I wasn’t prying. But I confess that I did do a bit of investigation after I found out.”
I spun to fiddle with the shovel some more.
“Can you tell me why you did it?” He asked, his voice softer and more anxious than I’d expected. “You were put in jail for trying to prove his charges should be dropped. What convinced you he was innocent?”
I put my foot on the shovel and pushed it deep into the dirt, then twisted to glance up at him. “I just knew. And because I knew, it was the only right thing to do.”
“I hear you know things.” He was behind me now, so close I’d elbow him if I put some effort into turning over the dirt.
Icy dread slid through my veins.
“How do you know things, Rose?” he said, pushing me with his words.
Suddenly Bruce Wayne was next to me, picking up a shovel. “I’m ready to get back to work now.” He turned to Jonah. “It’s coming along, ain’t it?”
Jonah smiled, but for the first time, it wasn’t genuine. “That it is,” he said, then turned around and went back into the church.
What had Jonah Pruitt heard about me, and why was he so interested? Was he just another in a long line of preachers determined to rid me of my demon?
“Are you okay, Miss Rose?” Bruce Wayne asked in a hushed tone.
I released a nervous laugh. “Of course. Why are you asking?”
“It looked like he was upsetting you.”
Suddenly, I felt foolish. Everyone in town knew I’d helped free Bruce Wayne. Of course the reverend had been curious. “I’m fine. Men of the cloth just seem to find me lacking.”
“Me too,” he said quietly before he pushed his shovel into the dirt.
Bruce Wayne and I had more in common than being accused of murders we didn’t commit.
I had planned to stay for the rest of the afternoon, until Violet needed to leave the store, but I was worried Jonah would come back and try to continue our conversation. What did he think he knew about me? I told Bruce Wayne to finish the east side, then show up early tomorrow to receive the flower shipment and start on the west. We’d tackle the short south and north sides on Saturday and Sunday afternoon if needed.
Violet was surprised to see me when I walked through the door. “I thought you wanted to help with the planting.”
“I did. But I changed my mind. They’re making good progress without me.”
Violet took me at my word and turned her attention to some paperwork on the counter. I went outside to check on the flowers. To keep the plants in the flats looking lush and healthy, we had to water them multiple times a day. Watering them now seemed like a good time filler since I didn’t feel like telling Violet about my interaction with Jonah.
If I hung around inside, she’d be able to tell something was eating at me, and she’d pry it out of me. I really needed advice on how to handle the situation, but Violet was the last person I wanted to talk to about it after our earlier interactions, and Joe was unavailable for who knew how long. Besides, I knew perfectly well what he’d say. Quit. But the money was too good to pass up, and Jonah hadn’t done anything bad. He just made me feel uncomfortable. I was probably being too sensitive.
When I went inside, I leaned against the counter. “Vi, maybe you should go out to the church tomorrow to check on the progress.” If she went, I wouldn’t have to see Jonah.
Her head lifted, surprise in her eyes. “Why?”
“Well…it’s your name and reputation on the line too. Maybe you should give it your stamp of approval.”
She laughed, pulling off her apron and washing her hands in the nearby sink. “I saw the plan you drew up. It was great. Why wouldn’t I like it?”
How could she do that? How could she tear me down in one breath, and then build me up in the next?
“You don’t want to see it at all?”
She looked up and smiled. “I trust you. You’re really good at landscaping, so I’ll just see it when it’s done. You can surprise me.”
I wanted to protest and tell her I refused to go back out, but then she’d want to know why.
Violet grabbed her purse as a black sedan pulled into the parking lot. She put her hand on her chest and took several deep breaths. “Brody’s here.” Her skin was flushed, and she looked more excited than a person had a right to be about a first date. “Thanks for closing up, Rose. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“Have fun,” I said, but a heaviness had settled on me. I knew part of it had to do with Violet’s entanglement with Brody and my lingering worry over Joe’s secrets, but I couldn’t help thinking it was more than that. Something below the surface. I just couldn’t figure out what.
Thirty and a Half Excuses Page 8