A Minute on the Lips

by Cheryl Harper

  Gram watched her closely. “Was what you said true?”

  Andi bit her tongue and stifled the urge to get into what “true” meant again. What she’d said had been both factually correct and true. “Yes, but that doesn’t mean it needs to be said. And even if I might say it to you, I don’t want it in print for the whole town.” If Gram knew how she felt about staying here and what she wanted, their arguments would start up again, but if it went out in the paper, Andi would lose this election.

  Gram patted her hand. “Andi, honey, think about Mark, not Ray and what he’d do to win. Do you really think you’re just another story?”

  Andi took a deep breath. She thought about the look in his eyes when he was frozen on her front porch. And the warmth in his voice when he said she deserved to be happy. And the comfort in having his hand wrapped around hers.

  As her heartbeat slowed, she said, “Thanks, Gram.”

  Gram completed the round she was working on then changed yarn colors. Very little seemed to rattle her. Except maybe being late for church.

  “How do you do it, Gram?” Andi asked. “How do you stay here in Tall Pines after all that’s happened? Doesn’t it bother you?”

  Gram peered over her glasses. “Honestly, Andi?” She shook her head. “The only thing that really bothers me is that it bothers you.”

  She rubbed her right hand with her left before flexing her fingers. “I had a hard time when John left town. I still don’t really understand how he could desert his family like that...

  “But the truth is that I couldn’t make decisions for him. You couldn’t either. He did what he did on his own. I hate that he left and that he’s the kind of man who could abandon his family for his own selfish gain—mainly because of what it did to you and your mama. Money only gets a person so far. You needed your daddy.”

  Gram picked up her crochet hook. “They were his decisions. Not yours. And they had absolutely nothing to do with you, who you are or how lovable you are. Never doubt that.”

  Andi swallowed and forced herself to ask the question she was afraid of. “Gram, did you think I’d abandoned you? I mean, I hardly ever came home. Not until it was almost too late. What if I’m just like him?” What if Edna had been right? Her accusation had stung, but it was hard to ignore the similarities between her father’s escape and her own.

  Gram frowned. “Girl, you know better. Of course I don’t think that. You were living your life.”

  Andi twisted a loose thread on the throw pillow. She couldn’t look at Gram. She could feel the burn of impending tears in her eyes, but she willed them away. “But I could have—”

  “And you would have. If I’d called and said I needed you to come home because I had a paper cut, what would you have done?”

  Andi shook her head. “You already know. I would’ve come right away and given you lots and lots of grief.”

  Gram snorted. “Yeah, you’re pretty good at harassment when you want to be.” She patted Andi’s leg. “You came when I needed you. You will always come when I need you. Because you understand that’s what families do.”

  Andi put her hand over Gram’s. “Because I love you, Gram.”

  “And I love you, whether you’re down the road or hundreds of miles away.” She smoothed out the dishcloth and admired her work. “But if you’d stopped carrying too much guilt over things you can’t change, or if you didn’t ask so much of yourself, these last two years would have been completely different. You’re good at your job. You’re a good person. But you care too much what other people think. You were going to apologize to Rose at lunch, weren’t you?”

  Andi shrugged. “It’s a reflex. I almost had to bite my tongue off to keep the words inside, but I think I realized then that the only person I need to worry about pleasing is you, Gram. I’ll never be able to make everyone else happy, so I need to concentrate on the most important person. As long as you’re happy, who cares what everyone else thinks?”

  Gram shook her head mournfully. “For such a smart girl, Andi, you surprise me sometimes.”

  Andi had no idea what she was talking about, and she had a pretty good feeling it showed on her face.

  Gram tapped Andi on the arm with her crochet hook. “I’m not the most important one. You are. You’re the person you need to please. And if that means heading back to Atlanta, you need to go. If that means calling Mark Taylor and demanding a second date, then you better do it. That’d be my choice. The clock’s ticking, Andi.”

  She picked up the yarn again. “You asked me how I stay here. The truth is that I have a lot of family in Tall Pines. If you go back to Atlanta, Tammy’s still here. So is Margaret. And Mona. Edna and Rose. And we’re family whether we’re fighting like cats and dogs or giggling over cards. Always will be. So stop worrying about me and figure out what you want.”

  Andi wasn’t surprised at her grandmother’s words. She’d heard parts of this speech in the early days when they were still fighting over Shady Pines and where Andi should live. And she knew Gram was right. She had a family here in Tall Pines who would take care of her. It was that kind of place. Everybody knew everybody and interfered way too much in their business but that was the way family worked best, when it was close.

  Andi was too tired to figure it all out right then. She rested her head against the back of the couch and closed her eyes. As she lay there, she remembered so many Saturday afternoons spent at her grandmother’s house, doing the same while she listened to her grandparents talk and laugh and argue. How nice it had been to know she was safe with them, and because things never seemed to change, she’d thought they never would. Change had always surprised her. She didn’t know what it was like to make a decision that forced a change.

  Maybe now was the time to try.

  “Gram, do you think it’s too late to make a change?”

  Her grandmother snorted. “Andi, I don’t even know who or what you’re talking about, but the answer is no. It’s never too late.” Andi twisted her head to see that her grandmother was very serious and a little annoyed at the question.

  “Look at me. I moved here to Shady Pines, something I once said was the same as giving up, and I’ve never regretted it for a minute. Card games, lunch with my friends, shopping and so little housework I can’t even remember how to turn on the vacuum cleaner. I made a decision, made a change, and am happier for it.” She looked over her glasses. “Does this have anything to do with the newspaper editor?”

  “Maybe a little, but it’s just...I feel stuck. And I don’t think it’s all about Tall Pines. I might feel the same in Atlanta.”

  Gram went back to crocheting. “The thing about change is it’s scary. It’s always scary, whether you make the decision or it happens to you. But that’s when things get interesting.”

  Andi looked up at the ceiling. “I wish I knew what Mark was thinking. Are we working or is it...”

  “Maybe forget about him and figure out what you’re thinking. Is it work or is it more?”

  “I’d know the answer to that if he’d kissed me, Gram. Think that means anything?” Even the thought that she might want something more made her heart pound. It was the old familiar feeling of anxiety that had accompanied most of the changes she’d been through, but the zing of restless anticipation was new.

  Gram laughed. “Give it some time. When your grandpa dropped me off at the door after our first date, he shook my hand, and even that looked like it was done against his better judgment. It took him a while to build up steam but once he had it, he never lost it.”

  “Sheesh, Gram.” It was an old routine of theirs. Andi pretended to be embarrassed and Gram pretended to care. Andi pulled her cell phone out of her purse. She had forgotten the text in the excitement of tuna casserole and chocolate cake.

  First Andi turned the ringer back on and touched the message icon. The text she’
d been trying to read all morning was from Mark.

  Good morning, beautiful sheriff. I hope you slept well. When can we go out again? Lunch plans?

  And Andi regretted her near panic attack. But she was happy. And sorry she’d overslept, missed his message and his offer.

  She texted back. Sorry. Just read your message. Overslept and had to rush to get Gram to church. Lunch: Shady Pines tuna casserole. You? She couldn’t resist typing another message. Have a flash of crime-solving inspiration overnight?

  Gram was watching Andi closely. After a quick glance at her tapping foot, her grandmother asked, “Did he send you an email?”

  Andi nodded. “A text. He wanted to go for lunch, so I answered that I missed it because I was late for church.” She clutched the phone to her chest. “He called me ‘beautiful sheriff.’” Of course he did. He was a dyed-in-the-wool flirt.

  Gram’s brow wrinkled before she shrugged. “Well, it’s not a bad thing but you’d expect something better from a writer, wouldn’t you?”

  It was perfect. She was beginning to think Mark Taylor would always say the right thing to her. Andi straightened up. “But look, he spelled out all the words!”

  Andi hated text abbreviations. She hoped he did, too. When her phone dinged again, Andi shushed Gram as if she couldn’t read while her grandmother spoke.

  His answer: Sorry I missed that. Hate tuna casserole but would’ve liked to eat with Gram. Can’t do dinner, Mom’s here. Catch you tomorrow?

  When Andi read his answer, she was disappointed. There was no other word for it. And then she felt like an idiot. It was one date. One working date.

  Andi texted back: Yes, definitely. I’ll drop by tomorrow night to talk Jackie’s case? Strictly OFF THE RECORD. Andi hit Send before she could talk herself out of it.

  “Well, what did he say?” Gram asked.

  “He can’t go to dinner because his mother’s in town.” Andi looked up as her phone beeped again. “So I’ll see him tomorrow, find out if he has any new leads, and it’ll be good.” She smiled nonchalantly. Or tried to.

  His answering text was one word: And?

  Andi didn’t know how to pass along rolling eyes in a text so she sent back, And what? Andi could picture his smirk when he got her message.

  And you’ll miss me until then, right? Andi snorted. Gram raised her eyebrows, but Andi didn’t explain. She texted back, Not nearly as much as you’ll miss me.

  She dropped the phone on the couch cushion, satisfied that she’d gotten the last word in. When it beeped again, Andi shook her head. She liked that he texted. She liked that he spelled out words fully instead of relying on stupid strings of consonants. But he might be too smart. She’d probably never get the last word in.

  When she read his answer, Andi decided she didn’t care so much this time.

  I’m afraid you may be absolutely right.

  Andi had to wrap her arms tightly around her abdomen to contain the laugh of joy that wanted to escape. He missed her. He made her smile. And she had a sinking feeling that she was in serious, serious trouble with him. Her heart was in danger and that was one thing she never messed around with.

  CHAPTER TEN

  ON MONDAY MORNING, Lori greeted Andi with her customary shark-toothed smile. Andi much preferred Nettie’s “Good morning, Sheriff, hon” but she’d started taking Mondays off to join the gang over at Shady Pines for a game of...whatever it was they played. Gram was pretty vague when Andi asked so she took that to mean it was a game of high-stakes something or other, and it was better the sheriff knew nothing about it.

  Andi kept expecting Nettie, Edna and Miss Margaret to move into units over at Shady Pines. At that point, they’d have to change the name to The Sorority House because shenanigans would ensue. There’d probably be brawls in the street, too, so Andi didn’t encourage Nettie to consider it.

  Andi filled a mug with coffee and leaned against the counter to try making civil small talk with Lori. “Mornin’, Lori. Have a good weekend?”

  Lori blew a big pink bubble and let it pop before she answered. “Not quite as good as yours, as I hear it.” She tilted her head forward as if she were ready to hear Andi’s spilled beans at any time. Andi smiled. It was a fake one and Lori could probably tell, but that was all she was getting.

  Finally, Lori shrugged. “I guess it was fine. The kids stayed over at Daddy’s, and Ralph and I took a little trip, just the two of us, to shop and see a movie.” Ralph was her second husband, and he seemed interested in making Lori happy. They hadn’t been married for very long, but he’d lost his job at the hardware store right after the wedding. It was difficult to find good jobs in Tall Pines, so money had to be tight. An overnight trip must have seemed like a nice getaway. Andi didn’t know firsthand, but she imagined twin boys could be a handful.

  Andi sipped her coffee and said, “That sounds like fun. Did you see anything good?”

  Lori smiled, and this time it held a little more warmth. “We watched that new alien movie, the one with the guy from the soap opera?”

  Andi had no idea who she was talking about, but she nodded.

  “It was pretty good. Maybe you can get Mark to take you next weekend.” The look on her face said she had her doubts that Mark would be taking Andi anywhere as nice as that movie theater. In fact, Lori clearly had no idea why Mark would take her anywhere, ever.

  “I’m glad you had a good weekend. The kids enjoy time out at the farm?” Ray lived about ten miles outside of town and had some horses. The boys should have been overjoyed to run wild out there. Andi glanced over Lori’s shoulder where two towheaded toddlers dressed as cowboys smiled from a Halloween photo.

  Lori waved one hand. “They love it out there. When Ralph finds another job, we’ll be able to do a little more traveling, but it doesn’t fit the budget right now. I think Daddy loves it more than the boys do when they stay. He doesn’t have enough to keep him busy.” There was no doubt in Andi’s mind who Lori blamed for that.

  Andi patted the counter. “I guess I better get to work.”

  She could feel Lori’s pointy sharp glare right between her shoulder blades as she picked up the weekend reports and walked into her office. Andi spent a lot of time with whoever was working dispatch. She hated when that happened to mean she and Lori were alone. Andi could take her in head-on combat, but Lori had the look of someone who preferred guerilla tactics. To be fair, Andi might have formed that impression because of her father’s preference for the ambush.

  After a quick read through of reports that included the usual accidents, lost things, found things and conspiracy theories, Andi filed the paperwork and pulled up her report on the Country Kitchen. She made a few notes about all the conversations she’d had that weekend, then leaned back while her chair made an awful racket to contemplate the ceiling tiles.

  She didn’t see any way around it. She’d have to talk to Ray Evans sooner or later, and Andi had a feeling she ought to make it sooner.

  Doing her best not to exhale a lengthy, put-upon sigh, Andi picked up her tiny notebook and told Lori, “I’m going to head out to talk to your daddy this morning. I’ll swing by the high school if I have time. Call me on the radio if you need me.”

  Lori was surprised and Andi knew she’d lost any advantage an unexpected visit would gain her, but she didn’t figure he’d be storing the trophies on his front porch anyway. She drove around the courthouse square to make sure everything looked fine before she took the highway heading out of town.

  Andi maintained a nice, lawful speed all the way and blessed the lack of trailers and RVs that normally slowed traffic. When she turned onto the dirt road that led to the little community Ray lived in, Andi slowed down. She managed to brake in time to narrowly avoid a deer darting across the road. After a long, hot summer, they were a hazard on every road at all times, and she should have
been paying better attention. The only thing this week was missing was a phone call to the local wildlife officer. He owed her one or a thousand for the various creatures she’d run off in her time as sheriff, but she didn’t want to listen to the grief she’d get if she hit Bambi. Thank goodness he’d moved fast.

  When Andi turned onto the lane up to Ray’s house, she could see him sitting on the porch waiting. He wasn’t happy to see her. The cowboy hat riding low enough to cover his eyes, his crossed arms and his grim face told her he wasn’t going to make this easy.

  When she got out of the car and walked over to the porch, Ray said, “Sheriff, what brings you?”

  That was the way with Ray. There was never a “good morning” or a polite “how are you?” because he wanted her to know exactly where she stood. Andi could see his influence on his daughter, and she sort of appreciated it. He didn’t like Andi. That part was clear, and she didn’t have to wonder why or how to fix it. With Ray, there was no need for that. Still, she was in the mood to make an effort today.

  “Morning, Ray. I can see y’all are overrun with deer out this direction, too.” She made a halfhearted gesture toward the dirt road, but the intense silence that greeted her first lob and his lack of any attempt at a return volley confirmed her suspicions that polite chatter was a waste of time.

  She propped her hands on her hips and did her best not to stare too obviously at the dark, older-model pickup truck parked next to a dusty station wagon.

  “I wanted to talk to you about Jackie’s missing trophies and recipes.”

  He shrugged. “Well, this is something. Sheriff Hotshot come to ask for help just as we’re getting ready to go back to the voters.” He leaned forward and placed his elbows on his knees. “Can’t handle it on your own? I was pretty sure you thought you knew everything.”