Up Shute Creek: Rose Gardner Investigation #4

by Denise Grover Swank

  “I went to the botanical gardens in Shreveport. They were amazin’. Maybe we could go there one day after Ashley goes back to school.”

  She looped her arm through mine. “I’m not talkin’ about the gardens, and you know it. I want to know about your secret man.”

  My chest tightened. “You told me that I shouldn’t be seein’ someone I had to keep secret. You said you regretted breakin’ up your family for Brody.”

  My sister had carried on an affair with the Henryetta mayor while both of them were married. Violet had left Mike, but Brody had gone back to his wife after the backlash.

  She reached up and cupped my cheek, staring deep into my eyes. “I was wrong, Rose. You look happier than I’ve seen you in ages, and life is so short. Enjoy it while you can because none of us has any promise of tomorrow.” A soft look filled her eyes. “He must love you very much.”

  I was sure James loved me, but he’d never told me, and I wasn’t about to hold my breath waiting for those three words to cross his lips. He didn’t want to settle down, something I wanted even if I didn’t want it yet, and even if he changed his mind about wanting a more domesticated life, he had too many enemies to make it possible. People he loved could and likely would be used against him. One more reason to keep our relationship quiet.

  But I would never tell Violet any of that. She might think she approved of my relationship, but if she knew the real details, she’d change her mind. Besides, I didn’t want to worry her.

  “Yeah,” I said softly. I squeezed her hand and pulled away. “He loves me.”

  “I want to meet him.”

  My breath caught in my throat. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Violet.”

  “Why not?” She gave me the same no-nonsense look I’d seen her give her kids. “You’re gonna deny your sister her dyin’ wish?”

  I laughed. “How many dyin’ wishes are you allowed to have? Last week you said your dyin’ wish was to have fresh donuts from Jimmy’s.”

  She laughed. “A dyin’ woman is allowed as many wishes as she wants. Are you truly gonna deny me?”

  “Vi,” I said, turning serious. “He’s a secret, and only two other people know about him. I’d be puttin’ you in a terrible position if I told you about him.”

  “I can keep a secret, and I mean it literally when I say I’ll take it to my grave. It’s my last request before I die.”

  “You stop,” I said in a stern voice. “We both know you’re gonna have another dyin’ wish next week or more likely tomorrow, and knowin’ you, you’ll be ornery enough to hang on for another ten years, milkin’ it for all it’s worth.”

  “Can you blame me?” she asked with a laugh. “It’s like a dream come true.” Her smile faded, and she turned sober. “I need to know he’s gonna be there for you after I’m gone. I need to meet him for my own peace of mind.”

  “Then let me save you the visit,” I said. “He’s definitely not a happily-ever-after kind of guy. He’s a happy-for-now kind of guy, so he just might not be there when you’re gone, especially if you hang on for ten years like I hope. But I knew what I was gettin’ into when I started seein’ him, so it won’t be a surprise when it’s over. I’m a big girl. I don’t need a man to get me through anything.” I gave her a wry grin. “I got myself this far, didn’t I?”

  Her eyes turned serious. “Yes, you did, and I’m damn proud of you.” A fierce look filled her eyes. “But I still want to meet him,” she said stubbornly, digging in her heels. “Set it up within the next few days.”

  I pushed out a breath of frustration. If she’d made this demand a year ago, I would have told her to take a flying leap. She was definitely using her impending death sentence to her advantage. Still, I could see this came from a place of love. She was worried about what was going to happen to me after she was gone. I had to give her something.

  “I’ll consider it.”

  I might not have made a guarantee, but the look in her eyes told me that she considered it as good as done. Time to change the subject. “How are things going with Mike?”

  She and her estranged husband had reconciled, unbeknownst to me, while she was in Houston getting treatment. Though I hadn’t confronted either of them about it, not wanting to upset Violet, Mike had turned cold and distant toward me.

  “Fine,” she said a little too quickly, returning to work on the chrysanthemum. “I’ve thought about what you said about Momma’s house. I’ve decided to keep it and rent it out. The money can go into a college fund for the kids.”

  “And what does Mike think of that?”

  “He’ll find out when he reads my will.”

  I swallowed hard. “Is that the thing you warned me about in your will? Do you want me to oversee the rental property?”

  She refused to look at me. “Yes, I want you to oversee it if you can. My attorney already has one of those companies lined up to handle everything. You won’t have to lift a finger, though I’m hoping Joe will fix it up so they can get more money for it. There’s some money set aside for that. Part of a life insurance policy.”

  “Does Joe know you want him to fix it up?”

  “Not yet,” she admitted, patting the fresh soil around the plant. “But we both know he’s almost done redoin’ the house he’s in. This can be his new project.”

  “I’m sure he’ll do it,” I said, processing what she’d told me and trying to read between the lines. “You don’t have to tiptoe around it.”

  “It’s not Joe I’m tiptoeing around.”

  My stomach knotted with worry. “You don’t have to stay with Mike, Vi. You and the kids are more than welcome to come out to the farm. We can make the office into a beautiful bedroom for you so you won’t have to traipse up and down the stairs when you’re not feelin’ your best.”

  “The farm is your home, Rose. It belonged to your birth mother. I don’t belong there.”

  “That makes absolutely no sense. I never knew my birth mother, and I’ve known you for twenty-five years. You belong there if I say you do.”

  “I couldn’t put you out,” she said, keeping her gaze averted.

  “Are you really worried about puttin’ me out, or are you just sayin’ that because you wouldn’t feel comfortable there?”

  “Maybe a little of both.”

  Her answer had me worried. It sounded like she was only staying with Mike because it was the easy thing to do.

  “What’s Mike doin’, Vi?” I asked with a little more bite than I’d intended, and instantly regretted it.

  Violet shut down and gave me a look that suggested I was being ridiculous as she pulled off her gloves. “I’m starvin’. There better be a sausage biscuit in that bag.”

  “There is,” I said, but I couldn’t just let it go. I blocked her path, staring her straight in the eyes, and said, “You’ve spent most of your life worryin’ about what other people thought of you, Violet Mae Gardner Beauregard, and now is the time to let that go. You’re not happy. I can see it in your eyes.”

  “Of course I’m not happy,” she spat out in an irritated tone. “I’m dyin’.”

  “That’s not it, and we both know it,” I said. “You’re miserable at his house. Admit it.”

  She turned her gaze up to the ceiling and pushed out an exaggerated breath. “Things aren’t goin’ as I’d hoped, but what can I expect after what I did to him?”

  I gently grabbed her chin and forced her to look at me. “Is that you talkin’ or him?”

  Her haughty façade evaporated. “What difference does it make?”

  “It makes all the damn difference, Violet.”

  “He’s right.” Tears swam in her eyes. “I hurt him. I hurt the kids. I was selfish.”

  My chest felt tight and my eyes grew wide with shock and hurt. “And now he’s makin’ you pay for it?”

  “He doesn’t mean to, Rose,” she said in a pleading tone. “I don’t think he even realizes he’s doin’ it, but he’s still hurt by what I did. I can’t fault him
for that.”

  “Well, that’s too daggum bad,” I said, my anger rising. My sister was dying, and instead of showering her with love, my brother-in-law was shoving her mistakes in her face. “You’re movin’ in with me.”

  “Rose,” she said with a sigh.

  “You’re movin’ in with me,” I said more forcefully as I started to cry, my tears hot against my cheeks. “And that’s that.”

  Violet reached up and patted my cheek. “What if I don’t want to move in with you? What if I want to move back into Momma’s house?”

  I narrowed my eyes. “You always hated that house, even when you moved back after you and Mike separated. I can’t imagine why you’d want to go back now, but if that’s really what you want, I’ll make it happen.”

  “I love you, Rose.” Her chest heaved with a sob. “I had to see if you were doin’ this for you or for me. I’ll move in with you.” Then she collapsed into me, burying her face into the crook of my neck as she sobbed.

  Maeve appeared in the doorway, panic in her eyes. She gave me a questioning look.

  “We’re movin’ my sister out to the farm.”

  My life had just gotten ten times more complicated.

  Chapter 6

  A few seconds later, it occurred to me that maybe I should have checked with Neely Kate first, but she would have never told me no. It also occurred to me that it might make her feel better about spending more time at Jed’s new house.

  Neely Kate gave us a worried look when we emerged from the back room. She grabbed a chair for Violet to sit in. Carly handed her a box of tissues from behind the counter. Violet took it, her facing reddening with embarrassment.

  “Since you’re wearing a Gardner Sisters’ apron, Maeve must have made a new hire in the fifteen minutes I was in the back room.”

  “I hired her,” I said. “You two need help with Anna bein’ off, and she needs a few days’ salary. Win-win.”

  Violet dabbed her cheeks. “You must think I’m a drama queen.”

  “She wouldn’t be wrong,” Neely Kate said with a wry grin. “You’re just usually not the center of it. You like to watch it all unfold.”

  Everyone laughed, and Carly gave my sister a warm smile. “As long as you get the glittery tiara to go with the royal title, who cares what people think?”

  Vi grinned and glanced up at me. “I like this one. Where’d you find her?”

  “On the side of the road.”

  Violet shook her head, her grin spreading. “You and your strays.” A year ago, there would have been derision in her tone. Now there was only love.

  If her comment bothered Carly, she didn’t let on.

  “We’re gonna need to get goin’ if we’re gonna make our appointments,” Neely Kate said.

  She was right, but I hated to leave Violet without discussing details about her move to the farm. I also hated leaving Muffy, but I figured I could get her later this afternoon. Besides, we’d likely be picking up Carly later.

  “I hate to ask this, Maeve,” I said with a sigh. “But can I leave Muffy here a bit longer? We could take her to our client meeting, but we’re meeting a PI client at noon and we can’t take her to that.”

  “PI client?” Carly asked, glancing back and forth between Neely Kate and me.

  “They’re not official PIs yet,” Violet said, “but they’ve solved some big crimes around the county.”

  Instead of looking impressed, Carly looked worried. Yep. She was definitely hiding something.

  “Of course you can leave Muffy,” Maeve said as she clasped her hands together. “She’s a sweetheart.”

  “Can you walk us out?” I asked her. “I have a question about the job Bruce Wayne is working on today.”

  Surprise flashed through her eyes, but she smiled graciously. “Of course.”

  I kissed Violet’s cheek and said, “You think about how soon you want this to happen. The sooner the better, as far as I’m concerned.”

  She looked less sure than she had in the back room, so I picked up her hand and squeezed. “Violet Mae Gardner Beauregard, you’ve spent twenty-five years takin’ care of me. Let me be the one takin’ care of you for a change. Please.”

  Her chin trembled, and she bit her lower lip as tears filled her eyes. She slowly nodded her head.

  I leaned down and kissed her forehead. “I love you, Vi,” I whispered.

  “I love you too, Rose,” she whispered back. I knew I’d cry if I stayed any longer, so I headed out the front door. Neely Kate and Maeve followed me, and I led them to the corner of the building, toward the greenhouse.

  Maeve wrapped an arm around my back and gave me a side hug. “You’re doing great, Rose.”

  I shook my head, my throat burning. “Mike’s hurtin’ her and I can’t let her face the brunt of his anger. I know she betrayed him last year, but she’s paid for it many times over. He’s makin’ her miserable.” I glanced up at Neely Kate. “I’m moving Vi and the kids out to the farm. I hope that’s okay. I should have asked you first, but she was—”

  “Oh, my stars and garters!” she exclaimed. “Of course! You don’t need my permission.”

  “But it’s your house too.”

  “And I just offered to let Carly stay with us, and she’s not even family.”

  “I think I want to put Violet in the office,” I said, feeling nauseated. “All those stairs might be hard for her when she’s weak.” I tried to swallow the lump in my throat. “She’ll stay until… until…”

  Maeve squeezed me tighter.

  I took a breath. “I think it will be easier if she’s on the first floor. Do you think Joe will help us set it up?”

  “Of course he will,” Neely Kate said. “And Jed and Witt too.”

  “And I’ll help too,” Maeve said. “Now that that’s settled, tell me what’s going on with my new employee.”

  We told her about Carly’s car and the expensive repairs it would need. “We only know a first name,” I said. “See if you can find out anything else.” I knew Maeve didn’t cotton to gossip, so I added, “Ordinarily I’d let it all come out on its own, but we’re worried she might be running from someone or something dangerous.”

  “I’m sure she’s not dangerous,” Neely Kate said in a rush. “We think she’s in trouble of some kind.”

  “But,” I quickly added, “if any of this makes you uncomfortable, let me know and we’ll find somewhere else to put her.”

  “Don’t be silly. Of course she can stay. I can even take her home with me if need be.”

  “Thank you, Maeve,” Neely Kate said. “We owe you.”

  “Pishposh,” Maeve said with a grin. “You girls take care of your business, and we’ll hold down the fort. And I’ll see what else I can find out about our guest.”

  Since Neely Kate and I were working together, our eleven o’clock appointment went well. We’d learned to riff off each other in our investigations, and it had begun to creep into our landscaping interviews too. We finished in plenty of time to go by Bruce Wayne’s job site before our next appointment.

  It was a two-day install, but they were further along than I’d expected. Then again, Anna was away visiting her mother, so I was sure he was in no hurry to get home.

  He wiped the sweat off his brow as he walked over to us, letting out a low whistle. “I heard you got a pretty new car, Neely Kate.”

  She looked embarrassed as she walked over to meet him. “Yeah…”

  “Mind if I take a look at it?”

  Gesturing toward the car, she said with a teasing grin, “Sure, but don’t you get your muddy boots inside it.”

  “Wouldn’t dream of it.” He ambled around it, peering inside. “I heard about Kate and what happened at the farm Friday night.”

  Neely Kate flinched slightly but said nothing.

  Bruce Wayne lifted his gaze to hers. “You okay?”

  “Sure,” she said dismissively.

  He refused to release his gaze and repeated, “Are you okay?”

>   She sucked in a breath. “Honestly? I’m scared, but there’s no sense dwellin’ on it. The sheriff’s office is on the lookout for anything related to the Hardshaw Group and/or Kate, and Skeeter has the underbelly of the county watchin’ for the lot of ’em too. I’ll be fine.”

  “I also heard you picked up a woman from Texas on the highway just this mornin’.”

  Neely Kate propped her hands on her hips and rolled her eyes. “Did Jed call you?”

  “He’s worried. Asked me to keep an eye out for anything peculiar.”

  “Carly is harmless. For all I know, she’s running from them too.”

  “All the more reason to have her stay somewhere else,” he said. He glanced back at the crew, then turned to Neely Kate. “We’re wrappin’ up here. I thought I’d spend the afternoon with you ladies. I don’t like the idea of you bein’ alone just now.”

  My mouth parted in surprise. We’d used Jed and Witt for backup, and even James’s new right-hand-man, Reacher, but never once had we used Bruce Wayne. “Are you sure you want to do that?” I asked.

  The meek, scrawny man I’d first met a year ago had transformed into a more confident man with broader shoulders and biceps that filled the sleeves of his T-shirts. He wasn’t as imposing as James or Jed, and he was definitely no alpha, but someone would think twice before messing with him now. Even so, his record aside, he was about the furthest you could get from a hardened criminal.

  “You don’t want me to come?” he asked.

  “It’s not that,” I said. “Occasionally we need the person serving as backup to make a show of holding a weapon. With your probation… that’s not a good idea.”

  “Don’t you worry about me,” he said. “I can take care of myself.”

  “I’m not sure I like this plan,” Neely Kate said. “If anything happened to you on my account, Anna would kill me.”

  “Nothin’s gonna happen to me and nothin’s gonna happen to you either. Which is why I’m taggin’ along. The only question is if you want me to ride along with you or follow behind.”