“It kind of looked like someone really hated second-hand goods.”
“How about the building? Other than the door.”
“The building was unharmed. No spray paint, holes in the walls, or that sort of thing.”
“Hm. Things like this really bug me,” Claire commented, as she made another five points.
“What, beating your neighbor at his favorite game? That kind of bugs me too,” he said, but there was laughter in his eyes.
“No, that I’m fine with,” she smiled.
“Obviously,” he replied dryly. “So answer me another question.”
“Shoot. And I mean that, literally,” she said, as she passed him the ball.
“Okay, but don’t make me laugh, or I get another try,” he warned her.
“That’s fair. I guess,” she said, as he took aim. “It’s not like in a real game there would be any distractions.”
“Nice try,” he smiled, as the ball whooshed through the net, giving him five points. “Where did you learn to play? That’s my question.”
“Youth group,” she replied.
“At church? I guess you’re a Christian, then?” he asked, giving her a second look.
“Yes… why are you looking at me funny? Are you afraid I might try to convert you? Because if you are… let me assure you, I will.”
Alec laughed again, and shook his head.
“No, and sorry to disappoint you, but I already have been.”
“That doesn’t disappoint me at all,” she smiled, as pleased by this commonality as he seemed to be. He was cute, he was a Christian, he lived next door, he liked her cat…
“That’s really great,” he smiled back.
“That I’m not disappointed?” she joked.
“Yes, now that you mention it. Have you found a church yet? I know you just got here…”
“The one on Poplar Lane,” she promptly replied, as he passed her the ball. “I love the building, it’s adorable.”
“That’s your criteria?” Alec laughed a little, and gave her a quizzical look.
“It’s a perk,” Claire replied, and sank another five-point basket. “Their statement of faith aligns with mine. It’s also within walking distance, should the Blue Lightning give out on me.”
“Either you named your car, or you have a horse I know nothing about.”
“Wouldn’t that be fun! But no. The Blue Lightning is my car.”
“If it gives you any more problems, I can take a look at it for you,” he offered. “I am a mechanic, after all.”
“Are you serious?” she asked in surprise. This was way too good to be true!
“Of course.”
“That would be great,” she said in amazement. “If it’s not too much trouble.”
“It’s no trouble at all,” Alec replied. He shot at the basket, then shook his head in mock dismay as the ball spun around the rim several times, then out. “A lot of good all my practice has done me.”
“Barring a bizarre coincidence, this is your ball,” she pointed out.
“It is,” he replied. “And now that you mention it… I’ll make you a deal.”
“I’m listening,” she answered.
“You share your court, I’ll share my basketball.”
“Alright, deal,” she smiled.
“Great,” he smiled back.
Claire looked around at the court as she dribbled the ball.
“Any idea when this was put in? I can’t imagine my grandmother playing… although… what do I know. Maybe she did.”
“Your grandmother?” he asked, giving her a sharp look.
“Yes. I never met her. I wish I had. I didn’t know anything about her until the lawyer contacted me, and said she left me her house.”
Alec considered that, as she aimed and tossed the ball in the air. It spun in circles around the rim, then dropped through the net.
“Your grandmother was a nice lady,” he volunteered. “Mrs. Davis and my grandmother were good friends.”
“How did they know each other?” she wondered.
“My grandparents lived next door until a couple of years ago, when they decided to move to Florida. That’s when they sold the house to me,” he said, motioning toward the colonial blue two-story on the other side of Claire’s garage.
“You’ve lived here two years,” she stated. “Do you know my sister? Her name is Marlena Stevens.”
“That’s right, you would—how does this work, exactly?” Alec puzzled. “Marlena is your sister, she lives here, but you never met your grandmother?”
“We have the same father. Dad died when I was three. I never met my grandmother, and if I ever met my sister, I don’t remember it. Mom just… didn’t stay in touch, I guess. I didn’t know about either of them, until the lawyer contacted me.”
Claire looked annoyed, because she was.
“Okay… well, that explains it. To answer your question, I’m acquainted with your sister, but I wouldn’t say I know her. I do know her husband, Rick. I restore vehicles, he sells them. We have separate businesses, but he sends most of the restoration my way. They go to the church on Poplar Lane. So do I.”
“That’s great!” she said, her heart thrilling with excitement. “I wish they weren’t out of town right now, I’m anxious to meet them. I have so many questions!”
“I probably don’t have all the answers, but I did know your grandmother,” he pointed out. “What would you like to know?”
She glanced at the sunset stained sky, then at Alec. She decided to risk going out on a limb.
“I’m running on nothing but peanut butter and jam. As excellent as the jam is, I was thinking I might pick up something else for dinner, maybe hamburgers, if there’s a good place around here. Would you like to…”
Her voice trailed off as his expression went from relaxed and friendly, to disturbed.
“I can’t, I’m sorry. I’ve got this thing—I’ve got to go,” he said, glancing at his watch as he backed away rapidly. “I’ll talk to you later, Claire.”
“Yeah, sure,” she said slowly, as he left her holding the ball. Literally. “See you around.”
Or not, she thought ruefully.
Claire went inside, and took her phone out of her pocket. She selected the contact she wanted, and held it to her ear.
“Hi Claire, how are you?” her friend Daphne answered.
“The real question is, what’s wrong with me?” Claire asked with exaggerated drama, as she searched her shopping bag for a bottle of water.
“What are you talking about?” Daphne replied, her voice now concerned. “You seemed fine a couple of hours ago.”
“I have the intuition of a… a piece of fruit,” she declared, spying an apple. Claire gathered it and the water, and carried both upstairs with her. “Or maybe it’s discernment. Or instincts. Maybe perception. I don’t know what to call it, but… as I don’t have any, I guess that’s appropriate.”
“What happened?” Daphne asked. “Is it… the house?”
“No, not at all! I love the house. I adore the house. I met the neighbor. Nice guy, fun to talk to. I thought we clicked, but evidently we clacked,” Claire replied wryly.
“Go ahead,” Daphne sighed. “Lay it on me. I’m good for mourning, as well as rejoicing.”
Claire repeated her conversation with Alec as nearly as she could remember it, as she settled on her bed. Herschel hopped up and joined her, purring as she pet him.
“I have never seen a guy in such a hurry to leave,” she finished.
“That’s… bizarre,” Daphne declared. “Are you sure… maybe he really did have something he had to do. Or go to, or whatever.”
Claire made a face, and bit into her apple.
“Sorry for crunching in your ear, I’m starving. I spent all afternoon cleaning.”
“It’s fine,” Daphne replied.
“Seriously though, why do guys always see me as a friend?” Claire wondered. “I have had tons of guy friends over the c
ourse of my years. I guess… that’s just all I’m ever destined to be.”
“You’re being a bit melodramatic, don’t you think?” Daphne said patiently.
“I know. I am. But… I do wonder, and it frustrates me.”
“It isn’t you, Claire,” Daphne quickly assured her. “If a guy can’t see your worth, then he’s not worth having.”
“I know… you’re right. I just wish this latest defeat didn’t involve my next-door neighbor. I’ve got a detached garage to explore. It’s between our houses. Now I feel like if I go out there, he’s going to think I’m searching for another chance to come onto him.”
“If he thinks that, then he’s an idiot,” Daphne said shortly. “I wouldn’t classify what you said as a come-on, even if you managed to finish your sentence.”
“I wish I didn’t tell him he could keep using the basketball court. But… as bad as I scared him off, maybe he won’t come back,” she said optimistically.
“Maybe not, but you have nothing to be ashamed of,” Daphne declared. “Don’t hide in your cool new house as if you do. Go enjoy your yard, and your basketball court. Go check out your garage. Let this guy think whatever he wants to, if that’s the way he wants to be.”
“Maybe tomorrow. I don’t know about Herschel, but I’m exhausted. And this bed is unbelievably springy! If I jump on it a couple of times, I might end up in the attic. Ooh, there’s a place I can explore without making my neighbor think I’m after him.”
“You have an attic?” Daphne asked curiously.
“I have no idea. I’ll let you know tomorrow. And… thanks. Talking to you always makes me feel better.”
“That’s what best friends are for,” Daphne replied.
“I wish you weren’t so far away. Drop out of college, and move here. This bed might be big enough for the three of us,” she said, with a speculative look at Herschel.
“I wish,” Daphne replied sympathetically. “I have a feeling if I did, Daniel would take it as a sign I wanted to break up with him.”
“What, a four-hour one-way date-commute is too much for the guy?” Claire asked, as if that made no sense at all.
“I’m afraid so. I’m here though, whenever you need me. I’ll be praying you make some friends there, too.”
“Thanks, Daphne. But no matter how many friends I make, you’ll always be my best.”
“Right back atcha, Claire,” her friend smiled. “Right back atcha.”
Chapter 2
Claire woke to a heavy heart. She felt confusion at first, then she recognized the perpetrator and laughed.
“No wonder I dreamed someone was doing CPR on me,” she smiled, giving Herschel’s head a rub. He kneaded her chest a few more times, turned, then lay down, nearly forcing the breath out of her.
“You, sir, are too heavy for this,” she groaned, as she rolled on her side, and he landed next to her with a plop. He stood and circled again, then lay down with his back pressed against her. She put her arm around him, and scratched under his chin.
“You’re going to be a real comfort when cold weather rolls around,” she informed him. “In fact, you already are.”
Herschel knew this already, but he purred anyway.
As the sun continued to rise, Claire’s bedroom slowly grew brighter. She thought over her plans for the day, and her sense of excitement grew right along with it.
“Sorry, buddy, but there’s no way I can go back to sleep,” she told him, as she rolled off the other side of the bed, and reached for her robe.
Herschel considered that. If he followed her, chances were good that he would get fed again.
He followed her.
On the way down the stairs, Claire breathed in the clean scent of furniture polish with satisfaction. She spent the entire day yesterday cleaning, minus the time she spent grocery shopping. Her muscles were incredibly sore, but it was worth it. She felt well acquainted with her home now. She felt a little more acquainted with the grandmother who left it to her, too.
Claire stopped in the living room to open the blinds, and bounce on the couch.
Not a speck of dust rose into the air, and she felt more satisfaction. Spending two hours searching for the vacuum, then spending another hour vacuuming the couch with it, was worth it after all.
The grandfather clock chimed the hour, and her heart thrilled at the beautiful sound it made. She straightened the heart-shaped couch pillows, then walked through the entryway to the kitchen.
Herschel sat in front of the jelly cabinet, waiting, his fluffy gray tail tucked around his front paws. He watched with approval as Claire retrieved a fresh salad plate, emptied a can of cat food onto it, and set it in front of him.
As Claire stood, she glanced out the side window at Alec’s house and sighed ruefully. She’d sit outside on the back steps and enjoy her coffee, if only she had a fenced yard. A really tall fence. One that couldn’t be seen over. Or through.
In spite of Daphne’s order to forget Alec’s reaction and enjoy her property, Claire was determined to avoid him. If he didn’t see her for a year or two, maybe he’d decide she wasn’t desperate to throw herself at him, after all. Maybe Claire wouldn’t feel awkward anymore. Maybe.
She sighed again, then contented herself with sitting at the kitchen table. It was a beautiful table, and easier to eat a bowl of cereal here than it would be if she was sitting on the back steps, anyway. She admired her pale green kitchen as she ate. Did her grandmother come up with this idea? This color, combined with various shades of white? Whoever did, it was beautiful. It wasn’t something she would ever attempt on her own, though. If she did, she’d more likely come up with a fluorescent green nightmare!
After breakfast, Claire prepared for her day in her very pink bathroom. It was a good thing her grandmother had a granddaughter, she thought to herself as she dried her hair. She loved the ultra-feminine space, but a grandson would consider it torture. Anyone too much larger than herself would, too, but it was perfect for her. It was the slightly less than average-size single girl’s dream.
The wedding ring quilt, however… thank goodness her neighbor didn’t, and wouldn’t, ever know about that! She laughed a little as she imagined what his expression might be, if he did.
Herschel looked at her and wondered what was sort of funny, but not.
“It’s a good thing my grandmother picked you out, and not me,” Claire told him. “With my luck, I’d be sure to find a cat that didn’t like me at all.”
Herschel considered that.
This girl did not know anything about cats. If she did, she would know that cats picked their own people. But, she was easy to train. She fed him every time he sat in front of the jelly cabinet, and she pet him a lot. He would probably pick her even if she didn’t conveniently move into his house.
Claire finished applying her makeup, then sorted through her suitcase, considering her options.
After church, she’d head to the museum. Mr. Lochlan wouldn’t be there Monday as originally planned, so orientation would take place today. Tammy, the woman in charge of the office, suggested she should dress casual if she wanted to start work immediately after.
Claire was all for that! The sooner she started, the more she’d get paid when payday rolled around. She chose a pair of denim capris and a lightweight, teal sweater-set. It was dressy enough for church-casual, and casual enough for work at the museum.
Claire fastened her sandals, then slung her purse strap over her shoulder and proceeded to stand by her bedroom window… and wait.
Daphne would get after her if she knew what a chicken Claire was being, but Daphne wasn’t here. Claire glanced at her watch, and wondered if Alec wasn’t going to church after all. He was cutting it awfully close.
She felt a flash of frustration. If she headed out to her car, he’d be sure to head out to his truck at the same time. His truck, which was inconveniently parked in front of his detached garage, which inconveniently stood on this side of his house. He’d think she dr
agged her feet in order to bump into him, when instead she was trying to avoid him! He had no idea the means she was going to!
Maybe she should just walk. At this rate, she’d get there faster than she would if she waited for him to leave, so she could get to her car.
As she turned away from the window, she saw movement.
So. He was leaving, after all. And taking his sweet time about it! He was glancing at the Blue Lightning, probably deciding she was a heathen and sleeping in. Probably thinking—
Claire rolled her eyes at herself. Those thoughts, along with so many others she had since Friday evening, were entirely unprofitable. Her pride was wounded, and it was messing with her head and making her paranoid. No reasonable part of her would think her neighbor didn’t have anything better to do than sit around thinking poorly of her! She had better things to do than sit around feeling embarrassed over him, too. She would set aside her pride, free her mind, and move on. After all, it wasn’t like she did anything wrong.
That decided, she waited until his truck disappeared down the road, gave him a five-minute head start, then proceeded to her own vehicle.
The Blue Lightning started just fine. Then it proceeded to struggle and strive, but try as it might, it would not move.
She gave up, and turned it back off.
“At least you got me here. That’s the main thing,” Claire said, as she pat the steering wheel in sympathy.
She closed and locked her car, and began to walk.
The sun was bright and the sky blue, in the gaps between the leaves of the trees that overhung the street. It was a little cool walking in the shade, making her thankful for her sweater.
A sprinkler in one of the yards made a thwapping noise as it rotated back and forth, and the scent of fresh cut grass permeated the air. Birds chirped exuberantly, filling the morning with their song.
Several houses had birdbaths in the front, along with feeders. Birds fluttered in the baths and worked away industriously at sorting the seeds, shoveling large amounts onto the ground below. Claire couldn’t help laughing at how picky they were.
She didn’t know how much birdseed cost. At the rate the birds were going through it, probably more than she ought to spend. But water, she could afford. All she needed was a birdbath to put it in.
Lochlan Museum: The Case of the Collectible Killer Page 3