She bit her lip and a sheepish expression stole over her face. “Hello, Albert. Did you come for your black coffee and danish… like every day?”
The young man whipped his hat off and his eyes softened on her. “I did.”
Mindy Sue stepped back from Cody, blinking her eyes. “This is my…my friend. Codeee.”
Albert nodded and put out his hand. “I’m Albert. I’m…uh, Mindy Sue is my girl.”
Cody glanced at Mindy Sue and she blushed down to her toes.
“Is that so?” he asked, a little startled, shaking the guy’s hand.
Without pause, that flush of color rising on her cheeks brightened and she nodded. “Yes. Albert is my…my boyfriend now.”
“Since when?”
Crap. He sounded like a stern stepfather. Mindy Sue was close to his own age, so why in hell was he suddenly feeling ancient? These two clearly seemed right for each other, if first impressions had anything to do with it. And judging by the way Albert was looking at Mindy Sue, the guy was a goner.
“We had our first date one month ago, sir.” Albert said. “But I asked her just last night.”
So they were going steady, just like in junior high school. Cody saw the joy on Mindy Sue’s face and felt better about this. He forced himself to push away those damn protective urges that wanted to see her free from pain and injury. She had a right to her own life. She was old enough to make that decision. And if Violet was okay with this, he should only be happy for her. “Well, now. That’s real nice.”
Mindy Sue let out a big sigh. “I’m glad…you think so, Codee.”
“I do.”
“Well, uh, I’ll just take a seat over there and wait on my danish,” Albert said. “You can visit with your friend, Mindy Sue.”
“Okay.” She gave Albert a killer-watt smile and then turned Cody’s way. “Want to sit?” Mindy Sue asked.
“Sure.” He took a seat by the front window and sunshine beamed in, warming up a chilly morning. “He seems like a nice guy,” Code said.
“Oh, he is. He’s like… you.”
Well, damn if that wasn’t just what he needed to hear this morning. “That right?”
“Yes, he…he’s always looking out for me.”
“That’s a good quality.”
She nodded. “Want some danish?”
“I was thinking on one of those gooey cinnamon rolls this morning, darlin’.”
“I’ll get it right up,” she said, then added. “Black coffee, too?”
“Yep.”
After Albert left the bakery and Code was taking his last bite of the cinnamon roll, Mindy Sue joined him at the little two-seater table. “Sorry…it got busy… in a quick hurry.”
“No problem. You like your job?”
“I love baking…and the people are nice to me. Mostly.”
“Mostly?” Code’s brows shot up. The thought of anyone bullying her put a knot in his gut. He didn’t stand for it years ago and he damn well wouldn’t stand for it now. “What does that mean?”
Mindy Sue batted her eyes several times as if trying to decide what to say. She touched his arm. “I’m…learning how to handle them, Codee. It’s not so…bad anymore.”
“That’s good to hear, honey. But if you ever—”
“You are my best friend,” she said. “And I know…I can c-count on you. But you can c-count on me, too. I have…y-your back.”
He chuckled inside and wondered if she meant because she was forever baking him his favorites and bringing them by for him to gobble up. “Well, thank you for that.” He gave her a smile that she returned. “I consider you a best friend, too.”
Good for her. Mindy Sue was finally gaining the independence she’d always craved. She had a right to see her own way in the world with no one blocking her. And just maybe she was telling him she didn’t need his protection anymore. She could deal with whatever came her way. Code had to give her credit. He was proud of her.
“My aunt is planning a surprise b-birthday party… f-for your uncle?”
“No, she’s not,” he blurted, stunned. This was news to him and Uncle Brand would rather eat dog shit for a month than have Violet throw him a party.
Mindy Sue’s eyes rounded, taken aback that Code was disagreeing with her. “Yes, she is,” she insisted. “I have the birthday cake…already in my head. He is going to be seventy-five.”
“Yeah, that’s true.” Code might’ve forgotten the milestone if not for Violet and Mindy.
Mindy Sue gave him specifics of where and when and how it was all going down. Violet had already made some calls, including leaving him a voicemail, which he just found on his phone explaining her intentions. Thankfully, it didn’t sound like a huge party, just some neighbors and good friends were being invited. And it was up to Code to get Uncle Brand to Violet’s house next Saturday night.
Great.
“Y-you can bring your girl, too,” Mindy said, smiling.
Code nearly spit out his coffee. “My girl?”
“Hayley Dawn, silly.”
“Mindy Sue, she’s not—”
“Mindy Sue.” A woman hollered from the back room. “Your muffins are gonna burn if you don’t get right to them.”
“Oh!” At the reminder of the work she was neglecting, Mindy Sue jumped from her seat. “Coming! Sorry, Codee. I gotta go.”
Code stood too. “It’s okay. It’s good seeing you. You go on now and see to those muffins.”
She took off running, which made him smile.
He left the bake shop in a better mood than when he came in and was warming to the idea of a birthday party for Uncle Brand. The old man deserved some recognition and maybe Code was wrong about him not wanting a shindig in his honor.
Code had certainly been wrong about a lot of things lately.
*
A swarm of clothes littered Grandma Marie’s king-sized bed, the formal gowns in one pile, the nightgowns in another along with a mountain of housecoats. Heaps of jackets and coats, polyester pants and blouses were stacked in bunches ten high. Nearly six decades of adult garments were strewn about and each one, it seemed, evoked a certain memory for Hayley. The clothes still held a hint of roses, her grandmother’s signature scent, and that more than anything else made her eyes burn with tears. “I miss you, Gram.”
Sure, Hayley had people. They looked out for her back home. But would they be there for her, if a paycheck wasn’t attached to their friendships? They weren’t her family, though she’d fooled herself into thinking they were her tribe.
No. Only Grandma Marie had cared about her unconditionally. Only Grandma Marie had put up with the trials of Hayley’s youth and never once flinched in her love for her. Not even her mother and father, who had threatened again to make the trip to Marietta yesterday, God forbid, to help Hayley with packing up grandma’s house, had loved her that way. She’d told her folks flat out not to come and then shut off her cell phone and tossed it in her dresser drawer.
She’d see her parents when it was necessary and not a second before that. It was how they rolled regarding her and now she’d taken a page out of their book. She loved them, but from a distance. The few and far between phone calls they made to each other was enough. The damage was done already and Hayley had moved on from yearning for their attention and love quite a long time ago.
But now, as she faced saying the final goodbyes to her grandma’s life, her heart ached. She was batting “0 for 2” at the moment when it came to saying her farewells in Marietta. But she wasn’t going to shed another tear for Cody Matthews. She’d spent enough time holed up in the house these past few days, crying over him. Losing both Code and her grandmother in one year was far too much to handle. So she went into full-action mode today and her grandmother’s closets had taken the brunt of her despair.
She sat cross-legged in the center of the bed glancing around. What was she going to do with all this stuff? Goodness, she hadn’t even dipped into her grandmother’s vault of jewelry yet.
“Who is it?” she asked from behind the door.
The curtains were drawn tight and she couldn’t very well peek out without being noticed.
“It’s Catherine, from next door.”
“Just a second.” Relieved to hear Catherine’s voice, she punched the keypad and then unlocked the door. She found Catherine Fuller, her grandmother’s neighbor for the past twenty years on her doorstep holding a cake-taker in her hands. “Hello, Catherine.”
“Hi, honey.” Catherine didn’t react to Hayley’s swollen eyes and the utter sadness on her face. Her expression cheerful, Catherine could double as an actress. But all Hayley saw was a really nice person being kind. “I came to see how you were doing,” she said softly.
Catherine looked good. She was at least sixty-years-old but she kept her appearance up with stylish clothes, a trim body, and a cute shoulder length hairdo.
“I’m doing okay. Would you like to come in?”
“Yes, if this is a good time.”
“Actually, it’s a very good time.” She let Catherine in. “I’m trying to get through Gram’s closets. All of this is very overwhelming.”
“I figured.” She handed Hayley the cake-taker. The smell of something sweet and warm was already working magic on her depressed mood. “I baked a chocolate cake with fruit filling. Raspberry.”
“Oh, then let’s detour to the kitchen,” she said, changing directions and entering the room. “Have a seat, Catherine.”
“Don’t be silly. You don’t need to serve me, Hayley Dawn. I know this kitchen like the back of my hand. If you get the dishes, I’ll cut the cake.”
“Fair deal,” Hayley said. “I’ve got lemonade made, too.”
“Sold. You know, I would’ve come sooner to see you, but Ralphie was sick and then I heard you went out of town with that hottie, Cody Matthews.”
Hayley laughed.
“Well, how else would you describe him?”
Tormented. Guilt-ridden. Self-sacrificing. “You got it right, Catherine. I can’t argue the point.”
“So?”
“We had a good date.”
“That’s all you’re going to tell me? The whole town’s buzzing about how you bought him for ten grand.”
She’d almost forgotten about the small town grapevine. Everyone knew everyone else’s business. And what they didn’t know, they came right out and asked. “I didn’t buy him. The bachelor auction was a worthy charity and well…”
“Listen, hon,” she said after making two precise cuts on the chocolate cake. “I know you had some trouble here. A deputy came by asking all sorts of questions of the neighbors and I noticed they are patrolling the neighborhood more thoroughly now. So if you had an ulterior motive for bidding on the sexy hunk of a man, I won’t be judging. I’ll be cheering you on. But just in case he’s not around—”
“He’s not around.” Hayley repeated, which garnered a raised eyebrow from Catherine.
“Well, then, you know that Ralphie and I are at your disposal. If you need anything, just holler.”
Ralphie was her German Shepard. Catherine had gotten Ralphie as a watchdog after her husband, the dentist, left her for his much younger assistant. Hayley admired the way Catherine handled herself after the scandal rocked the town. She didn’t fall down and die at his cheating ways. Instead, she picked up the pieces of her life, started dating regularly, and got the dog she’d always wanted. The only true man in her life. But poor, old Ralphie long ago ceased being a good watchdog when his hearing went bad. Now, he gave Catherine companionship minus the protection. “Thanks, Catherine. I have a security system now. And like you said, the sheriff is patrolling more often.”
“Maybe so, but if you need anything, I’m right next door.”
She handed her a plate and took one for herself. Then they sat down and indulged.
“This is so darn good,” Hayley said, practically drooling after the first luscious bite.
“Thanks. This particular cake keeps me in the dating pool, that’s for sure. It never fails. You know, the way to a man’s heart and all.”
Burnt chicken came to mind and what had happened afterward with Code, back at the cabin. He liked good food, but he liked something else a whole lot better. Why did all of her thoughts lead back to him? Even now, while visiting with a neighbor, she was thinking of the time they were together, both in and out of bed. She’d never be with him like that again and it was breaking her heart all over again.
“This is heaven, Catherine. I’m so glad you stopped in to see me. I’ve been going through my grandmother’s things and…well, it’s one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. There’s so much and all of it is special to me. I don’t know what—”
“Would you like some help?”
“Really?”
Catherine’s light hazel eyes softened. “Of course. I knew your grandmother as well as anyone. I don’t think she’d mind me helping you. But, hon, I have to tell you that whatever you decide to do with her things, her house, it’s alright. Marie loved you. She often said you were the best part of her life. And, sweetie, she was proud of you and what you’d accomplished. So proud. Never for a moment think that she had any regrets.”
“But I do. I should’ve made more time to see her.”
“She knew you loved her and wanted to be with her. Marietta wasn’t suited for you the way it was for her. And she’d go on and on about your invitations to come stay with her.”
Hayley sighed. “She hardly ever took me up on those offers.”
“Because she was comfortable in her home, and she knew you were comfortable in yours. She talked about you all the time. And you never missed a call. Every Sunday morning, you and Marie spoke on the phone.”
“She told you about those calls?”
Catherine nodded. “Yes, with the biggest smile on her face.”
Hayley’s tears streamed down her face now, in full force. She couldn’t hold back from the loss she felt and the confirmation of what a wonderful woman her Grandma Marie was. Catherine sat by, holding her hand. She wouldn’t judge. Catherine understood what Hayley was going through.
“Had enough?” Catherine asked. She dabbed at Hayley’s eyes with a tissue.
“I think so.”
“Was like a Montana rainstorm in here, hon.”
Hayley laughed and the sound felt good, lightening up the tension.
“You ready to tackle upstairs? I’ve got a few hours before Ralphie needs his meds.”
“I’m ready.” She began nodding. She felt better than she had in days.
With Catherine willing to help, suddenly the task didn’t seem all that daunting. She had a timeframe now. If she was to honor her commitment to return home next Monday, she had a lot of work to get done.
Chapter Eight
“What the hell,” Code muttered, taking his nightly drive down Hayley’s street. He crept by just after sunset, like he did most every night. Uncle Brand was on to him, seeing him get in his car and leave right after supper to make the trip from Paradise Valley into town, but he’d never teased him about it. Never told him it was a bad idea. Because it wasn’t. Hayley was important to Code. Even if he couldn’t be with her, he didn’t want her in any danger either.
But tonight, something didn’t set right. Hayley’s grandmother’s car was parked on the street as always and Hayley’s rental car was in the driveway, but there was another car in front of the neighbor’s house he didn’t recognize. On his nightly outings he’d come to know what cars belonged on the street at this hour and what cars didn’t. And this car
wasn’t familiar.
He slowed his SUV to a crawl. A shadowy figure emerged coming from Hayley’s backyard, his form weaving in and out of the bushes. “Fuck.”
Someone was snooping. Code’s heart began to race and his mind worked overtime, thinking of the best way to pounce before the guy could get near Hayley.
He parked his car up the street and quietly got out, checking his gun and putting it in his jacket pocket. Darting from tree to tree, he kept his gaze steady on the movement. The shadowy form was peeking into the windows now, approaching the front porch. Damn Hayley for not leaving the lights on. The entire house appeared dark, as a matter of fact. What was up with that? It was only seventy-thirty. Maybe Hayley wasn’t home. Maybe a friend had picked her up?
He hoped to hell that was true.
He hid behind a blooming hydrangea bush assessing the situation. As soon as the shadowy man’s back was to him, Cody jumped out of the bush, leapt onto the porch, and tackled the guy from behind, his arm winding around his neck in a strangle hold. “Who are you? What are you doing here?”
“Hay…ley,” was all the man managed.
“You’re after Hayley?” Code ground his teeth.
The jerk tried to elbow Code in the gut, an amateur move, but he was too fast for him. He had him turned around and on the ground in seconds. Code straddled his legs, and pushed his head into the porch planks. His mouth smashed against the ground. “Ow! Watch it man.” His voice came through just above a whimper.
Pinning him with one hand now, Code took out his phone and dialed Hayley’s number. “Damn, she’s not answering.” He turned his attention away from the phone and something shiny caught his eye. Sitting on the rocker, a bottle of champagne twinkled under the tiniest sliver of light. Next to the damn bottle sat, what looked like through the shadows, a bouquet of flowers.
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