by Gayle Roper
Mooch flushed. "Maybe that's a bit of an overstatement."
"See that shelf of stuff?" Nan pointed. "That kid—or someone he's working for—left all those items. I don't know what to do with them, and it's driving me nuts!"
Dad studied the things on the shelf. "Strange indeed." He picked up the Winston Churchill Toby mug. "I like this."
"It's yours—if I ever find out where it came from and feel free to give it away." Or sell. Well, not the mug if Dad liked it, but the other things. Wouldn't that extra money feel good padding the store's finances, helping make up for the thin cash receipts?
The door to the storeroom flew open, and Aunt Bunny rushed in. Her wild red hair was iridescent in the overhead lighting, but her red bag was missing from her shoulder, a sure sign she had come in a hurry. "I heard you had a bit of excitement here."
Nan was amazed at the speed of information. "Where did you hear that?"
"Didn't hear. Saw. People have pictures on their phones. And videos. It was all over the Buc. It's probably all over the Internet. Wouldn't be surprised if it's on the nightly news." She pointed a finger at Mooch. "I recognized you, young man, chasing after that kid like some superhero. I'll have to make you an outfit. Do you want your cape to be red or black?"
Mooch actually blushed.
"Did you recognize him?" She looked at Rog and Nan. "Could you pick him out of a lineup?"
"I'll handle the questioning, Mrs. Truscott." Rog leaned against the desk. "Though I have to say, I'd hoped the leavery was over now that I'm here."
"I sort of hope not." Mooch was pacing the office, still high on excitement.
"Bite your tongue," Nan ordered as she put the vase on the shelf with the other things.
Mooch shrugged. "I think it's all great fun. And I want to solve the mystery."
Aunt Bunny looked thoughtful. "Maybe that young man you chased didn't realize the police were on the case."
"You mean the person who sent him didn't tell him?" Rog frowned at the thought.
"You really think it's over?" Nan wanted it to be over. She needed it to be over. She pressed her hands together in an attitude of prayer. "Please let it be over."
Aunt Bunny rested her hand over her heart. "I bet it doesn't happen again."
"I hope you're right, Mrs. Truscott." Rog folded his arms over his chest. "I hope you're right."
"Boy, would I love to see those videos." Mooch bounced with excitement. "I want to see what the pursuit of truth, justice, and the American way looks like, especially with me as the pursuer."
"I'd like to see the videos, too," Rog said. "I need to find that kid and talk to him."
"Really?" Mooch's eyes sparkled with excitement. "We're going to the Buc?"
"Sure. You're the star of the show, and people will want to show you the pictures they took of you."
"Maybe ask for autographs," Aunt Bunny added.
"Yeah, I'm the star, and they might." His chest swelled about three sizes. "I'll be famous for my fifteen minutes while you walk around all cop-like, saying, 'Who has pictures of that handsome kid chasing the other kid?'"
Aunt Bunny pulled open the office door and pointed. "Go get 'em, young man."
Mooch looked at Nan. His yearning to go with Rog poured off him like water from an overflowing tub.
Nan patted his hand. "I think it's more important you help Rog than that you keep working here tonight. You can catch up tomorrow."
Mooch's smile could have lit Philadelphia. "Hey, Rog, will we have time to ride the End of the World?"
Rog blanched at the mention of the wild ride, making Nan laugh.
"Go, guys." She shooed them toward the door. "Find the kid and solve my mystery."
"Yes, ma'am!" Mooch all but ran from the office, Rog following. At the door, Rog turned and gave Nan a slow wink that made her feel all warm and soft inside. She stood, staring at the spot where he'd been.
Aunt Bunny gave her a knowing look. "I told you he was the perfect one for you."
Nan bit back a smile. "As you might say, push posh. I've got to get back to the store."
"Deny it all you want, but I'm right. And now I want to talk to Stan, my favorite friend's favorite nephew."
Nan watched as Dad swept Aunt Bunny into a warm hug. "So good to see you, Bunny. How are you doing?"
She left them to talk, returning to the store where Tammy and Ingrid had everything well in hand. Using her tablet, Nan called up the Wedgwood site and found the vase. Butterfly Bloom priced at $725. She swallowed hard.
"It's beautiful," Ingrid whispered as she looked at the picture on the screen. "If it were mine, I'd never give it away."
Nan nodded. "Just shows you're a smart girl."
Ingrid flushed with pleasure.
Aunt Bunny and Dad walked out of the office. Aunt Bunny swept an arm out to indicate the store. "So how do you like your girl's inheritance?"
Dad glanced at Nan, who, though fiddling with the items Mooch had rearranged, was listening intently. "She loves it, doesn't she?"
"She does, and she's going to do very well."
Dad sighed. "It's so easy to think you know what's right for your kid."
"Tell me about it."
"How is Alana?"
Aunt Bunny's eyes skittered to Nan, who was now openly eavesdropping. "Ask your daughter. She can speak the truth better than I can. After all, I'm her mother and shouldn't say what I think."
"That bad?"
Aunt Bunny shrugged. "You know how she is."
Dad nodded as if he knew all too well.
Aunt Bunny studied him. "Did Elise send you down here to check on Nan? It was an unnecessary trip, you know. Rog is a wonderful guy."
"I'm getting that idea."
Aunt Bunny put a hand on Dad's arm. "You can relax, Stan. Our girl is doing fine. And I must leave. I've got to check on Rog and Mooch at the Buc." With a wave, she was gone.
Nan and Dad looked at each other across one of the counters. Nan's heart raced and her mouth was dry. If only she knew what he was thinking.
"This has been a very informative trip." Dad gave Nan a crooked smile and nodded as though deciding something positive. "I'm glad I came."
She felt a welling of love for him. "I'm glad too, Dad."
"Your store is very nice, and if it makes you happy, it makes me happy."
She rushed to hug him. "Thank you! You don't know what that means."
"Just so you know, Elise will not give you any more trouble about Brandon or the party." He kissed her cheek. "And that young man of yours seems most suitable."
"Oh, Dad, he is, though I'm not sure he's mine yet."
"But there's hope?"
She grinned. "There's hope." And that was the truth.
When he left, Nan checked her watch. Almost closing time. She went into the office intending to do some work. Instead she found herself studying the vase with the butterflies. It was a far cry from any vases she owned. Hers were ones left after a floral arrangement gift had died. Most were thanks to Tyler.
At closing time, Tammy and Ingrid came in. "Good night, Nan. See you tomorrow."
Nan waved a hand vaguely in their direction. "Make sure the front door is locked before you go."
"Already done," Tammy said. The girls left through the back door, and Nan was alone. She walked through the darkened store and double-checked the lock on the front door. She looked around, trying to decide where she'd put her register if she moved it as Rog suggested.
And where was he? Had he and Mooch learned anything at the Buc?
She slammed home the bolt on the back door and went upstairs. She sighed when she saw the tarp-shrouded bedroom. She pulled back one of the canvas drop cloths to uncover the bed. She wrestled one of the night tables back into place. When she set the lamp on top and flicked it on, Lizzie jumped onto her pillow.
"Hey, pretty lady." Nan reached out to pet the cat. No purr at the touch, but the cat didn't pull away. Nan couldn't help smiling. "Wait here. I've got a treat for y
ou."
She rushed to the kitchen, checking Lizzie's water bowl as she passed. Still full. She grabbed several soft treats from the pouch and hurried back to the bedroom to catch Lizzie while she was still in a good mood. As the cat ate daintily from Nan's outstretched hand, there was no purr, but again, there was no pulling away.
Small steps.
Chapter Eighteen
Rog and Mooch looked at several pictures and videos of the chase on the boardwalk. Mooch was much taken with the fact that his exploits were worthy of being captured by strangers. He especially liked the video with the beautiful redhead in it.
"She is sweet!" He patted his heart as he paused the video to study her.
Rog gave him a raised eyebrow. "I thought Tammy held your heart."
"Well, yeah, but a man can still appreciate beauty wherever he sees it."
"How about the kid you chased? Look familiar?"
"Since I've only been in Seaside a little more than a day, I can truthfully say I never saw him before."
"You're sure? You never saw him in the store?"
"Never saw him." His eyes lit. "But I bet I could pick him out of a lineup."
Rog had to laugh. "I don't think we're taking a lineup. We aren't even talking a crime."
Mooch looked thoughtful. "We aren't, are we? Oh, well. Can we ride the End of the World now?"
Glad Mooch's short attention span wasn't crucial to a real case, Rog said, "You can. Not me."
"Wimp."
"Definitely where that ride's concerned."
Rog sat on a bench on the boardwalk and pondered broken promises while Mooch rode the End of the World three times. He wasn't surprised when his phone rang.
"I gave that vase to him three days ago. I didn't realize he hadn't left it yet."
"So you mean to keep your word? There will be no more leavery?"
"No more. I promise."
"What about your confession?"
"It's coming."
"When?"
"Soon."
Rog said nothing, letting his silence communicate his unhappiness.
"I want to remind you that I haven't committed a crime."
He sighed. "She deserves to know."
"She does and she will. Trust me, Rog. I have a good reason for delaying my confession."
He disconnected as Mooch came loping across the boardwalk, his goofy grin creasing his face. "So cool! So cool! You should have gone with me."
Rog didn't bother to argue. "Let's go home."
He decided not to call Nan when he left the Buc. He had no news to give her, so he told himself he had no reason to call. It wasn't like they were a couple or anything, despite what she kept telling her parents. She was just a woman he was concerned about, just as he'd be for any other woman he met in the line of duty.
Liar, liar, pants on fire.
While it was true he had nothing to tell her about the leavery, the real reason he didn't call was because he was feeling antsy about their burgeoning friendship. Too much, too soon. He should never have volunteered to paint for her, but those hazel eyes had enticed him. When he came back tomorrow evening, he'd be cool, all reserved and remote, so she'd get over any ideas of being in a relationship. There would be no status change on Facebook.
It was late morning the next day when he stopped at Present Perfect. He wasn't coming to see Nan. He needed to learn if there was any more leavery, if Aunt Bunny had kept her word. At least, that was what he told himself.
Nan's eyes lit up when he walked in, and his stomach turned over with both distress and delight. When he was with her, it seemed perfectly normal that their friendship should progress at the speed of light. It was when they were apart that he wondered.
She hurried toward him. "Did you find out anything last night? I've been going crazy wondering."
"Not really." He should have called when he left the Buc. It would have been the polite thing to do.
Her face fell, and he felt like he had failed her. He scanned the counters. "Did you find anything in the store today?"
She shook her head. "But the day is young yet."
He looked over her head and saw only one shopper. "Slow day?"
"No more than usual."
"A week from Friday starts the Fourth weekend."
"That'll be my test. It makes me nervous."
"Don't worry. You'll do fine."
"From your mouth to God's ears."
They smiled at each other, and he felt the same sensation of falling that he'd felt last night when they'd had that strange staring moment. He blinked himself out of the trance. It was definitely time to leave, to get far from her and the weird magic she exerted.
"How'd you like a coffee?" He blinked again, surprised at himself, and almost looked over his shoulder to see who had spoken. Instead, he tilted his head toward Ed's. "I was thinking a sticky bun too."
"It'll ruin your lunch."
"I'll make it my lunch. Want one?"
She grinned as if he'd offered her the moon. "I'd love one."
He walked to Ed's with her smile in his mind. Why was he fighting his attraction so hard? What was he scared of? A cute little brunette? Maybe it was leftover angst from Lori, not that she held any interest for him any longer. It was the idea of being dumped again, of living that ache again, of not being good enough again.
Ed smiled at him as he entered. "That was some footrace last night."
"Two coffees and two buns. You saw?"
"Hard not to. 'You're under arrest! Trip him! Trip him!'"
"That was not me."
"Of course not." Ed was enjoying himself.
"I usually go with, 'Stop! Police!'"
"Much more professional. Just like it's professional to come back and check on the crime victim this morning." Ed was reaching into his display case for the sticky buns, so Rog couldn't see his face, but he heard the teasing in his voice.
"A cop's gotta do what a cop's gotta do."
Ed straightened and held out a bag with the pastries. "Especially when the victim of the crime is such a lovely little thing."
Rog almost told Ed that there hadn't been a crime, but the thought of explaining leavery gave him a headache. He handed over a twenty. "Was her aunt as tiny as she is?"
Ed shrugged as he made change. "She wasn't tall, I can tell you that. You forgot she was so little because she had presence, you know? Char was a great lady. A great neighbor. When she died, I was afraid the property would go to Alana, but no. It went to Little Miss Cutie instead."
Rog frowned. "Why would it go to Alana?"
"Char and Bunny were tight. Real tight. Maybe Char saw Alana as her daughter by extension, you know? If Alana had gotten the store, then I'd be the only holdout on the block."
"Alana owns this whole block of stores?" Rog was floored.
"Except for Present Perfect and me. And I'm not selling. I figure I've got ten, fifteen more years here. My kids don't show any interest in the shop. They don't like baking, and the hours are terrible. Of course, those terrible hours put them all through college. When I go, they'll sell if I haven't already cashed in to pay for my retirement. Alana and Jason are offering top dollar."
"Jason?"
"Her real estate mogul husband."
"What do Alana and her husband plan to do with the properties?"
"Don't know. Could be something as simple as collect rents like they're doing now. Or maybe they plan to get the block rezoned and put in oceanfront condos, though I can't imagine the town authorities allowing that. More likely, they plan to bring in swanky chain stores and kick out all the little independents."
"You think the big names would come for such a short season?"
"I don't know. All I know is I'm not selling. I'm not helping Alana one-up her mom. I like Bunny too much."
"What do you mean, one-up?"
"Bunny and Joe own the block of businesses next to the Buc and several properties downtown." He stopped. "Well, I guess Bunny owns it all now. I think Alana and Ja
son have visions of doing at least as well as her parents. Whatever they're thinking, it just makes Alana driven and grumpy. Everybody liked Joe, and you know Bunny. What's not to like? Alana and Jason—not so much. Sad."
Coffee and treats in hand, Rog walked back to Present Perfect. No wonder Alana was hostile to Nan. She stood in the way of her plans. Ed's theory about Alana's need to be better than her parents offered one possible explanation for her hostility to her mother. Ed was right about one thing. Sad.
As he walked through the store to the office, Tammy stood behind the register handling a sale. He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Anything new?"
She shook her head no. No leavery. She gave him what she probably thought was a seductive smile, but Rog took care to keep his face expressionless. She should smile like that at Mooch and make his day.
When Rog left Present Perfect fifteen minutes later, he told himself he wasn't coming back until dinner and painting. When he stopped in at two in the afternoon, he admitted defeat. Nan was a magnet, and he was metal shavings pulled to her in spite of himself.
Of course, dinner exerted a strong pull a few hours later, and for the second night, it was delicious, a beef stew with warm from-the-oven cinnamon coffee cake to go with it.
"Did you see Aunt Bunny today?" Had she kept her promise?
"I didn't." She took his empty plate and walked to the stove.
"Phone call from her?"
"Nope. No Aunt Bunny and no leavery." She ladled more stew onto his plate.
"Huh." What was Bunny's game here? She'd promised.
"More coffee cake?" She smiled at him and cut a large piece.
It had only been two days since Bunny gave her word, but it felt like longer. Day One, Nan's parents had showed up both times Bunny came to the store. No privacy for a conversation. Today, Day Two, she hadn't come visiting at all. He sighed. What was she waiting for?
He was finishing his meal when he brought up Alana.
"Did you know she owns most of the stores in your block?"
Nan shook her head.
"According to Ed, she wants to buy you out."
Nan looked thoughtful, got up from her seat, and rooted around in her trash can under the sink. Lizzie jumped up on the counter and watched with great interest.
"Yes!" Nan waved a flyer in the air, and Lizzie batted at it with one black paw.