Page 19 of A Charming Touch of Tarot (The Gin & Tarot Club #2)

19

Ten of Cups…Reversed

Nick

Little Zoey wiggles in my arms, trying to break free despite my hold on her. Today is her first birthday, and I got cleared for a day off so that I could be here with my family to celebrate.

She’s an animal, zipping all over the place, getting into shit she shouldn’t. Which is why I’m holding her while my mom and sister prepare the birthday dinner.

“You can put her down, Nick. She’ll be fine,” Jackie says, pulling homemade pizza from the oven. “She’s far steadier on her feet than you’d expect.”

“Where’s Joe and Dad? Surely, they’d love to pull themselves away from the TV to watch her,” I tease, knowing exactly the kind of reaction we’d get by even suggesting it.

Joe also has the night off, and that man never gets shorted his breaks. And rightfully so. He works hard. Both men will inevitably grumble when Mom insists that we all join her around my sister’s dining table that she’s worked tirelessly to make a showpiece worthy of HGTV in honor of our favorite toddler’s big birthday.

“No way. Don’t interrupt them.” Our mom rushes toward me. “It’s my turn. Come here, Zo-bug,” she coos, arms outstretched.

Zoey looks up at me with the largest cerulean eyes I’ve ever seen. Her full lips are puckered as if to say, Don’t you dare let go of me. I hand her over reluctantly, hating the way her puppy-dog eyes appear to plead for me to keep her.

“I wasn’t being serious. And for the record, I like holding my niece,” I say, as she’s snapped from my hold by my domineering mother.

I’ve been so busy lately that I have hardly seen her. When they say time flies, they aren’t kidding when it comes to kids. I swear Zoey was just born yesterday, and here she is already walking.

“Aww…did you have fun with Uncle Nicky?”

My nose scrunches. “Don’t call me that.”

The only person who’s able to get away with calling me Nicky is Shirley Clementine, and that’s only because she saved me from myself.

“I gave you birth; I’ll call you whatever I want,” Mom blusters, all the while shooting daggers at me with her eyes.

“Why are you so grumpy today?” Jackie asks, placing a pan of breadsticks on a hot pad in the center of the kitchen island and blowing a wayward piece of her brown hair from her face.

There’s quite a spread accumulating. Not that I’m surprised. These two don’t do anything in half measures.

“Nicholas?” Jackie presses, and I look up, waiting for her to continue. When it’s clear she has nothing new to say, it occurs to me that I’m the supposed grump.

“I’m the grump?” I ask, pointing a finger at my chest.

Mom rolls her eyes. “Obviously.”

“I’m not grumpy,” I say, instantly wincing at the tone of my voice.

Even to my own ears, I sound exactly that.

I slump back into the barstool that’s less than comfy. “You really need to spring for more comfortable chairs, Jack.”

“See. Grumpy,” she says to my mom, who bobs her head in agreement.

“I’m just tired. It’s been a really long month with Richard’s case and now the new one.”

Neither one of them comments. With Jackie’s husband being in law enforcement and my father retired FBI, they’re both more than familiar with the need for confidentiality.

Jackie purses her lips and lowers her head, rocking back and forth on her feet.

“I’m glad to hear there isn’t trouble in paradise. When you didn’t ask to bring Alyssa, I was afraid that it was over before it got started.”

I grimace, wanting to throttle my sister and her big mouth. She’s managed to open an entire can of worms, and she knows damn well what she’s done. The smirk she tries to hide gives her away.

Mom’s white-haired head whips toward me, and I shoot Jackie a glare that promises revenge in some capacity.

“Who’s Alyssa? Are you in love?” she asks, teeth bared in a smile that tells me she’s already planning a wedding in her head.

The palm of my hand slaps against my forehead as I groan. “Mom…why do you always jump straight to love?”

She leans forward, barely registering that she’s got too loose a grip on Zoey. “Well…if you’re dating someone…”

“Would you hold her tighter?” I snap, pointing toward Zoey, whose little head, half-cloaked by a headpiece, complete with an obnoxious bow, is bobbling all over the place.

She waves me off, rolling her hazel eyes. “I’m more than capable of taking care of a baby, Nicholas. I raised you two perfectly well.”

“Debatable,” I say, popping an almond into my mouth.

“I’m going to try to pretend you didn’t say that,” she singsongs, placing a kiss into Zoey’s thick, dark curls.

“I’m going to pretend you aren’t trying to marry me off to someone you’ve not even met,” I say, voice pitching in exasperation.

“Stop avoiding my question. Are you or are you not dating someone?”

I groan. “It’s new.”

“Hallelujah,” she bellows. “Praise Jesus.”

I make a face. “When was the last time you were in a church, Ma?”

She tsks at me. “I attend worship in my head every day.”

Jackie titters and I harrumph.

“Doesn’t count. And why don’t we stop acting as though I’m a lost cause, shall we?”

“Nobody said that, Nicholas. It’s just been a while.” She coos into the side of Zoey’s head, missing the scowl I direct to her.

“Yeah…because my fiancée died.”

My mother’s face falls, and Jackie drops a pair of metal tongs, the sound reverberating off the stove.

“I’m sorry, Nick. I didn’t—”

I shake my head, lifting my hand. “I know. It wasn’t fair of me to say that.”

Her chin quivers, and now I feel like a complete shithead. My mom has been the most supportive person through everything, and she didn’t deserve the way I just snapped at her. Albeit innocently. I wasn’t even truly mad. My tone said otherwise.

Grumpy might be accurate.

I guess I’m just feeling a lot of pressure, and there’s no one to blame but myself.

Things with Alyssa happened so quickly, but we haven’t even had the time to really move forward. This case is bleeding me dry. Richard Dunbar is a fucking snake, and for the first time in my career, I’m nervous that the criminal will weasel his way out of the charges he deserves.

All because of money.

Then there’s Chelsea’s case and the body we’ve yet to find.

But none of that compares to the knowledge that Isla is nearby. Stuck at Alyssa’s, not in paradise with her brother like she should be. That fact haunts me more than anything.

“I understand why you haven’t dated. I’m just worried about you. I want to see you happy again,” Mom says, pulling me out of my dark thoughts. “We miss her too, ya know.”

I swallow down a lump, needing to change the subject. “I know, Ma. I know.”

My mother loved Isla. She was a daughter to her and a sister to Jackie. She fit into this family perfectly, and I know the day I lost her, they all did too.

I want to give my mom a hug. To promise her a wedding and babies and all the things she always dreamed of for me. But that’s not in the cards.

Not because I can’t see things progressing with Alyssa, but because I’m forty-five years old, and those days have long passed me by. Maybe I could be convinced to have a civil ceremony one day, but outside of walking down the aisle and closing the deal, I’ve been there done that with all the planning and festivities leading up to the big day.

“What all did you make?” I say, trying to lighten the conversation.

“Stop deflecting, Nick,” Jackie fusses. “Tell Mom about Alyssa.”

Mom nods like a bobblehead, and I sigh, knowing they won’t stop until I give them something.

“It’s very new,” I start, and Jackie’s hand rolls in the air for me to get to the good part. I scrunch my nose and bare my teeth at her.

“We haven’t even been on a date.”

“But she did go to his house to take care of him when he was sick,” Jackie says, practically giggling.

“She did? That sounds…serious.”

I don’t even bother reminding her for the umpteenth time that this is new.

“Alyssa is the widow next door,” Jackie explains to Mom, whose mouth forms an O, and her eyes widen.

“The pretty one. With the blondish strawberry hair?”

I pull a face at my mother. “How do you even know anything about my neighbors?”

She sits back, holding Zoey close to her chest, running a hand down her back.

“Oh, you can never be too careful.” She averts her gaze. “I had your dad pull some strings with some friends. Had to find out everything when you moved to that neighborhood. You never know about everyone who lives around you. They could be bad.”

“You ran reports on my neighbors?” I ask incredulously. “I moved in next to Char and Bob. Tell me you didn’t pry into their life.”

She purses her lips.

“Ma,” I groan. “I’m an adult. Not to mention, I’m a detective. I’m more than capable of taking care of myself.”

She shrugs one shoulder. “A parent’s concern never ends. Right, Jack?”

Jackie smothers her laughter, pursing her lips like a duck and nodding.

“What are you smiling about?” Mom asks, looking at Jackie out of the corner of her eye. “Whatever I do for him, I do for you too. I don’t trust the director of that day care you’re taking our little Zoey to.”

The smile immediately drops from Jackie’s face. “There is nothing wrong with Kensley. She’s a great director.”

Jackie’s defense of the woman falls flat. The way she pinches the skin of her neck only furthers my suspicion.

Mom’s lips thin out in an expression that says she’s not impressed.

“What did you dig up on Kensley?” I ask, now curious who’s watching over my niece, while simultaneously enjoying Jackie’s irritation.

“She was tough to crack. Had to get access to her expunged records. She was quite the party animal in college.”

Jackie’s shoulders relax, and the lines on her forehead retreat. “So was I,” she says, throwing her hands up in the air. “If only you knew the shit I got away with.”

Mom covers one ear with her hand. “I’m not listening. You were a perfect angel.”

“She was a demon,” I say, popping another almond into my mouth. “Remember that time when you—”

“Shut it, Benedict,” Jackie snaps in my direction.

I grin around a mouthful, just happy to have the conversation off me for a bit.

“You two are so gullible. I didn’t pull any strings. That would be illegal.”

Jackie and I share a look, unconvinced by Mom’s claim of innocence.

“Back to your Alyssa,” Mom says, ending my reprieve quicker than I thought possible.

I groan, head falling back. My Alyssa?

Caroline West is a seasoned manipulator of emotions when it comes to her children and their love lives.

“ My Alyssa happens to be amazing. She’s smart, witty, caring…” My words trail off when I get a glimpse of Mom. She’s one step away from a cartoon character with heart-shaped eyes bugged out of their sockets.

I can practically see the cogs in her head drumming up all the details of how to ensure Alyssa Mann never escapes.

I clear my throat. “Anyway. Like I said…it’s new.”

Mom waves a hand in the air. “Semantics. Your father and I fell in love in a week.”

“You were at Summer Jam, Ma. I’m not sure love factored into that week.”

She glares at me, and I have the good sense to snap my mouth shut.

“Your father is a retired FBI agent; we did not partake in the weed.”

My eyebrows shoot into my hairline, and Jackie chokes on air.

“The weed?” Jackie snorts. “Good god.”

“Who said anything about weed, Mother?” I say, smirking.

She blusters for several minutes, turning as red as a beet. “Nobody. I just meant…”

It’s my turn to mimic her. I wave a hand in the air and purse my lips. “Oh, Carol, nobody said you were smoking it.” I glance at my sister, who’s two seconds from bursting into a fit of laughter. “Did we?” I ask.

Jackie’s head moves back and forth. “But I’m not so sure you didn’t have a contact high.” She taps her chin. “That’s likely what’s wrong with Nick.”

I clap my hands, mocking my sister. “Good one, Jack.”

She bows low, popping into a curtsy.

“You two are not funny,” Mom says, shaking her head. “And don’t think for one second this discussion about Alyssa is over. You will tell us everything over dinner.”

I slam my lips together and smile wide. “Great. Can’t wait.”

And this right here is one of the very reasons I didn’t even consider asking Alyssa to join me. There is no way in hell she’s ready for Caroline West and all her probing questions.

My dad might be a former special agent, but he has nothing on my mom. Her interrogation skills are topnotch.

Scary, even.

She’ll have your entire history spilling from you within minutes. Tears falling as she gets you to open up about every pain point in your life. She’s the mastermind of the West family, keeping us all on our toes and in line.

My phone vibrates in my pocket, and I excuse myself to take it. Mom half rolls her eyes, not at all pleased with the interruption. She grumbles about it to Jackie until I’m out of earshot.

“This is West,” I say, answering the unknown call.

“Nick?” I recognize the voice, vaguely, but can’t place who the woman is.

“Yes.”

“It’s Lanie. Anderson,” she says to clarify. “Thank god you answered. Someone broke into my house. I need you to investigate.”

Lanie lives in downtown Knox Harbor, not an area prone to crime. It’s a small town with lots of eyes and ears. Criminals don’t stand a chance of going undiscovered because there isn’t a camera in the world that’s better at providing details and timelines than the people who reside in town.

The Red Hats might as well be part of the sovereign citizen movement. On many occasions, they’ve taken it upon themselves to conduct citizen’s arrests in the name of keeping Knox Harbor “safe from riffraff”—their words. They have been helpful a time or two, but mostly, they’re a giant pain in my ass and the captain’s. They tend to think that age and the amount of time they’ve lived in Knox Harbor give them special privileges. I’ve had to remind Nan Jenkins on several occasions that wearing a red hat and living in town does not make her exempt from the laws. That conversation has never gone over well.

“Do you have cameras?” I ask, jumping right into detective mode.

“They were disabled,” she grits out. “We’re dealing with professionals. I need you.”

I pinch the base of my nose. “You do know that I’m a homicide detective, right?”

She huffs. “Which is ridiculous. I’m sorry, Nick, but this town doesn’t have enough homicides to justify your job.”

My head tilts to the side, and my eyes roll. “Considering your best friend’s husband is in jail for multiple murders, you might want to rethink that stance.”

She snarls. “He’s an idiot. But my stance remains. You might want to consider a career change. Something with stability.”

“Noted, but for the time being, it is…my job…which means I don’t handle break-ins. I can make a call to Malone and—”

“No,” she says, cutting me off. “This requires discretion, and Malone is a tireless flirt who blabs his mouth if I flutter my eyelashes at him. I need someone who can solve a crime and be quiet about the details.”

Malone is a lot of things, but he doesn’t talk about cases. I’m not about to fight Lanie on that, though. She’ll have me on the phone forever, and based on the stink eye my mom is hurling in my direction, I’d be smart to wrap this convo up.

“Lanie, I’m sorry, but—”

“For your love of Alyssa, please help me.”

I close my eyes and count to five, kneading at my forehead, a headache building.

Everyone seems bound and determined to make this love, and we haven’t even had a proper date. However, I do care about her, and this is her friend.

“All right, fine. I’ll help you out, but it won’t be until later. It’s my niece’s birthday.”

She sighs. “No rush. I’m leaving town. I’ll shoot you a text with the code and we can chat via phone,” she says, ending the call.

I clench my teeth, wondering if I should just head over there now and save myself the inquisition to come from my mom.

“What was that about?” Mom asks, eyes narrowed in on me.

“Someone broke into Alyssa’s friend’s place. She asked me to take a look around.”

Mom’s eyes light up, and a shit-eating grin spreads across her face at the mere mention of Alyssa. “You really like this girl.” It’s not a question, and I know a drilling is about to commence.

I sigh. Might as well spill my guts and admit my feelings for a woman I’m just getting to know. It was Christmas not long ago, and I’ve yet to give Mom her gift. What could be better than the hope that one day I might at the very least give her a wedding?

To most that would seem a major stretch, considering we’ve only started dating. But not for good ole Carol.

She’ll be picking out her mother-of-the-groom dress by dessert.

A text comes in, and I consider ignoring it, sure it’s Lanie, stressing the need for help with her discreet issue, but decide to check anyway.

Skiver

Another body was located at the East Fork docks. Similar situation. Young girl. When can you get back to town?

My blood runs cold as Alyssa’s premonition comes to pass. I’ve been waiting for a body to show up, and now that it has, it makes what she says all the more real. Everything that she says.

Isla included.

Me

Do you have an ID on the victim?

Skiver

Not yet. Body was just discovered.

Me

I’ll be back tonight. It won’t be until late.

Skiver

Safe travels. See you in the early am.

My appetite is gone, and my mood has plummeted. So much for a fun family birthday celebration.