Page 10 of Bobbing for Bodies
“Yes, actually. I was looking for Micheline Roycroft, but I don’t see her. It wouldn’t be her day off, would it?”
“Oh no, she’s right next door in the loans department.”
“Loans department. Right. Thank you,” I say, scuttling my way back out. I know all about the loans department. That day I met Noah comes crashing back to me, and I can’t help but smile just thinking about it. The day I met Everett comes barreling back, too, and I cringe at how up close and personal my entire head came with his nether regions. Both introductions were equally awkward, and yet they both led to what feel like genuine friendships. A part of me hopes that what Noah and I have blooms into so much more. After that New York debacle, I had sworn off men. Silly, I know. But here I am. Hoping to make it official with the cute boy down the street. And if I end up loving one of those rentals on Country Cottage Road, he will literally be the boy down the street two times over.
I head into the small, boxy room and spot Micheline and a couple of other people seated in makeshift cubicles. She’s the only one without a customer at her desk, so I happily head on over.
“Hey, girl!” I say brightly and am suddenly mortified because the love of her life was just gunned down brutally less than twenty-four hours ago.
Micheline looks up with bloodshot eyes, her mouth pulled back in horror, and then just as quickly she softens as she stands and offers me a seat.
“What brings you here?”
“I come bearing gifts,” I say with a grimace as I set the pink box in front of her. “Chocolate chip cookies.” A lull of silences cuts through the air. “I know this is hard for you. It’s hard for all of us. I’m really sorry. Hunter was my friend, too.”
Her face pinches as if she might cry, and she snatches a few tissues out of the box in front of her and pushes them to her nose. “I know. I know it’s hard for you, too.” She offers a commiserating nod. “How is Bear?”
“He’s with family. I texted him last night after I left, and he mentioned they’d be busy making arrangements today.”
“I figured so.” Fresh tears pour from her as she dabs them away with that growing wad in her hands. “I suppose it’s for the best. Get that part over with.” Her eyes congeal thick with tears. “How are you? How’s the bakery?”
Micheline slouches over herself, her body looking far more fragile than I remember. If I didn’t know better, I’d bet she was grieving far longer than a day.
“It’s great. It’s doing well. I mean, it’s a few hours into the first day of business and the tourists and the townspeople really seem to enjoy it.” I tug on a loose curl near my shoulder. “Can I ask if you had a chance to speak with Hunter last night, you know, before it happened?”
Micheline sighs as she looks to the ceiling. “I did end up finding him, but he was having a pretty heated debate with someone and I didn’t want to interrupt. In hindsight, knowing how awful everything turned out, I wish I would have interrupted.”
“I bet you had a lot to say.” I tip my ear her way without meaning to. It’s a natural tendency I have when I want to do my best to listen to someone. My mother says it’s hardwired in me to do that.
“Oh, I did.” She cocks her head as if none of it were good. “He had some troubles, and I wanted to help him as much as I could.”
“Troubles?” I lean in. Micheline really is beautiful. I remember how close we grew while we dated the Fishers. I used to think she could have any guy she wanted, and I still stand by that statement. Of course, Hunter was a looker himself, as is Bear. But Bear’s problem was that he knew it. And, if I’m being honest, Hunter knew it, too.
“Not dating troubles.” She shakes her head as if ready to dispel any rumors from the start. “We were getting close, though.” Her voice wobbles, and she adds another tissue to the collection in her hand. Her eyes hook to mine as she gives an exasperated sigh. “He had come to me asking for a loan. He didn’t get it.”
A loan? Micheline had to turn him down for a loan? That must have really put a pin in his ego.
“Is that why the two of you were having trouble? You looked pretty upset last night when I saw you. I didn’t want to say anything, but you looked like you could have used a tissue then, too.” My heart drums into my chest because I can’t shake the feeling Micheline’s walls are about to crumble, and all of the dark secrets she knows about Hunter are going to topple out.
“I could have. That’s for sure.” She cracks open the box and politely offers me a cookie first.
“No thanks. They’re all for you.” The rich scent of vanilla and chocolate permeates the air between us. It’s too strong and far too delicious to ignore, so I don’t blame her for diving on in.
“Mmm,” she moans through a bite, her eyes rolling up toward her forehead. “I’m sorry, but this is bliss. I haven’t eaten a thing all day. And, of course, I couldn’t even think about dinner last night. You’re a saving grace, Lottie. You always were.”
“You’re welcome.” This is the part where I should probably wrap things up and leave, but I just feel so close to getting the answers that I need—answers that I didn’t even know I wanted. “I hope you don’t feel like I’m pushing, but is it true? Did the two of you have a disagreement? I mean, if you did, I want to be here for you. I can’t imagine what that would feel like to leave things off with someone.” It’s true. I’m still her friend, and I would do anything to support her through this.
Micheline swallows hard and looks out the window to her left as an older surly man with silver hair loads drywall debris into his truck. I’m guessing he’s one of the construction workers next door judging by the dirty white tee and matching pants. He has a tool belt on without anything attached. He turns slightly while wiping the sweat from his brow, and I note how ruddy his complexion is. I suppose hauling building materials in and out of the back all day would give anyone a great workout.
“Hunter and I had a lot of disagreements. But in the end, we were close to getting ourselves back on track.” Her chest bucks, but she keeps her gaze firmly directed out of the window. “He didn’t qualify for a loan from the bank, but I know he was asking Chuck for money, too.” She nods toward the surly man outside.
“Chuck? Does he work for Bear, too?”
Bear has his own construction company, and Hunter was his second in command.
“No, that’s the replacement Bear called in to finish up some of his overflow work. Chuck has his own construction company. Popov Construction.” No sooner does she say it than he slams the door, and I see the oversized lettering across the door that readsPopov Construction. We build it to last for life.
“That’s right. They were so busy with the bakery.”