Page 10

CHAPTER TEN

She didn’t tell them about Travis’s offer. She valued their input, but this had to be her decision. And she already knew they’d be thrilled if she opted to stay in the area.

Because she loved them, that weighed heavily on the pro side.

But she’d lived on the other side of the state for years, and they’d never lost their bond, the connection. Her family ties stayed tight.

She had family on the other side of the state, too, in Joel, Sari, his mom, and the rest. Would that bond hold, that connection remain? Would those found family ties stay tight?

With that on her mind, she texted Joel.

Can you FT?

The answer came barely a minute later when her iPad signaled.

“Hey, sis! Whoa, what? The hair.”

“Yeah, I went a little crazy.”

“What about her hair?” Sari moved on-screen. “Girl! I love it. You cut your way to some sexy sass there.”

“You think?”

“I know what I know.” Sari, her amazing cloud of hair dancing around her pretty face, put her cheek close to Joel’s. “You’re looking good! You’re looking so good!”

When her big brown eyes teared up, Sari rolled them and smiled. “Hormones, honey. I got a million of them. And hey, check this.”

She stepped back, turned sideways, and pointed at her belly. If Sloan looked hard enough, she could make out a tiny pooch.

Sloan widened her own eyes. “Holy shit, Sari, you’re enormous!”

“I think maybe I felt her move. It’s a little early, but I think maybe. I’m so glad to get a look at you and your sexy, sassy do! We miss the hell out of you.”

“I miss the hell out of you. Maybe you could come up for a couple days. I could see about getting that house you guys liked last time.”

“I can’t speak for my man— Hell yes, I can. We’d love it.”

“We would. Let me see about schedules and all. But it’s likely you’ll be back before we can work out the time. Just another few weeks, right?”

“It’s looking like I’ll be cleared within the month. I had my follow-up, and Vincenti was happy enough. I have to follow up with the doctor up here for the pec muscle thing to cover the bases. But something’s come up, and I wanted to talk to you about it.”

“You’re okay, right?” Joel asked. “You look a lot better, sis. You sound better, too.”

“I am better. Captain Hamm came by today. You know him.”

“Sure.”

“I don’t. Do we like him?” Sari demanded.

“We do,” Sloan assured her. “He’s the Western Region commander. And a friend of the family. He and my father go way back. He’s losing a sergeant to retirement, and wants me to take that position. Wants me to apply for it, test, and join his unit.”

“I’m sitting down now.” So announcing, Sari pulled up a chair beside Joel’s.

“He’s too good a commander to offer this to me because of the personal connection. If I wasn’t sure of that, I couldn’t even consider it. This just happened today. I haven’t said anything to my family yet. I know where they’d come down, and know they’d tell me it’s my decision, and support either way. But since I know, I don’t want to tell them about it.”

“Made a list, didn’t you?” Sari kept up the conversation when Joel said nothing. “Reasons to, reasons not to.”

“Pros and cons, yeah. I’d say they’re running pretty much neck and neck. I still need to think about it. I have some time before the application deadline. But I wanted to hear what you thought.”

Joel put a hand over Sari’s. “I got a question.”

“Okay.”

“Are you stupid?”

“No! Come on, I—”

Now he held up his other hand to cut her off. “Then you’re going to take what you want, what you’ve earned, because you’re not stupid.”

“It’s not just a matter of a promotion, Joel. It means moving across the state, leaving people I’ve worked with—especially you—for years.”

“I know that, sis. I didn’t say it was easy. I said you’re not stupid. None of this should’ve happened to you. You shouldn’t’ve walked into that goddamn mini-mart and into a bullet. But it did happen.”

He took a breath.

“It did. Now, whatever the reason, something good’s come out of that bad. That terrible bad. I’m not saying turning it down’s wrong, because it has to be right for you. I’m saying when something you want and worked for lands in your lap, it’s stupid not to pick it up.”

“I gotta love this man.” Sari pressed her lips to Joel’s cheek. “He doesn’t give me a choice.”

“You’d take it?”

“It’s not about what I’d do, sis. It’s you.”

“You’re right. It’s me. I’m going to think about it some more. I’ve got time to be sure, either way, before the deadline. Thanks for hearing me out.”

“Always will.”

“That goes for both of us. We love you, Sloan.”

“I love you guys. I love all three of you. We’ll talk again soon.”

She set the tablet on charge. After she got ready for bed, she stood at her window looking out at the shadows and silhouettes her view offered.

It amazed her she wasn’t yet tired enough for sleep. She settled down, picked up her crocheting, and got to work on the baby blanket.

As they finished up their first job for All the Rest, Nash and Theo met CJ Kirpeckne.

Since it was Theo’s turn with tunes, the Bluetooth speaker played a lot of alternative music Nash didn’t necessarily get. Apparently, neither did CJ Kirpeckne.

When she walked in, she put her hands on her hips. “What’s wrong with genuine rock and roll?”

“That’s what I said.” Nash came down from the ladder he stood on to finish painting the ceiling.

“Country’s fine as long as it’s not whiny. Does Dolly whine? No, she does not! Not even on ‘Jolene.’”

“Dolly Parton’s a goddess.”

“You got that.”

Nash pushed back the Mets cap he wore, gave the woman a quick study.

Maybe five-three, possibly a buck-ten. The purple hair under her purple Ravens ski cap said teenager to him. But her face said she’d seen forty.

“Can we help you?”

“Turning that bullshit down’d be a start.”

“I got it.” Theo, a blue do-rag covered in Baby Yodas tied around his head, set his roller in the pan and turned down the volume.

“Better. CJ Kirpeckne.” She stuck out a hand as hard as an oak plank. “I’m just here to check your progress. Who’s who?”

“Nash.” Then he pointed. “Theo.”

“Okay then.”

She wandered the open kitchen, dining, living area, hazel eyes narrowed. “Well, you haven’t made a mess of it. You should be about wrapped up by my clock.”

“This is the last coat. Tile’s done.”

She walked into the bathroom, studied the work. Gave a nod, a grunt. Walked back.

“Didn’t make a mess of that either. The boss said you might could use some help over at your place.”

“No ‘might’ about it. We’ve got a couple dozen windows coming in next week. The old ones leak. A lot of demo yet, but we’re living there, so one section at a time on that.”

“We’re rehabbing top to bottom,” Theo put in. “Or right now, middle to top.”

“I’ll give you an hour or two when I’ve got it. Same rate I get from the Coopers, and I’m worth it. I got a nephew at loose ends when you need a laborer. He’s not lazy, and he’ll cart and carry, and do what he’s told. You don’t want to set Robo off on his own. He’s mostly willing, but he’s only half-able.”

“Robo?”

“His sister couldn’t say Robert back when, and Robo stuck. Gimme your phone. I’ll put his number in. You call him or don’t, up to you.”

“Okay, thanks.” Nash handed it over. “Why don’t you put yours in there, too?”

“All right. A couple hours here and there, and that’s if the boss doesn’t need me. Otherwise, I’m your job boss on ATR jobs unless Dean’s on that.”

“No problem at all.” Nash took back his phone.

She gave them both another measuring look. “How come you left New York City? Women trouble, trouble with the law?”

“No.”

“Actually, I guess you could say I had some trouble with the law.” Theo lifted his shoulders. “I got to be a lawyer and decided I didn’t want to be one. At least not there.”

“A lawyer? How old are you?”

“Ah, twenty-eight.”

“And you’re a lawyer.”

“Today, I’m mostly a painter. Next week I’ll be a licensed contractor.”

“You know the thing about people? They never make any damn sense. Make sure everything gets put back as it was,” she told them as she headed for the door. “Elsie’ll come in, hang the art and such, fluff it all up.

“They’ve got a family booked in here over the weekend.”

“We’ll get it done,” Nash told her.

“I really like your hair,” Theo added.

“Ravens rule,” she declared, and walked out.

“Well, that was interesting.” Nash adjusted his cap. “Let’s finish up.”

Theo picked up his roller.

“Nash, I’m loving this.”

“Seashell Blush paint?”

“No, but it’s a nice color for this room. I’m loving it here. I mean, holy Jesus, look at the view.”

“Your view should be a wall of Seashell Blush.”

“I’m doing work I actually like, hanging with my big bro, and okay man, dating Dreamy Drea.” He did a quick shuffle. “Third date Friday night.”

“Should I find another place to stay, or are you just going to put a sock on the bedroom door?”

“It’s not just about sex. I want the sex, but I’m not going to push. She’s worth waiting for.”

Nash looked down. “Boy, you are truly gone.”

“I am truly gone. I’m loving that, too.”

While the Littlefields finished that last coat, Sam drove with Clara to cruise Cumberland.

She’d always liked the look of it, the hilly streets, all the redbrick buildings. And a lot of churches. If she’d had a yen to live in a town—and she didn’t—she’d have put Cumberland on the list.

She liked old buildings. People should respect and honor what came before. She liked the views, and she planned to enjoy the shops.

She wanted to find something fine for Sam for Christmas.

But first, they had work to do.

Dr. Rigsby closed his offices on Wednesday—so it said on his web page. Taking him from work, coming or going to it, could prove too risky, especially since his offices housed themselves in one of those nice old buildings shared by other offices and practices.

“It’ll be interesting to see if he does anything on his day off. Maybe he just lazes around the house.”

“Or watches porn all day while the wife’s away.”

“Oh, you!” Snickering, she slapped Sam’s arm.

He navigated the curvy streets, kept right on the speed limit as they left the downtown area with the shops she wanted to browse. They moved into a pretty little neighborhood where Clara checked house numbers for the address they’d found in their research.

“That one there, doll. That nice redbrick on the slope. Three stories! Can you imagine? Double porches, and all slicked up for Christmas. A really nice yard, too. I just bet they have gardeners taking care of it.”

She noted they had Christmas lights up, and approved, and caught a glimpse of a tree in the big front window.

“Don’t see a car, but they’ve got a garage. Neighbor on the left’s a little close. But we could figure it out.”

“We always do,” Clara said as he drove by. “We’ll circle around, park on up. There was that house with a For Sale sign.”

He had to smile. His babe thought of everything.

“If anybody says anything, why, we’re just taking a look. Out in the area looking for our forever home.”

“That’s just right.” She sighed a little. “You know, I was thinking how I liked Cumberland, but didn’t want to live in a town. But this part here doesn’t so much feel like a town. And the houses aren’t so stacked up together. They’re not that cookie-cutter deal you get either. I couldn’t stand that.”

“I love our little house.”

“Oh, so do I. I like we got a little bit of land to keep us nice and tucked away. But it’s fun to think what if.”

When they parked, she hauled up her purse. “I’m going to get out, take some pictures of the house for sale. The sign and all. Most don’t pay much mind to a woman, and it’ll look like I’m interested in the house for sale.”

As she started to open the door, he put a hand on her arm. “Hold on. Babe, you got the touch. You said we needed to come look-see this morning, and look-see that. The garage door’s opening.”

“It’s got to be him! Unless his wife’s really late leaving for work.”

The gleaming gray Mercedes sedan drove right by them.

“It’s him, all right. You got the touch.” Sam pulled into the driveway of the house for sale, reversed, then followed. “Let’s see where he goes.”

The Mercedes cruised leisurely through town, out of it, and onto Interstate 68, east.

Sam kept his distance, kept his eye peeled as the Mercedes racked up nearly twenty miles.

“He’s getting off! Put his turn signal on.”

“I see it, I see it.” As Sam exited behind the Mercedes, Clara noted down the exit.

Rigsby drove another mile, past a strip mall, fast-food places, then pulled into the lot of a motel.

He got out, carrying a small overnight bag.

“He’s checking in, Sam. Twenty miles from home, day off, and he’s checking into a motel?”

“Got something on the side! Bad boy!”

Rigsby came out, got back in the car, then drove around to the back of the motel.

“Give it a minute. We’ll know which room. He’ll park in front of his room. We’ll drive around, park a few slots down, and see when whoever he’s cheating with shows up.”

He’d parked in front of 122, so they pulled in at 126.

Within ten minutes, a blue Toyota slipped in beside the Mercedes.

The woman who got out didn’t carry an overnight, but a large purse. A blonde, she wore a short coat over a short dress, sunglasses, and high heels.

“She’s got to be twenty, maybe twenty-five years younger than that cheating man.”

Sam grinned. “The old dog. I’m going to get us those Sprites out of the cooler, and that bag of barbecue chips. This may take a while.”

It took an hour and twenty minutes before the blonde came out. She shook back her hair, then slipped on her sunglasses before she slid into the Toyota and drove away.

“We could take him now, babe. He’s alone, and I bet he’s real relaxed.”

“Not yet, no, not today, doll. We’re not ready for him. It’s not time for him. And we’ve been sitting here too long so somebody might remember the van.”

“When you’re right, you’re right.”

“We’ll follow him again, just to see. Then we’ll make ourselves a plan.”

He came out, looking sleepy and satisfied.

The follow home proved easy, as that’s just where he went.

“Drive on by, and back into town, doll. I’m going to take you to lunch, then we’ll do that shopping. I’ve got a plan coming on.”

“I know you do. One thing? The way you’ve been cooking for me, I’m taking you to lunch.”

“Oh, Sam. You’re the sweetest man in the world.”

“It’s easy to be sweet to you, babe.”

Sloan took another day, then another. She borrowed her mother’s car and drove into town. Christmas shopping headed her list, but she wanted to take stock during the trip. Of herself during the walking, standing, choosing, carrying. Of the town with its hilly streets, chatty shopkeepers.

She wanted to evaluate, weigh, compare objectively. If she went forward with Travis’s offer, this would, once again, become her home base.

She found objectivity challenging, as Heron’s Rest pumped out the charm in all its holiday finery.

Garland wrapped the posts of the old-timey streetlights, wreaths hung on doors, and trees stood in windows with their smaller cousins nestled in pots along Main Street.

When dusk came, lights would twinkle around windows, along roofs, down porch posts and doorways.

If you looked for small-town Christmas, you’d find it right here.

By the time she drove home, she’d talked to at least a dozen people she knew (and felt undecided on pro or con), racked up a few thousand steps walking inside and out, and considered her Christmas shopping complete.

In the kitchen, she heated up a bowl of soup, eating while she sat at the counter updating her spreadsheet, her pro and con list.

She studied both of them, reread Travis’s answers to her questions before she sent him her decision.

The right one, she determined, for her. For this time, for these circumstances.

At dinner, she listened to her parents’ easy replay of their day. Her mother had restocked books and puzzles in two vacation units, placed and decorated a tree in another, as requested by an incoming guest, inventoried linens, culled out those she felt needed replacements.

Her father and Jonah had completed the refresh of one of the apartments in town.

According to her father, the Fix-It Brothers’ work proved more than satisfactory, so they’d contract that team to overhaul the kitchen in another.

“I need the final measurements,” Elsie told Dean. “I’ll go to the suppliers, choose the new counter surface, new cabinet doors, hardware, lighting, and the rest tomorrow. I’ve got a look in mind.”

“You always do. I’ll get you the measurements.” He gave her a look. “And the budget.”

“You always do. You’re quiet tonight, Sloan. Is everything okay? Did you get your walks in? The temperature dropped again, and it’s windy with it. But that’s never stopped you.”

“Yeah, it is, and yes, I did. With more steps added. I’m quiet mostly because I was listening. You know, when I was a teenager, and the two of you would talk about work, I always thought: Boring. It’s not. It’s genius.”

Dean laughed. “Never boring to me and your mom, but I don’t know if I’d lift it to genius.”

“No, it is. The way you both focus on your strengths, but still blend the work. The fact that you can and are professional partners and still have a loving, solid marriage—and a life outside the work. That’s the genius.”

“Take the ‘genius,’ Dean.” Elsie toasted with her water glass. “She’s not wrong.”

“Add that one of your daughters joined that business, with her own strengths, opinions, perspectives, and she gets professional respect from you, but is still your daughter first and last.”

“There are times—plenty of them,” Dean said, “when I wonder how we managed without her. Drea’s got her own genius. But so do you, baby. And you’re first and last our girl.”

“I know it. I’ve always known it.”

And maybe, she thought, taken it, at least a little bit, for granted.

“But I think coming home this way brought that, well, home. When I told you I was going to join the NRP, you didn’t try to talk me out of it. You didn’t pressure me when I decided to move to Annapolis. You asked questions, good ones that made me think. But you never tried to change my mind.”

“That’s never been the easiest thing to do, has it, Elsie? Add the fact you think things through. It’s a rare thing for you to take a jump without calculating the distance, time, wind velocity. So when you decide, you’ve decided.”

“You’ve decided something.” Elsie folded her hands together under the table. “Something important.”

“Yes, I have. When Travis came to see me a few days ago, he told me his sergeant was retiring in February. He offered me that position. I’d have to file an application, take the written exam, the oral, pass. I’d have to leave my unit, relocate.”

Now Elsie reached for Dean’s hand under the table.

“I didn’t say anything about it because I needed to think it through— calculate,” she added with a glance at her father. “It’s a very big jump, so a lot of calculating.”

She took a breath. “I filed the application this afternoon.”

“Sloan—”

“Wait.” Dean waved off his wife. “Are you making this change for us? Because we don’t want that, Sloan.”

“Do you factor into those calculations? Of course you do. But I’m doing this for me. I’m being given a chance for a leadership position, and I want it. I believe I’d get the same, at some point, otherwise, but this could be mine now.

“And why now?” she added. “When I ask myself, it seems like fate. And I’ve never really believed in that. Why does this opportunity drop down after I’ve needed to spend weeks back home? Weeks when I’ve started to realize how much I miss it here. I had to leave and make something, be something, on my own before I could come back.”

As simple, she’d realized, and as complex as that.

“Now I’ve come back. I want to stay, for me. I want that chevron, for me. I want to serve under someone like Travis, for me. I want to be close to my family again, for me. And I want to be here, for you.”

“Am I allowed to tell you how happy this makes me? Makes us?” Elsie added.

“You can be happy after I pass the exams.”

“You know you will.”

“I damn well will. The written’s right after the first of the year. I’m on it. But there’s one more thing. I’m going to need my own place.”

“Well, Sloan—”

“Mom.”

“No, no, you’re all grown up, of course you want your own place. I was going to say there’s no rush. And I am going to ask you to wait until you’re fully recovered, and until you’re sure of what you want.”

“I know what I want, and what I don’t. I don’t want to live in town. I considered that because I’ve gotten used to it. But that’s not what I want now. I don’t want an apartment, I want a house. It doesn’t have to be big and shiny—I’m not ready for anything like that. But a little house where I have some room, some outdoor space, too.”

“Rent or buy?” Dean asked, and made her smile.

“Either, but I’d rather buy something. I’ve been careful financially. I think I could afford a little house. A fixer-upper, since I’m fairly handy, and more, I happen to know people even more handy who could help me out there. But no rush, Mom. I know I need at least a few more weeks. At least.”

“I might know a place.”

Sloan glanced at her father. “Does this surprise me? I think, no.”

“It’s a nice little bungalow—needs some work. Well, a lot of work, but—”

“Good bones?” Sloan commented.

“Good bones. Two bedrooms, what they’re going to list as a den or home office, two baths. Updates needed. Eat-in kitchen, and that needs updating, too. Wood-burning fireplace—though I’d want that checked out before I lit a fire in it. It’s about eleven hundred square feet and on a little under a quarter acre.”

“Room enough in, and that outdoor space.”

“Wooded lot,” he continued, “no dock, but with lake access. No porch, no deck, and the back patio needs a complete overhaul. It’s not on the market yet, but the owner came to see me, so I took a look. I’ve been thinking about making an offer.”

“What kind of offer?”

“Investment property for resort rental and a first-home buy—two different things.” Considering, he rubbed his knuckles on his trim beard. “Let me do my own calculations. Anyway, you might want to take a look at it. It’s closer to town—the other side of the Parker place, and tucked back some. The driveway’s rough, so that needs to be dealt with.”

“Okay, I’ll take a look, and if I don’t hate it, this is one area I’m going to put myself in your hands.” She gestured, both palms out. “You’re the expert.”

“You take a look,” Elsie agreed, “and if you don’t hate it, if it’s what you decide you want, we’ll help with the down payment.”

“I don’t need—”

“It’s not about what you need,” her mother interrupted. “It’s what we’re going to do. When and if your sister decides to buy a house, we’ll do the same. It’s something we’ve always planned for.”

“Say ‘thank you,’” her father advised.

It took her a minute, then Sloan reached out a hand to both of her parents. “Thank you.”

On the Wednesday before Christmas, Arthur Rigsby checked into a different motel. He switched them up, which Clara thought made him smart.

A cheater, a sinner, but a smart one.

As they had on the two previous Wednesdays, they watched the blonde arrive shortly after. Then, since they’d have about an hour and a half, they drove to a nearby Burger King for takeout and munched on Whoppers and fries while they waited.

They timed it to pull back in the motel lot beside the Mercedes at that ninety-minute mark.

Ten minutes later, Clara shook her head. “Taking more time here than I like. We may have to wait a week. But…”

“You said it’s today, so it’s today. Look, she’s coming out. See how she’s fiddling with her earrings. I bet he gave her those in there. Christmas present.”

“I bet you’re right. Now she’s pulling down the vanity mirror, admiring them. Well, just shame on him. Last present he’ll give her.”

It took him nearly another ten to exit. Clara opened the van door, blocking him from the driver’s door.

“Oh my goodness, excuse me!”

“That’s all right.”

She eased that door closed, stepped back and put a hand on the side door.

“Safe travels,” she said. “And Merry Christmas.”

Rigsby took one step forward before Sam slipped up behind him and plunged the needle in.

Rigsby’s eyes went wide, and he made a “ Gah ” sort of sound. He struggled, but between the two of them they pulled him into the van.

“You drive, babe. He’s still fighting it.”

As she got behind the wheel, Rigsby rolled, kicked while Sam tried zip-tying his hands. So Sam pushed him back, punched his face twice until he went limp.

“Sorry, Clara, I had to.”

But he’d enjoyed it.