Page 31 of Peach Cobbler Confessions

“Ooh.” Lily wiggles her shoulders. “If there are two men and one woman involved, does it still qualify as a double date?”

“More like double disaster,” I say as I trade my apron for my purse.

Everett, Noah, and I head out and I sit shotgun in Everett’s sedan while Noah slides into the back.

“So what’s it going to be?” I ask as we get on the road and then it hits me. “Oh my goodness, Everett, are you going to finally share your big secret?” I bounce in my seat with a touch too much excitement, although according to Bizzy, who clearly read Everett’s mind, I have nothing to get excited about. In fact, she said this big secret of his was quite the bombshell. And, then again, I sort of have my own bombshell I’ve been keeping from the two of them.

Everett glances at Noah in the rearview mirror. “No. Not today.” He gives my knee a quick pat. “And don’t worry, Lemon. You can hold onto your secret for now, too, if you like. I know you mentioned you wanted to give it to us over the weekend so we can process it.”

“For sure.” I sink a little in my seat. The last thing I want to do is ruin their day by sticking a pin in their dreams of having a sweet little newborn in a few short months. “So about this little day trip? Where are the two of you whisking me away to? Honey Lake for a ride onThe Lucky Lemonperhaps?” Stepping onto Everett’s yacht, let alone taking a ride on it, feels like a vacation in and of itself. “Or out for a quick bite? Although we just passed up Mangias and Wicked Wok. But I like surprises, too.”

Noah chuckles from the back. “It’s going to be a surprise, all right, Lot. Just sit back and enjoy the ride.”

Noah was right. It is a surprise.

The surprise they had in store?

Prison.

The Vermont Men’s Correctional Facility sits on a stretch of flat land just east of Ashford.

Everett takes up my hand as we head into the behemoth facility.

“I thought we’d pay a little visit to Peter Green this afternoon,” he says as we stride through a series of checkpoints.

I suck in a quick breath. “Would you think less of me if I said I was more than excited?”

Noah barks out a laugh. “You never disappoint, Lottie.”

“That’s right, Lemon.” Everett nods in agreement. “I figured it was on your list of to-dos. I’m trying to stay ahead of the curve. Believe me, it’s not easy.”

“It won’t get any better.” I wink his way.

The three of us are processed and cleared to see just about anyone we please within a twenty-minute window. A surly security guard leads us over to a large bright room that has a cafeteria vibe to it, and sitting in the corner is a man in an orange jumpsuit, with pasty skin, dark red hair, and a quizzical look in his large hazel eyes.

The air is cool inside and holds the faint scent of bleach and corndogs.

Peter Green stands to greet us as two security guards begin to mingle behind him.

“Judge Baxter.” He sheds an affable smile. “I can’t believe it’s really you. What’s this about? Did Brandy finally get through to you?”

“You could say that,” I muse. “It might have been the water she threw in his face, or the message in lipstick she left on his window, or the flour she doused him with.”

Everett’s cheek flickers as the four of us take a seat. “It was the talk we had at the coffeehouse. And I’m actually not here to see you, Peter.” He nods my way. “She is.”

Peter shifts his focus onto me and looks twice as confused as he was before.

“What gives?”

“You tell me,” I say. “Start from the beginning and tell me everything.”

Peter closes his eyes a moment. “To tell you the truth, I’d rather forget it. But why the heck not? I don’t have anything to lose.” He holds a hand out to the prison walls. “Okay.” He takes a deep breath. “It was late, eleven forty-five, they close at midnight. I ran in after working the late shift at a nearby grocery store. I bought a chicken sandwich and chili fries. As soon as I was done, I hit the restroom. When I came out, the man was dead, sprawled over the counter with a gunshot wound to the chest. Before I knew what was happening, I was sitting in front of this guy.” He nods to Everett. “And he sent me here.” The smile dissipates on his lips. My heart breaks for him, and I’m not sure why. He looks my way. “So what do you think you can do for me that my pricey legal team couldn’t?”

I think about the scenario he just ran past us. “Peter, did you order a drink that night?”

“Nope. I bought what I could with the change in my pocket.”

I glance to Noah and Everett. “I think I have all I need. Noah, if it’s okay with you, I’d like to go over the video footage.”