Death at the Day Lily Cafe (14 page)

I carried four specials to the last (at least I hoped they were the last) of the two parties remaining in the café. After depositing their plates I returned with a pitcher to fill their water glasses, and my heart warmed at their reaction to the presentation of their food.

I found Glenn behind the bar checking his watch. “Ready to go home soon?” I said.

“Looks like we may get out of here on time. Maybe I'll have a chance to take a nap before we go to Kevin and Jake's.”

I began stacking clean mugs on a shelf above the coffeemaker. “Glenn, do you realize Gretchen was here every day this week?”

He leaned back against the bar. His white shirt hosted several stains, and his apron was starting to slip down his hips. “She invited me over to her inn for tea tomorrow.”

“Really?” I smiled. “Are you going?”

“I don't think something like that is in the cards for me, Rosalie. I had one great love, and that's enough. I consider myself a lucky man.”

I set the last mug on the shelf and faced him. “It's only tea.”

“I know what's happening,” he said. “She's courting me. I'm not blind.”

“She seems like a lovely person. I've really enjoyed her sense of humor these past few days.”

“Rosalie, she says things like
poppycock
and
bollocks
.” Glenn shook his head.

“That's what Brits do. I happen to love her accent. It makes her sound intelligent.”

Glenn peered at me over his glasses, his arms crossed tight. “Perhaps you should be the one going to tea.”

“Glenn.” I placed my hand on his arm. “Why does that trouble you? I would think it would make you happy.”

“I had a good run. That part of my life is over.”

“Do you feel it would be a betrayal to Molly if you saw someone else? I find it hard to believe, based on the way you've described her, that she would want you to stop living.”

“I am living a very full life.” He flashed me a tired smile. “Maybe too full, but I like it just the same.”

“You know, Crystal and I had a conversation last week, and I said something about my life being complete now that I had the café. And she asked how it could be if I didn't have love.”

“Well, she's in her twenties. That's where she's headed. But you have plenty of love in your life, dear. I believe everyone surrounding you basks in the warmth of your compassion.”

“Thank you, Glenn. I hope that's true.” I gazed over at him. “But she has a point. Romance is fun. And I think I miss it a little.”

Crystal emerged from the kitchen. “Two tables left,” she said. “Maybe we should flip the sign?”

I glanced over at the clock. Five minutes. “You know what? I think that's a spectacular idea. Custer must be spent back there.”

“Speaking of Custer,” Crystal said, “who is that guy in the kitchen with him?”

“It's not the sheriff, is it?” I asked, worry sending a shot of adrenaline through me.

“No.” Crystal headed toward the front door. “But Custer doesn't seem too happy.”

Glenn and I exchanged a concerned look and started for the kitchen.

I knew who it was immediately. The green eyes. The sandy blond hair. “You must be Butch,” I said.

Custer glared at him, hatred smoldering in his eyes.

“Well, look who's here,” Butch said. “You must be the boss woman.”

“What are you doing here?” Glenn took a protective step closer to Custer.

“This here's my son. And I heard he got himself a pretty good job.” His eyes locked on Custer's. “So they let ya out of jail, did they?”

Custer squeezed the spatula in his hand. “I never went to jail, you son of a bitch.”

Butch shifted his weight and crossed his arms. “You deserved to. And you and I both know it. I think that lady judge just liked your looks.” Butch winked at me. “Takes after his daddy.”

“The kitchen is for employees only.” Glenn positioned his body between them. “It's part of our insurance policy. So I'm afraid I'm going to have to ask you to leave.”

“But I haven't finished talking with my boy. I have some questions I'd like him to answer.”

“I got nothin' to say to you,” Custer growled.

“Glenn's right about our insurance policy,” I said. “So if you don't leave now, I'll have to call the sheriff.”

Butch chuckled heartily. “Oh, he's your best buddy now, isn't he, boy? You want her to call Mr. Big Bad Sheriff and tell him I was making trouble for you? You think he'd see it that way?”

I removed my cell from my apron pocket and slid my thumb across the bottom. I looked over at Butch, my eyebrows raised. “You really aren't going to leave on your own?”

He waved his hand at us. “I'm leaving.” He pushed open the door. “I'm not through with you, son.” He stopped and faced Custer. “Maybe I should ask your mama.”

Custer took a menacing step toward his father, but Glenn blocked his way. They jostled a little, and Glenn's glasses tumbled to the ground. Butch let the door slam behind him.

Custer knelt down and picked up Glenn's glasses. “I'm sorry,” he said. He walked over to a cabinet and removed a bottle of glass cleaner. After spritzing both lenses, he wiped them clean with a paper towel.

He held them out in his palm. “I'm really sorry.”

“No harm,” Glenn said as he fixed them back on his nose. “Will you look at that? This is the cleanest they've been all weekend.”

“See?” I said. “There's nothing for you to be sorry for.”

Custer looked down at his sneakers. “I didn't mean to shove you, Mr. Glenn.”

“I might have shoved me, too, if my father was acting that way.”

“Crystal has already flipped the sign, Custer,” I said. “We're closed. The two remaining tables are finishing up. Why don't you take a break?”

“I could use a cigarette,” he said, his voice shaky.

“Maybe I'll carry this out first.” Glenn picked up an overstuffed black garbage bag. “I want to make sure there isn't more trash in the alley waiting for you.”

Glenn found me at the bar cleaning one of the Mieles. “My heart is still pounding.” He smoothed his hair back in place as he sat down. “What on earth do you make of that?”

I placed my palm on my forehead. “What an awful man. Why do you think he came here?”

“Certainly not to have a friendly visit with his son.”

“He seemed to want something from Custer.” I ran a slow, steady stream of water in the aluminum frothing pitchers. “It all keeps pointing back to the money. If Butch really was CJ's best friend, maybe they were in this together.”

Glenn rested his elbows on the counter. “But then he would know where it is. Why bother Custer?”

“Do you think he's okay? Custer, I mean.”

Glenn shook his head slowly. “How could anyone be okay with a father like that?”

*   *   *

As I turned down the lane to Barclay Meadow, I noticed Tyler's pickup heading toward me. I pulled over onto the narrow strip of grass next to the cedars to wait for him. I buzzed my window down—it was way too hot for a convertible today—and smiled at him when he stopped. Tyler's window was already open, his elbow jutting out. He was not a big fan of air-conditioning.
When you work outside all day,
he once said,
the artificial coolness can throw off your body's ability to regulate its temperature
.

“Hi,” I said. “Working on a Sunday?”

He was freshly showered even though it was only four o'clock. I caught a whiff of his scent. Tyler never wore cologne. Instead he used a sandalwood soap his sister made by hand. I had grown very attached to the now familiar fragrance.

“Just came back to shut down the irrigation.”

“How's everything going?”

“Good,” he said. “Getting a lot accomplished. Hiring Bini is one of the smartest things I've done in a while.”

“I'm really glad, Tyler.” My stomach tightened as I realized I had become quite jealous of the time Bini got to spend with him. “I'm off for three days. Maybe we'll have a moment for you to tell me all about it.”

“Sounds good. You know, she is one of the hardest-working people I know.” His right hand was draped over the wide steering wheel. “I actually have a hard time keeping up with her.”

“Really? I find it difficult to believe she works harder than you.”

“Damn close. How about you? Good day? You must be spent.”

“I am. But we had a very busy weekend. I can't complain about that.”

He frowned for a moment. “I hope I didn't upset Custer the other day.”

“He seemed fine. Except, Tyler? Your brother stopped in to see him today.”

“Oh.” He stared ahead.

“You two are very different,” I said tentatively.

“Yeah.” He huffed out a laugh.

“Tyler, Butch seems like he could cause a lot of trouble. For Custer and whoever else gets in his way.”

“He's been doing that his whole life.” He looked over at me at last. “Look, Rosalie, I have to run. Bini and I are meeting some guys at the country club for beers. We're making progress on the co-op.”

“That's great. I hope the meeting is a success. Coffee tomorrow?”

“At some point during the day. Bini and I sure dug those iced lattes. Catch you on the fly.” Dust spit out from under his tires as he drove away. I tried not to focus on the fact that Tyler no longer started his sentences with
I
. It was now
Bini and I
.

*   *   *

Before I could park, I noticed Annie in her Volvo and proceeded to have my second drive-by conversation. She cranked down her window. “Hey, Mom. How did it go today?”

“Really great. But I'm glad it's Sunday night. Where are you off to?”

Annie was in shorts and a halter top, her face framed by a lace headband. “Custer asked me to meet him. He sounded upset.” I noticed a tear welling in her eye.

“Annie, what's wrong?”

“Um, well, did Custer say anything today about me?”

I shook my head. “Not a word. Why?”

Her forehead scrunched up. “Are you positive? Because he sounded weird. And I'm worried he doesn't want to hang out with me anymore.” She wiped away a tear. “Between Dad and Custer, I feel like no one wants to be around me.”

“Oh, honey, I'm positive he didn't say anything like that.” I squeezed the steering wheel. “If he's upset, it's more likely something else. It was such a long weekend for him. He has a lot of responsibility, you know. Nothing would work if we didn't have Custer in that kitchen. I hope I'm paying him enough.”

Annie gave me a weak smile and the tear trailed along the curve of her cheekbone. She brushed it away and sniffled. “That's nice of you to say.”

I lowered my voice. “But don't tell him, okay?”

“Ha-ha.” Her face brightened.

“I'm going to Kevin's house for dinner, so don't wait up.”

“Oh, I wish I could go. I love Kevin.”

“I know, right? Should be fun.”

“Okay, Mom, got to run.” She blew me a kiss and continued around the circle. I parked the car and shut off the engine. Should I have warned her about Custer's father? Could she somehow get caught in the crossfire? I flopped my head back on the headrest. “Oh, my dear, sweet Annie,” I said aloud, “take care of you. In love and—” I shuddered. “And everything else.”

 

T
WENTY
-
FIVE

Many of the houses in Cardigan, from the historic farms to the rows of edifices lining the rivers and creeks, had been built in the eighteenth century. Kevin and Jake were lucky enough to obtain one along one of the widest points on the river, just three short blocks from Birdie's Shoe Store.

I noticed Glenn's Prius and checked my watch. I was right on time. Of course Glenn would be a little early. He took pride in being prompt and dependable, and I cherished that about him.

I had taken a little catnap with Todd and a long, hot shower before I arrived. I climbed out of my car and headed for the front door. It was a sultry evening, the air still thick with lingering moisture from the heat of the day. I had slipped into a sleeveless cotton maxi dress and cinched it with a belt. Knowing Kevin's excellent eye for style, I wanted to look presentably fashionable, so I accessorized with a pair of gladiator sandals and dangly gold earrings.

“Oh, look at you,” Kevin said with enthusiasm as he double-kissed my cheeks. “And you smell like a little piece of heaven.” He frowned for a moment. “Chanel?”

“How did you know?”

“I know the good ones,” he said. “Come in. Glenn and Jake are out on the deck.”

As I followed Kevin through the narrow house, I was awed by their jaw-dropping taste. The sparsely decorated rooms were designed in muted greens and grays with a pop of coral or yellow here and there. I was equally impressed by how each room had been designed around a focal point of standout artwork.

When we reached the kitchen the house opened up to a wall of doors and windows overlooking the Cardigan. “Wow,” I said. “What a view.”

“We barely use the other rooms.” Kevin faced me and smiled. “I knew you would appreciate this place. Your café is so fabulous. You've got an eye.”

I presented Kevin with a bottle of rosé. “This is from the Yellow Labrador, that winery out on Mallory Road. I'm thinking of serving their wine at the café.”

“Rosé is perfect on a hot summer night.” He opened a drawer and removed a Rabbit corkscrew. “You and I think along the same lines.”

“They also have a sparkling wine. I'm starting a champagne brunch on Sundays. What do you think?”

“In Cardigan?” Kevin placed a hand on his chest. “Finally. We've been driving to Annapolis. I love champagne brunches.” The cork squeaked as he pushed down on the lever. “Plated or buffet?”