Read Between the Tines (33 page)

"Well, you've certainly piqued my interest. Go ahead."

"The neighboring business is a scrapbooking place that Karen spent a lot of time at. The owner saw Karen cut
Gary
from a picture of him and Cara Long in front of the
Alamo
. I can't for the life of me figure out why Karen would have a picture of the two of them and why she didn't just shred it."

Yolanda chuckled. "I can see why you didn't want to ask. Karen knew about Gary and Cara's relationship if that's what you're asking."

"I figured as much," I said. "But I really do want to know why she had that picture."

"I know which photo you mean. Karen told me all about it. Pacific Pickles had a corporate meeting in
San Antonio
a year or so ago. Cara insisted on having her picture taken with
Gary
. Since Karen knew Cara did this to cause a scene, Karen went along with her and took the shot. Then she was so mad, she made
Gary
take her to the hotel. When they got back to
Oregon
it was the only photo they had with the
Alamo
in, so Karen cut out the offending woman and kept the picture."

"I think I would have shredded it,
Alamo
or not."

"Karen was very secure in her relationship with
Gary
. Nothing could shake it. Not even death."

Wishing I had a similar relationship with Adam, I thanked Yolanda for her candor, and we ended with pleasant goodbyes.

In my desk, I kept a supply of cute gardening cards. I retrieved one and penned a quick note to Karen then sat back and sighed. Seemed like I was so good at fixing others people's problems, but I hadn't yet reconciled with Adam. He remained as elusive as the perfect orchid bloom. And it also seemed like he was planning to play hard to get for all of eternity.

With the shop fully staffed, overstaffed in fact, I settled in behind my desk and completed mounds of paperwork that I'd ignored for far too long. Once I'd done as much as I could stand without going batty, I exited out the back door and climbed into my truck to go to Lisa's house. She'd asked for my help in getting ready for a garage sale that she wanted to hold to be prepared if they moved. Not that it was imminent. Perry had finally made a decision. Slightly in my favor for now. He decided not to accept any of the current job offers and they'd stay in Serendipity. At least until that perfect job came along. Until then, he and Lisa would remain close enough to keep me sane.

Lisa greeted me at the door, her arms filled with toys. "Man, I never knew we had so much stuff to get rid of. I'm so glad you're here to help."

She left me to close the door, and she dropped to the floor beside a large moving box. My mind on Gary's murder and all the players, I knelt next to her and started loading items she'd already priced into another box while letting my mind drift to Adam as it had most every free moment this last week.

"Earth to Paige." Lisa waved her hand in front of my face. "What're you thinking about?"

"Adam."

"Time heals most wounds."

"That's easy to say, but hard to do."

"Just give it time, sweetie. God will give you the strength to get through this."

"Even with God, I'm not sure I can do it."

"You're stronger than you think, Paige."

I snorted.

"You are." She dumped a load of toys out of a box. "Look at the last week. There are a lot of things that happened to you and in the past, you would have obsessed about them nonstop. Then tried to control them and make things happen on your schedule. But you're at least trying to go with the flow. That makes you better able to take what life throws at you."

I thought about the week. There was no way I'd admit to having pushed and shoved so many things this week to make them work out for me. Though, she was right in some respects. I didn't push Adam. He'd abandoned me, and I hadn't forced the issue. Not that I didn’t still think about it.

"Oh, I know that look. You're thinking about showing up on Adam's doorstep. Don't go there, Paige. Give it time. It's only been a week since you talked to him. This is a good situation to learn to trust God in."

She was right, but I didn't want her to be. "But Olivia had me at gunpoint. You'd think Adam would at least call to be sure I was okay."

"Perry told Adam you were fine. He doesn't need to call."

"But still. I wish he would."

She gazed into my eyes. "Has anything changed? Are you ready to meet his terms? Give up acting like a PI whenever anything happens around here?"

I shrugged. "How can I tell him I won't go off the deep end again when I don't know what'll happen tomorrow?"

She sat back on her haunches. "Then unless he's changed his mind, there's no point in talking to him."

I pouted and crossed my arms. "That's not what I want to hear. You're my best friend for goodness sakes. You're supposed to tell me what I want to hear."

She threw her head back and laughed. "Since when have the two of us operated that way? I tell it like it is, not how you want to hear it. Nothing's changed, Paige. I've told you the truth ever since you cut off Kady Jones's ponytail in second grade and wanted to believe you wouldn't get in trouble."

She was right again. As usual. For the hundredth, millionth time in our friendship. We didn't dash each other's hopes, but we never gave each other false hope either. And that's what thinking Adam wanted me back was, false hope.

I stood. "Let's forget about everything and just get this done."

To Lisa's chatter and the girls running circles around us, I settled into the task of filling boxes, schlepping them to the garage and emptying them onto tables Lisa had borrowed from church. By late afternoon, a record high of ninety-eight degrees zapped all my energy, and I reached a record output of perspiration. Couple that with the dusty garage and I was so ready for a long shower.

I left Lisa to feed the girls an early dinner and rushed home to clean up and return to babysit. In return for helping with my landscaping, I offered them a dinner, movie and little people sitting tonight. Helping prepare for tomorrow's garage sale was thrown in for free.

After a trip through my sweltering second floor apartment, I relished the delicious cool water spraying off the grime. Lisa, one of the few locals with central air, had offered to let me spend the night in the coolness, and I jumped on the offer. I packed an overnight bag, grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge, and, as fresh as a newly mowed lawn, I hopped into my truck for the return trip to the Winkle house.

I'd driven only a few miles when my cell rang in Lisa's tone. Great. I'd taken too long and she was checking up on me.

"Don't nag," I said. "I'm on my way."

"Where are you?" she whispered.

"Almost there."

"What're you wearing?"

I sighed and glanced at my cutoffs and baggy t-shirt. Sometimes she was as bad as my mom when I was little. Always wanting me to look my best. "My usual babysitting garb."

"Turn around now. Put something nicer on."

I laughed. "There's no way I'll let your girls ruin something good."

I heard a commotion in the background. "Look, I gotta go. Don't argue, Paige. For once in your life, listen to me and go change. Now!" She disconnected.

I pulled to a stop at the corner. At three years of age, Laci and Lori wouldn't be influenced by my sloppy clothing choice, so Lisa had an ulterior motive. Probably spurred on by our conversation this afternoon. Maybe she convinced Adam to come over and talk to me. No, no, she was adamant—ooh, even the sound of that word made me miss him—that he come to me without any interference. So what was she up to?

A horn behind me sent my brain and my hand shifting into gear. She wasn't going to make some lame attempt at a blind date, was she? Maybe casually have a friend drop by while I was babysitting. Oh, yeah. That was so her style. Well I'd show her. I'd keep on my ratty clothes and leave my wet hair clipped above a face devoid of makeup.

Thinking of all the quips I could toss out the minute I entered the house, I made the final turn onto her street and pulled into their driveway. No odd car parked behind their minivan, so whoever she was going to spring on me hadn't arrived yet.

I didn't ring the bell but rushed inside. The family room was empty, which in and of itself was a clue. The girls weren't here. If I was to babysit, where were they? I heard water running in the kitchen. I swung open the door, calling out, "Lisa, if you've done something crazy and set me up with some guy just because I was whining about not talking to Adam, I'm so going to hurt you."

"Surprise," my friends from our Bible study group yelled from their various spots in the room.

My mouth dropped open, perhaps in preparation for my big foot to climb in, and I dropped onto a barstool. "What's going on? It's not my birthday or anything."

Lisa popped out of the crowd and with a sheepish look on her face, came forward. "Before you fuss at me, I didn't know anything about this until they showed up. Perry arranged it," she paused to glare at him. "And he didn't want me to ruin the surprise by telling you."

I opened my mouth to ask for more details, but before I spoke, Karen stepped out from behind a small group. Her face haggard, her eyes sad, she came close and hugged me. "I wanted to thank you for helping me," she whispered. "Plus I heard about your fight with Adam, and I couldn't stand the thought that I came between you two."

She stood back. "So I wanted to bring everyone from the group together not only as a thanks for all you did, but also as a celebration of
Gary
's life. His name has been tarnished by the theft," her voice broke, "but I wanted his fellow Christians to remember he was sorry for what he did and planned to turn himself in. I'm certain he's now where we all will be some day." She raised a glass of punch. "To Paige and Gary."

I blushed and glanced around the room. Perry's wary eyes were fixed on Lisa. If Lisa's return glare was any indication, Perry was in for it once everyone left. Adam stood beside Perry, his face open and approachable. A surge of hope rushed through me. Maybe we would finally talk tonight.

Karen walked up to him, said something and he listened intently. I wanted to charge over to them and listen, but Lisa preempted me by announcing dinner.

"Paige, you first," she said and shoved me toward the island covered in an assortment of potluck dishes. "Bet you wished you listened to me and changed clothes," she hissed at me.

I did so wish, but there was nothing I could do about it now, so I went to the island and filled my plate. Lisa directed me to the breakfast area table and, knowing her need to take charge of this event in her home even if she hadn’t planned it, I followed her lead and sat. She wouldn't eat a thing tonight but would stand guard to be sure her guests had fun and yet stayed within the approved dining areas. She wouldn't let a plate with baked beans or a single cup of red punch reach her living room.

I sat at the table and waited for others to join me. Karen took up a post beside Lisa and soon the covert plan became clear. All others were sent into the dining room. When Adam turned with his plate and drink, the undercover agents nearly forced him into a chair across from me.

We shared an understanding look, and I dug into my food as a diversion from his steady gaze. I searched for a topic other than the one I really wanted to talk about, but my mind refused to give anything up. So I shoveled spoon after spoon of sugary beans into my mouth. I risked one quick peek at Adam, and his eyes were locked on me as he chewed.

"How are you, other than hungry?" he asked.

I laughed with my mouth closed so I didn't spew beans all over his crisply ironed shirt. I chewed then swallowed. "Glad to see you."

"Me, too," he said and shoveled a spoon of potato salad into his mouth. He reached out then snapped back his hand. "That bruise is something else."

"It's no biggie." I tipped my head at Lisa and Karen who seemed barely able to keep from rubbing their villainous hands together. "Their purpose is kind of obvious."

He wiped his mouth with a paper napkin. "Yeah, but I'm glad they got us together."

"You are?"

He nodded. "Perry told me you were okay, but I've been waiting for you to call so we can work this out."

Work this out? Did this mean he wanted to stay together? "Uh, I kinda, thought you would call me. When you didn't I thought you might not want to see me."

Our eyes met, and we laughed. The awkwardness seemed to melt a bit, but still, an underlying tension remained. So we ate and made small talk. Bit by bit our ease with one another returned until we were laughing about how much trouble Perry would be in for keeping this event a secret.

Suddenly, Adam's eyes darkened. "I know how Lisa feels. Not knowing what was going on."

Okay, here it was. The discussion. "You do know I'm sorry about that. If I had to do it over again I would tell you right away."

"And you'd still investigate, and," he looked away, "I'm still not sure I can handle you taking risks."

"I don't know what to say. I don't think I can—"