The Harvest Club (7 page)

Finally, when it was almost five, she jumped out of her chair tidying the office. Another glance, it was five straight up and she was done. Jessie changed into her favorite jeans and T-shirt, locked the church, and walked out to her car. With the top down and tunes playing in the background, she made the turn onto Blue Cove Drive, around the curve. She passed the village shops, the cove and marina, and made the left turn toward the old town square.

It was hard to believe she had been here only a few weeks. All the strange incidents had completely taken her out of her normal routine. Telling Katie about Gina was a no-brainer. She needed to tell someone, and maybe Katie could help her make sense of it. If not, at least they could have a good laugh.

Making her way to the public parking across from the town square, she slipped her car into a parking space, put up the top, and locked it as she got out. With a couple of hours yet to go until the concert, a pretty large crowd had already gathered. The park was filled with activity, bringing a smile to her face as she crossed the street.

An animated volleyball game was in the works with intermittent cheers and high fives. On the other side of the park, a loud rowdy group of guys played flag football, punctuated by some colorful language and coarse remarks. So that’s what it would be like to have brothers. She grinned.

The grassy area in front of the stage was filled with people on lawn chairs and blankets, already staking their claims for a choice spot. It was obvious that the town showed up in force to celebrate the coming of summer. Jessie loved it.

Standing at the park’s entrance, she glanced back and forth through the gathering crowd, looking for Katie. Jessie spied her in a perfect spot, not too far from the stage with her blanket spread and picnic basket beside her. As she made her way toward Katie, Molly stopped her.

“Hey, Jessie, I want you to meet my boyfriend, Kenny.” Molly’s eyes lit up as she introduced him.

“Hi, Kenny, it’s nice to meet you.” Jessie extended her hand and smiled.

“Molly told me you’re the new secretary at the church where the young pastor was murdered.” He grabbed her hand in his, pumping it, his blue eyes lighting up his face. “How do you like working there?

“I’m enjoying it so far.” She shifted her weight to the other leg. Jessie liked him instantly, punk hair and all. She could tell by the way he looked at Molly that he was in love with her.

“Molly told me it gives her the creeps just thinking about it. She could never work there.” He smiled showing off two big dimples.

“Gina used to come into Joe’s almost every day. She was such a sweet lady.” She gave Kenny a playful push. “I was so sad when they found her murdered, that’s the real reason I couldn’t ever work there. Plus, I’ve heard stories about people seeing her around the church and cemetery. I think that’s a little creepy, although I’ve never seen her. Have you?”

“I actually like working there. The people are nice. The writer in me likes the strange and unusual that comes with a good story.” She evaded the question and before they could ask her more, she added, “I need to find Katie. It was great seeing you, Molly. Enjoy the concert.” She waved as she walked away.

She had thought Molly had a lot of ink and piercings, but Kenny might actually have more. In some weird way they made a cute couple.

Winding her way through the crowd, she heard someone calling her name. She traced the sound to Reba who was waving Jessie over in her direction. Sitting on her lawn chair, dressed in a floral sundress, she looked like a queen holding court. Next to her was her prince, a very handsome, distinguished man with a head of salt and pepper hair. He had a kind face, smiling eyes that never stopped watching Reba as she spoke to Jessie.

“Hi, Jessie, dear, this lovely man is Lawrence. He’s been the man in my life since I was fifteen.” She patted his hand and smiled at him.

He stood to meet Jessie. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Thomas.”

“Lawrence, please, and the pleasure is all mine. My wife has told me so much about you, and you’re just as she described. You have nothing to fret about, young lady, for she told me only good things about you.” He smiled at her.

“I told him you reminded me of myself when I was younger. I was ahead of my time you know. I was a strong, independent woman, working my way in a man’s world and having to fight every step of the way.”

Jessie thought Reba sounded just like her Grandma Sadie.

“She’s always been one feisty woman, which has kept me at her side for all these years.” He leaned over and kissed her cheek.

“We won’t keep you, Jessie, but I wanted you to meet Lawrence, and I wanted him to see our famous Jessie who lights up a room and showers everyone with kindness.”

“The rumor is you can walk on water.” Lawrence winked at her as he sat back down in his chair.

Jessie laughed and continued to smile as she walked toward Katie.

“What’s got you smiling?” Katie asked as she patted the ground beside her for Jessie to sit down.

“I spent a few minutes with Reba and Lawrence Thomas. She always cheers me up.”

“Don’t you think she’s a little weird? It’s like she knows what you’re going to say before you say it.”

“Eccentric maybe, but she’s definitely not weird. I think they’re a very handsome couple.” Jessie sat down and watched the crowd around her.

Everywhere she looked she saw smiling, happy faces, people greeting each other, and picnic baskets on blankets. This was how you were meant to spend an early summer’s evening.

Not one black rain cloud loomed as a threat to what had to be the perfect summer night. The band was setting up, doing microphone checks, and tuning their instruments; children were running around the blankets with laughs and giggles intermingled with a few cries. She could get used to this lifestyle.

“I invited Dylan and Matt to come by during their break and get something to eat.” Katie started unpacking the bag with the condiments in it. “They both have to work tonight. I hope you don’t mind. You and Matt are always at odds.”

“I don’t mind. I can be civil if I work hard at it.” Jessie laughed and threw the salt shaker at Katie. “Nice catch.”

“I know how your devious mind works. I’ve learned to expect the unexpected when I’m with you.” Katie laughed. “By the way, I’ve waited long enough for you to tell me what had you so upset the other night. You did say you would tell me later if I let up, which I did, so fess up.” Katie grabbed Jessie’s shoulder and shook her playfully.

“Don’t interrupt like you usually do and let me get through the whole story first, and then you can ask any questions you have.” Jessie cleared her throat and retold the story about all her sightings of Gina.

“Wow, I didn’t see that coming.” Katie put her hand to her face and pushed her hair behind her ear. “You don’t believe in ghosts, do you? I guess that’s a stupid question in light of everything you’ve experienced since you’ve moved here. It’s a wonder you haven’t moved back to New York already.”

“I don’t know what I believe, but I can’t just dismiss it as though nothing has happened. I now know the woman staring at me as if she was waiting for me, the woman at the edge of the woods, and the one who I saw in the church was Gina Martin. For some reason she has come to me and wants my help, so I’m going to do it.” Jessie saw Katie’s puzzled look. “I know, crazy, huh? I’ll attempt to tell her story and hopefully in the process find out who killed her.”

“I don’t know what to say. I’ve never heard anything like this before.”

“Wow, now this is a first, you speechless.” Jessie laughed. “Seriously, I’m going to write a story about Gina, but some of what I might find out will have to be kept secret.”

“Are you kidding me?” Her eyebrows rose. “Of course I’ll keep what you tell me secret. There is still a murderer out there. Aren’t you just a little bit afraid you’ll stir up trouble and get in over your head? Remember I told you this is a small town. Everyone knows everyone’s business.”

“I’m already in over my head by no choice of my own.” She frowned. “I have a ghost hanging around me, which is unusual even for me.” Jessie opened the lid on the picnic basket. “What did you bring for dinner?”

“Oh, no, you don’t!” Katie snapped the lid down. “It’s the same thing I packed in the box dinners for the guests at the inn.”

“Which is?”

Katie never answered her because they were interrupted by Pastor Rick and a friend who strolled over.

Rick looked at the man beside him. “This is my new secretary, Jessie.” Rick smiled at her. “Jessie, this is Brad Martin.”

Chills went down her spine when she heard Brad’s name. “Hi.” She paused. “I hope you’re enjoying the evening.” She managed a forced smile. He greeted her with a barely an audible hi back, his face showing no visible emotion at all.

“Brad was married to Gina and is still grieving, so I thought I would get him out among people tonight.” His eyes shifted to Katie and then back to Jessie.

“Pastor Rick, this is my friend Katie.”

“Hi.” He locked eyes with Katie. “How long did you have to twist Jessie’s arm to get her out of New York to this insignificant town?” He gestured around him and smirked. “I thank you.” He saluted her.

“We’ve been friends a long time. Believe me, no amount of convincing on my part would have brought her here if she hadn’t wanted to come.” Katie turned her face to hide the anger in her eyes.

“I was hoping for a chance to see you tonight, Jessie!” He paused, giving her a long insolent look. “Enjoy the music. I’m going to introduce Brad to some other folks. See you around.” He turned his back and walked away.

Jessie felt almost sick as she watched Brad and Rick walk away. The two of them together didn’t seem right. Neither was the way the pastor had been looking at her.

“Your boss is nice looking but a little too—I don’t know, what’s the word I’m looking for?”

“Too slick, polished, maybe too much like a used car salesman?” Jessie overemphasized each word.

“Too forward. Truthfully he gives me the creeps, and he made me angry.”

“I could tell. You had fire in your eyes, and I fully expected for you to blow smoke out your nostrils.” Jessie laughed.

“No, I didn’t.”

“Oh please, yes, you so did! Now it’s your turn to fess up. What’s for dinner?” Jessie reached for the picnic basket and looked inside. “Oh, man does this ever smell good.”

“On the menu for tonight is a baked chicken breast on a bed of salad greens with asparagus, topped with honey mustard dressing, a slice of banana walnut bread with cream cheese, and a lovely chocolate raspberry torte for dessert.” She took two boxes out of the basket and handed one to Jessie.

“Do you always eat like this? If so, I’m coming up to the inn every night.”

“I treat my guests well. I must if I want to keep them coming back year after year.”

After they ate, Katie and Jessie stretched out on the blanket to listen to the music. The concert headlined two groups, one that played folk music and an alternative rock group. Jessie liked the first band’s sound.

“I have a confession to make.” Katie looked at Jessie.

“Oh, no, what did you do to me, now?”

“I might have talked to Matt the other night about your crazy goals, among other things.”

“Katie, how could you? He gives me a hard enough time as it is.”

“You need help, my friend, and I only gave him a small nudge.”

“I told you no matchmaking. When I’m ready, I’ll take care of it myself. Please, please don’t try to set me up.” She pleaded with her eyes. “It’ll just turn out like it did that time in college the last time you interfered, a real mess.” Both of them started to giggle.

“Every time we get near you two you’re laughing.” Matt sat down followed by Dylan.

Katie looked at them. “Your dinner is in the basket.” She sat up. “Everything should be in the boxes, including your utensils and napkins.”

“This tastes great.” Dylan took a big bite.

The second band’s music was too loud to have a decent conversation, so the guys ate and the girls stretched back out. Dylan tapped Katie’s shoulder when they were done. “We have to get back on duty. Thanks for a great meal.”

“You’re welcome. See you around.” Katie waved and so did Jessie.

“Well, that passed without another round of tug-of-war between you two.”

“Just remember to keep loud music playing so no conversation can take place when we are in the same vicinity. As long as we don’t open our mouths, I think the two of us could grow to be very good friends.”

“Do you know what I think?”

Jessie rolled her eyes. “I shudder to think!”

“You really like him, and all of this is some weird mating ritual.” Katie gestured wildly with her hands.

“You’re crazy.” Jessie rolled her eyes. “I hardly know the man well enough to form an opinion. However, I do believe if we could get past the fact that we are completely at odds and opposites in every way, we could have a professional, working relationship.” She laughed.

“You have to admit he’s good-looking.” Katie playfully swooned.

“He sure is, that is if you like the strong, silent type, unless of course he is lecturing me. I don’t need another man to tell me what to do, I have Dad.” She looked at Katie. “No match-making.”

“Who me? I would never do that.” Katie crossed her fingers behind her back.

****

Later, Matt was watching the departing crowd and thinking about how smoothly things had gone. Dylan came from the other side of the park and stood beside him.

“Matt, I’ve been watching Brad Martin and Rick for some time. They moved their chairs close to Jessie and Katie and were staring at them all night.”

“As far as I know there’s no law against looking at a pretty woman. If that were true, every guy on earth would be in jail. I imagine many of the upstanding citizens of Blue Cove looked at Jessie tonight.” He chuckled. “She looked fine in those jeans. Besides, I was keeping an eye on them, too. The pastor has a thing for her, but he’s not the one I’m concerned about.”

“Brad sure doesn’t look like a grieving husband to me.” Dylan waved as someone said goodnight to them.