The Maestro (Cold Hollow Mysteries Book 3) (17 page)

CHAPTER 19

The room went silent, and she gazed at Liam, who sat there with his chin in hand and a smile a mile wide. Everyone else was just staring at her.

Liam spoke first. “Mama, I knew it. I knew you would give me a baby sister right away. It’s okay if she has Layla’s old room. I promise to you that I’ll be the best big brother in the universe. Oh, and I don’t know what movie these two”—he pointed to Adam and Fran—“were talking about, but I want to see it because fall is perfect for horror films.”

He sat back with the most serious expression she had ever seen, and tears leaked down her cheeks as she sat back down. She turned to Tom to see him wide eyed and in shock. He had beads of perspiration forming on his face. She wiped his face down for him. He turned to her and smiled. His voice wobbled. “I…I’m going to be a dad?” Myrna nodded, and the room erupted in bold laughter, congratulations, and cheers.

Maurice was wiping tears of hard laughter from his eyes as Robert entered the room with a large cart. He delivered platters of appetizers to the table and asked if they needed anything. When they declined, he said he’d be back with their meals in a half an hour. He shut the banquet hall doors behind him for privacy.

He no sooner did so than the chief entered the restaurant and went to the doors of the banquet hall. He pressed his ear to it and strained to hear what was going on. Robert dragged him away to the kitchen, sat him on a stool, and said, “It’s a private farewell dinner. No snoops allowed.”

The chief frowned and narrowed his eyes at Robert. “I think that family is a little shady, buddy. Don’t you?”

Robert laughed to the ceiling and replied, “Chief, this whole damn town is shady! Now leave them alone.”

“I haven’t seen that new guy Reginald in town for a few days, Robert. Have you?”

Robert stiffened at the stove, turned to the chief, and shook his head. “I didn’t like the guy.” He leaned on the prep table and asked, “Didn’t you put one of those trackers on his vehicle?”

The chief nodded and answered, “I did, but it doesn’t show him ever leaving Fran’s farm since last Thursday. I drove by the house he’s renting, and it’s not parked there either.”

Robert shrugged and said, “Ask Fran if he showed up at her place for work today.” He pointed at the chief. “But wait until the family is done eating.”

The chief sat there grumbling until Robert plopped a plate of food in front of him. Then he shut up.

Back in the banquet room, they ate their appetizers, drank, and then divulged surprises one by one. Delilah erupted first. She reached out and grasped Myrna’s hand. “I got it. I purchased the tavern!”

Tom almost choked on an appetizer, and Myrna patted his back as he asked, “What on earth are you going to do with that dump?”

She smiled and informed him, “I have the interior designer working on it already. She has the keys to it and has provided me with designs to approve. Robert is going to handle training a chef and wait staff once Myrna puts an ad in the local papers. Our company has the contract for the liquor delivery, and not only that, but there is a three-bedroom apartment on the second floor for us to stay in when we visit here!”

“Where will the staff stay? I mean, all of the homes in town are taken.”

Myrna stood abruptly and shook her head. A smile crept up her face, and she blurted out, “The Hughes family moved out of town! The workers can stay in the house! Yes!” She thrust her fist into the air as though she’d just scored a home run.

Maurice sat there, dangling a set of keys in front of him. “I fear there is another empty home, Myrna.”

She sat down and slouched in her chair but perked up when Delilah swiped the keys from him and shook her head. “Ignore him, Myrna.” She handed the keys to her and continued: “I’ll buy it because the men trucking the liquor up here every three months are going to need a place to stay and rest. Now those damnable commissioners can get off your back, and they can’t send any more parolees here.” She shook her finger at Myrna. “I’m warning you, Mayor. Prepare yourself, because this town is about to take off and become a popular winter destination.” She crossed her heart and added, “Just have that house cleaned up for me and let me know the asking price. Before long, this town will no longer need government funding.”

Myrna smiled at everyone seated around the table as Maurice snickered, “My daughter is a very determined soul.”

Delilah reached into her briefcase and handed a document to Maurice. “Not only that, Father, but I’ve acquired a second contract for our company.”

Maurice’s eyebrows rose as he reviewed the contract. He wiggled his hand out for a pen and signed it off before handing it back to her. He looked at everyone and announced, “Robert Collins has joined our little family via contract.”

Myrna stared at Fran and Adam. Adam had his arm around her, and she was leaning into him while smiling. “What’s your surprise?”

Adam cleared his throat and kept glancing at Liam. He had to choose his words carefully and knew it. He said, “Fran and I saw a very good movie one day. There were car explosions, evil guys, pitchfork fighting, and ghost walkers. It was a bloody good time, Myrna, just freaking fantastic.”

Maurice had his head down, and Myrna noticed his shoulders were shaking furiously. He tried to look up at her and couldn’t. She began giggling and said, “I’m so happy for you, Adam.” She arched her eyebrows and then dangled the set of house keys in the air before her, causing Adam and Fran to laugh aloud.

Liam slammed his little fist down and said, “I’m glad you’re happy, Mama, but I need to know the name of the film, and Uncle Adam is keeping it a secret.”

Adam leaned to one side and said, “Tell you what, buddy, I’ll find that film at the store and mail it to you, okay? You’ll get it right in time for Halloween!”

Liam smiled and relaxed back in his seat when Maurice inquired, “Liam, what happy surprise do you have to tell us tonight?”

Liam grinned. “I got an A+ on my spelling tests this week.” He received an abundance of praise as Robert entered the room with their meals and more refreshments.

During their meal, Delilah discussed cross-promoting the restaurants. Because they specialized in meals at different times of the day, they wouldn’t be interfering with each other’s business but actually encouraging it. There would be no competition. Myrna loved the idea and agreed to get a chalkboard similar to Robert’s and advertise for them.

Liam asked when they were coming back to visit, and Maurice contemplated this question as he looked at everyone around the table. Adam watched his fingers dance atop the table and told everyone to wait for it. When Maurice’s fingers stopped dancing, he declared, “I’m going to rent this hall for the holidays. I believe the family deserves a winter gala.”

Delilah squealed with delight and watched Liam’s face light up. He said, “That’s not too far away, Grandpa. Will there be a tree here that we can decorate?”

Maurice leaned forward and replied, “Anything you want, Lord Liam. However, you must continue to bring home A+’s on your homework.”

Liam smiled and assured him, “I will, Grandpa.” He then finished his meal and waited patiently for dessert.

After dessert and coffee, they gathered their belongings, left the banquet room, and entered the dining room. Robert Collins and the chief were waiting for them.

The chief approached Fran and Adam first and asked in a hushed tone, “Fran, did Reginald Denning show up for work today?”

Fran placed her hand on her hip as Adam put a protective arm around her shoulder. “No, the lout. I haven’t seen him since Thursday. I gave him Friday off because of the wedding. I had to do all the farm chores on my own today.”

He narrowed his eyes and asked, “Do you remember the device I put under his car to track him?” She nodded, and he continued, “Well, it shows that the vehicle never left your farm Thursday. The car isn’t at the house he’s renting in town either.”

She removed her hand from her hip and pointed at him. “I warned you, Chief. He was a mumbler. Mumblers are plotters. I’ll wager hard-earned cash that the dirty sot found that device and left town.”

The chief glanced at Myrna and said, “I can’t say I’m surprised. I told you he was a roamer.”

Myrna grinned and said, “You did, and not only that, but if I remember correctly, other people have figured out the tracking system, so what makes you think Reginald didn’t?”

He relaxed and twirled the toothpick around his mouth. “I’ll search Fran’s driveway and front field for the tracker in the morning. He must have become suspicious, found it, and removed it.”

Myrna nodded in agreement. “Either that or you didn’t attach it tight enough or it just fell off.”

“I attached it tight enough, that’s for sure. If you do place an ad again, don’t you dare hire any more goddamn drifters. We need occupants that actually stay. Now we have two homes to fill before notifying the commissioners. How are we going to do that?”

“It’s already done. They will be filled within two weeks. The Hughes house is going to be used for the employees of the new tavern. Delilah also mentioned needing a small home for her truckers. That way they have a place to rest between runs.” She turned to Delilah and saw her donning a wide smile. “So I’ll have Reginald’s house cleaned out in the morning and notify her of the price tomorrow and see where that takes us.”

He narrowed his eyes at her again. “This is too smooth. Nothing every goes smoothly in this town, Myrna. I smell something fishy.”

Myrna smiled and batted her eyelashes at him. “Why aren’t you happy when things go smoothly? Are you only happy when you can go around town barking because all hell is breaking loose? Just be grateful, Chief.”

Robert patted the chief’s back. The chief huffed and glanced at the clock. “I’m gonna go and make Robert feed me dessert now.”              Robert laughed and escorted him back to the kitchen as Maurice paid the bill for their meals and generously tipped the wait staff.

There were tearful good-byes outside the establishment. Myrna couldn’t help but feel bad for Tom. It wasn’t fair that he was kept so far from his family, but she had a feeling that if Maurice and Delilah had their way, they’d be together more often than not. Liam sobbed into Maurice’s shoulder, but he reassured Liam that he would need his assistance come the holiday season and to keep busy making a list of things he wanted to do at the gala.

They walked Tom’s family and Fran to the Cadillac Escalade and waved good-bye as they drove down the street toward Fran’s farm.

Adam pulled into Frannie’s driveway and escorted her inside the house. He promised to write her at least once a week and left his address with her. She also promised to write back in return.

Before leaving, he asked, “Is that grave by the tree line going to bother you?”

She shook her head. “Hell no, I plan on pissing on it each and every blessed day.”

Adam laughed as they embraced and tenderly kissed her good-bye. She followed him out the door, stood at the stoop, and waved good-bye to Maurice and Delilah before shutting the door.

Adam slid behind the wheel, chuckling, and pointed at the house. “I love that woman, boss. I honestly do.”

Maurice sat in the backseat, grinning. “I’m happy for you, Adam. I truly am.” Adam didn’t know it, but Maurice had been putting part of the company’s profits into a high-interest account for him each year. He wanted to give it to him when he found a suitable woman to marry.

Delilah switched to the passenger’s seat and belted in before they pulled out of the driveway. They drove down the road about twenty miles, simultaneously exclaimed, “Ka-boom,” and erupted in laughter.

Maurice sighed and said, “It’s genuinely a miracle. I don’t believe I have laughed as much as I have these past two weeks. It feels so good.”

“Father, when we go back for the holidays, there will be more laughter and excitement. With a baby on the way, I plan on going shopping for the little one as soon as we get home.”

“I’ll go with you too, Delilah. I have to get Liam those movies, but I don’t know which one would fit the description I gave him at dinner.” He was about to go into a rant, but neither Delilah nor Maurice expected it. He took a deep cleansing breath and said, “I can’t understand people’s obsession with B-rated horror flicks. Don’t even try to pretend you don’t know which ones I’m referring to. They usually consist of misguided teens trying to escape one peril or another. The peak of the film usually takes place at the end-of-the school year prom for one reason or another.  There are usually zombies, vampires, or werewolves with supernatural powers trying to wipe everyone out. The children panic, trample each other, most end up dead and those bodies on the ground get maimed beyond recognition. The prom queen races around and gets her spiked high heel stuck in a fallen comrades eyeball, so she slips out of the shoe and keeps hobbling around like an asshole, instead of taking her other shoe off. Some stud hero grabs her hand and leads her outside.”

He took another deep breath and continued, “Speaking of outside, there is always that couple steaming up the windows of a car somewhere in the parking lot completely oblivious to the maelstrom inside the school. They are so wrapped up in hormones that when the deed is done, they obliviously wander back into the school to the prom, only to be brutally murdered by whatever entity is lurking inside. There is a lot that can be said for romantic teenage interludes and their timing. They both died holding hands. It was touching.”