You're Busting My Nuptials (Tizzy/Ridge Trilogy Book 2) (26 page)

Ridge tried to keep a straight face at the mention of Tizzy and the girls’ debut performance. “Thought you said you weren’t interested in other people’s lives.”

“I’m not, but they weren’t your run-of-the-mill dancer types. I hated they didn’t come back.”

“Let’s get back to Gwynn. Any regulars?”

“Not anybody who showed up every night like the guy with Tawny.”

Ridge clicked his pen a couple of times and let the silence hang between them. “What was Gwynn and Tawny’s relationship?”

Three-D straight-armed the bar, rested his palms flat against it, and rocked back a bit. “Best friends.”

“For how long?” Jinx asked.

The bartender cleared some bottles from the counter, and looked straight at Ridge. “I don’t know. At least five or six years, I think.”

“Gwynn or Tawny close with any of the other dancers?” The question switching back to Ridge again.

“Cherry ran with them sometimes.” Three-D nodded toward the stage. “She’s dancing right now, but she’ll be finished soon. How about a drink on the house while you wait?”

“Sure,” Ridge said. “Give me a diet-coke.”

Jinx nodded. “Same for me.”

Ten minutes later, Cherry ended her set and Three-D called her to the bar. She walked over tying the belt around her silk robe. “If this is about Tawny and Gwynn, I got nothing to say,” she declared.

“That sort of answer makes me suspicious,” Ridge said. “Makes me think you know something.
Do you
know something, Cherry?”

She draped a leg over the stool next to Ridge and rested her hip on the seat. “I already told the other ranger. I only worked with them. We didn’t
buddy-buddy
around.”

“They never mentioned any boyfriends or anybody they were having trouble with?” Ridge asked.

Cherry shook her head.

“Then why the attitude?”

She placed her arm on the bar and leaned closer to Ridge. “All I know is, after that
Velvet
person came in asking questions, Tawny ended up in the lake. That’s why I got nothing to say and none of the other girls will either, so don’t waste your time.”

Ridge kept a stern expression on his face but smiled inside at the thought of
Velvet.

Jinx stood and walked over to Cherry holding up a hundred dollar bill.
“How ‘bout you and me get better acquainted?”

“Sure, baby. C’mon over here,” she said and led him to a chair in the corner.

Ten minutes later, Bubba arrived and took the stool Jinx occupied earlier. “Hey, man, where’s Jinx?”

Ridge nodded toward the dark corner. “Taking one for the team.”

“Ah, that’s mighty big of ’im,” he said.

“You get anything from the clown guy?”

“I never knew so many men liked to dress up like clowns. There are more than eight pages of names and addresses.” Bubba’s eyes drifted to the stage, then back to Ridge. “Oh, I checked with the cab driver who picked up Ramona. He said he delivered her to the address Tizzy gave you.”

“It was a vacant lot.”

“Yeah, the cabbie thought it was strange. He said Ramona verified that’s where she wanted out. He drove away and left her on the sidewalk with her suitcase.”

Jinx rejoined the two lawmen and got in on the end of the conversation. “Damn. Tawny’s dead. Gwynn’s missing. No lead on the two guys. And now Ramona is in the wind?”

“Looks that way,” Ridge said. “Did you get anything from Cherry?”

Jinx rested his elbow on the bar and leaned on it. “Not much. She said Tawny and Gwynn hinted they had some big plan in the works to buy a business in Big D.”

“Real estate in Dallas is expensive if it’s in a good location. They would need some serious money to pull that off,” Bubba said.

Jinx fished his notepad from his pocket and flipped it open. “Cherry gave me the name of a local real estate agent they’d been working with. Billy Bob Bywater.”

“Wait a minute,” Bubba said. “I think his name is on the clown list.”

Tizzy concentrated on driving to keep from being distracted by all the thoughts running through her head.
Boone’s visits. Where Ramona could be. The cemetery tour script. Ridge’s Halloween costume.

“What are you grinning about?” Synola asked.

Tizzy’s smile widened. “Ridge’s costume for the festival.”

“I still can’t believe he agreed to let you pick it out.”

“Me neither,” Rayann said.

“He didn’t have
a choice. He lost the bet.”

“Yeah, that’ll teach him to wager football with you.” Synola flipped the visor mirror down and pushed bangs from her eyes. “What’s he going to be? Oh wait, let me guess. Justin Bieber?”

“No.” Tizzy giggled.

Synola popped the flap back in place. “Your choice has to be embarrassing. Sponge Bob?”

“No, even though Gracie would love it. He’s going to be something kickass. Superman.”

“Oh my God! I can’t wait to see him in those tights.” Synola laughed. “Will you be Lois Lane?”

Tizzy shook her head. “No, since I’m doing the cemetery tour, I wanted to dress appropriately.”

Synola blinked her big brown eyes at Tizzy.
“So, you’re gonna be a ghost?”

“No silly. An a
ngel. What are y’all going as?”

Synola wiggled her hand at Tizzy, flashing the rhinestone ring on her finger. “A hooker with lots of spandex and bling. I think Jinx is wearing military clothes since he has all the stuff. What about you, Rayann? Oh, I know, the Cowardly Lion!” Synola broke into a full laugh. “Oh no, wait. A clown!”

“Very funny, Synola,” Rayann said. “Bubba and I will be dressing as Ken and Barbie.”

A loud clap of thunder punctuated Synola’s smirk. “Of course you are.”

The sky cracked with a bolt of lightning. Wind whipped rain across the windshield, blurring Tizzy’s ability to see. She leaned forward, wiped the glass with the back of her hand, then tightened her grip on the steering wheel. “Horace and Colton are still behind us, aren’t they, Rayann?”

“I think so. Maybe the storm will let up in a minute and I’ll know for sure.”

“Synola,” Tizzy began, holding out her cell phone. “Call or text them. I don’t want us to get separated. Their number is listed as security on the menu.”

Synola spoke into the phone for a few minutes and handed the cell back to Tizzy. “They’re on our tail. That Colton is one sexy man, but Horace looks like the dog’s been keeping him under the porch.”

“Horace may be a little rough, but he’s a great guy. Can you believe he’s sixty-eight and still in such good physical condition?” Tizzy clicked the turn signal.

“I’ll give him that,” Synola said. “Are we stopping to eat?”

“Yeah. The rain is letting up a bit. By the time we finish lunch, I hope the sun is out.”

She wheeled into the parking area of
Big Momma’s Down Home Cooking.
The lot was already full, so she drove back onto the street and parked. Horace and Colton pulled in behind her.

Inside, Big Momma
’s buzzed with chatter. Truck drivers, construction workers, and day laborers occupied all the stools at the counter. A perky waitress from behind the bar nodded toward Tizzy’s group. “There’s a booth in the corner,” she said, pointing the way. “Take a seat and I’ll be with you in a minute. Menus are on the table.”

Synola flipped open a menu and quickly closed it. “I know what I’m ordering. I’m getting Satan’s chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes, gravy and angel biscuits. And for dessert, Devil’s Food cake, with a sundae topping.”

“Sounds like you got a religious theme going on,” Colton said.

Synola flashed him a smile. “Their food is hell on your figure, but heaven in your mouth.”

“Well then, I think I’ll have the same thing you’re having,” he said.

Tizzy glanced at Rayann. “You want to share an order?”

“Sure.”

Tizzy regarded Horace. “What’s your choice?”

“Synola’s recommendation got to me. I’m having the holy special too.”

Tizzy rested her arms on the table and leaned forward. “Synola writes slogans for a living. She’s good at it.”

“Really?” Colton’s mouth quirked up in a grin. “That’s interesting. I’d like to hear more about them sometime.”

The offer caused Tizzy to smile at Colton, but before she responded to him, the waitress came and took their orders.

An hour later, stuffed and miserable, Tizzy led the group back to their cars and headed toward Dallas-Fort Worth Airport. The sun came out briefly, but now more clouds began to roll in. Once they got to DFW, they drove to the top level of Area A. Colton claimed an empty spot five spaces down from Tizzy. They rode the shuttle to the airport entrance.

As soon as they got inside, Tizzy checked the schedule and noted the flight was on time.

“Do we need to meet Nana at baggage claim?” Synola asked.

“No, she’ll only have a carry-on. She did the craziest thing
. She shipped everything home.”

Twenty minutes later, they announced the arrival of Nana’s plane. Tizzy caught sight of her grandmother decked out in a bright blue halter-dress printed with green palm trees and tangerine hibiscus.

“Holy Mother of Jesus, would you look at her,” Synola said.

Along with the others, Tizzy stared wide-eyed at the garb finished off with sandals, a straw hat and multiple strands of Puka shell necklaces.

Tizzy took a deep breath and tried to take in the Island vision. The only person dressed more ridiculous was a troll of a man wearing a tie-dyed shirt and fringed leather vest. He was like a throwback to the sixties complete with mustache, John Lennon
glasses and a headband wrapped around his shoulder length hair.

“Yoo-hoo!” Nana shouted at the shocked group, waving her hand in the air.

“Wow!” Tizzy said, embracing her. “You’re . . .
tropical.
The temperature outside is thirty-four degrees with rain and a swift breeze. You’re going to freeze to death.”

“Oh don’t worry about me. I can layer. I have a couple of Hawaiian shirts in my bag. I can put them on.”

Synola and Rayann stepped forward, and hugged Nana. “Welcome home, I sure hope our surprise is some of these cool necklaces you’re wearing,” Synola said, fingering them.

“They are,” Nana said. “But they’re not the main surprise.” She stepped aside and the short man stepped forward. “Girls, I’d like for you to meet my island soul mate, Om.”

“Oh dear God,” Tizzy mumbled, her knees going weak.

“Hi,” Rayann said.

“You talking, Ommmmmm, like in meditation?” Synola asked and frowned at the man. “What the hell was your momma thinking?”

“Synola! That’s rude,” Rayann said.

“Oh, sorry, But really, what was she thinking?”

“It’s all copasetic. Give me some skin,
Shinola,
” Om said, sticking out his hand.

“It’s SY-nola.”

“Oh, sorry.”

“Isn’t he just The Most,” Nana said.

Tizzy zeroed in on the hippie and said, “Would someone volunteer to be a designated driver? I need a drink.”

After Tizzy introduced Horace and Colton with a short explanation, she led them to the closest bar. They crowded into a booth and Tizzy ordered a round of drinks for everyone except the security guys. They opted for coffee.

Ten minutes later, Tizzy finished her second margarita and wasn’t sure if her dizziness came from drinks or the conversation between Om and Horace.

“You should have seen her, man,” Om said. “Birth control seats, suicide knob, crop duster, and three on the tree. She could lay a patch like you wouldn’t believe.”

“What’s he talking about,” Tizzy asked.

“A car. Bucket seats, a knob attached to the steering wheel, glass packs, and a manual three speed. Laying a patch is burning out.” Horace said.

Synola glared at Om. “Can you speak twenty-first century?”

“Sure, but the way I talk is so far out, it’s in.”

Tizzy hoisted her empty glass into the air. “Waitress! Another margarita, please?”

“I gotta whiz,” Om said. “I’ll be back in a minute.”

Tizzy leaned over the table toward Nana, cupped her mouth and whispered. “Have you lost your mind?”

“Oh hush, Tizzy. You told me to have a good time on my trip, so I did.”

“I wanted you to have fun, not bring an old hippie home. Lord, I thought changing your business name topped my list of worries.”

“Oh, thanks to Om, you’ll be happy to know I am changing it,” Nana said.

All three girls sang out in chorus. “To what?”

“Peaceful Pooch.”

Synola screwed her mouth around. “You went from Doggie Style sounding like a place to have wild sex to where dogs go to die. I’m not sure the change is an improvement.”