About the Boy (15 page)

“I know,” Katie admitted with a laugh, handing the bill to Francis anyway. “But I still want to make a contribution.”

“Why, Katherine, thank you. The seniors truly appreciate your donation.” Francis tucked the bill into her metal cash box, then leaned across it and lowered her voice. “And you tell your mama I’m rooting for her.”

“Rooting for her?” Katie repeated with a frown.

“Why, yes, dear. In her run for mayor.”

Katie managed to suppress a groan—but just barely. “Uh…Francis, who told you Mama was running for mayor?”

“Why your mother did. Just a few moments ago.” Francis glanced around to make certain no one could hear her. “Said she’s going to announce her candidacy at the Halloween Festival, but she wanted a few of her close friends to know in advance.”

Close friends?
Good Lord, everyone in town was a close friend of her mother’s, Katie thought with a scowl, which meant Louella had probably already told everyone in town.

Except her.

Still smiling, Francis patted her braids. “I don’t know how Mayor Hannity is going to take the news. But new blood is always a good thing, don’t you think, Katherine?”

Katie nodded, not trusting herself to speak, fearing a rash of words that might make Francis blush would start spilling from her mouth.

“Now you go on in and have a good time, Katherine,” Francis instructed. “We’ve got a nice band tonight, and I’m sure you’ll enjoy yourself. Oh, and Katherine, be careful where you step,” Francis warned with a slight frown. “Patience insisted on bringing Leonardo with her tonight.”

“Leonardo?” Katie tried not to laugh. This was a bit of gossip she hadn’t heard. Patience apparently had a new man in her life.

Francis heaved a weary sigh. “Her new dog. Drags that poor little thing with her everywhere,” Francis said with a cluck of her tongue. “Tonight she’s got him trussed up in a bow tie and a tuxedo jacket.”

“Well, it is a Halloween dance,” Katie pointed out, trying not to laugh.

“I suppose so,” Francis conceded, always wanting to be fair. “Now you go on in and have yourself a good time.”

“Thanks,” Katie said, yanking open one of the double doors to slip inside the gymnasium where it was still apparently 1941, judging from the big band sound that was wafting through the air.

The senior decorating committee had done a fine job making the gym look like a haunted house. The band was stationed on the pullout stage, several inches off the ground and at the far end of the gym. Colored spotlights of black and orange floated and crisscrossed over the band members, illuminating them in Halloween hues.

Ghosts, goblins and an assortment of other spooky creatures were grinning from the walls. A white spider web stretched high across the entire ceiling—caught in it were several black plastic spiders the size of Montana.

Along the far side of the gym a table was set up with cold refreshments and hot coffee. Along a side wall, another table was set up as a dessert buffet.

The gymnasium was packed, as usual, since most of the town showed up for the monthly seniors’ dance, not just the seniors. As usual, the females outnumbered the males by probably three to one, but a smattering of couples moved on the dance floor, while a shiny disco mirrored ball spun overhead, giving the appearance of a old-fashioned ballroom.

Katie quickly scanned the crowd, waved to Patience, who was on the dance floor doing a two-step with Leonardo, before waving and blowing a kiss to the mayor, who was engaged in a heated debate with the fire chief over at the dessert table, but it was her mother she was looking for. She finally spotted her mother and her aunt near the refreshment table.

Determined to talk to her mother and get to the bottom of this “running for mayor” business, Katie headed over.

“Mama,” Katie said, kissing her cheek.

“Katherine, dear, I’m so glad you made it.” Her mom beamed at her. “It’s a lovely evening, isn’t it, dear?”

“Yes, Mama, it is.” Katie leaned over and kissed her aunt. “Aunt Gracie.”

“Sweetheart, it’s good to see you.” Gracie looked beyond Katie. “Where’s Rusty tonight?”

“I dropped him off at Sean’s. They’re having a sleepover tonight and then Sean’s mother’s taking them to the pancake breakfast at church in the morning.”

“We’re going to the pancake breakfast in the morning, too,” Louella said with a smile, patting her perfectly coiffed hair. “So I’ll get to see my favorite grandson.”

“He’s your only grandson,” Gracie pointed out with a chuckle, waving to the librarian across the gym.

“Uh…Mama, could I talk to you for a minute?”

“Why of course.” Her mother looked puzzled. “Is something wrong, dear? You’re looking a little peaked.” Louella patted Katie’s cheek. “But that’s to be expected, dear, considering,” her mother added mysteriously. “But I don’t want you to worry. Everything is going to be fine. Eventually.”

Katie took a deep breath, counted to ten—twice—before speaking. “Mama, what are you talking about?”

Louella sighed. “Well, dear, remember last night on the phone I told you that I wanted to talk to you?”

“Yes,” Katie said carefully, surprised that her mother remembered their conversation last night.

“Well, dear, I read your astrological chart for the upcoming month, and I’m afraid you’re going to have some very trying times in the next few weeks.”

“Really?” Katie said, not in the least bit surprised, considering at the moment it was her mother who was giving her one of those trying times.

“Yes, dear.” Her mother’s brows drew together. “I’m afraid one of the men in your life is going to be quite upset with you. There’s going to be a terrible row, I’m afraid.”

“One of the men in my life?” Katie said with a lift of her brow and a chuckle. “Mama, you make it sound like I’ve got legions of men in my life.”

“Well, dear, when you think about it, you do. Your uncle, Rusty, Lucas, the mayor, Mr. Hensen—”

Katie held up her hand before her mother named every male in town. “Okay, so one of the men in my life is going to be upset with me. And there’s going to be a terrible row with him. Do you want to tell me who or why?”

“I’m afraid the ‘who,’ dear, is a bit fuzzy, but the ‘why’ is a bit clearer. It’s going to be some kind of misunderstanding I believe, causing a rift and a breach of trust.” At the alarmed look on Katie’s face, Louella sought to soothe, patting her cheek again. “But don’t worry, dear, honestly. It will all work out. Eventually,” her mother added with another delicate little frown.

Small crystals of ice had begun forming in Katie’s belly and she wondered if what happened with Rusty this afternoon, their discussion about her kissing Lucas, was what her mother had seen in her astrological chart.

The thought brought on a shiver and she realized she was overreacting. Wouldn’t she have known if he was truly upset about something? Not convinced, Katie realized there was nothing she could do about it at the moment, so for now, she’d better concentrate on her other immediate problem—her mother.

“Oh, and Katie dear, I’ll need you to reserve at least two pages of ad space for me in the Halloween issue.”

“Why?” Katie asked suspiciously and her mother smiled serenely.

“Well, dear, if I’m going to run for mayor I think an official announcement is in order, don’t you?”

Katie quickly counted to ten before speaking. “Mama, when did you decide to run for mayor. And more importantly,
why?
”

“When?” her mother repeated, bewildered. “Well, Katie dear I told you all about this. Last week. Don’t you remember, dear?” Her mother’s eyes clouded. “Didn’t I?” she asked weakly and Katie shook her head.

“No, Mama,” she said gently, touching her mother’s arm in concern. “You didn’t tell me about it. Patience told me. Francis told me, but you never told me. And I think this is too serious for us not to at least discuss. Taking on the town is a lot more difficult and demanding than running the Astrology Parlor. It’s something I think you need to seriously think about before making a firm decision.”

“Well, yes, of course, dear. But I could have sworn I told you…” Louella’s voice trailed off and her gaze went over Katie’s shoulder. “Well, for goodness sake, look at that. It’s Lucas and Rusty and Sean and, why it looks like the whole basketball team.”

“Rusty?” Katie repeated, turning around. Her jaw dropped open and she merely stared as Lucas led the boys, all of whom looked like someone had spit shined and polished them to within an inch of their lives, into the gym. Their hair was combed, and they were all dressed in white shirts and ties.

“What do you think they’re doing here, dear?”

Katie sighed. “I don’t know, Mama, but let’s go find out.”

With her mother and her aunt trailing in her wake, Katie made her way through the crowd of dancers to the other side of the gym where Lucas and the boys were standing like soldiers on sentry.

“Lucas,” she said, glancing at her son who was grinning from ear to ear. “I suppose there is a very good reason why you and the boys are here?”

He smiled at her, then leaned forward to kiss her mother and her aunt hello before bringing his gaze back to hers.

“There is, Katie. Do you remember the morning I dropped off Rusty’s time capsule? When your mother asked me if I could…uh…use my position as police chief to sort of find some more male escorts for the seniors’ dance since the women always outnumbered the men?”

“Yeah,” Katie said carefully. “I remember.”

“Well, I’d like you to meet the new escorts.” He turned toward the boys who were all desperately trying not to fidget.

“It’s a community service project, Ma,” Rusty said with a careless shrug. “For the town,” he added. “And don’t worry, we all learned how to dance.”

“Dance?” Katie repeated, a bit shocked. “You learned how to dance?”

“Yeah,” Rusty said, craning his neck and fiddling with his tie. “Lucas taught us.” He shrugged. “He said all men need to know how to dance. And besides, everyone who is part of the town should volunteer to do what they can to help others, using whatever special skills they got. Lucas says everyone has special skills and they should use them to help others. You know, like Mrs. Cushing gives free music lessons and stuff.” Rusty cast another admiring glance at Lucas, as he recited almost verbatim what Lucas had told him. “It’s called being a good citizen.”

“A good citizen?” Katie repeated, pride swamping her. “I’m very proud of you, sweetheart,” she said, forgetting that all his friends were standing right there watching as she leaned over to kiss him.

“Ma!” Rearing back, Rusty raised his hands to block her. “You can’t kiss me,” he hissed in horror, turning beet red and glancing back at the guys. “No kissing me in public, remember?”

“Oh, yeah, I’m sorry,” she said, trying not to grin. “I forgot. But I’m still very proud of you.”

“Yeah, thanks, Ma,” Rusty mumbled, terrified she was going to try to kiss him again. Awkwardly, he stepped toward Louella and held out his arms. “Uh…Grandma, do you wanna…like…uh…dance or something?”

“Oh, dear, yes, I’d love to dance.” Louella’s eyes swam and she clapped her hands in delight. “This is just wonderful. Absolutely wonderful, Lucas.” She leaned up on tiptoe to kiss Lucas’s cheek. “I must confess I do believe I’m in falling love with you,” Louella teased and Katie merely sighed. She knew the feeling.

“You look beat,” Lucas whispered in Katie’s ear as they slowly made their way around the dance floor as the dance finally wound down. They were moving to the strains of an old forties ballad that had made Katie feel both warm and nostalgic.

“I am,” she admitted, lazily glancing up at him with a smile. His arms were comfortable around her, lulling her into a lethargic state. “After you left last night I couldn’t really sleep knowing the boys were outside in the clubhouse.” She shrugged at his lifted brow. “Yeah, I know they were safe and sound asleep, but I was just worried about them being outside all night.”

“Mother’s prerogative,” he said simply, smiling down at her as he pulled her a bit closer until her body was pressed the length of his. He could feel his blood begin to stir and his mind to cloud just having her near. Holding her so close, he could smell her, that lingering sultry scent that had been driving him mad since the moment he met her.

“After the boys finally left this morning, I cleaned the house a bit, then worked on the Halloween edits.” She stifled a yawn. “I worked until it was time to come to the dance.”

“And are you working after the dance?” Lucas asked glancing down at her. Her mouth was only inches from his, and if he leaned forward just a bit, he could brush his mouth against hers. Fearing he might do just that Lucas struggled to keep his mind on their conversation and his feelings in check.

Katie shook her head. “I thought I might, but to tell you the truth, I’m too tired. I actually think I’m going to take the night off, or rather what’s left of it,” she added with a laugh, realizing it was almost ten o’clock. “Rusty’s staying overnight at Sean’s, so I thought I’d just get one good full night’s sleep and start back in on the edits in the morning. After I deal with my mother.”

“Your mother? What’s wrong with your mother?” he asked drawing back to look at her as the song ended. Keeping his hand around her waist, he guided her to the side of the dance floor and out of the way of the other dancers.

“She’s decided to run for mayor,” she said, trying not to scowl.

“Mayor?” Lucas shook his head, confused. “But Katie, I thought you said since your mom’s stroke she’s had trouble with her short term memory. Can she really handle running the town?”

“No,” Katie said with a laugh. “But I guess someone forgot to tell Mama that. I don’t think she really wants to
be
mayor, I think this has something to do with Mayor Hannity. Something personal. He and Mama have been ‘keeping company,’ as she says, for almost twenty years now, and apparently they recently had some kind of falling out, and the next thing I know, Mama’s decided to run for his job.”

“Ahh, so that’s how it is.” He kept his hand at her waist, unwilling to let her go, aware that they were standing in full view of most of the town. “Want me to nose around the mayor and see what I can find out?” he asked, as the band announced the last song of the evening.