Fran Rizer - Callie Parrish 06 - A Corpse Under the Christmas Tree (20 page)

It took a minute for that to register. I couldn’t picture that little infant being called “Pork Chop.” The huge man seemed to read my mind. He laughed.

“They named him Edward. That’s my middle name. Full name is Richard Edward Higgins. Before I started raising hogs, people called me Rick—Rick Higgins, but I told Billy Wayne I’d rather they name the baby Edward. He liked that and said they’ll call him Eddie.”

“Nice to meet you, Rick,” I said and reached across the table to shake his hand.

“Same here.” His handshake was surprisingly gentle.

We both looked up when Rizzie spoke, though I don’t think either of us had noticed her approaching our table bringing me a glass of sweet iced tea.

“Some of us are going over to Kenny B’s when I close,” she said. “Would either of you like to go with us? Nobody’s dating, just a group of friends celebrating the beginning of a new year.”

My mind immediately bounced to Jeff Morgan. “Rizzie, please don’t go out and drink tonight. You know I’ve worked on people in my work room because they drank and drove, and it’s raining. The roads are wet.”

“We’re just going to dance and celebrate. Nobody’s planning to get drunk, but just in case, we’re not letting anyone who’s had even
one
beer drive. We’re taking Ty as the designated driver.”

“Tyrone doesn’t have a driver’s license. He’s only fifteen.”

“Callie, Callie, Callie, Ty’s my brother. I know how old he is, but I also know he’s been driving on Surcie Island since he was ten years old, and he’s a better driver than most of us are when we’re sober—and certainly a safer choice than anyone who’s been drinking.” Rizzie chuckled. “We’ll be safe. Do either of you want to go?”

Pork Chop spoke up. “Thanks for the invite, but I’m going to bed early. Gotta get up at dawn and do all the farm chores since my kids went to their Mee Maw’s with my wife.”

I almost agreed to go with Rizzie, but considering the mood I was in, I’d probably put a damper on everyone’s spirits. Maybe, just maybe, Patel would call.

“No, thanks, I have plans for later.” Okay, I told another lie—two in one day. Sometimes so-called white lies are kindnesses. Knowing Rizzie, if she’d realized how sorry for myself I felt, she’d have worried about me, and I would have ruined her evening. One of my talents is rationalizing.

“Okay,” Rizzie answered, “if either of you change your minds, just come on to Kenny B’s. What do you want to eat, Callie? I’ve got to get back to the kitchen.”

“Surprise me, but pack it to go. I’m taking it with me.” Seeing the look of sympathy on her face, I added, “Make it two.” I could always put one of the plates in the freezer for another time, and Rizzie wouldn’t feel sorry for me being alone on New Year’s Eve.

“I’ll pack you two dinners to go, but I’m trying something new—Gee Three Shrimp Sliders. I’ll bring you a sample to eat here while I get your plates together. I’m checking out a new cook, too.”

“Sure.” I turned my attention back to Pork Chop. “Did you say your whole family’s out of town?”

“Yes, my wife took all the kids to see her mom in Georgia. My mother-in-law hasn’t been feeling well, and those nine grandchildren always lift her spirits.”

“I don’t see how you do it. I taught kindergarten and had about fifteen in my class, but nine at home all the time sounds like a busy, busy household.”

“It is busy and it’s fun. The older ones help out taking care of the younger ones as well as lending lots of hands with chores. You’ll have to come over to our house when my wife is home. When you see how great a big family is, you’ll be wanting to get married and have a house full of kids yourself.”

“No, thanks.” He looked puzzled at my response. “Oh, I don’t mean no thanks on the visit. Just on getting married and having children, and my family isn’t exactly small. I have five brothers.”

“Why don’t you want to be married?”

“I tried it once and it didn’t work out. I don’t think I’ll ever meet the right man.”

“You will, and when you meet him, you’ll recognize he’s the right one.”

Just then, Tyrone set plates in front of both of us. Pork Chop’s was a platter full of rolls with a side of sweet potato fries and a side of bacon. Mine was a smaller dish with one roll and a scoop of Rizzie’s pasta salad that I like so much.

“These are Rizzie’s new Gee Three
Shrimp Sliders,” Tyrone said. “Look inside.”

I lifted the top part of the roll and saw fried shrimp topped with lettuce, tomato, onion, and remoulade sauce. Now, part of my love for po boys is that crusty sub loaf bread they’re made on, but this slider was perfect, just perfect, on that soft dinner roll.

“What do you think?” Pork Chop asked.

“Scrumptious!”

“They were my idea. Little hamburgers made on rolls sell well in the chain restaurants. They call them hamburger sliders. I suggested shrimp sliders to Rizzie, and here we are eating the first batch of them. My wife’s been cooking those hamburger sliders for years. She calls ’em baby burgers and fixes them for our little ones. Of course, at my house, we use ground pork instead of beef for hamburgers.” He noticed my staring at his plate, picked up a slice of bacon, and said, “Bacon—definitely not good for the heart, but sometimes it’s good for the soul.”

“I like to hear you tell about your family. Your eyes light up, and you look happy when you talk about them. Doesn’t it make you sad that they’re all gone and not with you on New Year’s Eve?”

“Every day is a new day of life, so it’s always New Year’s for me. I miss my family, but it pleases me for the ones I love to be happy and to bring joy to the ones they love, and believe you me, my young’uns love their Mee Maw in Georgia.” His expression changed to slight embarrassment. “I hope that doesn’t make you think of me as sappy.”

“Not at all. I think it makes you wonderful, and I’m glad to get to know you, Mr. Rick Higgins.” Perfect timing. Ty set a plastic bag with two Styrofoam food trays inside on the table.

“What’s in them?” I asked him.

“Yahd bud
.
”
He grinned as if I wouldn’t understand, but I’m well aware that “yard bird” is Gullah for chicken.

“Happy New Year, Callie,” Pork Chop said and winked. “Trust me. When the right man comes along, you’ll know it.”

• • •

The rain had stopped when I put the bag of food on the passenger seat and slid under the steering wheel. It wasn’t late, and I wasn’t in any particular hurry to go home. The thought of my apartment without Big Boy saddened me and gave me an idea. I called the animal ER in Beaufort.

“Kirk’s Animal Emergency Medical Services,” a young female voice answered.

“Is this an answering service?” I asked.

“No, I’m here at the vet’s.”

“This is Callie Parrish. I brought my dog in this morning and the vet said he has to spend the night. I was wondering how he’s doing.”

“The black and white Great Dane?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“He’s resting, but the doctor has added antibiotics to his IV fluids.”

“When can I see him?”

“You can see your dog any time you come here. We’re open twenty-four hours a day.”

“Then I’m coming to see him now.”

“We’ll be right here.”

The drive into Beaufort took less than twenty minutes. The young lady I’d spoken to on the telephone asked, “Are you the Great Dane’s owner?” when I walked in.

“Yes, I’m Callie Parrish.”

“Doctor Kirk wants to speak with you, but I’ll take you back to see your dog first.”

Big Boy was sleeping, but he looked comfortable even with the IV needle in him. I petted his back for a while before the veterinarian came to my side.

“Beautiful animal, Ms. Parrish, absolutely beautiful.”

“Do you know what’s wrong with him?”

“He has an infection and an electrolyte imbalance, but we’re taking care of both of those problems.”

“He looks peaceful.”

“He became a little agitated, probably missing you, and since I’d already inserted the IV for fluids and antibiotics, I added a little something to keep him calm and comfortable. He should sleep all night, and if he doesn’t, someone will be here to care for him. Why don’t you call in the morning? We can tell you then how he does through the night.”

On my way out, both Dr. Kirk and the young lady called, “Happy New Year’s.”

I left the vet’s with a smile on my face. I’d still be alone at home on New Year’s Eve, but I felt so much better knowing that Big Boy was resting well and receiving good treatment.

During the ride from Beaufort to St. Mary, James Brown blasted out of my bra singing “I Feel Good,” and for a moment, I was positive, absolutely sure that it would be Patel. I hope Otis didn’t hear my sigh when he said, “Hello, Callie. I’m sorry to interrupt your festivities, and I know we told you to take all day off tomorrow, but could you come in for a few hours late tomorrow afternoon?”

“No problem. Do we have someone new?”

“Not really new. Odell and I examined Patsy Corley carefully, and we think with some extreme reconstruction that can be covered with cosmetic hair, we can make her look presentable for her mother. Mrs. Corley was very upset thinking that the casket would have to be closed. Odell and I will do the rebuilding, but we want you here on makeup.”

“I can come in. Daddy usually serves holiday dinners later than regular lunches, so we’ll probably eat between one and two. What if I come over around four o’clock?”

“I think that will be fine, but phone first. If what Odell and I think we can do doesn’t work, we won’t need you.”

“What about Amber Buchanan and Snake Rodgers?”

“They’re here, but we won’t be doing any prepping until law enforcement releases those bodies. Mrs. Rodgers called and said she’d talk with the sheriff and see when she can make arrangements for Eugene.”

“I’ll call you tomorrow.”

Before he said, “goodbye,” Odell said, “Happy New Year.”

Dalmation!
I knew people meant well, but I was sick and tired of hearing those three words.

Heavy rain began again about the time I reached home, but the dinners were in a plastic bag, so I ran to the front porch without worrying about the trays getting wet. That Gee Three Shrimp Slider had tasted great, but I was really hungry after going to Beaufort. I put one of the dinners in the fridge and set the other on my kitchen table.

Rizzie—or her new cook, whoever had prepared my plates—had outdone herself. The “yard bird” was yummy pan-fried chicken smothered in spicy gravy. The sides were sweet potato pone and a special okra dish Rizzie created.

Once more, I pressed the key to speed-dial Patel. This time there was an answer, but it wasn’t his voice.

“The voice mail for the number you’ve reached is full.”

My emotions rocked from anger to worry and back again. Why was he ignoring me? Was it by choice or had something happened to him?

What should I do? I definitely didn’t want to watch any New Year’s Eve shows and I had no interest in seeing the ball drop in New York. I love to read, especially mysteries. That used to be all I read. They’re like puzzles and I enjoy trying to figure out who-done-it before the end of the books. Recently, I’ve read some sci fi and fantasy as well as a ghost anthology, but bottom line is that mysteries are still my favorites. I’ll read anything by Janet Evanovich or Mary Higgins Clark as soon as it’s available. I like Ann Rule’s true crime books, too, but I hadn’t thought to buy a book on my way home.

My spare bedroom is piled high with books on the floor, on the bed, and on every other piece of furniture in there. I went looking for a novel that had been so good I wanted to read it again. The sight of my rumpled laundry where I’d found Big Boy so sick that morning made me sad. I finally chose Beth Groundwater’s
Fatal Descent.
I considered gathering up the clothes Big Boy had slept on. I’d thrown them on the bed planning to fold them later. Now they’d have to be rewashed, but my daddy always said, “Don’t wash on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day. It’s bad luck.”

I’m not overly superstitious, but that sounded like an excellent reason not to bother with laundry that night. I noticed a box of candles beside the bed. I’d bought them in case the power went off sometime. Now I had a better idea. I took them into the kitchen and lit one. I dripped candle wax on half a dozen saucers and stuck a candle in each puddle. Then I carried all seven candles to the bathroom, set them around, and turned out the light. I’m normally a shower person who uses peach scented body wash and shampoo, but a package of Japanese Milky White Rose bath salts that my niece Megan gave me for my birthday had been in the cabinet for six months. I emptied the whole thing into my tub of almost hot water.

Many things in life give me pleasure, and reading in the bathtub is one of them. The candles gave me just enough light. I dropped my clothes on the floor and climbed into the tub, carefully holding my book above my head until I was settled into the silky, smooth water. Every time it cooled off, I added more hot water. I thought about what Pork Chop said. For the first time that day, instead of feeling sorry for myself and a little jealous of everyone else, I was glad that my family and friends were having good times. I said a little prayer for their safety and went back to reading my book. A man in my life wasn’t necessary for my world to be good.