One Dog Too Many (A Mae December Mystery) (25 page)

“Robin isn’t the type. She’s only being a protective older sister.”

“Well, she might be protective in a
motherly way, but you definitely need to look into her alibi for the time of the murder. The maternal instinct tends to supersede anything else. As for Laura, can you find out whether or not she was taking her meds at the time Ruby was killed? Would her doctor tell you whether her episodes of rage are periodic?”

“It’s hard to get doctors to tell us anything, but I’ll try. Thanks, Dad. Very helpful. We’ll definitely look into all of this. How did you get so smart, old man?”

“Probably from hanging around your mother. When are you going to the cabin again?”

“As soon as we wrap up this case, I’m outta here.”

“Good. That’s a healthier way to relieve stress than punching cinderblocks.”

Ben finished his beer, thanked his dad and aimed his truck for home. He dreaded telling Mae about Katie and the boy, but now he had a better feel for Ruby’s case.

His hand throbbed all the way home.
Better take some aspirin, moron
.

M
ae called Ben to let him know she’d be getting ready at Birdy’s, and he asked her to meet him at his house. She could leave her car at his house and they could ride to the fundraiser together. He sounded a bit rushed.

“I know you’re busy. I’ll let you go. See you at seven,” Mae said.

“Hold on. I think I know what denim and pearls attire means, but I wanted to double-check.”

She laughed. “I think it’s open to interpretation. For you, it means nice jeans, a button-down shirt and a blazer. With cowboy boots if you have any.”

“Thanks, Mae. That’s what I thought. I’ll see you tonight.”

Tammy had once been a makeup artist as well as a hairstylist. She’d helped Mae get ready for countless events in her life, so Mae knew the drill. Tammy always wanted her to shower, have her nails done and arrive at
Birdy’s with wet hair and at least two outfits. She would then style her hair, do her makeup and tell Mae which outfit was best. Mae was always amazed at how glamorous Tammy made her look. She thought Ben might be pleasantly surprised, having seen her mostly in sweats or jeans.

When Tammy finished working her magic, Mae left the salon, drove to Ben’s house and parked on the street. Ben lived in Neely’s Grove, one of the oldest sections of town. Most of the houses were shotgun style, with picket fences and front porches that sat close to the street. Ben’s place was no exception. The house was charming and the exterior paint colors were striking with tobacco brown siding, barn-red trim and dark gold accents. Ben stepped out onto the porch and waved.

“Do we have time for a tour?” Mae walked up the steps.

Ben stared at her. “You look amazing.”

“I have Tammy to thank.” She smiled. “I can’t achieve this look on my own.”

Taking Mae’s hand, Ben pulled her in close. “It’s probably a good thing. You’re distracting enough on a normal day. Tonight you look good enough to eat.” He brushed his lips against the side of her neck and she shivered. He took her arm and they walked inside.

“I’d love to see your house. Would you give me that tour now?”

“Would you like a glass of wine first?”

“I would.” Mae smiled and kissed him. “I like your roper boots. I’d love a glass of whatever you’re having.”

They walked through the front room, a living room/study combination and
then into the kitchen. “Did you see my Malone painting?” He pointed to a small canvas, a wintry landscape that hung next to his pantry door.

“That’s a nice one.” Mae smiled.

Ben poured two glasses of Pinot noir and handed one to Mae.

“Mae, we need to talk.” The whole house seemed too quiet. Something was wrong. Ben looked tired, and there was a large dressing on his right hand.

“Sure. We can talk, but show me the house first, will you?”

She was stalling. She didn’t want to know what Ben wanted to talk about.

“The bedroom and bath are down the hall, and there’s a sleeping porch over there.” He gestured toward the back of the house. “There were two bedrooms, but I combined them. That way there was space for a bigger bathroom and a closet.”

They walked through the bedroom and down the short hallway. The bath and closet were opposite each other. Beyond them was the screened-in sleeping porch with an inviting looking daybed. Ben sat down and patted the cushion beside him.

“This looks like the best place in the world to take a nap.” Mae sat down next to him. “I love this porch.”

“Me, too. I sleep out here every night in the spring and fall.” He smiled at her, but his voice was flat, and the smile didn’t reach his eyes.

She raised her glass to him. “To a man with style. This house is great.” They sat together quietly for a while, sipping their wine. Finally, Mae took a deep breath. “What did you want to talk about?”

“Mae.” He stopped, as if trying hard to find the words. “You know that I used to be engaged to a woman named Katie Hudson?”

“Yes. I’ve heard that.”

“My mother called me yesterday morning to tell me she’s in town. She’s divorced. The marriage didn’t work out. She has a son now, named Matthew.”

Mae swallowed hard. “Have you seen her?”

“Yes.” Her heart plummeted. “I didn’t want to, Mae. She came by the office this afternoon. She wanted to tell me about her son.”

“How old is he?” Mae tried hard not to cry. She knew where this was going. “Is he yours?”

“I don’t know.” He paused. “He might be.”

“How did this happen? I thought she married a doctor.”

“She did, but the baby was born about nine months later. It’s possible she was already pregnant when she left on the trip to Guatemala.” Ben looked at her. Mae’s eyes stung.

She stood up, intending to walk out of the house, but he stopped her.

“Mae, I have no feelings left for Katie. She betrayed me. Please don’t go. I’ve really been looking forward to this evening. Can we try to go and have a good time?”

She felt empty and lost. Ben might say he didn’t have feelings for the woman, but she knew this wasn’t over for him.
I’m all dressed up with no place to go
. Mae was unsteady and sat back down on the daybed.

They sipped their wine quietly for a minute. All Mae wanted to do was to go home, crawl under her quilt and cry.

“Please, Mae?” Miserable as she felt, she nodded.

Ben and Mae went inside to the kitchen and put their glasses in the sink. Ben put his arm around her waist and ushered her out the front door. He locked up and they walked out to his truck. He opened her door and she climbed in.

“Do you know where the Chapmans live?” Mae struggled to regain some vestige of her upbeat party mood.

“Yes, a burglary was called in there last year and I did the investigation. It’s a really nice place.”

“Jill’s kids went to the school they’re raising the funds for when they were younger, and she always throws a big party for the event. Her husband opens up their wonderful barn and she and her band perform after dinner.”

“What’s so great about the barn?”

“It’s the ultimate Man Cave. Kind of like your F-150. You’ll love it.” The interior of his truck had been done in beautifully appointed leather.

“What, my two thousand thirteen King Ranch F-150?” He glanced at her shyly. “This old thing? I’ve owned it for oh, I don’t know, two weeks?”

He grinned like a little boy. Mae smiled back. Ben reached across the seat with his bandaged hand and she let him hold her hand all the way to the fundraiser.

A
fter Mae left Birdy’s Salon, Tammy cleaned up the makeup area and gathered together her brushes and Mae’s clothes. Stuffing everything into a tote bag and grabbing her purse, she paused and checked herself in the mirror. She had spent the last hour beautifying her friend and now she had an important errand to run. She needed to look good, but not so incredibly fabulous that he’d wonder what she was up to. She smiled at her reflection. Tammy was a believer in rigorous maintenance. At times like this, her philosophy paid off. She’d gotten a brow wax, manicure, and pedicure last week. Yesterday, she had touched up her roots and her hair was a uniform silver blonde. Having put in a full day at Local Love, she knew her makeup was slightly smudged. Her hair was a little flat. Perfect. She was ready.

She walked out
side, locking the salon door behind her. It was a beautiful spring evening. After the warm, perfumed air of the salon, the light breeze cooled her face. She took a deep appreciative sniff—honeysuckle, definitely. Better make sure he’s home. She sent him a quick “Call me” text. The phone buzzed, and Patrick’s picture came up on the screen.

“Hello.”

“Hey there, where’re you at?”

“Just leaving the salon.” Tammy smiled. “What about you?”

“I’m on my way home. Do you want to get a bite to eat?”

Perfect. Tammy smiled again. “I’d love to. I’m starving. Can you meet me at C.C.’s?”

“The wine bar? Do they have any food?”

“They have lots of appetizers and small plates. Sandwiches, too.”

“I’ll see you there in about ten minutes.”

“Good. I’ll grab a table for us. Bye, Patrick.”

C.C.’s was only a few blocks away from the salon so she decided to walk. The alley was dark.
I’ll have to call the City Administrator’s office again tomorrow and get them out here to look at the streetlight
. She hurried around the corner and down to the wine bar. Like many of the businesses in this section of Rosedale, the wine bar was in a re-purposed old house. Painted a soft plum with gray and cream accents, the Victorian building was now a gathering place for single people who’d outgrown the nightclub scene. Tammy was glad to see an empty table on the veranda. She walked up the wide front steps and through the open door.

“Hey, C.C.,” she greeted the owner at the hostess stand. “Are you serving outside tonight?”

“Hi there.” With sleek dark hair falling to her waist and a trendy wardrobe, the California transplant looked years younger than her actual age of fifty-three. She smiled at Tammy. “Grab any table you like. Are you flying solo tonight?”

Tammy shook her head. “I’m meeting someone.”

“I’ll send a server out in a few minutes then.”

Settling herself at her favorite table, Tammy took a deep breath. Patrick would arrive soon. She wasn’t sure how to handle this, but she needed to clear the air. She gazed at the metal tabletop, lost in thought.

“Earth to Tammy.”

She looked up with a start, right into his clear blue eyes. He had managed to slide into his seat without her even noticing. “I like you, Patrick and I don’t know what to do about it,” she blurted out.

He frowned. “What’re you talking about?”

She felt the heat in her face. “I sound like a second-grader. Maybe I should’ve punched your arm and run away. That’d be more mature.”

He chewed his lip.
Oh God, was he trying not to laugh?

“Do you mean you
like me like me?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I mean.” Tammy bit her words off. Her cheeks flamed with the humiliation.

Patrick laughed.

Tammy kicked his shin as hard as she could under the table. “It’s not funny!”

He reached across the table and grabbed her hands. “Look at me, you crazy girl. It is funny. Do you want to know why?”

She
looked at him without answering.

“I’ll take that as a yes. I ‘like’ you, too, Tammy. I’ve wanted to ask you out for almost two years.”

“Why didn’t you?”

“I thought you’d say no.”

Tammy looked at her hands.

Patrick squeezed them tightly.

Tammy stood up, walked around the table and sat down in his lap. “You’re right,” she whispered in his ear. “I would’ve said no then, but if you ask me tonight, I’m going to say yes.” She kissed his ear. “I’m only worried about telling Mae we’re
…”

Patrick wrapped his arms around her. Turning his face so their lips almost touched, he looked directly into her eyes. “Together? Are we going to be a couple? I won’t just be a fling for you.”

Tammy nodded. “I want us to be a couple, Patrick, but it might upset Mae. I don’t want to break up the Three Musketeers.”

He kissed her lightly. “Where is Mae tonight?”

Tammy laughed. “On a date with Ben. Getting on with her life.”

The server set two wineglasses in front of them. “Should I bring menus?”

“Sure.” Patrick’s eyes never left Tammy’s face. The door banged shut behind the server. Patrick kissed her again, a little more intensely.

She enthusiastically kissed him back.

He sighed deeply and pulled his lips away. “We should probably get on with our lives, too. If you don’t want to tell her right away, I’m okay with that. As long as you and I know, I don’t care who else does.”

“That’s a good idea.” Tammy nodded her head in approval. “We’ll have to figure out the right way to tell her. I’ll know when the time is right.” She stood up. “Are you still hungry?”

“Not really.”

Tammy took his hands and pulled. “C’mon, let’s go.”

He jumped up, throwing a ten dollar bill on the table. They left the verandah, going down the side stairs, and out to Patrick’s car. Tammy laughed when she heard the server say, “Where’d they go?”

“Sorry,” Tammy yelled. “Something came up.”