The Path of the Crooked (Hope Street Church Mysteries Book 1) (20 page)

“Cool!” The boy was clearly impressed. “You’re like a robot!”

“Brandon!” The teacher turned from the machine. “Hush now. You come over here and press the green start button for me. Can you find the green button?”

Brandon was too short to see the keypad, so his teacher lifted him into the air. As soon as he pressed the appropriate button and the copier shuddered to life, the boy focused on Cooper again.

“I didn’t know girls used tools.” Brandon pointed at Cooper’s toolbox. “I’m going to tell my mommy that she can fix stuff. She always makes Daddy do everything, but he won’t if he’s watching football.”

The teacher nudged Brandon toward the hall and flashed Cooper an apologetic grin. “Kindergartners. No filters at all.”

Cooper smiled. “But they’re so cute. Bye, Brandon.”

Back in the front office, Cooper asked the secretary if they had budgeted for a new copier for the following school year.

“I don’t think so,” the woman said, her voice filled with concern. “We were hoping that one would survive one more year.”

“It won’t last that long. You’ve got six months tops.” Cooper smoothed the paperwork attached to her clipboard. “It’s given everything it’s got. Next time I come back, I’ll have to piece it together with duct tape.”

The woman sighed. “If only we got a fraction of the budget the government spends on frivolities,” she began and then stopped herself. “Thanks for letting me know. How about the laminator?”

“Oh, that’s fine. Temperamental, but good to go for a few more years or so,” Cooper replied.

“That’s how most folks would describe me!” The secretary laughed and led Cooper out.

• • •

As planned, the Make It Work! employees ordered a takeout lunch from Five Guys Burgers and Fries. In the break room, an expectant Angela nibbled on a grilled cheese while watching Ben pack away a mammoth bacon cheeseburger and a mountain of Cajun fries. Cooper and Stuart each had a cheeseburger with extra pickles but shared an order of fries, as one serving was copious enough to fill both of their stomachs.

“I thought you were trying to gain muscle weight, Ben,” Angela teased. “That kind of lunch will only give you a spare tire and a heart attack sometime down the road.”

Ben ripped off a chunk of his burger with his front teeth and then, with exaggerated gusto, shoved four fries in his mouth at once. Cooper and Angela exchanged worried glances. Ben seemed to have become more and more moody over the past two months. It was getting to the point that no one knew how to have a conversation with him anymore.

“Hey, what’s with you, man?” Stuart asked while drowning a French fry in a paper cup filled with catsup. “You’ve been, like, all bummed out lately. What gives?”

“I’m just hungry.” Ben offered an unconvincing smile and then amended his answer. “It’s my wife. I’m worried about her, but I don’t want to bring her problems to this table. There’s not enough room, so let’s change the subject, okay?”

“So,” Angela said a bit too brightly and turned her assessing gaze away from Ben. “Where’s Mr. Farmer? Off pickin’ up a Chippendale dancer for my surprise?”

Her coworkers smirked.

“Now,
that
would be interesting!” Stuart snorted. “Can you see our boss driving over here with a stripper? Trying to make small talk?”

“I could see it happening if the stripper read
Popular Mechanics
,” Ben quipped, displaying traits of his old self. “The two of them could talk about nanoprocessors as the dancer slathered himself with oil.”

Angela checked her watch. “There’s only five minutes left on our lunch break, so y’all
must
have somethin’ going on. I really don’t know what it is this year.”

Cooper got up from the table in the employee kitchen and threw out her trash. “All we have going on is work. I’m off to service the medical center’s machines. Got lenses to clean and toner to change. See you guys.”

“See you!” Stuart called back as he maneuvered the rest of the fries closer.

Angela opened her mouth to speak, but her red lips closed again, pulling down into a severe frown.

She’s the one who wanted to be surprised,
Cooper thought and hoped that Angela’s anguish would be alleviated by the late-afternoon celebration.

Cooper had little time to worry about Angela as she serviced fax machines and copiers in a beehive of doctors’ offices. She was so busy that she was almost late to Angela’s party. As prearranged, Stuart, Ben, and Mr. Farmer prepared Angela’s birthday surprise in the back of one of the company vans. Cooper screeched into a parking space and joined them, slightly out of breath.

“Tell me what you think.” Her boss led her to another van, which was parked beneath the shade of a blooming pear tree. Soft white petals drifted through the air and created a fragrant carpet on top of the warm asphalt. Mr. Farmer had opened both of the rear doors and tied pink balloons to the handles. Inside, on a pink vinyl tablecloth, he had put Angela’s one-of-a-kind cake and an enormous bouquet of pink roses on display. Several fuchsia candles burned on either side of the cake and Cooper detected the scent of cotton candy.

“Mr. Farmer, that cake is amazing!” Cooper exclaimed. The large sheet cake was covered with a photo of Marilyn Monroe as she appeared in
Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.
Wearing a pink satin dress, pink satin gloves, and chunky diamond necklace, this Marilyn had been given Angela’s face. The photo image, created using edible icing, or so Mr. Farmer assured them, was framed with dozens and dozens of miniature pink roses. It was truly a work of art.

“How can we cut that?” Stuart looked worried. “It would be kind of gross to eat a piece of Angela’s face. Still, I could polish off a few of those roses.” He clapped their boss on the back. “Good work, Mr. Farmer. I only got her an old lunch box.”

“I got her a teddy bear dressed like Marilyn.” Ben held out the charming bear dressed in a white pleated gown and frowned. “’Course my wife accused me of cheating on her when she saw the bear in my car, so Angela better like it.”

Mr. Farmer shifted uncomfortably. “Ah . . . what did you get her?” he asked Cooper.

“Some Lucite bracelets to add to her vintage costume jewelry collection.” Suddenly, Cooper heard the noise of Angela’s heels approaching. “Here she comes, guys. Let’s hide.”

Ben and Mr. Farmer ducked behind one of the van’s doors. Cooper hid a few feet away, her back pressed against the side of the van.

“Angela!” Stuart called frantically and gestured for Angela to come closer. “I backed into a car with my van! What am I going to do? I’m in huge trouble, right?”

Angela’s face creased in motherly concern as she hurried over. “Are you okay?”

“
I
am, but I don’t know if
you’re
going to be, considering you’re another year older . . .” Stuart began.

“Surprise!” the others shouted as they popped out from behind the van door.

“It’s a movie-star-themed birthday!” Mr. Farmer declared and handed Angela the gift bag stuffed with colorful tissue. “Those are DVDs.
The Seven Year Itch
,
Niagara
, and
How to Marry a Millionaire.
I wasn’t sure what you had already . . .”

“Oh, my stars!” Angela cried joyfully as she accepted the bag and peered into the van. “Will you get a load of that cake? How did you guys get someone to bake something so absolutely
perfect
?”

“Wasn’t us,” Ben said. “The boss man took charge of this year’s party.”

In a rush of gratitude, Angela planted a kiss on Mr. Farmer’s lips, leaving traces of red lipstick around his mouth. Stunned, he cleared his throat and said, “Open your gifts, Angela.”

Twittering with excitement, Angela tore open packages and squealed over each present. After taking scores of photos with Angela’s cell phone, they all consumed a large piece of lemon pound cake with strawberry butter-cream frosting. After they’d eaten, Mr. Farmer produced a bottle of champagne from a cooler and poured out glasses for his employees.

“Just enough to soak your mustaches,” he said. “To the heart of our company. To Angela. Our very own rose.” Tears sprang into Angela’s eyes as she saluted her friends with her plastic tumbler. “You did it! You surprised me, all right!” She dabbed at her eyes with a pink napkin. “I was actually beginning to think you forgot about me.”

“Never!” shouted Stuart and Cooper.

“Not us,” added Ben.

Mr. Farmer added a tiny splash to Angela’s cup and said, “Not possible, Angela. You’re unforgettable.”

Cooper had never seen Angela so happy.

• • •

Driving home, Cooper felt a little glum. She was glad to have shared Angela’s joyful moment, but the celebration had also reminded her that she might be alone on her next birthday and possibly for many birthdays after that.

“Home Depot stop,” Cooper said to her reflection. “The handle on my screwdriver’s cracked, after all.” Strolling down the power tool aisle, Cooper paused at the section where the drill bits were displayed. This was the exact spot where she’d met Drew over five years ago, and despite herself, the memory of their meeting flooded her mind.

She’d been reaching for the last DeWalt 28-piece drill-bit set when her hand brushed his. “Sorry!” he’d said. “Did you want those?”

She’d smiled and said, “I can get the Bosch set.”

“No, take the DeWalt. I insist.” Drew had gazed at her with those stormy gray-blue eyes and he’d smiled at her like they’d known each other forever. “I know I’m being nosy, but are the bits for you or someone else?”

“For me,” Cooper had said. “I’m helping my dad build a garden fence.”

“I’m making bookshelves. One of my bits turned to dust when I started drilling the concrete floor instead of the screw. That’s what I get for watching
SportsCenter
while I’m working.” He’d paused and run a hand through his wavy hair. “Listen, I don’t normally hit on beautiful women in Home Depot, but would you like to grab an Italian sausage with me? There’s a kiosk right outside the front door so you can easily ditch me if you want.”

Cooper’s heart had fluttered. This charming, gorgeous man wanted to have lunch with her!

“I’d love to,” she’d said. And that had been the beginning of many meals and many smiles.

“May I help you, miss?” a Home Depot employee wearing an orange apron inquired helpfully, breaking Cooper’s reverie.

“No, thanks.” She held up the screwdriver she planned to purchase. “This is all I need.”

As Cooper turned the corner at the end of the aisle, she came face-to-face with the man of her daydream. There, right in front of her, was Drew. Only he wasn’t alone. A petite redhead with porcelain skin and wide, ocean-blue eyes held his arm.

Drew saw Cooper and paled at the sight of her. Then, without breaking eye contact, he pulled Anna Lynne toward Cooper and formally introduced them as though they were at a cocktail party.

Cooper shook hands with Anna Lynne, who smiled warmly and said, “I’ve heard wonderful things about you. It’s nice to put a face to the name.”

Too dumbfounded to respond, Cooper looked back at Drew, who also seemed to be at a loss for words. “Are you doing okay?” he asked after several seconds of awkward silence.

“Yeah, I’m good,” she murmured, longing to escape from the one person who’d been her whole world for so many years. She was shocked over how painful it was to see him with Anna Lynne. Yet here she stood, exchanging meaningless small talk while the fissures in her heart threatened to crack it into pieces.

“I’m glad I ran into you. It gives me the chance to tell you in person.” Drew spoke rapidly. “Um, Anna Lynne and I are engaged.”

“Drew,” Anna Lynne cautioned. “No woman wants to hear that about her ex. Not like this.” She turned a sympathetic glance on Cooper. “I’m sorry. We really should get going, but it was really nice to have met you.”

Anna Lynne began to pull Drew away, but he reached out to squeeze Cooper’s shoulder. “I wish you the best, Coop.”

And with that, the happy couple walked down the electrical aisle and disappeared from sight.

Cooper stood in front of the lamp display, too stunned to move.

“Engaged?” Cooper posed her question to the air. It was hard to breathe, almost impossible to move. Barely conscious of what she was doing, Cooper’s palm brushed against a display of lit bulbs. The bulb burned her skin and she jerked her hand away. The sensation of physical pain seemed to force reality upon her like an electric shock. “He’s gone,” she muttered. “And he’s never coming back.”

Suddenly, the giant store felt claustrophobic. Tossing the screwdriver she’d meant to purchase at the base of the lamp, Cooper hustled outside and drove home. Once there, she moved listlessly through the vegetable garden and her greenhouse, and, finding no comfort in either of those places, crossed the patio toward the hawk’s cage.

“You look as low as my pantyhose after the elastic’s given out,” Grammy said, joining Cooper as she stroked the feathers on Columbus’s neck.

Cooper sighed. She didn’t want to see another human being at the moment.

“You’ll feel better if you let it out,” Grammy said. “You hold on to the blues and they’ll squeeze you just like a blood pressure cuff. Lord, I hate those things.”

Cooper reluctantly told her grandmother about Drew. She then poured out her fear over never finding someone to love as much again, about the possibility of remaining single for the rest of her life. Grammy listened without a single interruption, which was most unusual. She offered no smart-aleck comments or advice. When Cooper was finished talking, Grammy placed a wrinkled hand on her granddaughter’s arm and said, “Come into my room.”

Cooper followed her grandmother to her bedroom.

“Sit,” Grammy commanded and began sifting through a bureau drawer. Little Boy jumped from his nest on Grammy’s pillow to the top of the chest to see if the drawers contained a succulent treat. Grammy kissed him on his pink nose and then removed old jewelry boxes, letters, tissues, postcards, and other sundry items before she found what she was looking for. Placing a yellow handkerchief on the bed, Grammy seated herself next to Cooper.