Faux Paw

20

I was just coming around the side of the carriage house in the morning, heading back to my truck and feeling very grateful for my boots because it had rained overnight and it looked like it was going to start again, when Marcus called.

“Hi,” he said. “Where are you?”

“I’m up at Wisteria Hill,” I said, wiping my feet on the grass by the front of the old building before walking back to the truck. “I just fed Lucy and the others.”

“Roma’s out of town?” he said. “Where did she go? When did that happen?” He’d suddenly switched into what I thought of as cop mode, for some reason.

“She’s not out of town,” I said, opening the truck door and tossing the bag with the food dishes onto the floor on the passenger side. “She had an early surgery so I volunteered to come up.”

I brushed off my jeans and slid behind the wheel. “Did you need Roma for something? Is Micah okay?”

“She’s fine,” he said. “She swiped part of a piece of toast off my plate this morning, but other than her possible criminal bent, she’s fine.”

It had taken a little persuasion from Roma and me to get Marcus to adopt the small ginger tabby, but they made a good pair. She brought out the softer side of him that a lot of people didn’t always get to see.

“It’s nothing,” Marcus continued. “I’m just a bit surprised you’re out there without me.”

I smiled. I had good memories of feeding the cat colony with him as we’d gotten to know each other. “Roma asked me at tai chi last night,” I said. “I figured you’d be tied up with the case. Has anything changed?”

He exhaled loudly. “We’re going to start searching the library, book by book, this morning, but it’s going to take some time. Do you know how many items we’ll have to go through?”

“Forty-one thousand eight hundred and fifteen, counting DVDs and CDs,” I said. I paused for a moment. “Give or take.”

He laughed. “Okay, I deserved that.”

“Are we still on for tonight?” I asked as I fished my keys out of the pocket of my jeans.

“Yes,” he said. “I was planning on picking you up at about six thirty, if that works.”

Mayville Heights was experimenting with offering some outdoor concerts on the Riverwalk during the spring and summer. The senior high band was kicking things off with a concert planned for seven fifteen on the grassy area in front of the St. James Hotel.

“That’s fine, but I think it’s a safe bet that we’ll be in the community center, not outside, judging by how it looks overhead.” I leaned forward to look through the windshield. Gray clouds were rolling across the sky.

“That’s okay,” he said. “That’ll work.”

I heard voices in the background. “I have to go. I’ll see you at six thirty and then we’ll pick up Roma.”

Marcus had suggested we invite Roma to go to the concert with us. “You and I are together and Maggie is seeing Brady Chapman.” He’d managed not to roll his eyes at the last part. “I know Roma has Eddie, but he’s not here.”

I knew Roma was still struggling with the idea that Eddie wanted to marry her. I thought it might be a good idea to get her out of the house for a while, so I’d enlisted Maggie to help me convince Roma to join us all at the concert. What I really wanted was to tell her to trust that Eddie loved her and to marry him. I agreed with Maggie: There was more than one way to make a family. I also wanted to tell her not to waste any time with him, but I hadn’t exactly listened when she and Maggie had tried to tell me that about Marcus, so when she talked about Eddie I listened and tried not to judge.

I spent a large part of the day at Maggie’s studio, trying to keep the various groups that had relocated from the library working in their temporary space. Abigail came to help me and I was very glad to have her unflappable presence beside me.

Marcus pulled up to the house at twenty-five minutes after six. He was wearing jeans and a gray V-neck pullover with a navy T-shirt underneath and a black rain slicker. He’d shaved again and he smelled like a combination of spicy aftershave and Juicy Fruit gum.

“There’s something I really need to tell you before we go get Roma,” he said. He suddenly looked very serious. “I should have told you days ago and I’m sorry.”

My cell phone rang then. I held up a hand. “Hold on a sec,” I said.

It was Harry Taylor.

“Hi, Kathleen,” he said. “I was at the library and it’s raining.”

“I noticed,” I said.

“Well, the police took down the rain chain and a section of gutter. I’m pretty sure we’ve got some water going into the loading-dock area. I need to get in there and turn on the pump. Do I need to call Marcus Gordon?”

“Hang on, Harry,” I said. “Marcus is here with me.” I quickly explained what was going on. “Can I go let Harry into the loading dock? Please? We won’t be going in to the library proper.”

He nodded. “Go ahead.”

“I’m on my way,” I told Harry.

“No need,” he said. “I’m almost at your place.”

“Okay,” I said. I dropped my phone into my pocket. “You go get Roma, save me a seat. I’ll meet you at the concert,” I said to Marcus.

“Kathleen, we really need to talk,” he said.

“After the concert. I promise.” I gave him a quick kiss that landed on his chin instead of his mouth, and then I dashed out into the rain.

Harry was waiting in his truck. At the library, we walked around to the loading dock and he gave me a boost up. I’d already called the evening security guard to let him know we’d be banging around at the back of the building. I didn’t want him to think someone was trying to break in.

There was just a small amount of water inside. Harry got the pump working while I walked around to make sure everywhere else was dry.

“We’re good for now,” Harry said, “but we need to get that gutter and chain back up as soon as we can.”

I nodded. “I’ll talk to Marcus.”

I made it to the community center with five minutes to spare.

I could see Marcus four rows from the front. Roma was on the aisle and there was an empty seat next to Maggie and Brady with Maggie’s coat across the back.

“Thanks, Mags,” I said, dropping into the folding chair next to her and handing back her coat.

She smiled. “Don’t thank me. It was Brady’s idea.”

I leaned around her and smiled at Burtis Chapman’s oldest son. He may have been a lawyer and his dad may have been a businessman who danced around the edges of the law, but father and son were a lot alike and I liked them both. “Thank you for saving seats for us,” I told him.

“Anytime, Kathleen,” he said with a smile that was just like his father’s, too.

“Everything okay at the library?” Marcus asked.

I nodded. “Harry got the pump working.” I leaned across him and smiled at Roma.

“Marcus said you had to go to the library. Is everything all right?” Roma asked.

“Harry saved the day, as usual,” I said.

“How were the cats this morning?”

“They all looked fine. Smokey ate well and he doesn’t seem to be limping as much.”

Smokey was the oldest of the feral cat colony as far as Roma knew. He’d injured his leg just before Christmas and had had a slow recuperation, but in the past month he’d seemed to be doing a lot better.

“How did your surgery go?” I asked.

“Better than I hoped,” Roma said, tucking her dark hair behind one ear.

She gave me a brief rundown on the operation to stabilize the hip of a black lab that had been hit by a car. I liked to listen to Roma talk about her work. I found it fascinating. The librarian in me loved to learn about pretty much everything. The members of the band began to take their places then, and I straightened up.

The concert began with a selection of classical pieces. The senior band was very, very good, one of the top school bands in the state, mostly because of their music director, Tony Morrow. He was short and stocky, built like an MMA fighter, with a deep love of music. I knew from his borrowing habits that he had eclectic taste in music, and I’d come to enjoy seeing him come into the library and being able to talk to him about what he was listening to in a given week.

Tony’s enthusiasm for music was contagious, and when he’d mentioned the upcoming concert to me, I’d promised to be there.

Marcus put a hand on my arm. “I need to tell you something,” he whispered.

Before he could say another word, Maggie leaned forward and glared at him. I smiled and mouthed the word “later.” Marcus looked . . . troubled. Whatever he was going to say had to have something to do with the case. It could wait.

The second part of the program was more contemporary music, and the kids all looked a little less serious. They launched into Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin’,” and Tony’s grin stretched from ear to ear as he conducted. He shot a look in my direction and winked.

Roma was in the aisle seat. She smiled and leaned around Marcus. “Kathleen, did you do this?” she whispered. It was her favorite song.

“Not me. I swear,” I said, smiling back at her. Maggie poked me in the ribs with her elbow. I pressed my lips together and tried to look contrite.

Marcus still looked uncomfortable. Brady, on the other side of Maggie, was grinning like a fool. A bad feeling began to buzz at the base of my skull.

“No,” I said softly.

Maggie looked back over her shoulder, then grabbed my arm. “Kath,” she said, her voice low and tight.

I glanced back. Eddie had just walked in. The buzzing in my head got louder. He was wearing a suit and carrying a single red rose.

I met Maggie’s eyes. “No,” I said again.

He looked so damn happy. I had a Walter Mitty–esque fantasy in which I jumped up and tackled Eddie before he made it to us. But given that I was a five-foot six-inch librarian and he was six foot four inches of NHL hockey player, it wasn’t going to happen.

The song ended with a flourish just as Eddie made it to us. He dropped to one knee and held out the rose. Roma looked at Eddie and then back at Maggie and me. She didn’t look panicked or even surprised. She just looked . . . sad. She got to her feet and took the flower he was holding out.

There was so much love shining on Eddie’s face that my chest tightened. I didn’t know who to hurt more for: him or Roma.

“Roma Davidson, I love you,” Eddie said, his voice edged with emotion. “Will you marry me?”

She didn’t answer. She just looked at him while what seemed like half the town watched and waited.

I looked in Tony’s direction, trying to get his attention. “Play!” I mouthed urgently, shaking my hand in the air.

He looked surprised, but something in my expression compelled him to lift his baton and start the next song. It was Donna Summer’s “She Works Hard for the Money.” I knew that wasn’t a coincidence. It was another of Roma’s favorites.

Eddie’s smile faded. He was still holding Roma’s hand and she still hadn’t said a word. Slowly he got to his feet.

I tipped my head in the direction of the door to the hallway. “Go,” I whispered at him. I touched Roma’s arm. “Go with Eddie,” I said softly.

She didn’t turn to look at me or say a word, but she went with him, still holding hands, and the whole room applauded.

I looked at Maggie and tried to swallow down the lump in my throat. It wouldn’t go.

“She needs us,” Maggie said.

I nodded. “I know.”

Everyone’s attention was back on the music. Two girls and a boy, all in black-framed shades, were rocking their sax solo. Beside me Marcus looked . . . guilty. Suddenly everything made sense. He’d been in on this. That’s what he’d been trying to tell me. By the look on Brady’s face, him, too.

Why on earth hadn’t Marcus said something sooner?

He caught my hand as I started to slip past him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

I felt a surge of frustration. I yanked my hand away. “You’re such a guy!” I hissed.

Eddie was standing in the hallway.

Alone.

He turned to look at us, sadness etched in every line on his handsome face. “She left,” he said.

“I’m sorry,” I said. It didn’t seem like enough, but I didn’t have any other words.

“I thought she’d say yes.” He tugged at the knot in his tie. “I don’t care about the age difference or kids or anything.” He blew out a breath. “Will you two please just . . . be with her?” He made a helpless gesture toward the outside door with one hand.

I nodded.

Maggie hesitated. Then she put a hand on Eddie’s shoulder. “She loves you,” she said. “That hasn’t changed.”

He nodded, barely, in response.

Maggie turned to me, zipping up her jacket as she did. “We should go find Roma,” she said.

I touched Eddie’s arm for a brief moment and then followed her out.

“Which way?” Maggie asked once we were out on the sidewalk. She looked up and down the empty street. There was no sign of Roma in either direction.

I pointed left. “That way,” I said and started walking.

“Are you sure?” Maggie said, easily catching up with me with her long legs.

“Yes,” I said. My bangs were hanging in my face. I brushed them back with one hand. “No. I don’t know. Roma came with Marcus. If she’s walking home, she’ll go this way.”

The street curved and there was no sign of Roma in the block ahead of us. We’d come out the back door, so I pulled Maggie down a block, jaywalking in the middle of the street. Up ahead I caught sight of Roma, walking rapidly down the sidewalk, shoulders hunched, the hood of her jacket pulled up against the light rain.

“Can you run in those?” Mags asked, looking down at my high-heeled boots. She was wearing her red high-tops.

“I hope so,” I said.

Maggie darted a quick look for traffic and we ran down the street after Roma. We caught her at the corner, Maggie sprinting ahead to put a hand on Roma’s shoulder and stop her.

She turned, held out a hand and let it drop to her side. “I couldn’t say yes,” she said.

Maggie wrapped both her arms around Roma’s shoulders. “It’s okay,” she said.

I caught Maggie’s eye and then looked down the street in the general direction of Eric’s Place. “C’mon. Let’s go get out of the rain,” I said.

We started walking again. Maggie kept one arm around Roma’s shoulders.

“Why did he do that?” Roma asked. “The music. The rose. In front of everyone. He knew I . . . he knew I wasn’t sure.”

“He loves you,” Maggie said. “I think he wanted to do something big to show you how much.”

“I didn’t want to make a fool of him,” Roma said quietly.

“It’s okay. You didn’t,” I assured her.

She looked at me. “Then everyone thinks I said yes.”

“What everyone thinks isn’t important.”

Maggie nodded. “We’ll figure that out later.”

It was quiet at Eric’s. Nic was behind the counter. I guessed that Eric was in the kitchen.

Nic turned and smiled at us. “You can sit anywhere,” he called, gesturing to the room with one hand.

“Thanks,” I said. “Would you bring us a pot of hot chocolate?”

He nodded.

Maggie chose a table against the end wall. Roma took off her jacket, sat down and slumped against the back of the chair. She looked at both of us. “What am I going to do?” she asked, pain evident in her eyes.

“Nothing,” Maggie said. Her blond curls were damp and she shook her head. “Leave the universe to its own devices for a little while.”

I hung my jacket on the back of my chair and took a seat. “Maggie’s right,” I said. “You don’t have to do anything right now.”

“What do I say to Eddie?” She looked stricken at the idea that she’d hurt him. The way she felt about the man was all over her face. Anyone could see it. The proverbial blind man could see it.

“You tell him you need more time,” I said. “And then you take as much as you need.”

Roma twisted the silver ring she always wore around her finger. “Time is the problem. There’s too much of it between Eddie and me.”

“He doesn’t care about that,” Maggie said.

“‘Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds,’” I said softly. I’d been thinking the words and had said them out loud before I realized it.

“Shakespeare?” Roma asked.

I nodded.

“The words are beautiful, but it doesn’t change anything.” She looked past me out to the rain-soaked street.

Nic came over with three mugs and a couple of stainless steel carafes. He filled the mugs from one jug and set the other in the middle of the table.

“If you need anything else, let me know,” he said.

Roma looked at her cup, ran a finger around the rim and then picked it up. She looked at us. “I know you’re both right,” she said. “I know Eddie doesn’t care that I’m older than he is. He even says he doesn’t care about more children. But I care.”

I leaned forward. “What can we do?” I asked.

She almost smiled. “You’re already doing it.”

Marcus walked in about five minutes later. He stood just inside the door and looked in our direction.

“I’ll get this,” I said.

I walked over to him. He looked contrite.

“You mad?” he asked.

I shook my head. “No. Well, maybe I was for about thirty seconds. That’s what you were trying to tell me earlier, wasn’t it?”

He nodded. “Eddie wanted it to be a surprise. But the more I thought about it, I didn’t want to keep secrets from you.”

I smiled at him. “I’m sorry I called you a guy.”

“I am a guy,” he said. “I thought Eddie’s idea was romantic.”

“Maybe in different circumstances,” I said.

“How’s Roma?” he asked.

I glanced over at her. “Upset. Worried about Eddie.”

Marcus shook his head. “He loves her, Kathleen. I’m certain about that.”

“It doesn’t have anything to do with that,” I said.

“He’s not going to give up.”

“I didn’t think he would.”

“Okay,” he said. “Okay.” He held out the keys to the SUV. “Here. Take Roma home.”

“How are you going to get home?”

“I can get a ride with someone. Don’t worry. I’ll pick up the car in the morning.” He leaned down and kissed my forehead. “I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”

He looked over at Maggie. “Brady’s outside.”

“I’ll tell Maggie,” I said. I caught his arm and gave it a squeeze before I walked back to the table.

“Mags, Brady is outside,” I said.

Roma looked up at her. “Go,” she said. “I’m all right.”

Maggie smiled at her. “No,” she said. “I’m going to go talk to him for a minute but I’ll be right back.”

“Maggie,” Roma began.

Maggie shook her head and smiled again. “No,” she repeated. Then she got up and headed for the door.

“I should go find Eddie,” Roma said.

I shook my head as I reached for my mug. “Eddie’s fine. You should have a bowl of pudding cake.”

“Pudding cake?” she said, frowning at me.

I took a sip of my cocoa. It was still hot. “‘Duct tape or chocolate can fix pretty much anything,’ is what you say, and I don’t think this is a duct tape kind of problem.”

That got me a small smile. “You’re right about that.”

I leaned back in my chair and caught Nic’s attention. He came around the counter and headed in our direction. “What can I get you, Kathleen?” he asked.

“Is there any of Eric’s pudding cake in the kitchen?” I asked.

He smiled. “There might be. I can check.”

“Would you, please?” I asked.

“Sure thing,” he said. “Three bowls if there is?”

“Please,” I said. I knew Maggie would never say no to Eric’s pudding cake.

Nic headed for the kitchen.

“Do you understand why I can’t say yes to Eddie?” Roma asked. “He was playing in the minor leagues when Sydney was little and he missed so much of that time with her. He told me once that he wished he could have a do-over. I’m just too old for that.”

“There are other options,” I said gently.

“I know. But they’re expensive and they take time.”

“And?” I nudged.

She twisted the silver ring she wore around and around her index finger. “I’ve seen what the stress of those other options can do to people. I don’t want that to happen to Eddie and me.” She looked at me. “Do you think I’m wrong?”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I’m on your side no matter what. I’m your friend. When Marcus and I finally got together, which both you and Maggie had thought should happen from the beginning, did you say I told you so?”

“Yes, I did,” she said. “At least twice. Maybe three times.”

“All right. Bad example. My point is, even though you thought I was wrong about Marcus, you and Maggie were always there for me.”

“I don’t want either of you to take sides,” she said, wrapping her fingers around her cup.

“I don’t think we have to,” I said. “But if it comes to that, your side is the one we’re on.”

Maggie came in the door then, shaking herself before she walked over to us. Nic stepped out of the kitchen then, carrying a tray with three bowls of Eric’s chocolate pudding cake.

“You ordered pudding cake?” Maggie said, slipping off her jacket and dropping back onto her seat.

“You did want some, didn’t you?” I asked.

“Absolutely. Chocolate is like a good painting.”

I frowned at her.

“Good for the soul,” she said as Nic set a steaming bowl in front of her.

Once we all had a dish, Maggie stretched out her arm and put her hand, palm down, in the middle of the table. “We’re the three musketeers,” she said.

“We’re not the three musketeers,” Roma said. “That’s just something you made up when you and Kathleen carjacked me so you could follow Will Redfern and find out why he was taking so long to finish the renovations at the library.”

“And we did,” Maggie said, picking up her spoon with her other hand and trying the pudding cake. “Umm, this is good,” she sighed. Then she slapped her hand against the table. I reached over and put my hand on top of hers.

“All for one,” I said.

“Stop trying to make me feel better,” Roma said.

I shook my head. “Sorry. I can’t do that. All for one.”

She looked from me to Mags and her lower lip trembled. “You’re the best friends I’ve ever had,” she said. Then she swallowed hard and laid her hand on top of mine. “And one for all.”