The Case Of The Cupid Caper

Chapter 19

Friday 2/14

“It looks like Ms. Cupid has another success story under her belt,” I said to Gracie as I watched Gabe and Gabby dancing cheek to cheek.

“They do look happy,” she admitted. “And I do think they make a good match.”

Speaking of good matches. “So, what happened to Tom? I know I saw him earlier.

“We came together, but he headed to the bar as soon as we walked in the door,” Gracie shared. “I don’t think red and white balloons, colorful lights that twinkle, and slow dancing are really his sort of thing.”

“Yeah, I guess I’m not surprised. At least you have Hawaii to look forward to.”

She grinned. “Ten days and counting. I wasn’t sure about your idea at first, but I have to say that I can’t remember the last time I’ve been so excited about anything.”

“You deserve this break. Tom does too. I hope you both have a wonderful time.”

“Are you sure you can handle things with Paisley on your own?” Gracie asked as the music changed to a waltz.

“I’m sure. I spoke to a woman from the cleaning service and arranged for a team to go in twice a week and clean, so Paisley won’t have to worry about that. I also spoke to Anna’s mother, and she’s fine with helping out after school if needed, and she is going to rally some of the other mothers from school to drop off casseroles Paisley and her grandmother can just heat and serve. And I promise to check in with both Paisley and Ethel every single day. It will be fine. You just need to have a wonderful time and not worry about a thing.”

“Okay.” She visibly relaxed. “I guess I’ll take your advice. I suspect that there will come a time when we’ll need to have a serious conversation about Paisley’s care with Ethel, but maybe with the extra help you’ve arranged, that conversation can wait a bit.” She looked toward the bar. “I think I’m going to go and join Tom for a drink.”

“Sounds like a wonderful idea.”

She looked around the room. “Wasn’t Cass supposed to meet you here?”

“He’ll be here. I guess he had some paperwork to finish up.”

“I heard Mark Nixon decided to turn himself in,” Gracie said.

I nodded. “I think he thought that by doing so, Lissa would be off the hook and would be released, but, of course, that isn’t at all how it worked out. Both siblings are going to prison, but the duration of their stays is unknown at this time.”

“The whole thing is just so tragic.”

“I agree. It sounds like Mark and Lissa’s father was a monster. If not for the abuse they had to endure as children, who knows how they would have turned out. They both might have grown to live happy and productive lives.”

“Maybe the court will take that into consideration when it comes time to dole out the sentences,” Gracie suggested.

“Perhaps.”

After Gracie left, I headed toward Hope and Naomi, who were chatting near the buffet. “Are you both here alone?”

“Unfortunately, we are,” Hope answered. “How about you? I figured Cass would come with you.”

“He’s supposed to meet me here, but he got tied up after Mark Nixon turned himself in. Are we still on for lunch tomorrow?”

“Absolutely,” Hope said.

“I’m really excited about working on your project with you,” Naomi added. “Hope and I have been discussing it, and we both think we can come up with a new angle if we work together as a team.”

“I don’t suppose your Navy Intelligence boyfriend will be around to help out?” I asked Naomi.

“He may or may not pop in. You know that I never know what he is going to do or when he is going to do it.”

“I’m sure Cass will help out where he can,” Hope added.

“He said he would,” I confirmed. “I know that finding even a single clue that hasn’t already been found is a longshot, but it would really be great if we did dig something up.”

I chatted with Hope and Naomi for a while longer before circulating to get the photos for the paper I was here to take. I wasn’t sure what sort of a turnout I’d been expecting, but it seemed, based on my initial observation, that half the town had shown up for the dance. Dex had loved my story about the origin of the dance as told to me by Lettie, and I really wanted to turn in something as entertaining this week, so once I had my photos, I began to circulate and ask those in attendance about specific memories from past Sweetheart Dances. I found folks who had met here, others who’d gotten engaged on the dance floor, and still others who had stories to tell that had been passed down by parents and grandparents.

“Would you care to dance?”

I turned and smiled at Cass, who’d walked up behind me as I was storing my notepad and pen in my camera bag. “I’d love to. I love the suit. I was expecting you to arrive in your uniform.”

“I had to run out to the lake to take Milo home, so I changed. You look beautiful in your red dress.”

“Thank you. You look handsome in your black suit. We’ll have to get a photo before the end of the evening.” Cass pulled me into his arms and began to sway to the slow song that was playing. I was hyper-aware of his hand on my bare back, but I tried to act nonchalant and unaffected. “So, did you get all your paperwork done?” I hoped he didn’t notice how shaky my voice had suddenly become.

“I did. I don’t know what will happen to the Nixon siblings, but I suppose I do admire their willingness to sacrifice themselves for each other.”

“I imagine having grown up in a violent household, they learned to have each other’s back.”

“I guess they did.”

“Are you going to have the weekend off, or do you have to work?” I asked.

“I am cautiously planning to take some time off,” Cass answered. “The murder cases I’ve been working on are both wrapped up, and so far, the town has been quiet. Would you like to do something?”

“I’m meeting with Hope and Naomi tomorrow to begin our discussion about Austin Brady’s disappearance. We’re having lunch. You’re welcome to join us if you’d like.”

He nodded slowly. “I can do that. In fact, after you told me about your project, I did some digging on my own. I may have an angle we can discuss that, as far as I know, hasn’t been looked at to this point.”

I raised a brow. “Really? What’d you find?”

He pulled my body against his. “Tomorrow is soon enough to get into the specifics. Tonight is Valentine’s Day. What do you say we simply lose ourselves in the music?”