Shades of violet, p.15
Shades of Violet, page 15
“No.” Wolfheart shook his head. “Not that I know of.”
“Howdy.” The young man in the truck greeted us on his way into the store. He was over six feet tall and ripped, with a thick head of dark hair and a neatly trimmed beard. His eyes were blue, landing somewhere between kindness and pure mischief.
Once he entered the store, I focused again on Wolfheart. “Why? Do you think she’s hiding Mitch?”
“No, I don’t think she’d do that.”
The spinning dome light atop Meadow’s car distracted us. We watched as she slowed at the abominable tent at the corner of the four-way stop and chucked her hand out the window. One of JJ Wheeler’s minions ran out a bag of food to her.
“Word is he’s actually hiring,” Wolfheart mused.
“So, what’s up with Dolly?” I asked. “I know that’s always a loaded question.”
Brad Wolfheart studied me a long moment. His expression disturbed me. Filled me with concern and dread. Finally, he said, “She’s got a boyfriend.”
The staccato blast of a vehicle’s horn drew our attention. Meadow, appearing grim and bothered, pulled into the parking lot.”
“What?” Wolfheart called.
She urgently waved him over. “I need to talk to you.”
“You better go,” I told him. “Sounds important.”
He hesitated for an extended moment, and then acquiesced, heading over to the spinning dome lights.
When I walked back into Lenny’s Tool Shed, the whole lot of them—Petey, Violet, Luke, and Micah—gawked at the brawny driver of the blue truck. He tracked up and down each aisle of the store. Once done, his intense gaze landed on Micah, perched on a stool behind the cash register.
“May I help you?” she asked with exaggerated sarcasm.
“Apparently not. My friend told me y’all carried lumber here, but I don’t see any. What kind of hardware store doesn’t have lumber?”
“Who’s your friend?” asked Luke, as usual rising to his family’s defense…or at the very least, the defense of his father’s hardware store.
“Daryl. He works sometimes at the auto body shop on the corner. You know it? Ain’t much, but at least it’s got what it’s supposed to.”
“Yeah, I know it,” replied Luke. “I’m the owner.”
Petey chuckled, reached for a few bags of popcorn on the warmer. He passed a bag to Violet, whose eyes were wide. Meanwhile Micah was spitting fire. I started to speak up, but hesitated, finding the exchange oddly amusing.
“Me and Daryl are old friends. Worked construction back in the day. Said this town was working its way into the current century, so I figured I’d ride on over and take me a gander. Right now, we’re working on a remodel for” — he scrolled through his phone— “for a Mrs. Guidry. She wanted to open it up some.” He glanced at Micah, who scowled atop her stool. “Guess I’ll take a ride to a real town.”
“We’ve got lumber outside by the garden section, Lame Brain,” Micah said flatly. “I’ve got pine, poplar, or redwood. I got 2 x 4s, 4 x 4s, 2 x 10s—” She shrugged, bored. “Everything leading up to a 6 x 6. That good enough for you?”
His grin was as wide as he was tall. “That’ll do.”
“Well? Which do you want then?”
“Some of each.” He flashed. “I like variety.”
She sneered. “What kind of carpenter shows up to a job without lumber?”
“I don’t know.” He laughed. “The boss?”
Petey snorted, cramming popcorn into his face.
“The boss?” asked Luke. “What’d you say your name was?”
“I didn’t,” the big man replied. “But it’s Hoot. Hoot Wheeler. Me and my family hail from Toulouse.” He ducked his chin in the direction of the four-way stop. “But my dad said business was good here.” He winked at Micah. “So here I am.”
Chapter Fourteen
The Sprayer And The Smudged Mascara
Meadow
Uncle Wolf rested his elbows on the opened window of my car door. He stuck his head inside and eyed me over the heaps of mail and packages. “I’ve never understood how you drive in the middle of the seat like that.”
“You get used to it.” I opened the bag of food, and the aroma of barbeque chicken swamped the stale, dusty smell of old paper products. “Want some?”
Tempted, Uncle Wolf glanced over his shoulder.
“Lenny went back inside. I won’t tell.” When my uncle regarded me doubtfully, I added, “I didn’t poison it, I swear, but I am seriously angry with you.” And with a lot of people, I thought. Especially my daughter.
“Have you heard from him? Tell me the truth.”
“Why? So you can go tell the sheriff?” I glared at him. “You know, there’s nothing he can do. It’s been over twenty years. Things are different now. Mitch could even turn around and file charges against you and the sheriff for harassing him.” I experienced a sliver of satisfaction when my uncle flinched.
“We…I…would just like to talk to him.” His tone was measured. “You were a child, Meadow. He needs to account for himself. For what he did. For where he’s been. For his total lack of regard and responsibility and—”
I groaned loud enough to bring his rant to a stop. “No,” I said. “I haven’t seen him. And I doubt I will. He was ambushed. You and your buddies were waiting for him. He probably thinks I set him up. Or that I put Bella up to it.”
“Who cares what he thinks? Did he really expect for Shady Gully to welcome him with open arms?”
I wanted to argue and fight with him. To rail against them all. My uncle, the sheriff, and even Bella. Her betrayal hurt the most. How could she have found her father, which was a miracle in itself, and then arrange to see him behind my back? “There’s nothing any of you can do, Uncle. It’s time you let it go.”
“Just like you have, huh? That’s rich coming from you.” He regarded me. “This man cut your life off at fourteen. Not because of Bella, but because you chose to stop living after he broke your heart. What he did not only defined your life, Meadow, it stole it.”
I fielded the low blow. “Will you just please stay out of it. Give me some space? If he does show up, I don’t want to—”
“To what? Miss the chance to get back together with him?” My uncle’s green eyes sparked.
“I’ve waited a long time for this, Uncle Wolf. I never thought I’d see him again.”
“You’re a fool, Meadow.” I watched as he stepped away from the car, paced a little. Prayed his frustration away. Or whatever he did.
“Bella’s angry too,” I stoked. “Even with you.”
He grunted. “Well, I’m glad y’all could finally come together on something.” He turned as a big guy with a beard pulled his shiny truck to the back of the garden center, dropped his tailgate. “I just want you to be happy, Meadow. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.”
I grumbled, annoyed now that he was trying to make me feel guilty.
Just then Lenny and his sons, along with Robin’s daughter, Violet, trekked to Lenny and Desi’s luxury van. When Violet waved at me, I was reminded of her compassion at the shower. The shaggy haired apostle with the tattoo called out. “Hey, how’s our boy?”
He meant Fireman of course, who was in fact coming to terms with his unrequited love for Bella. While I still wanted to snap at everyone in my path, I couldn’t deny Petey’s interesting eyes, his authenticity, and his charisma. “I think he actually has a crush on someone new now,” I told him. “Another woman. Older.”
He grinned. “He’s got goals. That’s for sure.”
As they piled into the vehicle, I eyed my uncle. “I’d better move my car, so they can get out.” His expression had dissolved into one of resignation. Disappointment. How does he do it, I wondered? He had a knack for absorbing my anger and wearing it like a badge of honor.
He gestured toward Dolly’s Diva Dome just beyond JJ Wheeler’s tent. “Of all people, you’d think she has an iron in this fire. I wonder what she thinks about her ex-husband showing up after all these years?” He lifted his shoulders in speculation. “Heck, maybe she wants to get back together with him as well.”
The thought horrified me. I hadn’t even considered the possibility…
No. Surely not. Especially now with Shady Gully’s Rhinestone Cowboy back in town and very much in the mix. “I doubt it,” I said with more confidence than I felt. “She’s probably got other things on her mind these days. With her dad. And all.”
“Indeed.” Uncle Wolf moved toward his truck. “I can say this much for Dolly. At least she’s moved on.”
Another low blow.
One that motivated me.
Determined to use my salty mood to my advantage, I picked up my pace. Just before Sacred Heart Catholic Church, I hung a right and quickly delivered mail in a few trailer parks and modest subdivisions. Once done, I took another right and rolled down Opry Lane. With offshoots like Waylon Road and Willie Road, the area was one of the oldest and most established in Shady Gully.
Dolly lived on The Boys Road in an old brick home. Once upon a time in Dolly’s life, she lived with her husband, Mitch, in the beautiful Piney Lake neighborhood along an awesome lake. Fast forward to the present, and Desi and Lenny lived in the beautiful home by the awesome lake, and Dolly dwelled in an outdated brick house most likely given to her by her parents.
The scandal—my shame—had certainly rocked a few boats. Changed a few lives.
As I put mail into Dolly’s mailbox, I scanned the dirt driveway. Sure enough, Adam’s big silver truck was parked at a slapdash angle along the side of the house, under the shade of a long-established Bradford pear tree.
After I hurriedly delivered flyers, parcels, and packages to the remaining Opry Lane residents, I worked my way back to the main road. Just as I was about to turn into Sacred Heart Catholic Church, I spotted Lenny and Desi’s van parked next to an empty lot on the left. Luke, tall and serious with his belted khakis and tucked-in shirt, looked the part of a Realtor as he pointed this way and that. I watched as Petey’s and Violet’s gazes traveled the length of his fingers.
Interesting, I thought, but not enough to slow me down. Fortunately, the chipper priest was otherwise occupied, so I easily got in and out with his mail and bulky packages. Finally, I headed back toward the four-way, and set out to hand deliver the day’s mail to Dolly’s Diva Dome.
My argument, accusations, and grievances on the edge of my breath, I climbed the three steps and entered her salon. Alone in the shop, she had her back to me, and rinsed the shampoo sink with a sprayer.
I cleared my throat, but she didn’t turn around, apparently not hearing me. Well, this was awkward. I cleared my throat again and added a cough. Finally, she turned, sprayer in hand. I resisted the urge to duck.
Her eyes were more swollen and squinty than usual, and her daily tube of mascara had smudged under her eyes. “Oh. Hey.”
“Uh.” I stood awkwardly, slightly disoriented by her nonchalant demeanor. “Your mail. I brought it in.”
Dolly eyed the two letters, suspicious. “Big haul. You must be exhausted.” There she is, I thought, the Dolly we all knew and hated. “You wanna sit down? Rest?”
“No.” I tossed the letters onto the Formica styling station and nearly toppled a can of hairspray. “I think it’s time we talked.”
“About what?” Her tone held more annoyance than aggression.
Her manner was totally throwing me off my game. “Did you know he was coming?” I blurted.
“Did I know…what?” Her eyes disappeared into slits as she made a face. “You mean Mitch? Shoot, I had no idea, and I could care less.” She rifled through her mail, snorting her indifference. “All I know is he better not show his face around here.”
Whoa. Taken aback, I eyed the seat next to the styling station. Dolly swiveled it, patted the edge. Knowing I was risking life and limb as there were hot curling irons and flat irons and, God forbid, perm solutions nearby, I reluctantly perched into the seat.
“He ruined my life.” She looked at me in the mirror. “Humiliated me. Made me lose my house. All for…” She stopped, wisely changing direction. “I was upset for a long time. Angry, but after seeing her sing—”
“Her? You mean Bella?”
Dolly nodded. “I heard her sing at James’s church. She was trying out for the creative team, and my brothers got into this huge fight. Remember?” Her eyebrows bent to a V. “Wait. You weren’t there, were you?”
“I’ve heard her sing,” I said defensively.
“Yeah. Well. I don’t know. After that, after seeing her, and hearing her great big voice”—she dragged her hands through my hair, absently reaching for a brush—”I stopped caring. Stopped caring about him. Stopped missing him. It…he…just seemed so trivial.”
“You stopped being angry?” I held my breath as she picked up a flat iron, smoothing a section of my hair.
“No. I didn’t say that. I’m still angry.” Her fingers found another section, and she repeated the motion. “It’s different now though. Now I just feel…” She paused, flat iron in hand. “Relief. Relief that it’s behind me. And that he doesn’t have power over me anymore.” She casually twisted her wrist, and miraculously, my scraggly bangs at once became shiny and full of body. “So much has changed since then. That was when we had two churches. Now we have none.”
“Well, some say eating JJ Wheeler’s barbeque is a religious experience.”
She didn’t respond. Either not appreciating my joke or hesitant to go on record about JJ Wheeler.”
“Did you know where Mitch was all this time? Did he ever contact you?”
“Shoot no. If anything,” she eyed me in the mirror, “I figured he might have tried to get in touch with you.” She plucked her fingers lightly through my hair, shaping it in a way that resembled a starlet on a magazine. “Hairspray?”
“Uh…I don’t…” I lifted my shoulders.
“Close your eyes.” I obeyed and let her have her way with my hair. I smelled the slightly fragrant notes in the aerosol and felt a mist of spray as it hit my hair. “Open.”
Whoa.
As I stared at my reflection, a flush crept up my cheeks. Dolly and I marked each other in the mirror. “I’m seeing someone now,” she said matter-of-factly. “So, to answer your original question, I didn’t know he was coming. And I don’t care.”
I managed to drag my gaze off myself long enough to wonder. “How much do I—?”
“It’s on the house,” Dolly said. “Thanks for bringing in my mail.”
I pulled to a park in front of Luke’s duplex, still reeling over my surreal encounter with Dolly. Encouraged, and weirdly hopeful—the hair?—I trekked to Micah’s apartment and knocked on the door.
Nothing. I knocked again. Then walked around to the back of the duplex where Luke had placed picnic tables beneath the looming oak trees and dogwoods. I tapped the apartment’s back screen door several times.
“Humph.” I turned to watch two robins as they fluttered about in a birdbath. When they abruptly scattered in opposite directions a large reddish flash careened into me, nearly taking me down. Duchess’s stocky body bounced in excitement, a tattered leash whipping from side to side in her mouth.
“Are you looking for me?” Bella’s voice mingled with the rat-tat-tat of Luke’s screen door. “Oh my gosh, there it is.” She stalked over to Duchess and wrestled the shredded tether from her mouth. “It’s all wet. She must have buried it.” She nuzzled the dog’s head. “Bad girl. Very bad girl.”
Finally, she remembered I was there. She considered me a moment.
“I thought we could talk,” I said. “I know you think I orchestrated that whole thing at the shower, but—”
“Your hair looks good.”
“—but I didn’t. I was as shocked as everybody else. Except maybe you.”
She turned. “Come inside. I was organizing Luke’s files for the upcoming council meeting.”
Duchess and I followed Bella into Luke’s apartment, and the dog headed directly for an oversized stuffed doggie bed on the floor. We watched for a minute as she wrestled with a blanket, a ridiculous flurry of twisting legs, whiskers, and ears bursting before our eyes. When she finally settled, with only the tip of her snout peeking from the blanket, Bella laughed. “You cute little tattuye!” She glanced at me. “That means fox.”
I nodded, amused as always by her fascination with words and their meanings, symbolic and otherwise. “She reminds me a little of Hania.”
“That’s what Uncle Wolf says too, although Hania was much too dignified for this kind of silliness.” Reluctantly, Bella pulled her gaze to the task at hand.
I joined her at the table, where files and agenda sheets sat in careful, precise stacks.
“I saw Luke with his dad earlier. They were looking at an empty lot with Violet and Petey.”
“Yeah. Petey told Luke he wanted to invest in some land. For the future.”
“Really? He and Violet?”
“He didn’t say.” She shrugged. “But it doesn’t matter. Even if they don’t know it yet, they’re a couple. I have no clue what the land is for though. The places he wanted to look are in the heart of town. You know, by the four-way stop. Seems a strange place to build a house.”
“Maybe you’re wrong. About them being a couple. I didn’t get that impression from Violet.”
“Violet?” Bella asked crossly. “I didn’t realize you two were close.”
“We’re not. She just seems too serious for him.”
Bella set down a stack of paper. Glinted at me. “She said she talked to you.”
My heart dropped. Could Violet have told her about my tirade at the church? I waited.
“She said she sent you a picture of my dress.” Bella leaned forward suddenly, intent on my response.
