Chapter 9
Chapter
After her hair appointment, Bernadine drove home wondering how things went with Will Dalton and Tamar, because the sheriff returned to the barber shop alone.
Joel Newton’s surprising appearance had been just that, and that the two men bore such a startling resemblance was even more so.
Biologically they were half brothers. That they favored each other was all about genetics.
Sometimes siblings shared personality traits too.
Were the men alike in other ways? Had Tamar shot them both?
Stay tuned, she told herself with a smile.
He came by that evening bearing popcorn. They were spending the night at her house. The popcorn was for the movie they’d planned to watch—The Sting with Newman and Redford, one of her favorites.
“So, how’d it go?” she asked as they took seats side by side on her couch.
“Went okay. He’s a nice dude, at least he seems to be. We exchanged numbers.”
“Is he still here?”
“No, heading back home. He lives outside of Oklahoma City.”
“How’d Tamar react when you showed up with Will?”
“Typical Tamar. Told me I need to hang out with better people.”
“Good grief.”
“Exactly, but he didn’t choose his father, just like I didn’t. I know she had the wedding day from hell, but that wasn’t my fault—or Aaron’s.”
“You’re right, what made him seek you out? Is your father still alive?”
“No. He died this past Christmas. Aaron said he’d had dementia before that.”
“Sorry to hear that.”
“I was too. Would’ve at least liked to have met him. No disrespect to Tamar. But I spent my entire life wondering about him and halfway hoping he’d come see me. Never happened, though.”
She rested her head against his shoulder in sympathy. “I’m sorry.”
“Aaron said he didn’t know about the wedding or me until his dad’s funeral. One of his uncles told him the story.”
“His mother never told him?”
“No. I guess she divorced him right after the wedding mess with Tamar, and Aaron and his sister had very little contact. Aaron said after he found out about me, he wanted to meet.”
“How do you feel?”
“I don’t know, doll. A part of me wishes he and I had hooked up earlier in life. I always did want a brother.”
“I remember you saying that.”
“Better late than never, I suppose. I’ll give him a call in a few days and see where this goes.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Tamar’s going to give me grief, though.”
“Maybe not.”
He eyed her and chuckled. “Right.”
“Trying to be a positive voice here.”
He leaned over and gave her a kiss. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.”
“Ready for The Sting?”
“Popcorn and I are ready.”
“Then, let’s go.”
While he brought up Prime on the big screen, she sensed how jumbled he felt inside over all this. She hoped everything worked out, and that Aaron Newton would indeed be the brother Mal had always wished for.
“MY GOODNESS,” DAISY gushed. “Talk about an unexpected turn of events.”
Lucretia replied, “The shotgun was expected, though.”
“True. And we all know she’s going to give Mal heck for wanting to know his half brother,” Rachel pointed out.
“Of course, she is. She wouldn’t be Tamar if she didn’t, but I understand why him showing up like he did set her off.”
“Agreed.”
Lucretia asked, “Did our Henry Adams have all this drama back in the day?”
Rachel thought back. “Well, let’s see. We had Cara Lee and Chase and their grand passion.”
Daisy said, “I will never forget him carrying her through town. So romantic.”
Rachel added, “And during the Olivia and Neil years we had Armstead Malloy tied to a flagpole on Main Street.”
Lucretia looked confused. “Who?”
Daisy explained. “You were already here by then. But Armstead Malloy was a little weasel of a man who gave Olivia all manner of grief. One morning the town woke up to find him gagged and tied to the flagpole in front of his store.”
Lucretia’s jaw dropped. “How in the world did he get there?”
Rachel said, “It was never proven, but we’re pretty sure Neil July was the culprit. It was quite the sight.”
Daisy added, “A pretty hilarious sight, too, I might add.”
“Sorry I missed that.”
“You couldn’t help it,” Rachel said sympathetically. Lucretia had been the first of the three to pass away.
Daisy then said, “Oh my! Take a look at Devon!”
They all stared with surprise.
“Who knew he’d grown so handsome beneath that wig?”
“He looks so mature. Maybe he’ll put that thing in the rubbish bin now.”
“We can only hope.”
WHILE BERNADINE AND Mal settled in with The Sting, Devon was in his bedroom checking out his fresh haircut in his mirror.
He really liked it, especially the two razor cuts above his ear.
Amari was right about the new barber having skills.
Mr. Curry could cut hair, but not with the style of the new barber, Justin.
“What do you think?” Amari asked, stepping into the room.
“I like it. A lot.”
“Told you. My man Justin is all that.”
Devon turned his head this way and that to view his reflection from all angles.
He thought he looked great, but his eyes brushed his wig sitting on its stand.
How did the new haircut compare to his look in his wig?
He knew Amari wouldn’t answer fairly, so he’d have to answer the question for himself. “Thanks for paying.”
“No problem.”
“Why are you being so nice?”
“Because Mom and Dad are paying me.”
Devon stared, stricken.
Amari shook his head. “That’s a joke, Devon. I’m being nice because I’m your brother. How many times do I have to explain that?”
“Oh.”
“Look, for the past few years I’ve been trying to make us grow closer, and just when I think you’re down with the program, you go rogue on me and turn back into the boy I want to trade for Mr. Irrelevant.”
“Who is that?”
“The last guy taken in the NFL draft.”
Devon was confused.
Amari waved it off. “Never mind. What I’m trying to say is, can you not go rogue on me again, please? This whole back-and-forth thing you keep doing is exhausting.”
Devon met Amari’s smile with his own. “Okay.”
“Good. I’m going to go whip Preston’s butt in chess.
I know you don’t want my opinion, but you’ll pull more girls without the wig than you will with it.
I’m just saying. That fresh cut makes you look like a baller.
James Brown over there makes you look like a little kid playing dress-up in his auntie’s old wig. See you later.”
He exited, and Devon wondered if Amari knew that, in his own way, he was just as exhausting.
His eyes strayed to the wig again. So far, he’d gone all day without wearing it.
Amari’s parting comment made him wonder how different he really looked, though.
His parents were out on a date, so with Amari over at Preston’s he was home alone.
He picked up his phone, took a selfie, and viewed it.
If he ignored his still healing eye, he admittedly looked as good as he thought he did.
He picked up the wig. Praying Tamar wasn’t somehow spying on him, he put it on, and after making the adjustments to the fit and all that, took another selfie.
He then studied the two Devons side by side.
The comparison was stark. Blowing out a breath, he removed the wig, placed it back on the stand, and plopped down on his bed. The truth hurt.
ON MONDAY MORNING, Sheila stuck her head in Bernadine’s doorway. “Just Zoomed with Paige from Dark Horse.”
“How is she?”
“She’s good. She and her architect are coming Thursday to walk the site and have a sit-down with Trent and construction boss Kelly about permits and the rest. She wants to get everything in place so the groundbreaking can get underway as soon as possible.”
“I take it Trent sent her the estimates she asked for?”
“Yes. The amount of money involved took my breath away, but she didn’t even blink. She’s made up her mind that this is where she wants to be, and the cost doesn’t matter, apparently.”
“Good for us.”
“Agreed.”
“Did she say how long she’ll be here?”
“She’s not sure, but said she’d play it by ear. She’ll get a room in Franklin. I wish Tina’s B&B was ready so we could put her up there.”
“I do too. Tina’s flying in about an hour from now for our tour of the Three Spinsters, and then the B&B. It’s almost ready.”
“Good to know. Paige is going to rent a car at the airport and drive here. Can we make sure TC’s available in case the architect doesn’t stay and needs a ride back?”
“Of course, just keep me in the loop.”
“Will do.”
“This is really happening, Bernadine.”
Bernadine was pleased that Sheila was pleased. She’d put in a lot of work. “Yes, it is. And I have to admit it’s kind of exciting.”
“Ditto. On my way to meet with some farmers about the windmills. See you later.” She waved goodbye and headed out.
In spite of Bernadine’s continuing worries about how growth might affect the town, she was looking forward to having Paige and Dark Horse as new neighbors.
She was also looking forward to the tour of the Three Spinsters restaurant Chef Thorn would be treating them to once Tina arrived.
AFTER BERNADINE PICKED up Tina from the helipad behind the rec, they met up with the other investors, Rocky and Roni, and walked the short distance to the restaurant.
It was still surrounded by the walls of plywood put up to hide the goings-on inside.
The only people allowed access were the workers.
Bernadine and the others hadn’t been happy about being kept in the dark, but Thorn charmed them into giving him the benefit of the doubt.
“This better be good,” Rocky warned as they were let in by one of the security people. “I don’t want to have to run Paula’s boo over with my bike.”