Chapter 20
42,000 Pumpkin Spice Lattes Later
One month later, heat crept up Maria's cheeks as she tried, and failed, to ignore the Book Club meeting on the other side of the barista counter.
Shane held court in the tattered leather chair by the fireplace. Attendance was higher than ever at today's meeting, and the circle of old women leaned in close around him in their chairs. He held a paperback book in one hand, its black and white cover a close up of a shirtless, muscled man. Shane's voice rang out dramatically, "—felt like a rocket, huge and hot, vibrating on the launching—"
I'm going to die, Maria thought, putting her hands over her ears. A moment later, victory was sealed amid the cackling. The women of Hinnewatcha chanted, "Shane! Shane! Shane!"
He propped one long leg up on the table next to him amid the shouting and clapping and took off his belt. He swung it over his head, smiling broadly as if he’d won an Emmy. Cate was shimmying with the belt around her hips in the background as he sauntered over to Maria a minute later and kissed her soundly.
Maria laughed as the gleeful shouts grew louder behind them. She and Shane waved them off, arms around each other as they walked out and onto Main Street.
"I suppose congratulations are in order?" Maria said as she righted the scarecrow outside of Mama Cate's.
Shane brushed back his hair, and said, arrogant as ever, "Puh-lease. I was a shoe-in. I could have read the back of an Imodium box to those old horndogs and still won."
Maria shoved him, but he caught her hand and brought it to his lips. "No, I am not talking about the Book Club," she said, grinning. "I'm saying congratulations because Mama just texted. You're officially under contract for the house!"
Shane whooped and swung Maria around before kissing her again. Her mother pounced on the lack of realtors in town and got licensed in record time. She brow beat the old pharmacist into selling his home to Shane the same day she became an official realtor. Turns out Rosa Cruz' intimidation skills came in handy.
They crossed the gas lit lamp square, slowly making their way to Maria's home a few blocks further. Painted pumpkins with cursive sayings like "Give Thanks," and cornucopias sat on each front porch they passed. Maria sighed, "I will miss your dad's daily breakfast buffet though."
"Eh, his stress-baking will be coming to a close soon enough," Shane replied as he interlaced their fingers together again. "The LA County office called to say the Brigazi gang is in a bloody turf war. Ivan’s boss and the three other men that kidnapped me were killed."
"Wow, never thought I'd be happy to hear about that much violence," Maria said. "What did Levi say about Ivan’s extradition?"
"He'll be transferred out of the US within the next few weeks. And we'll have Frankie's court date pretty soon."
Maria's mind flashed back to the moment she saw Shane bound in the storage shed. If she'd been seconds later, things would have been so much worse. She squeezed his hand in hers, reminding herself that he was ok. They still had the threat of Frankie telling someone else about Shane's ability, but his cameraman assured him that he would keep Frankie quiet. Turns out, Gary really did have an alarming number of familial connections in jails throughout California. And he reminded Frankie of that fact at every trial.
Levi was waiting for them on Maria's front porch, a manila folder in his hand. Despite the friendship they'd made in the hectic weeks leading up to Frankie's arrest, Maria's stomach always dropped when she saw him. Shane pulled her closer, lessening some of the unease with his steady presence and ever-cheerful attitude.
He gave his best Dead Don't Lie smile and shook Levi's hand, and the two chatted about Shane's departure from his Bravo TV show. Maria glanced over to see her neighbors, Evelyn and Cindy, sitting on their front porch with the two Frenchies dressed up in sweaters. They turned away quickly at Maria's look. Too quickly, in fact. Panic started to claw its way up her throat. To distract herself, she wrapped her arms around Shane’s hard waist and reminded herself she wasn't alone now.
"So I'll get to it," Levi said, turning his attention to Maria. "It turns out that the analyst working Dave Fever's case made a mistake in his toxicology report." Levi glanced once to her neighbors and hit the manila folder in his hand against his leg. "I owe you an apology for the back and forth. It looks like Dave did die of an overdose."
Maria leaned on Shane, so she didn't fall over as Levi continued, "—and Greg has asked for special permission from the courts to be released to scatter his ashes all along his farm. Do you have any objections?"
Maria could have hugged Levi, and schooled her features so he didn't question the grin threatening to break her cheeks. "No, I think that sounds peaceful. Dave would have liked that."
Levi said his goodbyes and Shane and Maria slowly walked into her home. When the bright yellow door was shut they both did a shimmy in her foyer. She jumped into his arms for another kiss. It would have gone on longer had they not heard the chorus of gagging noises in the kitchen.
"Cut it out!" Isa shouted.
Emily added, "Aren't you guys sick of that yet?"
They laughed and walked in the kitchen only to freeze again. The kitchen counters were covered in small photos of Shane in his signature DDL pose. He grinned at them from buttons, posters, and flyers with red, white, and blue backgrounds.
"What are you doing?" Maria asked, picking up a poster that said Vote Shane Bolles .
Shane read aloud, "Hinnewatcha Mayor? Really Emily?"
She shrugged. "I found a job where your cheesy lines might come in handy. Besides, you're unemployed. Chop, chop!"
He laughed and turned to Maria, "You think I stand a chance?"
She leaned into him and pinned a button on his shirt, lingering there for a moment. "Oh I think so. But we need to start with the Book Club ladies. They might have some ideas for a better photo."
The End.