Chapter 22
Busted – when you realize you weren’t fooling anyone
Mercy
I pull the curtain in the living room aside as I watch for Gibson to arrive. We’re going out on a date tonight. A real date. No more fake.
And I’m freaking out. What do you do on a date when sex and booze is off the table? Can we talk to each other for hours and not get bored?
Will Gibson still want me when I’m no longer a challenge?
A Hummer pulls into the driveway and stops in front of the porch. I rush to the front door. “Bye, Uncle Mercury. I’ll be back in a few hours.”
Don’t worry. I’m not actually leaving my uncle alone. Gratitude is coming over again in a little while.
“Have your young man come in the house since he’s now your boyfriend,” Mercury orders.
I freeze with my hand on the door handle. “What do you mean now? Gibson’s been my boyfriend for a while.”
He snorts. “You don’t seriously think you can fool me, do you?” Actually, I did.
I sigh before I spin around to face him. “What gave it away?”
He chuckles. “I’m not giving up my secrets.”
I narrow my eyes on him. “Who told you? Does the whole town know?”
He shrugs. I recognize the tactic. It’s easier to maintain a lie if you don’t actually speak.
I perch on the coffee table in front of him. “Does this mean you’re not moving into a nursing home?”
He scowls. “Ain’t no reason for me to move into a nursing home. You’re here now, aren’t you?”
I frown. “Did you loan me the money to buy Basil’s business so I wouldn’t leave?”
“Not a loan.”
I wave away his words. It is a loan. He just doesn’t realize it yet. “Answer the question.”
“I don’t have anyone else to give the money to anyway.”
“Uncle Mercury,” I begin. “I’m not running away. I’m staying in Winter Falls. But I can’t care for you all the time. I have a business to run now.” And Gibson.
“There’s nothing for you to worry about.”
“The doctor said—”
“I’m not talking about the quack.” He pulls a sheet of paper from behind his back and hands it to me.
“What’s this?”
“A schedule.”
I study the paper. It is a schedule. A schedule for the next two weeks of who is looking after Mercury at what time. My mouth gapes open.
“You’re letting the people of Winter Falls help you?”
“You’re staying in Winter Falls?”
“I kind of like it here.” I narrow my eyes on him. “Grumpy old men not withstanding.”
He snatches the paper back from me. “Do we have an agreement?”
“What are your terms?”
“You agree not to put me in a nursing home and you continue to live here in this house with me.”
“And you’ll agree to have someone to sit with you whenever I can’t be home?” He nods. “And you won’t growl and grumble at them until they leave?”
He scowls. “That happened one time.”
“Clove’s still mad at you for saying her coffee wasn’t as good as yours.”
He grunts. “She’s married to Sirius. She should be used to grumpy men by now.”
He’s not wrong. I hold out my hand. “Deal?”
He shakes my hand. “And I’m leaving this house and my money to you when I die.”
“First of all, you’re a crotchety old man. You’re never dying. Secondly, I don’t want your house or your money.”
“It’s yours anyway.” He points to the door with his cane. “Your young man is here.”
I kiss his forehead. “Don’t wait up for me.”
“Use protection!” He shouts after me.
I’m sure my face is bright red when I open the door. “Ignore him. Everyone else does.”
“Don’t ignore me! You don’t want no baby yet.”
I hang my head, but Gibson chuckles.
“I think I like your uncle.”
“Then, you don’t know him very well,” I mutter.
“I heard you.”
“I know,” I holler at Uncle Mercury. “You have the hearing of a bat.”
Gibson grasps my hand. “You ready to go or do you want to shout at your uncle some more before we leave?”
I pretend to consider the matter. “I’m good.”
“Bye, Mr. Mercury,” Gibson calls.
I hurry him out the door before Uncle Mercury starts a lecture about the use of Mr. and why it’s ruining society. I’ve heard it once already. And I still don’t know what he was going on about.
I screech to a halt when I realize the Hummer has an electric motor. “No.”
Gibson’s brow wrinkles. “No, what?”
“I’m not going anywhere in that, that thing masquerading as a vehicle.”
“Too big for you?” He waggles his eyebrows and I slap his stomach.
“It’s not about size.” Not all about size. “Where’s the roar of the engine? The vibration of the engine? And all electric vehicles are automatic.” I shiver. “Where’s the fun in driving a car without shifting?”
He chuckles. “I knew you were a mechanic. I didn’t realize you’re a gearhead.”
I roll my eyes. “Of course, I’m a gearhead.” I lift my hands in the air. “Do you realize how long I have to wash my hands to get the grease out from underneath my nails?”
I don’t wait for him to answer and tug him toward the garage. “We’ll take the Charger.”
“Your uncle won’t mind?”
I shrug. “Since he just declared he’s leaving me his house and fortune when he dies, I think not.”
He pauses. “What?”
“Don’t worry. I told him no.”
“Why? He’s your uncle. You’re caring for him. You deserve it.”
My eyes widen. “I deserve it? I’m not caring for my uncle because I want his money. I’m not my mother. I’m caring for him because he’s my uncle and he needs it. I only wish I’d known about him years ago. I would have never let him live all alone if I had.”
“You’re a good person, Mercy Keller.”
I snort. “You’re the first person to think I am.”
He wraps his arms around me and squeezes me tight. “You’re a good person, Mercy.”
To my shock, my eyes itch with unshed tears. What is happening? I don’t cry because a man says I’m a good person. Unless the man is the one I’m falling for and he has his arms wrapped around me. Apparently, then, I do. I sniff and force the tears away.
“Where are we going?” I ask as he releases me.
He kisses my nose. “It’s a surprise.”
“I’ll need directions since you aren’t driving Uncle Mercury’s car.”
“Why not? Don’t trust me?”
“I trust you. But not with this baby.” Or with my heart. Yet.
We settle in the car and I switch on the engine. Gibson chuckles.
“What?”
“The excitement on your face when you’re about to drive this car is a thing of beauty.”
I roll my eyes. “You can flatter me all you want. I’m not having sex with you yet.”
He places his hand on top of mine on the gearbox. “I know, sassy girl. I know. And I respect your decision.”
“You respect my decision or you’re afraid of what I’ll do if you push me?”
He raises his palms in the air. “Why can’t it be both?”
He gives me directions as I drive. The radio station plays country music and Gibson even hums along a few times. I smile. I’ll convert him to a country music fan eventually.
“Turn left here,” he says once we reach the outskirts of White Bridge.
“This is an alley.”
“Thanks for stating the obvious.”
I drive through the alley until we reach a door. “You can stop and park here.”
“We’ll block the alley if we stop here.”
“It’s a private driveway.”
“Okay,” I say as I switch off the engine. “Where are we? Is this the part where you skin me alive and sell my organs to the highest bidder?”
“Do I skin you alive before or after I sell off your organs?”
“Huh. Good question. Maybe you’re only selling off my organs.”
The door opens and a man in a suit with a clipboard steps outside. He nods to Gibson who waves in return.
“Is this the guy who’s going to remove the organs?”
“You’re crazy,” he mutters. “Or are you scared?”
“Please. Scared isn’t part of my vocabulary.”
“Then, get out of the car and find out where we are.” Gibson doesn’t wait for me before opening his door. I rush to follow him. I’m not scared but I am curious.
“Mr. Lewis,” clipboard man greets Gibson. “Thank you for arriving on time.”
“You can thank me. I drove,” I say and extend my hand. “I’m Mercy.”
He purses his lips before nodding at me. I let my hand drop. Guess clipboard dude doesn’t shake hands.
“This way please.” He doesn’t wait for a reply before whirling around and marching away.
Gibson grasps my hand and we follow him.
“Is this some reenactment of Frankenstein?” I whisper.
“Not very patient, are you?”
I shrug. “Never promised I was.”
“Are you ready?” Clipboard dude asks when we stop.
The area is barely lit but I’m guessing by the echo we’re in a large room.
“Ready,” Gibson says.
The lights flicker on and I gasp at the sight in front of me. We’re standing in a garage filled with luxury cars. And none of those sissy electric ones either.
“Where are we?”
“It’s a private collection,” Clipboard dude explains. “I ask you to respect the vehicles. The doors are unlocked.” He checks his watch. “You have thirty minutes.”
He starts to walk away, but I stop him. “Do you have a creeper?”
“Pardon me. What is a creeper?”
“A board on wheels used by mechanics to get under the car,” I explain.
“I will procure one for you,” he says as he walks away.
As soon as he’s gone, I squeal and throw myself at Gibson. “Thank you. This is awesome. How did you arrange it?”
He wraps his arms around me but I push out of his hold. “No time for cuddling now. I have cars to examine.”
“Don’t I get a kiss in thank you?”
I push on my toes and kiss his cheek. “Thank you, Gibson. Best surprise ever.”
You’re making me fall in love with you. I force thoughts of love out of my mind. Now is not the time to contemplate how he’s going to break my heart. Nope. I have cars to admire.