Chapter 31
Summer
Something had shifted in Magnolia’s eyes. There was a resolve that hadn’t been there before, like hearing her mother’s story had made her stronger.
She squeezed Colt’s hand and gave him a reassuring smile. “Let’s go home, Colt.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice,” he said as he leaned over and gave her a soft kiss.
Magnolia offered Dixie an apologetic smile. “I think we’re going to take a rain check on that drink.”
“Don’t you worry,” Dixie said with a wave of her hand. “You take your handsome boyfriend home.”
Magnolia swiveled in her seat to face Belinda. She started to say something, but Belinda held up a hand.
“Magnolia, I think you should ride home with Colt. You two have a lot to discuss.”
“But this was supposed to be a girls’ weekend,” Magnolia said with a frown. “I’ll be deserting you.”
“It has been a girls’ weekend,” Belinda said, placing a reassuring hand on Magnolia’s arm. “And now it’s done.” A sly look lit up her eyes. “Besides, I want to take Dixie up on her offer to go out for a drink.”
“What?” Magnolia gasped. “Why?”
Belinda shot Dixie a grin. “Because I do want to get a drink, and I don’t feel like driving home tonight. I’ll head back tomorrow.”
Magnolia looked horrified. “Then we’ll stay too.” She glanced over her shoulder at Colt, seeking confirmation.
“Of course,” he insisted, looking worriedly at Belinda. “We’ll stick around.” He had to be wondering why she wanted to stay for a drink. I know I sure did.
“Don’t be silly,” Belinda said with a soft shake of her head. “You two need to head back. Besides, doesn’t Southern Belles have a big catering job tomorrow? Tilly will be fit to be tied if you’re not there to help.”
Colt’s brow furrowed, obviously not pleased that Belinda was planning to stay behind.
Belinda got to her feet and laughed. “You two look like you’re about to go to a funeral. I’m a grown woman perfectly capable of driving home by myself. I’ll head back in the morning and make it back in plenty of time for my appointment with my client.”
“She’ll be in good hands,” Dixie said, getting out of her chair and looping her arm through Belinda’s. “You two lovebirds head home, and Belinda, Summer, and I will have a girls’ night out.” She aimed a devilish grin at Colt. “No boys allowed.”
Magnolia still looked torn, but Belinda marched past her and out the front door. Magnolia and Colt got up and followed her, while Dixie and I trailed behind.
Belinda opened the trunk of her car and pulled out a navy-blue suitcase, setting it on the sidewalk. “Colt, come grab this. Magnolia, why don’t you get your stuff out of the car?”
Magnolia released a short laugh. “Why do I feel like I’m being evicted?”
“Don’t be silly,” Belinda said, shutting the trunk lid and putting her hands on her hips. “I’m gifting you with a long drive with your boyfriend.”
“She’s totally evictin’ her,” Dixie whispered into my ear.
I was getting the same vibe.
Magnolia threw her arms around Belinda, giving her a tight hug. Once Magnolia released her, Colt hugged her next, whispering something into her ear. Belinda nodded slightly and gave Colt a tight smile. “You two go on, now. I love you both.”
“We love you too,” Magnolia and Colt said in unison, then reluctantly gathered Magnolia’s things out of Belinda’s car. They carried everything to Colt’s sedan, then waved before they got in and pulled away.
Belinda stood on the sidewalk watching them leave, then turned to Dixie and me. “I’m not stayin’ in that flea trap on the edge of town, so what other motels do you recommend?”
Dixie’s mouth parted, probably as shocked as I was that the soft-spoken Belinda had been so direct. “I have a feelin’ you won’t be driving after we leave the Jackhammer, so why don’t you stay in Summer’s room? She can stay with Luke tonight.”
I considered protesting that she was shipping me off to Luke’s without consulting me first, but I could see that Dixie was probably right. Belinda had the look of a woman who needed a couple of stiff drinks. I wasn’t sure what was going on, but I was curious enough to want to stick around, and Dixie had gone into mother hen mode, even though Belinda was at least five years older than her.
“I don’t want to put you out,” Belinda protested, but there wasn’t much heat behind it.
“Don’t be silly,” Dixie said. “Meemaw loves company.”
I snorted. “I’ll say. She prefers it to her family.”
A look of shock spread over Belinda’s face, but then she laughed. “She sounds a lot like Lila. I think we’ll get along just fine.”
“Okay, then,” Dixie said, beaming since she’d gotten her way without much of a fuss. “Why don’t you follow Summer and me back to our farm? We’ll drop your car off there, and if we have too much to drink, we can get Luke or my brother Teddy to bring us home.”
Belinda lifted an eyebrow. “Let’s get goin’.”
Belinda followed us to the farm. We left her car parked out in front of the house without going inside and telling Meemaw what was going on. But I could see her peering out the front window, a scowl on her face. We’d get an earful later.
Belinda climbed into the backseat of my car and Dixie asked questions about her wedding planning business. Belinda told her the joys of her job—watching couples marry their soul mates in front of families and friends—and the pitfalls—bridezillas and their mothers. By the time we’d pulled into the parking lot, she’d offered to let Dixie come to one of her weddings, and Dixie seemed to be seriously considering it.
Since it wasn’t even five o’clock yet on a Sunday, there weren’t many people at the Jackhammer, which meant we didn’t have any trouble getting a table. Dixie and Belinda sat on one side, facing the ragtag group on the stage who seemed to be setting up their musical instruments to perform. I sat on the opposite side, facing the bar and the entrance.
Brandy, one of the bartenders, walked over and gave us a cheesy grin, then smiled when she saw Belinda. “Whereabouts are you from?”
Belinda’s eyes widened. “You know I’m not from around here?”
Brandy laughed and gestured to Belinda’s silky blouse. “You’re much too dressed up to be coming to the Jackhammer on a Sunday afternoon. And I’ve never seen your face, which means you’re not likely from around here.” She turned her attention to Dixie. “Found yourself a new friend, huh?”
“Sure did,” Dixie said, bumping her shoulder into Belinda’s. “She’s from Tennessee, so let’s show her some Alabama hospitality.”
“Well, welcome to the Jackhammer,” Brandy said. “What’ll it be?”
Belinda didn’t waste any time ordering. “A whiskey sour.”
Dixie nodded her approval, then ordered a margarita. Brandy turned to me.
“I’m surprised to see you out here,” I said. “You’re usually behind the bar.”
She thumbed toward the bar. “Wendy called in sick, and Nash is here, so I’m covering the floor until Christy shows up.”
I took a look at the bar, and sure enough, Nash Jackson, the new owner of the Jackhammer, was standing behind the counter, intently watching me.
An uncomfortable feeling crept over me, so I turned back to Brandy. “I’ll take a beer.”
“And we’ll take an order of chicken wings,” Dixie added. “And some fries.”
“Got it,” Brandy said, then headed to the kitchen.
The band started to play, and we watched them for several moments as Belinda asked Dixie about filming Darling Investigations . The events of the afternoon were weighing on my mind.
Lila Brewer had murdered a boy, and no one had ever suspected. Then again, no one suspected Chuck of murdering Bethany either, only that hadn’t happened the way I’d imagined it. How had Lila and Rachel kept the secret for so long? How could the police work have been so shoddy that they hadn’t realized Bethany’s body had been moved?
I knew I should call Luke, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not yet anyway. I didn’t want to tell him about Rachel’s involvement, and I wasn’t sure I should tell him about Lila. But the one thing still bothering me was that Chuck’s brother might never know what happened to him. Would he prefer to have his brother still missing, or find out what a horrible person he’d been?
I excused myself to go to the bathroom. After I finished my business and washed my hands, I stared at my reflection in the mirror, still unsettled. I’d helped Magnolia find closure, but I wasn’t sure she felt much better knowing her mother had killed a man. Then again, Magnolia didn’t look all that surprised. I couldn’t help wondering why Belinda had stayed behind, though. I didn’t know her well, but this seemed out of character. I couldn’t help but think there was something more she wanted from us, and apparently, she needed alcohol to boost her courage to ask.
I walked out the door and was starting down the hall when I came face-to-face with Nash. He was standing in the middle of the hall, and I couldn’t help wondering if he was waiting for me.
Nash was fairly new to Sweet Briar. He’d just bought the bar a few months ago from Rudy, an older gentleman who was loved by all. I’d only been in the Jackhammer a couple of times since I’d almost been killed last June in the parking lot, but last I’d heard, some patrons weren’t handling the transition well— despite the fact that Nash hadn’t changed a thing, except for adding bottled water to the menu after I’d made the suggestion back in June.
Nash and I hadn’t gotten off to a great start after our first meeting last summer, when I’d been chased by an alligator on his cousin Rick’s property, and he’d nearly gotten bit trying to save me from being eaten. Our relationship hadn’t improved much over the next couple of days. Still, he’d gone to some trouble to save my life a second time when Nash’s cousin had tried to kill me, and then he’d sent his cousin toward awaiting police. Rick hadn’t survived the gunfight. But Nash and I hadn’t made up after all that. If anything, we’d been even more at odds. While he’d saved me, he hadn’t seemed all that happy about it.
I’d thanked him that night, but it hadn’t been the sincerest of thanks. It occurred to me that I owed him more than that.
The looks he had sent my way earlier hadn’t been the friendliest, but I was determined not to lash out first. I could be the bigger person.
“Hey,” I said, coming to a stop a few feet in front of him.
Surprise flickered in his eyes, probably because I hadn’t come out swinging. He stuffed his hands in his front pockets. “Hey.”
“I never properly thanked you for what you did for me…you know. With your cousin.”
Irritation flashed in his eyes. “I only did what any decent human being would have done.”
“I’m not so sure about that,” I said with a shrug.
Something shifted in him, his jaw hardening. “Come to think of it, I couldn’t let Rick wipe out Sweet Briar’s cash cow, now could I?”
My mouth dropped open and my hands fisted at my sides. “Are you calling me a cash cow ?”
The animosity in his eyes had spread across his face. “Are you denying the town’s makin’ bank from your TV show? Besides,” he said, scorn dripping from his words, “it was meant to be a compliment.”
I was still struggling to get a grip on the fact that he’d called me a cow, which I couldn’t quite accept as a compliment.
“I suppose the show is helping to boost the economy,” I ground out.
He shrugged, as if to say, That’s what I already said .
He stared at me for several seconds, and I couldn’t help noticing how handsome he was, in a rugged sort of way…if women were attracted to that sort of thing. Which I knew they were, but not me. No, I was attracted to Luke.
I realized we’d been staring at each other for several seconds, so I broke the silence and asked with a whole lot of attitude, “Was there something you needed, Nash?”
“No,” he said, shifting his weight and moving to the side so I could pass. “I was on my way to the storeroom. You just happened to be blocking my path.” He didn’t waste any time walking past me and opened the back door.
I headed back to the table, trying to figure out what had just happened, and why electricity was skating across my skin. It had to be adrenaline from our contentious encounter. That was all.
I sat in my seat and picked up the beer Brandy had left for me and took several deep gulps.
“Do I want to know what that was about?” Dixie asked, her brow raised.
“Nope.”
Belinda had already downed most of her drink and flagged Brandy as she walked past our table. “I need another whiskey sour, and Summer needs another beer.”
Belinda gave Dixie a questioning look.
Dixie lifted her half-full drink. “I’m good.”
“Comin’ right out,” Brandy said, peering at with me an inquisitive look before she walked off.
Had she seen me and Nash in the hall?
Brandy had our drinks on the table within a few minutes, and Belinda picked up the glass and took several generous gulps.
Belinda was making a concerted effort to get plastered. Why? It was obvious she wanted to talk to us about something, and I was pretty sure it didn’t have anything to do with wedding planning or how we produced our reality show.
When she was nearly finished with her second cocktail, she looked up at me with slightly unfocused eyes. “Do you ever do PI work outside of Sweet Briar?”
“You mean up by Dothan?” Dixie asked. She shrugged. “Sometimes.”
Belinda continued to hold my gaze.
“She means farther away,” I said, worry tweaking my nerves. “She means out of state.”
Belinda nodded.
“We’re only licensed in Alabama,” I said carefully. “We’d have to be licensed in the state you want to be looking in. Are you wanting us to investigate in Tennessee?”
Belinda started to say something, then stopped and took another drink. When she lowered her glass, she laughed, but it sounded forced. “I don’t need a PI. I was just asking in general.” She waved her hand, nearly knocking over her glass. “Just making conversation.”
She was lying, and from the fear in her eyes, she was scared to death.
“Do you need help, Belinda?” I asked gently.
“Heavens no,” she said with a snort, but her eyes looked terrified and dangerous, like a wild animal trapped in a corner. “That is, unless you speak Italian. Then I could use your help communicating with a shoe store in Milan that one of my brides insists has the perfect pair of shoes for her to walk down the aisle in.”
She might need help with the shoe store, but she was lying through her teeth about the rest. “Can’t help you there,” I said, leaning forward. “But we can help you with PI stuff. All you have to do is ask.”
She picked up her drink and realized it was empty. “I need another,” she said as she got to her feet. “You want another? I’m goin’ to head up to the bar.”
I shook my head, and Dixie gave me a perplexed look.
“No. I’m good,” I said.
Belinda hurried off to the bar, surprisingly well coordinated after downing two drinks in such a short period of time.
“What was that about?” Dixie asked, lowering her voice.
I glanced over my shoulder at her. “I don’t know.”
Belinda was in trouble, but she didn’t want to admit it. I wanted to help her, but I was at a loss as to how to do so. Maybe Dixie and I could keep in touch and check back with her from time to time, because something had spooked her. Was it the fact that Lila had hidden her crime so well for so long? Had it dredged up memories for Belinda?
But I had plenty of trouble of my own to deal with without adding Belinda’s worries to the pile, and Nash Jackson was close to the top of the heap. He was watching me even as he got Belinda’s drink, and the expression on his face said we had unfinished business. Only I had no idea what that could be.
Or maybe I did. Maybe it had to do with the sparks that seemed to fly whenever we were in close proximity.
I broke eye contact and turned to stare out into the parking lot. I’d finally gotten my life together. I was about to move into my house on my family’s land, and I was back together with Luke. Sure, he didn’t want to live on my land, and I didn’t want to leave it, but we didn’t have to make a decision about that now. We had plenty of time to work that out. Every couple had issues they didn’t agree on, right?
But even as I reassured myself about my relationship with Luke, I found my thoughts drifting back to Nash. There was something about the way he kept looking at me that had me fidgeting with my bottle, too agitated to sit still. He wanted something from me. Maybe he had a clue to a case we’d be working on over the next few weeks, and he was worried I’d tie it back to him. Or maybe he was up to something illegal, and he was worried I’d root it out. There were plenty of reasons for him to be staring at me like that, and I wasn’t sure I liked any of them.
I’d spent far too much time thinking about Nash Jackson, so I turned to my cousin and gave her a bright smile. “You did great on this case. You’re going to be an amazing private investigator, Dixie.”
Pride warmed her eyes. “You think so?”
“I know so.” I lifted my beer bottle. “We make a great team.”
Smiling, she lifted her glass and clicked it against my bottle. “To Darling Investigations.”
“To the Baumgardner cousins.”
Because it didn’t matter what else was going on in my life—man trouble, job issues, our dying grandmother—I’d always have my cousins.
What more could I need?
Thank you for reading the Magnolia Steele Mystery series!