5. Chapter 4
Chapter 4
Doug
I hadn’t meant to stare at Beth as she watched John and Meg interact with Chase, but I couldn’t help it. Her sunglasses were pushed back on her head, holding her curly brown hair off her face and she practically glowed with her love for them.
She and Meg hadn’t known each other long, only about a year, and were close despite the age gap. I wasn’t sure how old Beth was, but I guessed she was in her mid-to-late thirties, while Meg was twenty-four.
Have I only been at SSI a year? When I started Meg was new to Weatherford and had just started working at Grannie’s, the coffee shop Mary Sheppard owned. Jack and Meg had just started dating when I accepted the position and agreed to start a week earlier than originally planned because Meg was in some sort of danger.
I learned later she’d been a victim of trafficking and had testified against the Boston mob boss who’d trafficked her. After getting paroled, he’d come to Weatherford and kidnapped Meg so he could exact his revenge. We’d tracked him down and put a bullet in his head.
Hell of a way to start a new job .
Not exactly what I’d expected when I became a PI, but I loved every minute of it.
Beth’s hand on my arm brought me back to the present. “Doug?”
From the look in her eyes, she’d probably called my name at least once before. “I’m going to Grannie’s to grab coffee. Want one?”
“I was just headed there myself. Want me to come with you and help?” I hadn’t intended to invite myself but couldn’t take it back now.
“Sure, thanks.” She smiled before asking Meg if Chase could stay with her. Chase clapped his hands and answered yes, and luckily for him, Meg agreed.
This would be the first time I’d be alone with Beth, and I was a little nervous. I’d noticed her the first time I’d walked into Grannie’s. Her quiet beauty and kind, caramel tinted eyes had captured my attention, and I always looked forward to seeing her on my daily trips to Grannie’s.
New guy picks up the coffee was the SSI version of hazing. I didn’t mind because it meant I got to see Beth, and the coffee was good too. I didn’t get to see her as often because we brewed Grannie’s Blend here at the new office. It made perfect sense, given the quantities we drank, but that didn’t mean I had to be happy about it.
“Want me to drive?” I asked as I held the door open for her.
“Mommy!”
Beth turned around and asked, “What, Baby?”
“Can you bring me a cookie?” I choked back a laugh when I saw Beth look from Chase to the plate of cookies on the counter then back to Chase.
“There are cookies here.” She pointed to the counter.
Chase scrunched up his nose. “Aunt Mary has gooder cookies.”
He wasn’t wrong. The cookies in the SSI office were from the grocery store deli and were good, but not nearly as good as the giant fresh-baked cookies sold at Grannie’s.
“Better,” Meg gently corrected him, “she has better cookies.” Meg turned to Beth and said, “Actually, can you make that two? I want one too,” Meg smiled down at Chase and said, “because they’re better.”
“I’ll take a peanut butter, if she has any left,” Jack added to the order.
“I’ll grab a dozen,” I said, knowing if we didn’t bring back enough for everyone, there’d be chaos. I smiled at Beth. “I guess it’s a good thing I’m coming along.” I tilted my head towards the parking lot. “Now let’s get out of here before they add to the list.”
I trusted she’d know I was kidding, since I didn’t care how much they added. If they wanted me to lug the entire store back, I would, though John might balk when I handed in my expense report at the end of the week.
“Thanks for offering to help. I don’t know what came over me, offering to pick up coffee for the office.” She rolled her eyes and laughed as she asked, “How’d you do it every day?”
“I have big hands.” I wiggled my fingers in front of me to drive home my point before opening my passenger door and helping her up.
At first, awkward silence filled the truck on the drive to Grannie’s. Beth and I usually shared pleasantries at the counter, so this was new, and we didn’t really know what to say to each other. Being shy sucks .
“I bet you’re happy you don’t have to do this every day now that Meg brews Grannie’s in the office.” Beth broke the silence.
“Not really, I miss my daily trips to Grannie’s.” I didn’t add, because I miss seeing you every day. “As far as frat boy hazing goes, it was pretty enjoyable.”
Her laugh was soft and musical. I think I missed that the most. I’ll have to find an excuse to go to Grannie’s more often.
“AJ didn’t seem to mind either, for all he pretended to complain about it.”
Had they put Jack through the hazing? Probably not. It didn’t seem like something John or Jamie would do. Not wanting to own my ignorance about the tradition, I asked Beth if Jack had complained too.
“He never had to do it. According to AJ, it was Jack’s idea to haze the new guy.”
“Why am I not surprised?”
Jack had recommended AJ when SSI wanted to add a fourth full-time person. They’d been best buds since serving together in the Army, and Jack trusted AJ completely. Hazing and teasing were a part of any military friendship, so it made sense Jack decided to haze him.
Once the ice was broken, we settled into comfortable conversation, making the rest of the drive go by in a flash. I half wished it’d taken longer so we could keep talking. We still have the drive back .
As we approached Grannie’s door, I saw the colorful Wyatt Foundation Halloween Dance fundraiser flyers in the window. The Sheppards hosted a fundraiser for Beth, after she lost her husband. It’d been such a huge success they started a foundation and named it after him. The money they raised went to the families of fallen officers, police and fire, in the local community.
This year would be the third event, and the second I’d attend.
I got to meet a lot of the local police officers and other first responders, and quite a few political players at the fundraiser last year. It’d been a whirlwind night as John introduced me to everyone. Most of whom I’ve forgotten .
As I held the door open for Beth, the rich smell of freshly brewed coffee filled my nose, making my mouth water. Mary and Amber, the full-time barista who replaced Meg when John poached her, were helping a group of customers in suits and ties.
Beth compulsively organized the cream and sugar counter as we waited.
“Beth. Doug. It’s so good to see you.” Mary rushed around the counter and hugged Beth. You’d think they hadn’t seen each other in months. “What brings you in during your vacation?”
“I made the mistake of offering to make a coffee run while Chase was talking to John.” Mary looked at me as Beth answered.
“How many do you need that you brought backup?” Mary asked with a laugh.
“I was heading here when Beth came in, so I offered to help.” Mary patted my arm, I could almost hear her thinking, “good boy,” before she asked how many.
“Eight, plus a hot chocolate with marshmallows, and whatever Beth wants. Oh, and we need a dozen cookies.”
She raised her eyebrows. “Eight, must be a full house today.”
“Yes, ma’am.” It was rare for all six full-timers to be in the office at the same time, and rarer still for a few part-timers to be there as well. Most of us worked outside the office, providing protection duty, on stake outs, serving papers, or investigating. It was one of the things I liked most about the job—it was never boring.
“John mentioned he had an appointment with Chase. Is everything okay?” Concern laced Mary’s voice as she headed back behind the counter. She was the Mama Bear of Sheppard & Sons, and Grannie’s, and it showed in her actions and her words.
“Oh, he’s fine. I thought he didn’t want me helping him practice for tee ball but it turns out he wants help with his cup. As well as wanting John to help him practice.” Beth tried not to laugh as she explained the situation.
“John will love that.”
Mary sent Amber out back to grab a box, then packed our coffees and cookies into it. Mary added a pumpkin muffin, saying, “On the house, for my new daughter-in-law. I know how much she loves them.” She practically glowed as she said it.
When Beth and I both reached for the box our fingers brushed and our eyes locked. It was the briefest of touches, but I felt it zing like a shock straight to my core. It wasn’t the first time it had happened, but it was the first time I considered acting on it. But not here .
During the ride back to the office, Beth stared out the window. She had the box of coffees balanced on her lap with the bag of baked treats balanced on top. She was tapping her fingers on the box in a steady rhythm, though I don’t think she realized it. I didn’t know her well enough to know if it was a nervous habit or not, but erred on the side of experience and assumed it meant something was up. It never hurts to ask .
“Everything okay?” I asked, not expecting her to open up or spill her guts to me. We’re acquaintances, not friend.
I’d like to change that .