The Love Shack

Chapter 5

“Okay,” she said, tilting away from him with a dark frown. “Back up. What do you mean you got her to end her reign of terror against me?”

Incredibly aware that she wore only a swimsuit while he was fully clothed in a shirt, jeans and boots, his gaze dipped over her. Not looking at her body became harder by the second. “I told her that I saw her creepy husband repeatedly coming on to you, and I saw you repeatedly tell him to get lost.”

Berkley blinked. “You did?”

Back then, he hadn’t missed much. He’d felt like his survival depended on him being aware, and that was true as far as it went—yet with Berkley, he’d always noticed her a bit more than anyone else.

There’d been certain “types” in their neighborhood. Those who needed something, those who’d take what they wanted and those who were utterly lost. Berkley had stood out as something else. Quiet but not cowed, determined but not ruthless. Dedicated to her mother and that yappy little dog in a way he hadn’t seen before.

Look at her now. She’d spent her childhood helping to care for her mom, and as an adult, she cared for animals. Yet she kept to herself as much as she could, not cold and standoffish, just very private—not asking anything of others.

Her uniqueness was something that couldn’t be ignored.

“I saw what you were going through,” he said, and didn’t elaborate further.

Her expression softened. “A spectacle like that would have been hard to miss.”

“I’m sure for you, being in the middle of it, it felt that way. But think about it. People sold themselves on the corner. Others OD’d on their front steps. There were street races, brawls and shoot-outs monthly.” Talking about it put him back there, to where he could almost smell the tar on the street, hear the shouts and curses, and feel the threat of too many eyes watching him. “The gangs were always trolling for recruits.” Outside...and in his home.

It sickened him to recall that his parents hadn’t offered any safety. No, they’d often been complicit with a gang and different dealers. A son? They saw him as a ball and chain, and often his dad accused him of thinking he was too good to carry his own weight.

By helping with their illegal activities.

Tension seeped into his neck and tightened his jaw, a bead of sweat rolled down his temple, and then suddenly, Hero was there in front of him, watching him with a whine, catching the hem of his shirt and giving it a tug.

“He’s saving you,” Berkley murmured. “You might want to let him know you’re okay.”

Lawson regrouped.

Subtly, through his nose, he inhaled a cleansing breath. As if he hadn’t just been dragged back from the hell of his youth, he idly reached out to scratch Hero’s ear. His fur was soft, almost velvety there, and it felt soothing to touch him.

Releasing him, Hero sat back on his haunches and closed his eyes in pleasure.

Berkley didn’t say anything else, but he knew she was aware of his struggle. Not about to mention the relief Hero had just given him, Lawson got back to his point. “A high school girl having a fling with an older guy was tame in comparison to what we regularly saw.”

She hesitated, then nodded her agreement. “I guess, but you’re right. It hadn’t felt that way to me.”

“That’s because Sabrina Durkinson pushed it.” He shifted, which put Hero on alert again. “Relax, buddy. It’s all good.”

Hero tipped his head, snuffled against him, then sprawled out on the rough ground with a sigh of relaxation. He looked content with his bed of sand and rocks and weeds.

“He’s astute” was all Berkley said.

No kidding. It made Lawson wonder if Hero was trained beyond being a companion dog. He’d have to remember to stay chill so the dog wouldn’t fret. “I noticed when the jerk showed up at your place a few times, and when you argued with him on your porch.” Now, looking back, Lawson wished he’d taken the guy apart. “I also saw her show up at your house.” Durkinson’s wife. Sabrina had been no more than a female version of Chad, both of them cruel.

Covering her face, Berkley gave a long, aggrieved groan that ended with a rough laugh. “God, that was such a horrendous day.” She dropped her hands and then used her bare toes to rub Hero’s hip. Probably her way of letting the dog know she was fine.

“Want to tell me about it?”

“Why not? We’re doing all this confessing stuff, right? But you first.” She nodded at him. “Let’s hear it. What did you do?”

Yeah, he should probably get it over with, especially since he didn’t know how she’d react. “The newscaster lady came tearing out of your house in a fury, all dressed up like she was ready to go on the air but with steam coming out her ears.” He especially remembered that because she’d stood out so badly. She might as well have been waving red meat in front of a pack of hungry jackals. Sure, people knew her roots and generally cheered for her, but that wouldn’t have stopped one of them from taking what they wanted, like her jewelry, clothes, car—or her. A lot of brutality happened in their neighborhood, sometimes in the middle of the day. Those who saw it pretended they didn’t; it was safer for them that way.

Luck was on the news lady’s side, though, because other than appearing red-faced with anger, she’d reached her car at the curb without anyone approaching her.

Anyone other than him.

Lawson rubbed the back of his neck, but he was careful not to let the memories grip him. With Berkley’s foot rhythmically rubbing Hero’s hip, the dog slept peacefully. “It didn’t take a genius to know the princess had just caused an ugly scene. I figured I might as well use the opportunity to...dissuade her from giving you more trouble.”

“Oh, boy. Now my curiosity is curdling.”

He half smiled at that expression. “I reached her right before she got in her car and told her if she didn’t let up, I’d share the photos I’d taken of good old Chad begging you for forgiveness, of him trying to kiss you with you shoving him away. I told her I had a dozen photos of him sniveling around your door.”

Berkley snorted. “He wasn’t at my house a dozen times.”

Lifting a shoulder, Lawson dismissed that little fact as irrelevant. “She didn’t know that, though. Telling her that I’d do my own press conference to set the record straight, that I’d talk to anyone who would listen—including any online news people—convinced her that she’d end up looking like a loser. She called me some choice names, got in her fancy little red car and burned rubber in her rush to leave.”

Berkley’s wide eyes stared at him in fascination.

He wasn’t done yet. “I also told good old Chad that if I saw him back in our neighborhood, I’d tell everyone he was a narc, and he’d never make it out again.” With all the drug dealers nearby, it was a convincing threat.

“Lawson!” She sounded both incredulous and amused.

It didn’t matter how many times he’d told himself not to get involved, that the important thing was for him to get away, as fast and far as possible before he ended up like the lost souls surrounding him, he couldn’t turn a blind eye to her.

The nastiness had been relentless, and the way he’d seen it, a seventeen-year-old girl with a dying mother in a shit hometown was a victim, not a husband stealer. It was the married man who should have been held accountable for taking advantage of her, and cheating on his wife.

So he’d done his own minuscule part, and it had worked.

“Well.” Berkley blinked twice, tugged at a few of the earrings hanging from one ear and then grinned. “I always wondered why she finally stopped trashing me. All this time, I thought it was because of something I did.”

He really wanted to know what she’d done, but she pushed to her feet, making it clear that their visit had ended. “Thank you, Lawson.” She set her hat on the rock, picked up her shirt, shook the sand and dirt from it, then tugged it over her head.

An eye-boggling experience, watching Berkley dress.

“Back then, I hadn’t known that anyone was on my side.” Pulling on her shorts over the bathing suit bottoms, she said, “Finding out now... It’s nice.” She zipped and snapped as if his fascinated gaze didn’t track the movement, and then stepped into her sandals and replaced her hat.

Damp air from the lake had added messy waves to her hair. Her nose and cheeks were rosy. And that hat... Everything about her appealed to him.

She held out her hand. “Thank you.”

He should have told her sooner. And he wanted her to share what she’d done, but the second she’d stood, Hero had jumped up to join her, and they both appeared ready to call it a night.

He couldn’t shake her hand. Literally couldn’t. Instead he gently squeezed her fingers. “My pleasure.” The sun was sinking, the air finally cooling a little. “I parked near the beach. You?”

She nodded.

Shifting his hand to the small of her back, he said, “I’ll walk with you, then.”

She didn’t agree, but she didn’t disagree, either. Better still, a small smile stayed on her mouth.

The hot sun turned into an orange ball, spilling color over the lake. As they neared the beach, the scents changed to sunscreen, sand and earth, and barbecue. A few people sent them friendly waves. Kids laughed. Gulls swooped overhead.

Cemetery really was an awesome place.

And overall, it had turned into a pretty special night.

She seemed to be on a weekly schedule with Lawson. Every time she saw him, she learned something new, and then they’d both get busy and another six or seven days would pass before they visited again.

Did that mean she’d see him again soon? She waffled between hope that she would and determination to steer clear of him. Odd how running into someone from her past had started out causing her dread, but now felt somewhat comforting.

She wasn’t alone.

Despite how busy her week had been, he’d plagued her thoughts far too often.

So long ago, he’d backed her up.

Her mother hadn’t been able to, and no one else had tried. Her world had felt so empty. But now she knew that Lawson had, and as ridiculous as it seemed, it softened the memories of her past.

He suffered his own harsh recollections of their youth. On the beach, the way he’d coiled tighter and tighter—she’d felt it, and so had Hero. She could only imagine how much worse daily life would have been for him. A tall, good-looking, strong young man—no doubt he’d been expected to do many things, by many people.

Despite what he’d said, she’d been a homely girl, so most of the local boys had left her alone with her awkwardness. Oh, she’d been propositioned a few times, but not overly. Her stammering, red-faced replies had usually sufficed.

“You’re smiling, dear.”

Berkley turned to Betty with a start. Somehow she’d forgotten all about her. Heck, she’d forgotten that she was outside, that she’d been cleaning a dog kennel and that other people were around. How long had she been standing there lost in thought?

Bustling now, she began rewinding her hose while saying to Betty “So are you.” She liked seeing the town matriarch like this. Betty, who was always impeccably dressed, her short gray hair permed into an enduring style, looked so happy whenever she visited The Love Shack. Animals did that for a person.

“Care to share your thoughts?” Betty asked. She took a seat on a bench, and the dog she’d been walking tried to jump up, too, but couldn’t quite manage it with her short legs and stocky body. “Oh, sweetie.” When Betty started to reach for the insistent pooch, Berkley hurried forward.

“Let me.” She gently scooped up Gladys and placed her beside Betty.

Elder and dog both seemed content.

“So,” Betty said. “These thoughts of yours?”

How was it that Betty always saw right through her? It had been like that from the start. Odd that a twenty-six-year-old and a woman nearing ninety could become instant friends, but they had.

“Remember I told you about that scandal I went through?”

Betty’s brows lifted. “About the cheating man-whore who abused you? Yes, I remember.”

“Er...not exactly how I put it.”

“I’m too old to play word games. I speak the truth. It saves me time, and as you know, at my age, time is limited.”

“Betty!” No, Berkley did not want to hear her talk like that. “You’re an energetic, sharp-witted woman with plenty of years ahead of you.”

“Baloney. My hips hurt, my feet hurt, I can’t get in or out of the tub, so it’s only showers for me—and I loved long baths. There are certain things that come with age, and one of those is the right not to sugarcoat things. The man was a reprehensible pig. I hope his selfish, shortsighted wife has made him miserable.”

After biting her lip to hold back a laugh, Berkley said, “Actually, I think they’re divorced now.”

“Good. She might be a better person without him. So what’s the problem?”

“Lawson lived in my neighborhood. He recognized me.”

With no reaction at all, Betty waited.

“Don’t you see? I had hoped to never...” She trailed off, unsure what to say. The past was there, and it wouldn’t magically go away.

“Never what?” Betty softly demanded. “Remember the hard times? You’ll have more, believe me. Some worse, some not as bad. All are worth remembering for the lessons we learned, or the trials we overcame. You know how strong you are because you got through it and you’re still a wonderful person.”

Wow, that heartfelt speech humbled Berkley.

Betty wasn’t through, though. “If you forget the bad times, then you forget the good times that were woven around them, like your mother and how much you loved each other. How dedicated you were to her and how she worried about you.”

“Yes,” Berkley whispered, thinking those things right now. Right up to the end, her mother had loved her the best that she could. Disease had weakened her, and even then, she’d smile at Berkley in a way that made her feel whole. “I still miss my mom.” Pretty sure she’d miss her every single day for the rest of her life.

“I wish I could have met her,” Betty quietly replied.

That made her smile, because her mother and Betty were as different as night and day. “Mom was such a gentle person to go through so much.” And Berkley knew she had added to her worries.

“Well,” Betty said, turning all brisk and businesslike. “We can’t pick and choose the parts of our past that look the prettiest to our memories. We can move on from them. We can get over the rough times and celebrate the good times. But forgetting them completely is never the way. Take it from someone who’s lived a long time. I’ve made mistakes, and I have regrets, but oh, it’s been a wonderful life and I wouldn’t trade a single moment that led me to this point because I’m enjoying my life so much.” She patted Berkley’s hand. “Especially with you as a friend.”

“I feel the same about you.” She glanced around with satisfaction. This shelter was hers to run, set up with her requests in mind, and she took so much pride in it. Her life, with the various twists and turns, had gotten her here. “You’re right, I know that. It’s just that thinking about those days, all the humiliation, it makes me sick to my stomach.” Even though no one else could hear them, she lowered her voice. “You can’t know how vile some people got, the things they said about me. The names they called me.”

“Small-minded fools. You have my permission to forget them.” Betty waved a hand as if making them disappear. “Now, if you tell me Lawson was unkind, I’ll march over there right now and set him straight. I won’t allow him to say or do anything to upset you.” Betty tipped her chin and chided gently, “You’re not alone anymore.”

From the moment she’d met Betty, they’d connected in fun and meaningful ways, so Berkley felt free to tease her now. “But your hips hurt. Your feet hurt. How in the world will you march?”

“Ha!” Betty swatted at her, grinning. “Don’t get cheeky with me. Anger is a powerful motivator. If the man needs his butt chewed, I’ll chew it.”

They looked at each other—and Berkley cracked first. But once she started to laugh, Betty did, too, and soon they were roaring with it, disturbing poor Gladys, who wanted to sleep, and even drawing Hero from his nap in the sunshine.

When the two dogs joined in, howling and yapping, things really got out of hand.

By the time they could draw breath, Betty’s face was red, her eyes watering, and the two volunteers nearby smiled at them in curiosity.

“Shh, hush,” Betty said, gasping for breath and fanning her face. “This isn’t at all dignified.”

“You’re the one who said it, not me.”

Betty snickered. “It came out all wrong, and if you ever repeat it, I’ll deny it.”

Still chuckling, Berkley crossed her heart. “Never.”

“You understood my meaning, though. I’ll stop on my way home and give him a piece of my mind.”

“Thank you.” Wow, she could get used to having backup. For the longest time, she’d faced every issue, resolved every difficulty, completely on her own. Now she knew Lawson had defended her, and Betty was ready to do so right now. “It means a lot to me that you’d offer, but it’s not necessary. Talking to Lawson about it...” She couldn’t quite find the right words for how it had affected her, so she settled on saying, “It was nice. He was nice.”

New interest showed in Betty’s raised brows. “So you two discussed it?”

She shrugged. “It was the oddest thing, but we were sitting at a secluded section of the lake, away from the beach crowd, and it just sort of happened.”

Turning to face her, Betty demanded, “What? What happened?”

Realizing what she thought brought a rush of heat to Berkley’s cheeks. “Not that. Nothing like that.”

“Like what?”

She opened her mouth, caught Betty’s grin and laughed. “When you decide to cut loose, you go all out. Does the rest of the town know about this wild streak of yours?”

“Heavens, no. They think I’m a dragon, and that works for me. A gal has to have her rep.”

Berkley chuckled. “A rep, huh?” She thought everyone should know about Betty’s warm, humorous side, but she’d respect her wishes. Besides, if Betty kept up like this, everyone would find out eventually.

“Don’t change the subject. We’re talking about you and Lawson.”

“Fine, but don’t make more of it than it is. We’re just...”

“Friends?” Betty supplied.

“Not even that, really. More like distant acquaintances from long ago who are now being friendly, but we’re not tight or anything.”

Making a circular motion with her finger, Betty tried to hurry her along. “You were alone on the beach...?”

As briefly as possible, Berkley explained how she’d needed some fresh air and time to think, and how Lawson had chased her down, and then they’d started talking. “I don’t know how it happened, but suddenly it felt right to clear the air. With him, I mean. We’re both living here and it was like this giant wall of awkwardness between us.” Sitting there on a rock, with the foul stench of fish and the too-hot sun, her bikini bottoms wet from the lake, had felt remarkably natural. Enjoyable. And then the words had just tumbled out. “I brought it up, and we talked about it.”

“And?” Betty gently prompted.

“It doesn’t feel so heavy anymore.” She’d carried that shame for so long, as well as guilt for what her mother had gone through with her, and now... Now it didn’t feel quite so awful. “I’m glad I did, because I found out that he’d defended me.” She shared Lawson’s good deed with her friend, giving her all the details.

“My, that young man just keeps looking better and better,” Betty mused.

Berkley quickly gave her attention to the volunteers, who were finishing up.

“I didn’t mean physically, though that’s true, as well.”

“I should probably help the volunteers get the dogs squared away.”

Betty caught her arm. “You’ve been working all day. They can handle it.” When she relented by sinking back into her seat, Betty said, “Don’t try to tell me you haven’t noticed how handsome Lawson is.”

She’d noticed all right, but tried to play it off. “He was always attractive like that. Always stood out, too, because he didn’t bully anyone, and he wasn’t intimidated by those who tried to bully him.” To Berkley, his character had meant more than his physique and handsome face.

“What is it the young people say? That he’s the whole package?”

She grinned. “Sounds legit.” Especially when applied to Lawson.

“It’s not every day that you meet someone who looks like him, but is also a hard worker, pleasant to customers and generous, too. You know he volunteered to build the well, and the money is already adding up.”

“It’s a clever idea, Betty. Thank you.”

“I couldn’t have done it without Lawson’s help. His only issue is how often people pose Kathleen there.”

“He has a problem with the mannequin?” Kathleen was like a town mascot. Everyone loved Kathleen.

“It’s his only flaw,” Betty said, giving her a sly side-eye. “Obviously he’s a keeper.”

That outrageous comment made her forget all about Kathleen. “Planning to make him a pet?”

After another un-Betty-like laugh, the older woman turned stern. “Not me, you.”

Shaking her head, Berkley said, “I already have Hero and Cheese.”

Betty stared her in the eyes. “Not a pet. A companion.”

“They are companions.”

Her brows drew together. “A human companion. A man.”

Betty said man with a lot of innuendo. “No way. I told you, I’ve sworn off men.”

“Yes, yes, and it made sense when you said it.” Betty waved it off dismissively. “But that was before Lawson.”

The last thing she needed was Betty playing matchmaker. “It’s forever.”

“Because one loser treated you poorly? That’s on him, not you.”

She was about to debate it further with Betty when the volunteers finished and started toward them. Using it as the perfect excuse to end the discussion, Berkley stood and called out “All done?” She excused herself to Betty. “Sorry, but I need to go over a few things with them. And we should probably get Gladys back to her bed.” The older dog was sound asleep, mouth open, tongue lolling out, her head against Betty’s hip.

Actually, Betty looked tired as well and it filled Berkley with concern. She had less than a fifteen-minute drive, but at her age, she’d probably prefer to be at home with her feet up. Not that Berkley would say that to her. She’d never met anyone with more pride and backbone than Betty Cemetery.

Stifling a yawn, Betty stood, which prompted Gladys to rise, as well. The dog had less trouble hopping down from the bench.

Together, they thanked the volunteers, who both promised to return at the same time next week. Nearly every day someone came out to help walk the dogs, to play with them in the yard, exercise them and give them attention. In so many ways, the town and the people in it were magical.

She, Gladys and Hero walked with Betty to her car. Berkley opened the door for her and watched as Betty took a moment to get seated, start the air-conditioning and then adjust her seat belt.

In such a short time, this woman had become so precious to her. A friend, a confidant, but also family. On impulse, Berkley leaned down and put a kiss to her cheek. “Drive safely, okay?”

For a second, Betty looked flustered, then she smiled, patted Berkley’s arm and said, “Take good care of my Gladys.”

HerGladys? Smiling, Berkley said, “I’ll give her an extra treat tonight.”

Both dogs resoundingly agreed with that plan.

The weekend brought drizzling rain that made everyone miserable, most especially Lawson.

Kathleen was out in the rain, and damn it, he felt guilty about it. Someone had decked out the mannequin in a swimsuit, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses.

They should have put an umbrella in her hand instead.

Her wig, probably some kind of synthetic hair, would be ruined soon.

Behind his counter, Lawson shifted so he couldn’t see the mannequin so easily through the front window. At least it wasn’t looking at him.

A jokester—though he had no idea who—had at one point positioned the thing so it was staring in at him. Ha, ha. Very funny.

Not.

He’d kept busy in the back room for a few hours, and when he came back out, Will had repositioned her. That was yesterday, and she was still here.

Weren’t the townspeople supposed to move her around or something? He’d heard all these stories of Kathleen showing up everywhere, but lately she spent most of her time in front of his shop. Pretty sure people did it just to annoy him, but he wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of complaining.

Today there weren’t that many customers around. Without foot traffic to the beach, everything had slowed to a near standstill. He’d already taken care of inventory, cleaned, eaten, cleaned again... In the idleness, he spent his time noticing the mannequin.

If only he hadn’t let Will take off, but the young man had a date and there wasn’t enough work to require them both.

When a sunny yellow umbrella came past the window, Lawson stared, but he couldn’t see who carried it. Whoever it was, they struggled to hold the umbrella—while trying to take Kathleen.

He’d be glad to help with that.

Quickly, he pulled on his rain slicker and opened the door. “Need a hand?”

Lark jumped, nearly losing her umbrella. She tried to juggle both, and lost.

Kathleen landed on the gravel lot, and the umbrella nearly went flying with a fast wind.

He darted out and caught it, and then heard Lark laughing. When he turned, she sat beside Kathleen, both of them soaked. Quickly going to her, he asked, “You okay?”

When she reached up, he took her hand and hauled her to her feet. “I thought you’d left for the day, so I was trying to save you. Figured I’d move Kathleen somewhere else so you wouldn’t have to deal with her tomorrow.”

“And instead I startled you.” He held the umbrella over her head, but already her face was wet, tendrils of hair sticking to her cheeks. “Sorry about that.”

Kathleen still laid on the ground, all stiff arms and legs, her expression somehow stoic.

“Oh,” Lark said, as if she’d just had the same realization. “Poor Kathleen!” Leaving him with the umbrella, she bent to collect the mannequin, but it wasn’t easy. Her plastic body was now wet and slippery.

Lawson looked at her with distaste, but he couldn’t stand by—holding a bright yellow umbrella—while Lark struggled.

“Here.” He caught her arm again, urging her up and to the side, then he gave her the umbrella. “Where do you want her?”

“My car?”

Her car? Definitely said with a question, because no way would Kathleen fit. He gave Lark an incredulous look.

“Yes, see, I thought I’d let her legs stick out the window or something.”

While they discussed it, he was oddly aware of holding the mannequin upright. What was it about her that creeped him out so much? “Where were you going to take her?”

“Oh, the restaurant. It’s so nearby, and Saul, the owner—Have you met Saul?”

“Yeah. Nice guy.”

She nodded. “He said he wouldn’t mind letting her dry off at his place. Kathleen is a regular there, you know.”

See, that was the creepy part. Everyone talked about the dummy as if she were a real person. Feeling as stiff-armed as Kathleen, he carried the mannequin to his truck and put her in the back.

“Um, Lawson?”

“Let me lock up and I’ll meet you at the restaurant. I’ll get her inside for you, then you and Saul and everyone else can figure out what to do with her.”

A smile teased her mouth. “Aren’t you the gallant one? Why, the stories will spread far and wide across Cemetery of how you saved Kathleen—”

He jerked around to face her, and realized she was teasing him. Suppressing a grin, he pointed at her. “Not a word about it.”

Playfully, she pretended to zip her lips.

Knowing women as he did, he distracted her by saying, “Makeup is running down your cheeks.”

Her eyes widened. “Mascara!” Quickly, still standing in the rain, she ran her fingers under her eyes.

“Making it worse,” he informed her, then he went to the door to hold it open. “Come on in. You can clean up while I shut things down and get my keys. We can leave together.”

“So very gallant,” she teased again as she sashayed past him with raccoon eyes and rain dripping off her nose.

“I’ll grab you a towel first. Be right back.”

In less than five minutes, Lark had removed her ruined makeup, he’d closed down the shop, and they were each in their own separate vehicles, headed to the restaurant. He was starkly aware of Kathleen tucked into the bed of his truck. It almost felt like he’d stowed a body there or something. Made of fiberglass, he reminded himself.

Fortunately, he had a cover over the bed so the worsening rain didn’t damage her—it—more than it already had.

At the restaurant, Lark quickly parked, hopped out of her car and darted for the restaurant, meaning he was supposed to bring in Kathleen? Apparently, given how she smiled at him while holding open the door.

He liked Lark. She was light and funny, in contrast to Berkley’s intensity. She freely teased while Berkley usually sent out off-limits vibes. Lark chatted up everyone, and Berkley largely kept to herself.

Yet it was Berkley he couldn’t get off his mind. It wasn’t just the pull of a shared past, or the knowledge of a painful memory. It was more than that, something he’d felt nearly a decade ago. It had never really faded away, and now that she was close again, the sense of fate had intensified.

As he pulled up the hood of his slicker and left his truck, he wondered what Berkley was doing right now. Probably curled up in a chair with Hero and Cheese, reading or watching TV, not thinking about him, so he needed to stop thinking about her.

The second he stepped into the restaurant, Kathleen’s rigid body in his arms, applause broke out. It startled him enough that he damn near dropped the dummy.

One woman said “Oops!” and darted forward to adjust Kathleen’s bikini top.

Good God, both plastic breasts had been exposed!

With heat creeping up his neck, he stuck Kathleen in the corner and scowled at everyone. Which only made them clap louder.

Lark leaned into him, using his shoulder for leverage as she went on tiptoes to say near his ear, “You’re egging them on. Smile, take a bow, present Kathleen safe and sound, and I promise they’ll let up.”

He didn’t want to, but he also didn’t want to remain the center of attention, so he pointed at Lark, saying loudly, “The real hero,” and then raised her arm like the winner of a prize fight.

The cheers doubled, especially when he grinned, and together he and Lark bowed. When he came up, that was when he saw Berkley, and he immediately lost focus on everything else.