Chapter Six
Tom helped Summer into his truck and tried not to grin. The woman had secrets. The Slade’s bags in the closet said so. What would those secrets produce? He’d leave his natural guessing tendency locked tight and let whatever she was doing play out. He wouldn’t ruin it for her.
Dressed in a blue sweater and black tight jeans, she’d pulled back her dark hair into an elaborate braid. Her light floral scent floated across his senses. He couldn’t help taking a second breath of his favorite scent which led to touching her to help her settle in the seat.
She had her red Echo Falls research folder tucked under her black jacket to protect it from the drizzle falling from the sky. He hurried around to his side. He'd changed from uniform to jeans and a blue plaid shirt and couldn’t wait for his grandmother’s cooking.
“How was shopping?” Tom glanced at Mrs. Patch’s decorations and vowed to get front porch railing lights on tomorrow.
Summer lifted her folder from underneath the jacket and smoothed it in her lap. “Ran into your mother. She says so far she hasn’t had any negative response to my mural idea. And Slade’s was busy.”
Tom backed out of the driveway and went the shortest route to his grandmother’s. “Santa missing isn’t hurting his sales?”
“Didn’t seem so. Any news on Santa?”
“He visited the Applegate Pumpkin Market today. Chad had a few things to say about the incident. Haven’t heard from Mia.”
“These kids took him out to the pumpkin farm?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Pumpkin farm is a big draw for people around here, but more likely for social media attention. I’ll have to ask Mia later.” He rolled his eyes, wondering when he’d slid into Mia’s camp.
“Smart idea. Get any ideas from the photo?”
“Nope. I recognize the spot. On the bench by the storefront. Dark. So middle of the night hours. Bret found footprints so we’ve got the route they took on and off the farm. Didn’t touch anything else. Caption was interesting this time.”
“Which was?”
“Even pumpkins know Santa belongs to the town.”
Summer twisted in her seat to gaze at him, puzzlement in her expression. “They are following Slade and Clem’s blowups.”
“Pretty much. They had another tiff this morning. Fortunately, Lopez is back to work, and he got the call. He wasn’t happy with either man and gave them a stern directive. I talked to my grandmother about casually chatting with both of them, too.”
“Good idea, although Slade does have a reason for being upset. The Santa section is really empty.” Summer slid a hand over his thigh and rubbed, easing work tension.
“Someone put a memorial grouping of flowers in his spot. Chief Hudson was not amused and made Slade remove them.”
“A what?”
“Flowers, like a memorial because somebody died.”
Summer grimaced. “Oh, that’s over the top.”
“Chief thought so, too.”
“Kids again?”
Tom huffed in exasperation. “Time will tell.” Parking at the curb in front of his grandmother’s, he marveled at her beautiful decorations – his grandmother’s tradition.
Everything twinkled including the Christmas tree in the window, the lights on the eaves, and the reindeer in the yard.
Chad’s truck was here, so was Bret’s. Most of the family for dinner was a treat.
The rain shimmered to a stop, but it wouldn’t last. He exited, recognized the deep silence as a portend for something worse, and hustled Summer to the porch.
Just in time.
A crack of lightning and a downpour replaced the sprinkle. Normally, he would follow the porch to the back door, but not tonight. He pulled open the screen and twisted the old-fashioned knob. The door always dragged in wet weather, but tonight it popped open like the air pressure was pushing it.
“Hello?” Chad’s deep voice preceded his entry from the dining room. “Oh, it’s you.”
“Uh, yeah. A bit of a storm.”
Chad came to the slim windows beside the doors. “Hey, Summer.”
“Hi, Chad.”
Tom started to push the door closed, then saw lights in the driveway. “Someone else coming?”
“Robin.” Chad squinted through the night. “Yep, that’s her.” He took an umbrella and went out the door.
Tom took off his jacket and hung it on the hooks. “Give me your coat.”
Summer handed him her file and shed her heavy jacket.
“Uncle Tom!”
“Aunt Summer!”
Before he could balance from hanging Summer’s jacket, the Applegate twins landed. Boo wrapped an arm around his leg. “We’ve missed you.”
Lindy, much more sedate, circled Summer’s waist and hugged her. “Yeah, you guys have been strangers.”
“What are you guys now? High school?” Summer teased.
“That much time hasn’t past.” Lindy ever the practical one. “We’re fourth grade, Aunt Summer.”
“You are tall enough to be in high school.”
“Let them in the house, girls.” Bret’s deep voice had them complying. They loved Uncle Bret most of all.
“Dad went out to help Mom. Can we wait?”
Bret strode toward them. “Yes, but let Summer and Tom out of the entry way, and make sure the door gets shut tight after mom and dad get in. Where are the boys?”
“Watching cartoons.”
“Weather shifted, I see.” Bret peered into the dark night, too.
Both girls nodded and put their noses on the screen door window.
“Gotta love Texas,” Summer teased. She took her file from Tom and skirted around the group. “Didn’t realize it was a family party tonight.”
Bret pushed open the swinging kitchen door and let Summer go first. “Technically not, since Helen had a meeting, and Bill went to Amarillo to Christmas shop and isn’t back. Rick and Tara had a holiday thing to attend with the kids.”
Tom followed behind and stared at Meg. She occupied a chair at the counter and was chopping vegetables for the salad. His baby sister glowed, but the little one had taken over Meg’s belly since he’d last seen her.
He went to her side and put his hands on her shoulders. “You look great.”
Meg snorted. “I look pregnant.”
Tom rubbed her shoulders. “You look beautiful. Life is good.” He dropped his hands and put an arm around Summer.
Summer snuggled close, and his heart did a flip. “He’s right, Meg. You look happy and content.”
“Mostly I am, except at four a.m. when this monster decides to be awake and kicking.”
“I can attest to that.” Bret hovered in the door, watching the twins. “I’m going to check the boys. They’re too quiet.”
Meg grinned, and followed Bret with her eyes. “Dad’s Spidey sense at play.”
Tom went to help Olivia. “This family has great moms and grandparents alongside two cops, a lawyer, foster parent experience, and three men with eight kids between them – these children are not getting away with anything.”
Olivia patted his back. “Indeed.”
Pulled pork, cheesy scalloped potatoes, salad, and grandma’s homemade rolls made Tom’s stomach growl. There had to be dessert here somewhere, too. It’s how his grandmother did things. He lifted dishes from the cupboard at his grandmother’s direction. “Where are we eating?”
“Dining room. More space.”
He carried dishes to the table and did place settings for each. Chad and Robin finally came through the front door. “Everything all right?”
Chad stepped into the doorway, wet and frowning. “Umbrella wasn’t helpful. Wind is blowing. Anybody check for tornado warnings?”
Summer came with silverware. “App says thunderstorm warnings, but I didn’t check the weather radar.”
“I will,” Meg called from the kitchen. “At least it’s warmed a bit from a few days ago. I’m not prepared to have snow, yet. Three more days to winter break.”
“Mommy!” Two little boys elbowed into the room to get to Robin.
Bret shifted out of the way. “Whoa, cowboys!”
“Nobody loves me,” Chad griped.
“Right.” Tom rolled his eyes.
“Why the impromptu dinner?” Chad lifted Brodie to his shoulder.
Summer finished laying out the silverware. “I’m doing some research on Echo Falls to help form a mural I’m planning in town, and Olivia offered to tell me the Applegate family history.”
“Cool.” Chad swooped an arm to Boo. “Slow down. Grandma has breakable treasures in here.”
Boo frowned. “I forgot. Sorry, Grandma.”
Olivia carried the salad to the table. Thunder rattled the windows. “Let’s get to eating before the lights go off.”
Tom laughed. “I’m so ready.” He pulled out a chair for Summer. Places were arranged from weeks and weeks of family dinners, so seating took less than two minutes.
Bret slipped into the kitchen to help Meg from her seat and guide her to her spot at the table. “Okay?”
“Yes.” She beamed at him. “I am so hungry.”
Tom agreed with her. “Me, too. This Santa hunt is interrupting quiet police work.”
Getting Ben and Brodie settled in their places, Chad huffed. “If I’d been a bit faster this morning, but it was dark and took me a minute to realize there was someone out there. I swear I’m getting the surveillance camera replaced, but I didn’t think I’d need it again until next summer.”
“Did I hear correctly that Mia Devlin is helping the police department?” Meg shifted in her chair and groaned. “Dang kid kicking me.”
“Yeah, she’s doing a forensic class online from Arizona State.”
Meg frowned. “I thought she was studying engineering.”
“Not today.” Tom didn’t even try to contain his exasperation.
Meg took a sip of her water. “I’ve had her in the classroom. She learns fast, but the lack of experience leaves her behind, and she overcompensates. Be careful.”
“Oh, between me and Carmen were keeping pace with her. Chief won’t have it any other way.”
Olivia stopped everyone’s talking, said grace, then passed the food. “So Summer, tell us about your project. What can I help you with?”
Bret kept a close eye on Lindy, who was next to him, and stopped to cut her meat. “I keep hearing whispers about it all over town.”
Summer dished up some salad. “All over town?”
“Yeah, word is out,” Robin assured her. “Everybody who came into the vet’s office today wanted info on everything. Fortunately, I don’t have any.” She laughed.
Summer smirked. “Better plug your ears. I’m about to spill details.”
Robin grinned. “No plugs. I want to know.”