Chapter Thirty-One #2
“I’d love that. And we could take your motorcycle out of the garage. With some cleaning and paint, and a hay bin, the garage would make the perfect stable.”
Solomon blinked. “You want to keep a horse in the garage?”
“Where else would I keep it? Farm country is miles out of town and we have a big yard where the horse can roam during the day.”
Solomon shook his head and focused on the road. “Let’s revisit this idea after you’ve had a lot of lessons,” he said.
I figured Solomon’s definition of “revisit” meant never but we could deal with that in the future. Then I could resume my enthusiastic teasing until he either gave in or admitted he thought the idea of stabling a horse in our garage was crazy.
My parents’ house was a hive of activity and we were last to arrive. A volleyball net had been set up in the yard and the kids were all playing. Even the smallest of my nieces, Poppy, attempted to punch the ball with chubby fists under the instruction of my oldest nephew, Patrick.
A finger-food buffet had been spread across the kitchen table; plates, napkins, and flatware stacked at one end. Surprisingly, my family hadn’t picked over it like starving gannets before we arrived. I figured my mom had to be standing guard somewhere nearby.
“Look who it is,” said Garrett as I stepped out into the yard. He raised his open beer in salute. “It’s the woman of the hour.”
“The hour, the day… the legend,” said Lily with a cheer.
“Couldn’t have done it without any of you,” I said, regal and gracious all at once. I truly had no limits.
“They’ve been filling me in on all the action. Imagine horse rustlers in this day and age!” said Dad. He nodded at Garrett and Maddox who’d come to stand next to him. “Courage under fire, my girl.” He wrapped an arm around my shoulder and squeezed it.
“More like courage under liar,” said Lily.
“There were an awful lot of lies told,” I agreed.
“Fire? What fire? Where’s the fire?” asked Mom, crossing the yard with my niece, Chloe, in hand, panic lighting her face as she searched for something that wasn’t there.
“There’s no fire,” I told her.
“Then why did your father say there was a fire?”
“I didn’t… oh, never mind.” Dad sighed. With a roll of his eyes, he added, “I’m taking your mother to get her hearing checked next week.”
“I heard that,” said Mom, swatting his arm. “What’s all this about someone trying to shoot you? Again!?”
“Who told Mom?” I asked and suddenly, everyone was looking at the ground, the sky, and anywhere but at us.
“I did!” said my nephew, Sam, raising his hand. “I told her everything. Mom and Dad were talking about it all night and I had to tell someone.
“But don’t worry, they said no one could tell Grandma about you going to see the loan shark at the dive bar, so I didn’t tell her that,” continued Sam before he ambled off to play volleyball with his cousins.
Mom’s jaw dropped open.
Garrett and his wife, Traci, took a sudden interest in the flower bed behind them.
“All we did was return a few horses to their rightful owners,” I muttered.
“And solve a murder, stop several other attempted murders, including ours, uncover embezzling, and wrongful termination, and horse rustling, and bust an affair,” said Lily, checking off each point on her fingers.
“I need a drink,” said Mom, turning away, holding a hand up for Lily to stop. Traci relieved Mom of Chloe and placed a glass of wine in Mom’s hand. My mom knocked it back, then held the glass out for a refill.
“If it makes you feel better, Mom. We were all there for backup,” said Garrett, summoning the courage to placate her. “Me, Solomon, Delgado, Maddox, Farid… the whole gang, and a good chunk of MPD.”
“The gun was still pointed squarely at us,” said Lily.
Mom knocked off the second glass and held the back of her hand to her forehead. “You’ll all be the death of me,” she groaned.
“If it wasn’t for Lexi, and Lily,” Garrett added after Lily coughed non-too discreetly. “None of this would have come to light and the murder count could have continued to rise. They saved lives with their actions.”
“I suppose this is something to celebrate,” said Mom. “Everyone seems to have a drink but you, Lexi. Why? Why is that?”
“No reason. I just haven’t gotten one yet.”
Mom peered intently at me. “Are you sure? Would you like a mocktail?”
“Okay,” I agreed. Something fruity and icy sounded perfect on the late summer evening.
“I knew it!” Mom seized on that, her eyes wide. “I knew it! You’re pregnant, aren’t you! I knew it! Someone get Lexi a chair. No more horseback riding for you! And no more guns. Solomon, can you put her on desk duty?”
Solomon frowned, then looked at me. I shrugged.
“Mom, I’m not pregnant.”
“What?”
“I. Am. Not. With. Child,” I said slowly. Lily pressed a glass of wine into my hand without saying a word. I took a long sip to prove my point.
“But I overheard Tony Delgado talking to you on the phone saying there will be some changes around the office once the baby gets here,” said Mom, frowning harder as she stared at Solomon. “Not just fifteen minutes ago.”
Serena stepped out of the house, her toddler daughter, Victoria, racing past her, and Delgado detached himself from the gang and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. “I was on the phone to Serena,” he said.
“Then why were you… oh. Oh!” Mom squealed.
“We’re having a baby.” Serena patted her flat stomach and preened.
A pinch of envy fizzled through me, unpleasant and fleeting, but I forced a smile as I prepared to hand over my moment as center of attention to my scene-stealing sister.
“To the next member of the family,” I said, raising my glass.
“Congratulations!” And then we were overtaken by whoops and cheers as the family circled Serena and Delgado, hoisting little Victoria into the air in celebration.
“Are you okay?” asked Solomon softly as we drifted to the edge of the yard. By the crowd, Lily caught my eye and placed her hand on her heart, knowing exactly what hurt in mine.
I heaved a sigh. “I am,” I decided. “Are you?”
“I am. It’ll be our turn soon enough.”
“I know. Until then, I’m very happy it’s just me and you.”
“Same.” Solomon glanced at my celebrating family. “And that crazy bunch,” he added with a smile before he wrapped his arms around me and kissed me.
“Couldn’t do without them,” I said with a smile as a champagne cork popped.