Chapter Twelve Lee #2
God, who uses the word devotees? Just relax! Relax! my internal voice screams in a very un-relaxing sort of way. Be normal!
‘Max Jones and Caroline Turner,’ Miss Rita nods while topping the ridiculous concoction with an insane number of rainbow-coloured sprinkles and even I’m starting to worry about Phoebe’s teeth at this point.
‘Big Hollywood stars. And that brother of yours… we’re real fans of his vampire show round here. ’
‘Blood/Lust?’ I make an effort to loosen my posture. ‘It’s great, isn’t it?’
‘I like it when they fight with their shirts off,’ she confides, her eyes going a bit dreamy.
‘I mean, I could live without those bits to be honest.’
That big laugh fills the shop again and I feel a strange sense of triumph. I can do this, I can make small talk with strangers.
‘Well, I’m his number one fan, a fully signed up member of the official club,’ Miss Rita beams. I had been previously unaware there was an official fan club for my brother and I don’t know how I’m supposed to feel about it.
‘He’s a good-looking boy that’s for sure, and that fiancée of his…
well, I don’t swing that way – apart from a brief but memorable period in the late Seventies – but if I did—’
‘Cynthie is very beautiful,’ I cut her off desperately. ‘They’re really happy together.’
‘Do you see much of them?’ Rita pushes the sundae across the counter towards Phoebe, who descends on it with about as much dignity as Taco.
‘No, not really,’ I shrug, immediately feeling self-conscious again. ‘They’re both pretty busy.’
Nico slides me a look at that, his brows pulled down in a frown, but before he can say anything Miss Rita is already on to the next part of her interrogation.
Thirty minutes and one exceptional scoop of brown butter pecan ice cream later I feel like I’ve been through the most intense job interview of my life.
On the plus side, Rita’s seeming obliviousness to how awkward I am, plus Nico’s reassuring presence, somehow makes things easier.
I answer all her questions; I even start to relax a bit.
The bell rings over the door and Rita breaks off from her deep dive into my teenage years to grin at the man who walks in.
‘If it isn’t the chief! Get your handsome butt in here and I’ll fix you a milkshake.’
‘No, thanks, Miss Rita,’ he says. ‘I was just passing and thought I’d stop in and say hello to our newest visitor.’
He turns to me and holds out his hand.
‘Luke Thomas, I’m the chief of police here in Roseport.’ He must be in his late thirties, a couple of inches shorter than Nico, but broader in the shoulders. His blond hair is cut short, and his grey eyes are kind as I shake his hand. He’s very good-looking.
‘Lee Turner-Jones,’ I reply. ‘Do all of Roseport’s visitors get a personal greeting from the police chief?’
He laughs. ‘No, ma’am, they don’t, but these are unusual circumstances.’
‘I take it we’re the talk of the town?’ Nico asks him.
Luke winces sympathetically. ‘Yeah, just wanted to give you a heads up that tonight’s town meeting looks like it might be eventful.’
‘Oh god.’ Nico pales. ‘I forgot. I can’t believe I forgot.’
‘Beers are on me later if you need one,’ Luke commiserates.
‘Pretty sure I’ll be taking you up on that.’
‘A few of us usually head to Darlene’s after the meeting,’ Luke says to me. ‘I hope you’ll join us.’ The smile he gives me is sweet, and I find it’s easy to smile back at him even though I don’t know what he’s talking about.
‘That sounds lovely.’
When I turn back to Nico he’s watching the two of us and his mouth has thinned. ‘We’d better get going,’ he says abruptly. ‘That bloody meeting tonight.’ He glances at his watch. ‘Magda will be coming to pick Phoebe up from ours soon.’
‘I’ll see the both of you later then,’ Luke says. ‘Nice to meet you, Lee. Miss Rita.’ He gives her a little salute as he heads for the door.
‘I do love to watch him leave,’ she sighs, her eyes on his – admittedly excellent – butt before she wiggles her brows at me.
‘Come on,’ Nico says, laying some cash down on the counter and turning to Phoebe. ‘I need to buy a giant bottle of multi-vitamins on the way home.’
‘Why are you so obsessed with vitamins?’ Phoebe grumbles, sliding to her feet.
‘I’m worried you’re going to develop scurvy.’
‘My ice cream had peanut butter in,’ Phoebe says. ‘Peanut butter must have loads of vitamins in. Is a peanut a vegetable?’
‘A peanut is a legume,’ I volunteer. ‘They’re actually closely related to peas and beans.’
Nico shoots me a dirty look. ‘Whose side are you on?’ he mutters, but Phoebe is delighted.
‘Peas and beans!’ she says as the two of them head for the door with Taco dancing alongside. ‘They’re very good for you. We should have ice cream every day.’
‘There’s another one the good Lord blessed with a spectacular behind,’ Miss Rita smirks. ‘And he’s a good daddy to that little girl, too.’ She pauses. ‘It would be a real shame if anyone did anything to hurt them. People around here would not take that well. Not at all.’
It takes me a second to realise I’m being lightly threatened and my mouth drops open. ‘I wouldn’t…’ I manage before trailing off.
Rita only continues to fix me with a surprisingly flinty look.
‘I’ve known Nico for most of my life,’ I say finally. ‘He’s… very important to me. I’d never do anything to hurt him, or his daughter.’
Whatever she sees in my face has Rita’s expression softening.
‘I see how it is, honey. You just mind how you go. Those two are going to keep you on your toes.’
I have a feeling she might be right about that.