Chapter 27
Tank
Rose’s hand feels small in mine as we stand in front of what remains of Backwoods Bar. The building itself was not much more than a large, corrugated metal shed, so the structure itself is still mostly there. But it’s now blackened, and in places, the metal has peeled back from the heat.
Apparently everything inside—tables, stools, all the electrical—is gone. And the fire was so hot that most of the back patio furniture is gone as well. Yellow police tape cordons off the whole area, which is now muddy from the fire hoses.
“It’s a lucky thing that the woods didn’t catch,” Chevy says. “According to the fire chief, they used an excessive amount of accelerant. Probably because the building itself is metal and not as likely to catch.”
The fire was long out by the time Rose and I arrived, but the stink of it hangs in the air.
Chevy, Wolf, James, and Kyoko were the only ones left, still surveying the extensive damage.
I don’t miss the way Wolf has his arm around Kyoko, who has both of hers wrapped around his waist, but now is not the time to remark on that.
“It’s horrible,” Rose says. “Do you think it’s the same person who burned all the signs?”
“Very likely,” Chevy says. “Though this is leaps and bounds more serious than that, which means we need to find who it is and stop them before it escalates any further.”
“Do you have any leads?” I ask.
Billy Waters is, I’m sure, on all of our minds. Although I could see him supporting the actions of the burned signs, it’s hard to imagine him having even the faintest connection to something this serious. The sight of the charred building is enough to make my stomach churn.
“Not any I can say much about,” says Chevy. “But know that we’re close, and I fully expect to be serving a warrant and making an arrest in the morning.”
“Good,” Kyoko says. “I plan to hold you to that.”
“Same,” James says, the one word sounding like a threat.
Wolf has been silent since we arrived, and I can’t read his expression in the moonlight.
Burned campaign signs were enough to send Wolf curling into himself, and now, I fear this may send him right back there.
Or worse. Although, maybe having the support of the town—and Kyoko—will make a difference.
Hesitantly, I reach out and put a hand on his shoulder. “How are you feeling?”
I’m not sure what I expected, but it certainly wasn’t to have Wolf turn to me with a determined look in his eyes. “I’ll feel a lot better once Chevy gets this guy off the street. Keeping the community safe from someone who will take such extreme measures is top priority.”
He reaches up for the mustache that’s no longer there, then drops his hand. Kyoko grabs it, linking their fingers together. He smiles down at her, then up at me.
“Things could be worse. I mean, it’s not like I was going to have much time to run a bar while handling the office of mayor.”
“That’s my Wolf,” Kyoko says, and I make a mental note to ask Wolf later how he managed to start a relationship that moved even faster than my own.
Chevy grins at this. “I like your confidence, Wolf. And I also like your chances. Now, I think it’s high time we all clear out. We’ll see how this all lands in the light of day.”
a few weeks later
Where things landed is with a man named Julian Barker under arrest. The trail cams on Wolf’s property clearly showed his face, which helped with identification, but he’d also made incriminating posts on Neighborly before Winnie banned him.
She didn’t connect the dots until after the bar fire, which coincided with angry threats he sent to the Neighborly administrator, aka Winnie.
Also, a few other residents miraculously found footage of Julian burning the signs, all of which helped strengthen the case.
Judge Judie granted a change of venue, citing the impossibility of a fair trial in Sheet Cake. I think I speak for the whole town when I say we’re glad to let him be someone else’s problem.
Though I didn’t really want to imagine that Billy would really go so far as to support or even solicit such an act against his brother, part of me hoped Chevy would find some evidence.
Maybe because it would seem less random than a normal citizen taking such a strong political stance.
But also because it would have meant Wolf running uncontested.
Instead, I’ve spent the last few weeks busier than I want to be—even if I’ve been rocking my newfound ability to say no and step back—and more nervous about the outcome than I’d like.
Whatever happens, it will be fine, I tell myself as I drive to the courthouse. Even if it means having to deal with Billy Waters whenever it comes to town business.
As frustrating as that would be, what I’d hate even more is to see Wolf lose after so much support from the community and hard work on his part. Not to mention the loss of his bar, which was a massive casualty of the mayoral race.
Voting closed at seven p.m., so in a few hours, we’ll know for sure.
But for now, I’m meeting Wolf and some other campaign supporters at the courthouse. For exactly what, I’m not yet sure. He was very enigmatic on the phone. If he wanted to hear the results with supporters, we could have met at Dark Horse. I guess we’ll see.
Rose is waiting on the front steps of the courthouse, looking absolutely gorgeous illuminated by the glow of a streetlamp.
She’s wearing a black dress and heels with her hair loose around her shoulders.
Because she usually keeps it pulled back for baking, I love the rare occasions when she leaves it down. Though, honestly, I love it up too.
All versions of Rose are my favorite Rose.
I park and practically bound up the steps to greet her with a kiss. Or two. “Sorry I’m late,” I tell her, going in for kiss number three when she pulls back.
When she pulls back, she surveys my outfit with a raised brow. “Well, this is interesting.”
“I was already babysitting for Pat and Lindy when Wolf texted. This is at least better than the last outfit I borrowed.”
She laughs. “I did like that tank top on you. Since we don’t know the occasion and it is Wolf we’re talking about, maybe it would have been appropriate.”
“Hey, this isn’t so bad.” I drop down a step to offer Rose a better view of my outfit, which I procured from Pat’s closet before I left. It consists of dark-wash jeans, a button-down shirt, suspenders, and a bow tie. “And Wolf did say dress up.”
“Dress up could mean being fancy or in costume,” she points out.
“True. In any case, this is what I’ve got for tonight. Should we get in there? I don’t want to be late for … whatever this is.”
I take her hand as we quickly move up the steps and into the building.
No one else is in sight, so I’m guessing we’re the last or almost the last to arrive.
Pat and Lindy are coming, but they’ll be infantally late, as Lindy called it, which is her version of fashionably late because of a baby.
I guess that also makes me infantally late as well since I was babysitting, but a little less so.
Burt is sitting inside the building on his usual stool. “Howdy,” he says. “You’re late.”
“I know, I know.” He waves us through the metal detectors, and thankfully, we don’t set it off. I’m surprised when he comes through behind us and then goes ahead, waving us to follow him up the curved staircase. “We’re headed into the main courtroom.”
I really had no idea what to expect when Burt pushes open the double doors, but it certainly wasn’t this.
The courthouse is lit entirely by candles—dozens upon dozens of flickering white candles—and the 1970s flavor of the courtroom is masked by more white flowers than I’ve ever seen.
“What is this?” I whisper, and Rose giggles, nudging me with her elbow.
“For a smart man, sometimes you miss the most obvious of clues,” she says. “Unless I’m mistaken, we’re at a wedding. And I think you’re needed—get up there!”
I realize that Wolf is standing up at the front by Judge Judie’s bench, wearing a bright blue tux that would look ridiculous on anyone else.
He’s grown his mustache back, complete with the curled ends, though they’re not as long as they were before.
His dark hair looks like it’s been trimmed and is neatly combed back.
And he is, indeed, waving me up to the front.
Rose gives my hand a squeeze and then a light shove.
As I make my way to the front, realizing that most of my family is here, aside from Pat and Lindy.
And, of course, Harper and Chase, who are not as close to Wolf.
James is seated next to Collin, Molly, Chevy, and Val.
The only other guests are Big Mo, Eula Martin, and Lynn Louise.
And, of course, Judge Judie at the bench.
Burt slides into the row next to Big Mo.
Did they all know about this? Or did they arrive, just like I did, and walk into this surprise wedding?
Wolf holds out his hand, and I think he’s trying to shake it until I feel him press something cool against my palm. Grinning, he says, “I was hoping you’d do double duty as my best man and ring-bearer.”
I take the ring but keep my eyes on Wolf. “You’re getting married?”
“I am.”
“But … they’re going to be announcing the election results in a matter of hours.”
I’m not sure why this is the sticking point for me, and not the speed at which Wolf and Kyoko moved from starting to date to, I guess, the altar.
In this case, I guess it’s a bench not an altar.
“Exactly,” Wolf agrees with a grin. “And I don’t plan on becoming Sheet Cake’s first single mayor. So, what do you say?”
There’s only one thing to say, and moments later, I’m standing next to Wolf, watching as Winnie escorts a beaming Kyoko, who’s wearing a white dress trimmed in feathers. With her dark hair and those feathers, she looks like a swan gliding up the aisle. Definitely Wolf’s perfect match.
I meet Rose’s gaze. She’s misty-eyed but grinning, and I can’t help but wonder if she’s thinking about our wedding.
I may be a few steps behind Wolf, but I’ve had the ring already for two weeks and have been working on plans for what’s probably too grand of a proposal. But I’ve never been a man of small dreams. Hopefully, with help from John, Chelsea, and the Emilys, I’ll have everything set soon.
And here I was, thinking we were moving fast. Wolf and Kyoko are making us look positively like a couple of sloths in a footrace.
The whole ceremony is over in ten minutes, but emotional impact isn’t dependent upon time, and there’s not a dry eye in the room by the time Judge Judie announces them man and wife. She’s barely told Wolf he can kiss the bride when he’s swept Kyoko up in his arms, feathers and all.
The room fills with laughter, cheers, and, because Pat did manage to show up barely in time with his family, chants of Wolf! Wolf! Wolf! He’s even got Jo doing it.
When all of us emerge from the courtroom, another surprise awaits.
A group even larger than the one who showed up at Dark Horse for Wolf’s rally a few weeks ago have filled the town square.
There’s an even bigger cheer as Wolf and Kyoko lead the way down the steps, and I start to think I’m one of the only people in Sheet Cake who didn’t know about this wedding.
But then a banner unfurls from over the top of the gazebo that reads, Congratulations, Mayor Wolf! and I realize that this celebration is not about his wedding but the results of the election.
“I guess the votes are in,” Chevy says. “Congratulations, Mayor Waters.”
Kyoko throws her arms around him, and he spins her around until feathers begin flying off her dress. But neither of them seem to care.
“I won?” he asks, sounding shocked.
“What happened to all that confidence you had?” I ask.
He shakes his head, still smiling. “Oh, that was all just for show. Positive thinking and manifesting all that. I totally thought Billy was going to pull out a win.”
“Wolf,” Kyoko says with a laugh. “I can’t believe you!”
“Would you still have married me if I hadn’t said the whole thing about needing a wife before I won?”
Stepping up on her tiptoes, Kyoko gives him a kiss. “Absolutely. I might have even married you sooner.”
“Noted,” he says.
Rose leans into me. “Well, at least now we aren’t the fastest-moving couple in Sheet Cake,” she says.
“Does this mean we can get married anytime now?” I tease, but her eyes are serious when she looks at me.
“Yes. Anytime. And not just because of this,” she says. “I don’t want to lose a moment with you, Theo. I want every single one.”
“Follow me.”
My old impulsivity rears up again, and while the celebrations start in the town square, I tug Rose with me down the street and right into the alley behind the diner with an urgency I can feel all the way down in my toes.
We’re in a pool of shadows by the back door, and I pull her to a stop, then lift our linked hands to kiss each one of her fingers. “Remember this alley?” I ask.
She laughs. “I do. If I’m not mistaken, we previously joked about you getting me into the alley so you could hold my hand.”
“That’s right. And now”—I drop to my knees—“I want more than that. I want all of you, all of this, all of us.”
“Theo,” she breathes, her eyes glistening with tears. “Are you asking what I think you’re asking?”
“Yes. Only, I didn’t mean to do it this way.”
“Not in an alleyway?” she teases.
“Not in an alley. Not after someone else’s wedding and while a town-wide celebration is going on.
” There’s a pop, a bang, and then the sky lights up above us.
“The fireworks are a nice touch, though. Rose Roberts, I had a whole big plan with a grand gesture and all kinds of special things, one which we’ll have to carry out still or I’ll face the ire of your family and friends but—”
“You do?”
“I do. Big plans. Which means we might have to keep this between us for right now, but I can’t wait another moment without asking. Rose, will you marry me?”
“Yes,” she says. “Absolutely yes.”
We kiss in the alley behind the diner until I feel like we might be missed and have members of my family tracking us down. Then we join the town and most of my family out in the square to celebrate, carrying this special secret between us.
And as we sway to a slow song under the light of the moon on a crisp fall night, I pull her close until my lips brush her ear and murmur, “You make me a lucky man, Rose Roberts, lucky in life and lucky in love.”