Chapter 18
Chapter
Eighteen
“I’m going to stop at the bookstore,” Cat’s mother announced as they walked down the sidewalk towards Tate’s bar.
They were meeting for dinner, along with Tate’s siblings and Uncle Mark, who was unexpectedly in town for a visit. Or not so unexpectedly, depending on how one looked at it. Tate had been searching for his uncle, but he hadn’t thought that Mark would simply show up out of nowhere as a surprise.
“Go on to the tavern,” Grace said. “But I want to pick up a new book. I’ll go back to the house when I’m done. And yes, it’s okay.”
Cat had experience with her mom picking out new reading material, and it never took only a few minutes. Her mother could easily get lost in a bookstore and come out a few hours later with a stack of new books.
Cat didn’t blame her in the least. Lucy’s bookstore was a great place to get lost in if you had some time to kill. If Tate wasn’t expecting her, she might have joined her mother.
“We’re supposed to be hanging out together.”
“And we are,” Grace laughed. “It’s been lovely. But it’s time for you to go meet Tate. Trust me, I can get home on my own. Go have a good time. I won’t wait up.”
“What makes you think I’ll be out late?”
“Because of the way you and Tate look at each other.”
“You’re a great mom. Have fun, and call me if you need me.”
“I am a great mom, and I’ll be just fine. I’ve been getting around town for many years while you were gone. I can handle things.”
Her mother went into the bookstore, waving through the window as she began scanning one of the book displays near the register.
Cat didn’t need to hurry to the bar. She could take her time and do some window shopping. All the siblings wanted a chance to visit with Mark first, plus Piper had a conference call with someone on the West Coast, so they had to wait for her.
She continued down the sidewalk, slowing as she found herself in front of Lindsey’s grooming business. She could see Lindsey through the large window, working on an adorable Yorkie.
Lindsey saw Cat and smiled, waving at her to come in. For a moment, Cat hesitated, not sure she could act casual after hearing what Rachel had said about the supposed affair, but then she had no idea if any of it was even remotely true.
The bell over the door rang as Cat walked into the grooming salon. Lindsey was dressed in a pink apron and appeared to be finishing up with the canine on the table.
For the first time, she noticed how Lindsey resembled Rachel. They weren’t identical, but their coloring was the same. Lindsey was a few inches shorter, but from a distance, they looked very much alike.
“Hey, I’ve been meaning to call you,” Lindsey said. “I was hoping we could set up a lunch or something so we can catch up. This is Tiger, by the way. His mommy and daddy are going to be here to pick him up any minute. He’s my last customer of the day.”
Tiger was looking up at Cat with the biggest and softest brown eyes she’d ever seen.
“He’s a cutie,” Cat said. “I’ve been thinking about getting a dog myself. I’ve never been able to get one before now because I traveled too much.”
If she took the skin care job, she’d probably be traveling again. She’d be “back” in her old life.
Think about what you’ll be proud of.
Her mother’s words were still ringing in Cat’s ears.
“Really? A dog? Do you have any idea of what you’re looking for? I work with the county shelter, helping our four-footed friends find forever homes.”
“I’m not sure. I don’t want a dog that’s super high energy. I was hoping for one that’s kind of chill and would be happy to watch television with me.”
Apparently, Cat had picked the right topic because Lindsey launched into a list of questions regarding hair versus fur, big versus small, and so on.
“Just let me know when, and I’ll meet you at the shelter,” she said. “I can show you around, and perhaps suggest a few that might be what you’re looking for. Sadly, we never seem to lack animals that need a good home.”
“Did Josh and Rachel adopt from the shelter?”
What am I doing? Why did I ask that?
Lindsey didn’t even blink at the question or the mention of Josh.
“They did, which is wonderful. They’re also patrons, and they give generously during the annual fundraiser.
They’re terrific pet parents. I’m sure the pups are being a great comfort to them right about now.
You know, with everything that’s happening.
It always helps to have that unconditional love.
I can’t believe Josh was hit by a car. That’s so crazy. ”
“It is crazy,” Cat agreed. “Hopefully, Finn can find whoever did it.”
Lindsey cleared her throat, her gaze darting to the door and then back to Cat.
“I heard that the vehicle looked just like Rachel’s.”
Gossip traveled faster than the speed of light in Winslow Heights. The grapevine hadn’t wasted any time.
“I don’t think Rachel would try to kill Josh. Besides, I was with her later in the day when she got the call about him. She was truly upset when she heard the news.”
“There are a lot of people who wouldn’t be surprised if she did,” Lindsey replied with a shrug. “There have been rumors around town that she and Josh are having problems. Some say that Josh and Shelly are sleeping together. They say that’s why Leo was so upset the night of the party.”
Shelly? As in Leo and Shelly? This was something new. Did Lindsey realize that Rachel thought that she was the affair partner? It was far too confusing and had way too many players in this game.
“Who is saying this?” Cat asked. “Sometimes, rumors are just rumors.”
“Winnie said it, and she’s Rachel’s best friend and business partner. She would know.”
If Rachel had told Winnie that she thought Josh was sleeping with Shelly, why on earth had she told Cat that he was sleeping with Lindsey? Did she think that Josh was sleeping with all the women in town? Was this simply some sort of paranoia? It didn’t give Rachel a great deal of credibility.
A better question might be why Winnie was spouting Rachel’s personal business to other people. It made Cat think that Rachel needed different friends.
The bell over the door rang again, and a couple walked in, immediately cooing at Tiger, who had been sitting patiently while Cat and Lindsey had talked. The dog began jumping around and yipping when he saw that it was his parents.
“I’ll call you about lunch,” Cat promised as she moved toward the exit. Lindsey had her hands full with the customers who wanted to book their next appointment. “I’m looking forward to it.”
Lindsey waved goodbye, and Cat turned down the sidewalk and headed to Tate’s.
It had been a strange conversation. If Lindsey was having an affair with Josh, she was one cool customer.
As for Shelly sleeping with Josh, she couldn’t take that seriously either.
Leo didn’t seem like the type of guy who would pick a fight in public where many people could overhear them.
It was one more thing in all of this mess that didn’t make a lick of sense.
Frankie’s arms were crossed over her chest, her lips pressed into a thin, mutinous line. She was gloriously angry, and Tate wasn’t about to take a bit of the blame. It all belonged to Zack, and that’s where she should be directing her ire.
“I told him to tell you,” Tate said, not bothered in the least about throwing his oldest sibling under the bus. His brother should have fucking known better. “Cooper told him to tell you. He decided differently.”
“You could have told me. Either one of you,” Frankie replied, the words short and clipped. “But you didn’t.”
“It was his mistake to rectify,” Tate explained. “And don’t try turning this around on us just because you don’t want to argue with Zack and lose. We’re not taking responsibility for this. If you’re pissed off, talk to him.”
Zack, for his part, didn’t appear to be all that chastened. He was sitting at the bar, casually sipping a whiskey. Cooper, on the other hand, had a wicked grin on his face, clearly enjoying the sparring.
“I don’t really give a shit,” Sam declared with a roll of his eyes. “We know now. Sure, it would have been better to know before, but it’s not like we don’t get to see everything, right? You’re not hiding anything else?”
Sam was the pragmatic sibling. He didn’t like getting upset about something unless he truly needed to. Perhaps that was why he’d been able to work with their dad for so many years. Joel Winslow’s antics barely seemed to register with Sam.
“Not a thing,” Cooper assured him. “All of the items are in Zack’s spare room.”
“Are you sure there’s not anything else you’re not telling us?” Piper asked, her lower lip trembling and her eyes shining with unshed tears.
Shit, they’d hurt her feelings. Frankie was mad, but Piper was hurt. That was ten times worse.
His mother had done the same thing. She’d tell him she wasn’t angry, just disappointed. That had to be the worst declaration ever in parenting.
I disappointed her. Dammit.
Piper was so like their mother in many ways, not just looks. Their personalities were similar, as were their noses and chins.
“I don’t like seeing this,” Uncle Mark finally said from his perch on a barstool, soft drink in hand. “Brothers and sisters arguing. It’s sad. Lily’s passing should have brought you all together, not torn you apart.”
“Sadly, that didn’t happen,” Zack replied, his voice soft. “But I guess there’s still time.”
“Winslows suck at working as a team,” Cooper said bluntly. “We’re all a bit self-absorbed.”
Poor Lucy and Jane were sitting off to the side and looking uncomfortable, possibly second-guessing their involvement with a Winslow brother.
“Amen to that,” Jane whispered, but loudly enough to be heard. “But in a charming, adorable way.”
A chuckle ran around the room, breaking the nasty tension. Even Frankie had a smile on her face.
“I’m still pissed off,” she declared, taking a deep breath. “Zack, don’t ever pull shit like that again. Do you hear me? I still know how to swing a racquet.”