Chapter 17
DEX
Thursday afternoon, I was at Miller’s Hardware picking up supplies for a repair job when I heard the voice that every local knew, and most tried to avoid.
“Dexter Moore! I haven’t seen you in weeks!”
I turned slowly, trying to arrange my face into something that looked pleased instead of panicked.
Mrs. Shulster was bearing down on me with the determination of a woman on a mission, her massive purse clutched in her arms like a football. And peeking out of the top of that purse was Titus, her ancient, possibly-deceased dog who she carried everywhere despite the fact that he hadn’t moved voluntarily in at least two years.
The smell hit me before she did. Like old pennies and mothballs and something distinctly organic that made me want to breathe through my mouth.
Titus was definitely dead. Had to be. No living creature smelled like that. But then he belched and I automatically held my breath, knowing breathing now would be the end of me.
“Hi, Mrs. Shulster.” I tried not to inhale too deeply. “How are you?”
“Oh, wonderful, dear! Just wonderful!” She adjusted Titus in her purse. The dog didn’t so much as twitch. “I’ve been meaning to catch you. Wanted to ask how things are going with the wedding planning.”
“Erm… It’s going well? Trace and Delaney are excited.”
“As they should be! Those two deserve all the happiness in the world after everything they’ve been through.” She patted my arm with her free hand. “And I hear you’ve been a wonderful help. Always such a good boy, Dex. Your grandparents would be so proud.”
Something in my chest squeezed. “Thank you.”
“And speaking of the wedding, I heard that lovely Leigh Pierce is doing the photography. Jasper’s… daughter? I’ve seen her around town but I didn’t want to impose. It’s a difficult situation I imagine.”
My heart started pounding. “Yeah. She’s really talented, and she’s… processing well.”
I could see this for what it was. A fact finding mission. The problem was, I had no idea what I was and wasn’t supposed to say when it came to Leigh, apart from the obvious.
“I’m sure she is. And I also heard,” Mrs. Shulster leaned in conspiratorially, and I got another wave of Eau de Dead Dog, “that you two have been spending quite a bit of time together.”
Shit.
“Just wedding planning,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual. “Scouting locations, coordinating schedules, that kind of thing.”
“Of course, of course.” But her eyes were twinkling in a way that said she didn’t believe me for a second. “Though someone did mention seeing your truck at that overlook spot last Tuesday evening. The one up on Hanover Pass?”
We weren’t at the overlook Tuesday. We were at my house. But someone had clearly seen my truck somewhere with Leigh’s car, and in a town this size, that was enough to start the gossip mill.
“We were checking out potential photography locations,” I said. “For the engagement shoot.”
“I’m sure you were, dear.” She smiled wider, and I suddenly understood why people were terrified of grandmothers with too much time and too much information. “Well, I think it’s wonderful.”
“What’s wonderful?”
“You and Leigh, of course.” She said it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “That girl needs someone good in her life, and you’re a good boy, Dex. Always have been. Took care of your grandparents when they needed you. Always helping the Farrington boys. You deserve to be happy too. And right now, I think you’re exactly what she needs.”
“Mrs. Shulster, we’re not… there’s nothing…”
“Oh, don’t look so panicked!” She laughed, patting my arm again. “I’m not judging. I think it’s lovely. Young people should enjoy themselves. Life’s too short not to.”
I opened my mouth. Closed it. Had no idea what to say.
“You haven’t mentioned this to Billie, have you?” I finally managed.
Her expression softened, became almost conspiratorial. “No, dear. I haven’t told my niece anything. Some things are privateuntil you’re ready to share them. A woman learns that after seventy-three years on this earth.”
