She cleaned up his mess then headed inside. After taking the bag out to the alley where the dumpsters had been returned after Friday’s outdoor movie theater had been broken down, she went back and sat near Jonathon.
He looked up from his writing. “Yes?”
“Maybe nothing, but definitely in the weird category.” Rarity told him about seeing Jane.
He glanced toward the door then shrugged. “Maybe she got a phone call. All those film people are wearing the earpieces for their phones. I thought I was having a conversation with someone at the memorial when they stood up and walked away. My discussion was one sided and I didn’t even realize it. He probably thought I was a crazy old man.”
“That could be true.” Rarity hadn’t seen Jane closely. She could have had a call and realized she needed to be somewhere else. She might not have even seen Rarity wave.
But she thought she’d seen recognition on the woman’s face.
“Anyway, I wanted to let you know I’ll be heading into Flagstaff tonight to meet up with my writers’ group. They moved the meeting from Wednesday so I could read from my chapter this week.” He glanced at the computer. “Can I use your copier? I’ll pay you for the copies.”
“Consider it a part of your benefit package for being here. I know you only write here to please Drew. It’s not like we’re going out to scan the streets for drug dealers to ask them questions about local murders.” She held up her hand when he started to say something. “Wait, let me rephrase that. I’m sounding a little grumpy. Thank you for being part of the Next Chapter’s unofficial staffing. The copies are on me.”
He chuckled, then said, “You’re welcome and all I was going to say before is I like being here. I know you don’t need me, but I need all of you. It’s been tougher than I thought changing my life where my job had life-and-death choices. Now, I write and, sometimes, get to think about why a murderer would kill. Although my years of law enforcement experience doesn’t seem to be helping with this murder. I feel like I’m missing something important.”
Rarity’s eyes widened. “I feel exactly the same way. There’s something I should be seeing but I’m not. Anyway, make as many copies as you want. And thank you again. I will be fine walking home alone. I have Killer.”
Jonathon snorted. “And with that image, I’m back to work. Romeo would probably think less of me if I pointed out Killer’s size and threat level.”
She glanced at her watch. “Another hour and I’m kicking you out of here. I’ve got a pool waiting for me at home. As well as leftover shrimp fajitas.”
At the house, after she’d closed the bookstore and seen off Darby and Katie as well as Jonathon, Romeo, and Shirley, she checked her fridge to make sure she did have enough leftovers for dinner, then hit the pool. Tomorrow night there would be the mid-festival ceremonies, and she’d already told Archer she’d go with him. Still, she was beginning to feel grateful that this festival was only once a year. For their small town, the festival committee had made the event feel like they were living in Hollywood and seeing premieres on a nightly basis. Darby and Katie were dressing up for tonight’s showing and had offered to lend Rarity one of their theater dresses for tomorrow’s event.
She had another little black dress that should be fine. And since they were walking into town, she’d throw on some flats rather than the heels. She’d pull her hair into a fancy updo, which had two benefits. One, it looked great. And two, getting the hair off her neck would be cooler. She’d have a shawl to cover her from the sun on the walk over and from the chill on the walk home. She had Arizona clothing down to a science now after a few years.
As she swam, she let the lists and worries of the day seep out of her head and into the pool water. Killer was on the deck, lying where he could be in the path of the cooling fan as well as still be able to see her in the pool. Rarity blamed his needy nature on losing his first mommy to a violent crime.
Even though Killer hadn’t been at the scene of her death.
Maybe she spent too much time alone with her dog? She pushed the idea out of her head and concentrated on the next stroke. One after another. Until she’d reached her lap count and her shoulders were no longer tense. They’d be screaming at her tomorrow, but today, she was loose. She climbed out of the pool and heard raised voices. Then a door slammed.
She looked out the fence gate and saw Shirley getting into her car that was parked at Terrance’s house. The gate from his backyard opened and he saw her standing there.
“Sorry about that. I didn’t know anyone was home or we would have taken our disagreement into the house before we started yelling.” He watched Shirley’s car back out. “I’m a fool.”
“Same argument?”
Terrance nodded. “I need to stop pushing. She gives me what she can. I just love her.”
“Shirley’s in a hard spot right now. You need to be patient.”
He sighed. “I’m trying. I’ve got to get dressed. I’m meeting some friends at the movie thing tonight. Which is why she was mad at me. She doesn’t want anyone to misconstrue our friendship as anything but just friends. Which is why I told her that we needed to be out in public now. People notice secrets. If you’re just open as friends, people let it be.”
“I think people decide what they want to think, no matter what you do. All you can do is what you feel comfortable with. I think with Shirley, she’s doing the best she can.” Rarity met his gaze, trying to help her friend. Both her friends.
He took off his hat and ran his fingers through his gray hair. “You’re right, of course. I’ll give her some time to calm down, and then I’ll apologize. I just pray that I can keep my mouth shut the next time she brings up the future. I know she’s feeling pressure. I don’t want any of it to come from me.”
Rarity went back inside her backyard, and as she did, she heard the click of Terrance’s gate right after her own. Sometimes relationships were hard. Sometimes they were impossible. Terrance and Shirley were right on the borderline of impossible.
She went back inside with Killer to start her evening. She had plenty to think about to keep herself busy.
* * *
Saturday morning, kids were running around the bookstore. Cars still lined up on the street, waiting for a spot they could pull in and drop off their kid. In three hours, the kids would be sitting on their phones, waiting for a text message telling them their mom or dad was right outside.
Romeo and Jonathon were in the back room along with Killer. He’d started shaking in his bed under the counter, so Rarity had moved him to the back and shut the door. Hopefully, the closed door and “No Admittance” sign were enough to keep the kids out.
