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“Then you know his record is exemplary. He’s earned the wildcard moniker because of his pranks. I teased him about giving me grayer hair on the first day we met, and he gave me a box of Just for Men hair dye.”
Alyssa laughed and visibly relaxed. “I trust your judgment, Lio.”
I smiled and said, “Right back atcha. I hope the rest of your day gets better.”
“Same to you.”
I dove back into my work after Alyssa left and didn’t let up until Greg’s voice came over the intercom to let me know there was a reporter fromSavannah Morning Newson the line for me. I assumed Eads had already gone to the press, but Greg explained he was calling about Alex’s baseball game.
“One of the parents recorded Alex hugging the pitcher and sent it to the newspaper,” Greg said.
“Very well,” I said, then accepted the call. “This is Chief Mendoza.”
“Good afternoon, Chief. My name is Jimmy Skye, and I’m a reporter fromSavannah Morning News.” I was familiar with his articles and relaxed a little more. He wasn’t a gotcha journalist or even a sportswriter. Skye wrote heartwarming, human-interest stories. “I’d like to interview you about the baseball game this weekend.”
“Sure,” I said.
Jimmy asked a few questions about the incident before digging deeper into the relationship between father, son, and baseball. Something about the reporter’s unassuming, conversational style lulled me into sharing the similar experience I’d had with Abe when I was a teenager and how badly I’d reacted.
“What happened after the dust settled?” Jimmy asked.
“Well, we continued to be bitter rivals for a few years, but Abe eventually became my best friend and Alex’s godfather.”
“Life is funny sometimes, isn’t it?”
“It really is,” I said. “I hope Alex builds a friendship with Clint that lasts a lifetime too.”
“Thank you for your time, Chief.”
“My pleasure, Mr. Skye.”
After we hung up, I was stunned by how much information I’d divulged about myself to a stranger. It made sense that I’d opened up to Locke, Eubanks, and Briggs. Either Skye was exceptional at his job, or I was learning to let my guard down. I also realized much of the interview, if printed, would sound like a love letter to Abe. I waited for the panic to hit, but it never came.
Abe
“Thanks again, Wayne,” I said, rising to my feet. I’d been trying to extricate myself from the attorney’s office for close to an hour without success. Earl would’ve said Wayne Carlson still had several reels to run, and I was his captive audience. “My grandfather held you in high regard, and I can’t say that about many people. I hate to cut our conversation short, but I need to swing by the funeral home to pick up Earl’s ashes.”
The attorney rose from his leather chair and buttoned his dark blue suit jacket over his impeccably starched shirt. He’d worn his hair in a ponytail for as long as I could remember, but I noticed the gray and white strands were starting to outnumber the black ones. Wayne was nearly as tall as me, but he looked leaner than I could recall, bordering on gaunt. I’d inquired about his health when I arrived, both out of decency and concern, and was glad to hear the changes were intentional. “Your grandpappy was one of the best men I’ve ever known,” Wayne said. “I’m truly sorry to hear of his passing. There are a few more things I want to go over with you, but I got sidetracked. I’ll just follow you outside.”
I bit back a groan and held open his office door for him. Gretchen, his legal secretary, caught my eye as I walked past her desk, and I knew her sympathetic expression had nothing to do with my recent loss. She’d already extended her sympathies when I arrived. No, her downturned mouth and sad eyes at this juncture seemed more like commiseration. Wayne continued to prattle about everything from county politics to national sports and had finished with the ten-day weather forecast by the time we reached the parking lot. He’d gotten so far off topic I worried he’d need a road map and a guide dog to get him back on course. But then he saw Betty gleaming in the sunlight, and his eyes misted over with tears.
“You’ve done right by Earl your entire life, son,” Wayne said. “It’s no wonder he gave you his worldly possessions when he was alive so he could watch you enjoy them.”
And just like that, my irritation with the delay dissolved. “Thank you, sir.”
“The gals have fielded several calls from your kin. Your daddy, uncle, and cousins are making a lot of noise about contesting Earl’s will, but I assured them it wouldn’t hold water. Earl hadn’t overlooked them. He named the reasons he hadn’t left them anything.” A wry smile lit up his face, and mischief twinkled in his eyes. “I told them I’d be happy to represent you pro bono, and I mean it. Let me know if they make trouble for you.”
“I’m not worried about them,” I said. “I even invited them to say farewell to Earl at his cabin this weekend as a show of goodwill.”
“Those bozos wouldn’t know goodwill if it kneed them in the balls.” I chuckled at the contradiction. “And it’s your cabin,” Wayne corrected.
“Yes, sir.” I might’ve owned the lake house for a while, but it still felt like my grandparents’ place. That was one of the things Earl had addressed in his waning hours. He didn’t want the cabin to be a shrine to them; he wanted me to make it mine and Lio’s. Earl had used every opportunity to work the man’s name into each conversation. Instead of being annoyed, I’d been grateful for his acceptance.
Gretchen stepped onto the front porch of the Victorian house the attorney had converted into his offices. “Wayne, I’m sorry to interrupt, but I need you back inside. There are some things we need to go over before your next appointment.”
The older man sighed and slapped me on the shoulder. “Duty calls, and I should let you get on your way. I believe everything you need to settle your grandpappy’s affairs is in the folder, but you let me know if not.” He’d also nestled my mother’s contact information in there, but I wasn’t ready to think about it.
“Yes, sir, and thanks again.” He shook my hand once more and turned to go back inside. I caught Gretchen’s eye and mouthed, “Thank you.”
