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“That’s Barb over there, isn’t it?” she asked in a low voice, nodding toward the tiny woman who dyed her hair to a weird, orangish shade and had a narrow face that was already deeply wrinkled. Years of tanning, smoking, and no doubt stress had obviously taken their toll.
Wayne glanced over his shoulder. “Yep, and that’s his dad standing next to her.” He turned back to Lia. “I don’t know his real name. They always call him Cap. Drew says it’s because he was captain of the Pike football team that won state.”
Lia studied the large man who towered over his wife. He had broad shoulders beneath his coat, but they were hunched forward and he was carrying a cane. His face was broad, and his eyes were sunken, while his dark hair was already threaded with gray.
“I don’t think I’ve ever seen him around town.” Lia wasn’t surprised not to recognize the man. Pike was small, but there were people who worked in Grange, or even Madison, and rarely participated in local events.
“From what I’ve heard, the dude never leaves the house. He was in some sort of accident when Drew was just a kid. He was working construction out at the meatpacking plant when a pile of steel pipes rolled off the back of a truck and smashed into him. Now he does nothing but eat painkillers and watch TV.”
Lia grimaced, feeling a pang of sympathy. It was no wonder Drew acted out on occasion. His homelife seemed to be a mess.
“That’s . . .” Lia forgot what she was going to say as someone stepped through the doorway and entered the waiting room. It was a teenage boy in a letter jacket and a stocking hat. “Oh,” she breathed out, her heart racing.
Wayne sent her a puzzled glance. “What’s wrong?”
“Just for a second I thought that was Drew walking through the door,” she confessed, her pulse returning to normal as she belatedly recognized the boy. “I never realized how much Cord and Drew look alike.”
“It’s the matching coats and lack of necks,” Wayne said.
“Maybe.” Lia turned her attention to the girl who was holding Cord’s hand as they walked across the room to talk to Drew’s parents. She was tall and slender, with long dark hair and pale skin. “Is that Sunny Erickson?”
Wayne nodded, his features tightening into an odd expression. “Her and Cord go out when she can get away from her mother.”
Lia pursed her lips. Sunny was the same age as Wayne, but she wasn’t in the same class. Mayor Tate and Jolene had insisted the girl be homeschooled, as if they were afraid she might be tainted by spending time with the other kids. Even worse, Jolene treated the poor girl as if she was her pampered pooch on a leash, constantly having her next to her whenever she left the house.
Not that Sunny seemed to mind. Like her parents, she treated people with a condescending attitude that made sure to let everyone know she was far superior.
Lia glanced back at Wayne. “I can’t imagine the mayor’s very happy with his daughter dating Cord Walsh.”
His lips pinched, as if he’d tasted something sour. Or maybe it was his thoughts that were sour.
“The only reason she goes out with Cord is to piss off her parents.”
Lia hid her smile. Obviously, Wayne had a crush on Sunny Erickson. A shame. Sunny wasn’t going to settle for a penniless boy who had never been outside of Pike. She would eventually find a nice, rich guy with a big brick home to marry.
She turned the conversation away from the sensitive subject. “Shouldn’t you be headed to school?”
“They decided to start Christmas break a couple of days early. Between the skeleton and Drew’s accident, they didn’t think the kids would be able to concentrate.”
“Probably a good idea.” Lia glanced around, accepting that this wasn’t the place to try to discover the truth of how or why the accident had happened. She would never have come to the hospital if she’d taken the time to think through her decision. “I’m headed back to Pike. Let me know if you hear anything about Drew.”
Lia turned toward the door. The store was closed on Mondays, but she always had work to do.
“Hey.” She glanced back at Wayne as he called out. “Are you going to see Kaden Vaughn today?”
The question came without warning and Lia sucked in a sharp breath. It was stupid. Why did the name Kaden Vaughn send a hot sizzle of excitement shooting through her?Because he was smoking hot, a treacherous voice whispered in the back of her mind.
“No.” She stopped to clear her throat. “Why would I?”
“I thought he might be back in town.”
Wayne was attempting to act nonchalant, but it was clear he was eagerly hoping he’d have another opportunity to spend time with his idol. And no doubt get another selfie to share with the world.
“It’s possible, I suppose,” she assured him, not bothering to add that it was doubtful either of them would see the man again.
“Okay. I might stop by to pick up a few extra hours. I could use the money.”
“Sure. See you later.”
