"I'll get your statement later," Susan said, and Jack and I nodded.
"You know where to find us," I said wearily.
The ambulance arrived seconds later, and the EMTs loaded Mellie onto a stretcher and carried her off. They wanted to take me, too, but I shook my head.
"I'm fine. I just had a swamp cabbage versus feral children incident. But why were you late?“
Jack winced. “My truck was blocked in. I had to run. And I’m in big trouble, aren't I?"
I just sighed. "Jack, I'm just too darn tired. Take me home?"
"Absolutely."
He took my hand and we started for my car, but then I changed my mind.
"No. I want to see the fireworks. I feel like I earned fireworks. Fireworks and funnel cakes."
"Your wish is my command," Jack said, and then he hugged me like he never wanted to let me go. "Don't ever do anything like that again," he said, his voice ragged. "If I'd lost you—"
"Little late to worry about losing me, after youabandoned me to a herd of feral children."
"Tess—"
"Do you haveany ideawhat they did to me?"
"Tess—"
"I may never, ever forgive you," I told him. "In fact, now that I think about it—"
But then he kissed me until I forgot what I was going to say, and we had our very own fireworks right there on the sidewalk next to my car.
When we finally had to stop kissing and catch our breath, Jack smiled down at me, his eyes shining like emeralds. "All's well that ends well?"
I smiled sweetly. "Revenge of the Swamp Cabbage."
20
When we finally made it back to the festival, it was time for the actual fireworks. Jack leaned back against the side of the bulldozer and pulled me with him until I was resting against him with his arms loosely circling my waist.
The fireworks were amazing, and we oohed and aahed right along with everyone else. When Aunt Ruby came by, I even hugged her, although I was still planning to think of some horribly wonderful way to get even.
This was one of my favorite things about life in Dead End. Times like this, surrounded by family and friends. We still had to deal with the issue of Shelley's uncle, and Bonnie Jo wasn't getting any younger, but problems were easier to face when you knew you weren’t alone.
I could see Eleanor, Bill, and his niece on a bench across the street. Uncle Mike and Shelley walked over to stand next to me and Jack. Dave Wolf and his son wandered over to stand with us, too.
Even Lorraine, pretty as a picture in a yellow dress and yellow orthopedic shoes, stopped by to say hi.
"No more margaritas for me," I whispered. "And definitely no more spying missions."
She just laughed. "Never say never!"
Jack's phone buzzed. He pulled it out of his pocket and glanced at it and then put it away. "Dallas is at the hospital with Mellie. The doctors say she's going to be fine."
"Hopefully they lock Vern away for a long time and get him the help he needs," I said, shuddering at the memory of the look in his eyes at Mellie's house.
"We'll find out about it from Susan tomorrow. Maybe… huh. That's weird."
I shook my head. "No. No more weird. I have had enough weird."
