We pile into the truck and head for the inn. The instant I climb out of the truck, Caleb is in my face.
“Is Celeste okay? We heard Hank’s in custody.”
Holy hell, they weren’t wrong about the small-town grapevine.
“Hank is getting his meds adjusted, hopefully. Maybe some respite. There were no handcuffs involved, Caleb. Where on earth did you hear that from?”
Caleb’s sheepish expression turns to the inn’s front door, where Helen from the front desk stands waiting.
“Ah, I see you’re getting your intel from a reliable source, at least,” I deadpan.
“Yeah. Shit, sorry. Should have known better than to believe a word the Grafton grapevine had to say.” He throws Helen anannoyed look. She tilts her nose up, rolls off the doorframe, and stalks inside.
I help Maise out of the truck, and we get to work. Double-checking every part of the renovation, I walk the jobsite like I would any big build and triple-check all the small details. Maise follows behind, listening and asking the boys if they have done this or done that.
Mostly it gets laughs out of them. Until she catches a mistake or an imperfection.
“Maise, can you grab some sodas from the cooler in the back seat of the truck?” I ask.
“Sure, Daddy.” She skips off, heading for the truck parked by the entrance.
“See the boss lady has you all sorted out today,” Caleb says with a chuckle.
“It’s been a weird morning. First I was sassed for turning off some abomination of a Christmas song by my five-going-on-fifteen-year-old daughter. Then the whole Hank thing. To add insult to injury, I left Celeste alone after...”
“Fuck, man, you could’ve stayed. We have this covered.” He frowns.
“Maybe. Besides, it’s my job to double-check, not yours. It’s my reputation on the line.”
“Ah, true.” He slides a screwdriver into his back pocket and rifles through the hardware box until he comes up with another antique brass fitting. Installing it, he looks back at me. “You know, we all love Hank and CC. But old Mr. Black has been struggling for a while. Before Marie left, he was starting to muck up in town. That’s why she stopped taking him out.”
“Seriously?”
“Yeah, he was bad. Always ripping his clothes off. Getting aggressive with folks for no reason. At least it looked that way, anyway. I was surprised when Marie left CC in charge. Ifanything, that man needs more help. Marie kind of did the dirty on CC. And I’m guessing by what happened this week, CC had no idea.”
“Fuck.” I swipe my hand through my hair. “Let’s hope they keep him in the hospital a while. It isn’t fair to CC. And you’re right, he needs more help than just a live-in caretaker. Much more.”
“Guess someone will figure that out. None of our business, I suppose.”
I chuckle. “Says Mr. Grafton Grapevine.”
He just shrugs, returning his focus to the hardware in his grip. I grab a few pieces from the box and get to fitting them. With most of my checks done, I need to keep my hands busy.
“Here, Daddy.” Maise hands me a soda. “Can you open mine?”
“Sure, kiddo. But only half, alright?”
“Uh-huh...” She’s nodding, but somehow I don’t believe her.
My back pocket buzzes, and I slip my screwdriver between my teeth and pull the phone out.
Thank you for this morning.
Damn, CC.
This little woman has gone far too long without someone on her side. Someone to always root for her.
Anytime, baby. You know where I live.
