chapterthirty-five
Beckett
Today’s Special:
Free-Range Fallout Finished with a Vinaigrette of Intentions
The back sideof the café went up in flames but the rest of the building came out of the ordeal unscathed and no one sustained any serious injuries.
The guy with the knife, one Joey Waller, who managed to stab himself before Sunny broke his nose, was in police custody.
Sunny had a few new cuts and bruises to add to her collection, and her cast was a little worse off but that could be replaced. She couldn’t.
My knuckles were in rough shape and it didn’t seem like anything could scrub the memory of that guy waving a hunting knife at Sunny from my mind but I was all right.
We were all right—and the people crowded into the oyster company dining room seemed determined to remind us of that every few minutes.
Dex and Parker stood by the bar with Meara and her husbands while Bethany helped Mel mix drinks. Every so often, Mel grabbed Bethany by the ponytail and kissed her. Muffy lingered nearby, EpiPen in hand. Hale stood by the entrance with Nyomi, an arm slung around her shoulders while he talked to Zeus. I didn’t know what Chef was doing back there but he was busy barking orders at the kitchen staff and it wasn’t important enough for me to find out. A bunch of the servers were still here, along with Sunny’s parents who were taking this as well as could be imagined. A few stiff drinks from Mel seemed to be helping with their general helicoptering.
Naturally, Ranger and Phil Collins had rolled up shortly after the fire engines. Ranger came prepared, dressed in a waterproof poncho, muckers, and a headlamp. Always ready for action, that one.
Sunny’s old boss Leary had been the last to arrive, escorted by none other than the infamous Mars. They’d heard about the events of this evening from Leary’s niece, who also happened to be Joey Waller’s mom. Leary hugged Sunny tight and said there was no explaining or excusing great-nephew’s corrupted mind. Though I still had a profound desire to glare at the guy, Mars hadn’t stopped apologizing for his homicidal cousin since walking in the door. He’d offered to help pay for the damages to Naked and I wouldn’t let Sunny turn him down.
“That does it,” Leary said. “We’re moving to Friendship.” He slapped his nephew on the back. “Make yourself useful and find us a new place to live.”
“I really don’t think—” Mars started.
“I don’t want to hear any of your guff,” Leary interrupted. “That fella over there looks like he knows a thing or two. Go on over. See if he knows of any houses for sale. If not a house, a barn will do. Lord knows you need the room.” He pointed toward Ranger. “Don’t come back until you have an answer.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Sunny said to Leary.
“Maybe not, but I don’t like Boston,” he groused. “Too many people. And pigeons.” He gave her a knowing nod. “You’ll need my help, sunshine.”
Leary shuffled toward Mars and Ranger, who was bubbling with the excitement of being useful.
“Why do I get the feeling this guy has semi-adopted you?” I asked Sunny.
“Because he has.” She smiled. “You too.”
“The doctor orders whiskey,” Bartholomew said, setting two tumblers on the table beside us with a plate of elaborately shaped truffles. “And chocolate. It helps.”
“Thanks.” I picked up one of the glasses and downed the liquid in one go. If ever there was a night for it. “And thanks for running out there with the fire extinguisher. You probably prevented the entire building from going up.”
“Most important tool in the kitchen.” He held up his hands, shrugged. “Back home,” he started, abandoning all pretense of a French accent, “my dad’s a firefighter. I know enough of the basics to get by.”
“My compliments to your dad,” Sunny said.
When he stalked back into the kitchen, I adjusted the blanket around her damp shoulders and held her tight. “Can I take you home now?”
She bobbed her head against my shoulder. “Yeah. I want to see my dogs and sleep for at least twelve hours, and I want you to give me another one of those baths but without the concussion protocol this time.”
“In that order?” I asked.
I felt her smile. “We’ll see.”
It took us half an hour to get out of there. Everyone required many hugs, many reassurances that we were all right. They all wanted to drive us home or offer a guest room at their place or any number of other things. Beth and Mel would walk the dogs. Hale and Nyomi would bring breakfast in the morning. Ranger would be over with plywood to shore up the damage at Naked. They meant well and I appreciated that we had all these people to fuss over us. It was a gift. Even if it annoyed the hell out of me sometimes and confused me the rest of the time.
When we stepped outside, the rain was still coming down in sheets and we ran to my car, laughing the whole way. Once we were inside, I reached over and kissed the rain off her lips. It was good to feel her smile against me. It was good to have her here with me.
