I shake my head. “Definitely not. Tell me about the second app.”
“It was for animals. A way to track your pet using a tracking device that hooks onto their collar. Owners could also take notes, like when they administered medicine, or notate the dog’s behavior to later share with a vet if the dog was sick.”
“That sounds great too. What happened?”
“Same story. Someone else beat me to completion.”
I make a frustrated sound and Finn laughs. “It’s the nature of the beast, Lennon.”
I nod. “Still sucks.”
“Yes it does,” Finn says as I pull into a parking spot at the mortuary and cut the engine. “Are you ready for all this?”
“Do I have a choice?”
His eyes grow serious. “You always have a choice.”
I smile weakly at Finn and grab my purse from the back seat. Having a choice is what has kept me securely in between Brady and Finn, loving two men for most of my life.
7
Now
The mortuary is officiallya place I never want to find myself in ever again. Even when it’s my turn. But I guess by then I won’t know, so it won’t make a difference.
I’ve done my part picking out a casket and going over service details with Pastor Thomas, and now we’re lingering in the lobby.
“I’ll make the announcement about the date and time of the service tonight at Bible study, and once all the ladies get ahold of it, it will spread like wildfire.” Pastor Thomas laughs at his own joke. “We’ll update our webpage, Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.”
“What about Snapchat?” Finn asks. I know he’s teasing, but Pastor Thomas doesn’t.
Pastor Thomas frowns. “Snapchat is not the kind of social media our congregation spends much time on.”
Finn smirks. “Something tells me you’re wrong about that.”
Pastor Thomas’ mouth draws into a hard line. He looks like he has a lot more to say, but he’s choosing to hold back. He’s not the only one holding something back, except what I’m holding back is my laughter.
“Finn, I need a moment alone with Lennon.”
Irritation flares on Finn’s face. He looks to me, and I give a small nod. He saunters out the front door and disappears from sight.
Pastor Thomas leans closer to me. “What I told you yesterday... that should stay between you and me.” His gaze flicks outside, then back to me. “I’ve never been quite sure how to tell everyone. And I don’t want to hurt my father’s legacy.”
My insides tighten at the mention of the word legacy. If my mother would have believed me that night, my stepfather’s legacy would’ve been ripped to shreds long ago.
“Your secret is safe with me.” Stepping back into Agua Mesa and ruining this guy’s big secret was never on my agenda.
His features soften with relief. “I think we got started off on the wrong foot.” He offers me his hand. “My name is David. You don’t need to call me Pastor Thomas.”
“Hi, David.” I shake his hand as I greet him like we’re new to each other. “We’re not friends. I don’t make a habit of becoming friends with someone who thinks I might be a murderer.”
He shakes his head. “That's not what I said.”
My eyebrows raise. “Word on the street is that you killed my father.” My fingers make air quotes as I speak.
He lets out a small sigh. “Okay, thatiswhat I said. But that’s not what I meant.” He looks around to make sure nobody is nearby, and even though we’re alone, he comes one step closer and lowers his voice. “When I came to Agua Mesa, and I heard what happened, I kept imagining scenarios. Like, what would happen if I met you, or called you, or I don’t know, was struck by lightning and left with mental telepathy capabilities.”
Despite the fact that I’ve decided I definitely do not like this man, I laugh.
