Buck got back in his car and drove a half mile down the dirt road, where he stopped and dialed his sister-in-law. Everlee had been talking to Bobbie a lot at the wedding, and if Buck were lucky, she’d know where he could find her.
“Hi Buck,” Ever greeted brightly. “What can I do for you?”
Yeah.Everlee was sharp. She’d know this wasn’t just a shoot-the-shit call, and he wasn’t going to beat around the bush.
“Has Mason’s filled you in on what happened between me and Bobbie Follster fifteen years ago?”
“As a matter of fact, both he and your mother have been very forthcoming in that regard. But Buck, understand this. I’m not going to intercede on your behalf. You have a huge support group behind you with all your family and friends. Bobbie has no one, so I’ve already offered to be her ear if she needs to vent.”
Man, did Buck appreciate Everlee. Even more than he had before. The woman was freaking brilliant.
“No. No. And that’s awesome, Ever. I don’t want you to get in the middle of anything, especially to advocate for me. I plan on doing that myself. So, yes. Be her sounding board. Please. She needs that. But…”
“Hah. Why is there always a but?” Everlee laughed.
“Well, it’s not a huge one.” Buck explained. “I went to Bobbie’s shop this morning, and it was closed up tight. Then I went to her house, but her brother said she wasn’t there. Now I’m at a loss. I really need to talk to her, sooner, rather than later, and I can’t track her down. I was wondering if you could help me on that score?”
Everlee sighed. “Okay. I don’t feel like I’m breaking a confidence, because Bobbie didn’t tell me not to say anything. First of all, I know she doesn’t live with her brothers any more, which from what Mason says, is a good thing. She mentioned she has an apartment of her own, and before you ask…no. I have no idea where it is.”
“Whatdoyou know?” Buck asked astutely. Clearly, she was hanging onto some helpful information.
Everlee didn’t make him wait. “I know that every week Bobbie has a job in New Brunswick,” she revealed. “She sails out on Monday, cooks for her client on Tuesday, then sails home onWednesday. So, you’re going to have to cool your jets until then, Buck. I’m sorry.”
“No. Don’t be. At least I have more answers now than I had before. And you can’t know how pleased I am that she no longer lives with those two assholes.”
“So, what’s next?” Everlee asked curiously.
“Next, I find out where she lives, and I wait for her to get home Wednesday night.”
Everlee sighed and tsked unhappily. “That’s, umm, kind of stalker-ish, Buck. I’m not sure I like that plan. I might have to sic your brothers on you if I find you’ve scared the crap out of her.”
Buck thought about what Everlee said for about a half second. “You’re right,” he agreed. “So… I have a better idea. I’ll find out where she normally docks, and I’ll be innocently fishing on the pier when she gets in.”
Everlee snorted. “Uh, huh. Sure. Bobbie’s a pretty smart cookie, Buck. She’s not going to buy it; the coincidence that you’re there. Still, I suppose it’s better than staking out her apartment.”
Buck laughed, taking that as a “go”.
“Good. It’s a plan, then. How about I see you on Thursday and let you know how it went?”
“Sure. I can get behind that,” Everlee agreed. “Dinner at our house?”
“Absolutely. I’ll bring the fish.”
CHAPTER 8
Monday night’ssleep was great after all the fresh air of her sail.
Tuesday was also proving to be no different than usual. It wasalwaysa marathon.
First thing this morning, Bobbie had taken a car she was allowed to use from Monsieur Provard’s multi-vehicle garage, into town to buy the more perishable ingredients which she hadn’t been able to bring with her.
Not that that had been bad.
She’d always liked to source meat, fish, and fowl, locally.
If the vegetable selections she’d packed looked a little suspicious after a full day of sailing, she also always felt free to replace them with something from a farm stand or community plot.
Today, she hadn’t had to bother searching out new roughage. The long-podded cowpeas she’d brought had held up perfectly, and there wasn’t much that could mess up yams until they were deprived of their skins.
