I pulled into the lot and headed toward the Phillips House. With any luck Zina would be cleaning up after the wedding and I’d find her inside. If not, I had no idea what I’d do next.
The front door opened and I made my way to the kitchen. Gramps stood at the sink with Herbie on the rug next to him.
“Hey.” I set my keys down on the counter and Gramps turned to face me. Suds covered his lower arms, up to his elbows.
“Well, I’ll be.”
“Zina around?” I asked. I could catch up with Gramps later. Right now there was only one person I needed to see.
Gramps shook his head. “Not that I know of. I haven’t seen her since yesterday.”
“She hasn’t been in to check on the dogs?” I asked.
“No. I told her she deserved a few days off and that I’d keep an eye on them. If she’s not at home, I don’t know where she’d be. Speaking of, where the hell have you been?”
“It’s a long story, Gramps.” I reached down and ran a hand over Herbie’s head. “Can we catch up later?”
“I suppose. Your sister’s coming day after tomorrow to check me in to that jail for old people. Said no way would she honor a promise you made.” Gramps turned around and muttered, “Figures.”
I shook my head. “Everything’s going to change.”
“What do you mean?”
“No Water’s Edge for you. We’ll move out to the ranch, just like you wanted.”
Gramps turned, his pale blue eyes starting to water. “Herbie, too?” The dog returned to his side, tail wagging.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Herbie and the damn bird can come as well. Zeb, too, if he wants.”
“Damn bird, damn bird,” the annoying parrot said.
I glanced over to where Shiner Bock perched on the swing hanging from the middle of his wire cage.
“Well it’s about time you got your head out of your ass.” Gramps dropped the pan he’d been scrubbing into the soapy water. A deluge of suds flew up and covered him in bubbles. “Give me a hug.”
I fought back a rise of emotion as Gramps came at me covered in suds. I wrapped my arms around the older man’s shoulders and held him close for a beat. This was what it meant to be there for family . . . to hold tight, even when it meant letting go of things that didn’t seem to matter so much anymore. “Now I’ve to go find Zina. If all goes well, Herbie will have a lot of company out at the ranch.”
“What are you waiting for? Go.” Gramps flung a hand toward the door, sending bubbles everywhere.
I grinned, happy to be back in the good graces of my grandfather. That had gone better than I expected. One down, one to go. I feared sucking up to Zina would require quite a bit more effort.
After checking the warehouse and driving by her place, I had no idea where to go next. It was getting late. She had to be somewhere close. Unless she’d pulled a move like I had and tried to run away at the first sign of trouble. Zina wasn’t like me though. That’s what I loved most about her.
I hadn’t wanted to open myself up to major criticism yet, but with no other choice, I pulled up Lacey’s number. If anyone knew what was going on with Zina, it would have to be her best friend.
“What do you want?” Lacey’s tone didn’t just hold an edge of a chill. I felt like the tip of my ear might actually suffer from frostbite, just from hearing her speak.
“I’m looking for Zina. Do you know where she is?”
“No. But even if I did, why would I tell you?”
I sighed. “I messed up.”
“Yeah, you did.”
“But I’m back and I want to fix things.”
“You’re back in town? I thought you took off. Your sister said you were headed to Cuba or something.”
