I held Dolly’s hand and gestured to Gramps. “Let’s go. We’ve still got a lot to do today.”
Zina dangled a plastic bag from her finger. “Here are Dolly’s wet things. I suppose I’ll see you over here again tomorrow?”
I snatched the bag and held it out in front of me. “Yep, see you tomorrow.” Tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that. And on and on until I made it through the wedding and got Gramps settled. I’d been handing out promises like they were pieces of candy, making more commitments in the past three days than I had in the past three years.
There was something about being home again that made me want to step up. I’d better figure out what it was before I found myself promising more than I’d ever be able to deliver.
CHAPTER 12
ZINA
“Hello?”I let myself in through the front door of Lacey and Bodie’s house.
“We’re back here on the porch,” Lacey called.
“Want to tell me why you’ve got a hearse parked in your driveway?” I helped myself to a cup of coffee before heading out to the four-season porch. “And why aren’t you in bed?”
Kirby stood as I stepped out onto the porch. “Good afternoon, Ms. Zina.”
“Hey, Kirby. Is that your new set of wheels out front?” Kirby was eccentric, but relatively harmless. His ancestors had made a fortune on oil back in the day, so he’d never had to hold down a job.
“Sure is.” He beamed and glanced to Lacey. “I was just talking to Mayor Cherish here about starting up my own business.”
I lifted a brow and glanced to Lacey. Her eyes had taken on that shiny glazed look—the one I knew all too well. I’d seen it the day before when Alex committed us to moving up the date of the wedding, which meant Kirby was up to something.
“Is that right?” I took a seat on one of the cushioned chairs and ran my hand over Shotgun’s head. Lacey and Bodie hadrescued the gorgeous pittie last year after they’d found her abandoned by the Phillips House. “Are you putting in a new funeral home?”
“No, ma’am. I’m startin’ a limo business.” He nodded as he resumed his perch on the edge of his seat. “Weddings need limos, don’t they?”
Lacey turned the shiny eyes on me. “I was trying to explain to Kirby that a limo business typically offers limos, not hearses, as a mode of transportation.”
“The hearse is just the first step.” His mouth screwed into a frown. “I plan on expanding my fleet.”
“Where did you get a hearse?” I asked.
“That auto auction they have once a month over in Cramden. I’ve got my eye on a school bus that’s coming up next month.” He reached for his mug.
I met Lacey’s gaze, trying to sort out how I was supposed to respond. Usually my bestie handled off-the-wall requests with a combination of humor and grace. That wasn’t a skill I possessed.
“So a hearse and a school bus?” I asked.
“That’s right. I figure that will give me a good start. I’m prepared to offer y’all a steep discount for becoming your preferred transportation vendor.” He eyed us over the rim of his mug.
“That’s certainly a generous offer.” Lacey gave him a gracious smile, but the way she gripped the arm of her chair showed she was anything but relaxed. “But the wedding parties we have coming to town seem to prefer a more traditional mode of transportation like a classic white stretch limo.”
Kirby’s face fell. My chest tightened. How could Lacey handle a job where she was constantly having to turn people down?
“You know, I’ve seen some interesting new trends,” I offered.
“Like what?” Lacey shot me a look of annoyance.
“Like party buses or pickup truck limos. Maybe keep your eyes peeled for something like that at one of your auctions.” I shrugged at Lacey. “You wanted me to check out all those wedding websites.”
Kirby stood, his jaw set. “Got it. So if I can come back with something trendy or something more classic, you’ll let me work with y’all?”
“We’ll consider it.” Lacey set down her mug. “Zina, can you walk him out?”
“Sure.” I led Kirby to the front door.
