Page 27 of Building What's Meant to Be

Cassian leans his elbow on the table and rubs his eyes as if he’s heard this dad joke a hundred times.

“Because a farmer can always make bale.” Paul chuckles.

I do the same because I’m not above cheesy jokes.

Tinsley presses her lips together as if she too wants to laugh but isn’t sure it would be welcome here. I notice she sits on the edge of her seat as if ready to run at a moment’s notice.

Rhondy goes around the table and takes orders. When she gets to Mae, seated to my right, they confer in hushed tones. My sister’s gaze flits to me a few times.

“New beard?” Bess comments from one seat over from Tinsley who sits on my left.

I rub my hand along my jaw, but it’s more contemplative than anything. How will I get them to trust me again? “It’slessbeard andmore of a I-haven’t-had-a-chance-to-shave-in-a-few-days situation.”

“I hear the plumbing is coming along at your new place,” Buck says.

We talk construction for a moment before my attention snaps to the two women to my left.

“So, it would seem you’ve met my brother,” Bess says as if standing in for Mae. “He was instrumental in helping to save our town, and then he turned around and stabbed us in the back.”

“A stabbing? Is that why you were actually in jail?” Tinsley asks, eyes wide with horror.

“No, he stole a cat,” Bess says.

“I didn’t steal Twinky. I thought we established that Irescuedher.”

“Did you stab Twinky?” Bess asks, eyes now as wide as Tinsley’s.

I drag my hand down my face. “No, I didn’t stab a cat.” My tone drops with irritation that they’d think that. Then again, they don’t know that my real job is dangerous and often involves weapons.

“Then where is she?” Accusation riddles Mae’s voice who jumps in on the conversation.

“She’s safe and sound.” I clap my hands together. “Listen, no one is leaving this table until you hear me out so we can put this misunderstanding behind us once and for all.” I glance over my shoulder to make sure Stoll isn’t back. “Nash, please keep your eyes on the door and let me know if Stoll walks in. I have a lot to say.”

“Got it,” he answers.

“And you’d better have a really good reason that you were cavorting with the enemy.” Mae cuts her eyes at me again. I have a feeling the harsh punishment from my fun-loving sister is revenge for the many times Taylor and I pranked her—thought we were past that. I make a mental note to bring her someM&Ms and have a conversation during which I beg forgiveness for not being a better brother. But that’s for another time.

“I was not cavorting. That would imply that I was frolicking around when in fact, you and the ladybosses were the ones cavorting that night at the town hall.”

“We weren’t cavorting. We were spying,” Camellia interjects.

“Exactly. I’d like to point out that if any laws were being broken, it was by the four of you.” I point at the ladybosses.

Bess raises her hand. “Five. I was there too.”

“You’re not supposed to confess,” Mae hisses.

“Well, the cat’s out of the bag now,” Bess says.

“Please don’t tell me the cat is in the bag,” Christina says from the other end of the table.

I puff my cheeks on a breath. This is going to be a long conversation. I shoot Tinsley a look of apology but am glad she’s here because even though I’m taking the roundabout route, I want to hear how she figures into this story or if she knows anything that can help me identify the mastermind behind all of Stoll, Harold Jerrold Pumanowksi, Mayor Pickering, and Silas Fallon’s wrongdoings.

“There is no cat in a bag. The cat is—” I exhale as Rhondy sets a plate of peach pie with lattice crust in front of me. A perfect scoop of vanilla bean ice cream melts on the plate. “Thank you.”

“Figured you might need a little energy for this mission. I have a feeling it’s going to be a long one.” She winks.

Leave it to Rhondy to sense what’s going on without knowing the details. The woman is always in the right place at the right time with the right pie. Peach is my favorite.

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