Page 19 of Gator's Gambit
“Be right with you,” she says without taking her eyes off what she’s doing.
“No rush, Ms. Maizy,” I reply and watch her entire body still at my words. Her eyes raise up to my face, and an enormous smile spreads across her face.
“Well, as I live and breathe, if it ain’t my sweet Fancy and her handsome Godric. I’ll be right with you beautiful children.” My gut twists at her words. To hear the way she describes us, it hits a nerve. What I wouldn’t give to be Fancy’s Godric. By the tiny gasp I hear issue from Fancy’s lips, I’m hoping she feels the same way.
Maizy completes the transaction, then turns to hurry around the counter to engulf Fancy in a huge hug. She folds Fancy close to her ample bosom and rocks side-to-side, taking her time. “I have missed you, sweet girl. It’s been an age since you were last home. How’ve you been?”
I can’t hear what her answer is as Fancy speaks softly, directly to her. Maizy kisses Fancy on the temple before stepping around her and coming over to give me the same treatment. Only, I’m substantially taller than the older woman. I stoop to return Maizy’s hug, breathing in the familiar scent of her perfume – a throwback to childhood.
“My handsome Riccy, I’ve missed you. How have you been, child?” Chuckling, Maizy corrects herself. “No, young man, not child. You’re anything but a child now.”
“I’m doing well, Ms. Maizy. How areyoudoing? It’s been a while.”
“That it has. That it has. I’m as you see me, fighting fit.” Her grin lights up the small space. “What can I get for you two? On the house, of course.”
“Thank you, ma’am, but it’s not necessary. I’m good for it,” I reply.
“I know that,” Maizy replies, a frown creasing her brow. “Nonetheless, it remains on the house.”
Knowing better than to argue with the older lady when she gets that look on her face, I decide to wait until she’s distracted and put the money in her tip jar on the counter over by the register.
We place our order, chatting as she works, catching each other up on our lives since we last saw each other. I have to pare my stories back, with there being so much I’m unable to share, but Maizy’s always been interested in my career. I’m coming to the end of a story when the hairs on the back of my neck rise, and I become aware of the sensation of being watched. A skill I’ve developed over the years as a SEAL.
Casually, I turn to scout the area outside the ice cream parlor, but in the darkening light of dusk I’m unable to spot anything out of place. The feeling, however, persists. Making a show of patting my pockets, I murmur to Fancy that I think I’ve forgotten my cellphone in the car. “Be right back.”
She nods, continuing to talk to Maizy. Out of sight of the storefront, I stop and scan the surrounds again. This time, I think I glimpse a man hurrying away. With a quick glance at the store, I give chase but lose sight of him as he breaks into a run and disappears around a corner.
By the time I reach it, he’s well and truly gone. I could be wrong, but I think it might well be the same bastard that’s been stalking Fancy – her ex-client she’s been running from. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, where it’s been the entire time, I dash back.
The ladies look over at me when I re-enter the store but continue their conversation. Maizy hands over my ice cream – Fancy’s already tucking into hers with gusto. “I hope you’ll both pop in again before you leave. It’s done this old woman’s heart good to see your precious faces.”
Leaning over the counter, I kiss her cheek. “You can bet on it, ma’am.”
We take our leave of Maizy and meander back to the car parked a short way down from the store, savoring our ice creams as we walk.
“Where’d you disappear to just now?” Trust Fancy not to miss a trick.
“I thought I’d left my phone in the car, like I told you. Turns out it was in my pocket. Must have been behind my wallet when I checked for it earlier.” She nods, her left eyebrow cocked, but says nothing more.
Once back in the car, I drive us down to the creek. Tension has my hands wrapping a little tighter around the steering wheel but, having made up my mind to talk to Fancy about what’s going on between us, I’m determined to do it tonight.
I find a parking spot close to the water lapping up the launch ramp and turn the car off. Silence saturates the vehicle as we sit, side by side, not saying anything. Staring out my window, I try to gather my thoughts.
“Godric,” I hear Fancy say quietly. Turning to face her, I take in her expression and brace, not knowing what’s going on in her head.
“Yeah?”
She hesitates. Fancy clears her throat, fidgets with the skirt of her dress, then speaks again. “I don’t know if it’s my imagination, but something seems to have shifted between us, and I feel like I’m treading on shaky new ground.AmI imagining it?”
Her eyes plead with me to take the moment seriously. She knows me so well. When I’m uncomfortable or unsure, my default is to make light of the situation, teasing and joking – being a general ass.
Reaching out a hand to cup her cheek, I let my eyes roam over her beloved face for long seconds before shaking my head.
9
FANCY
My body’s coiled tighter than an overwound clock as I wait for Godric to answer me. His study of me has my nerves jumping while the soft stroke of his thumb across my cheek simultaneously soothes me.
