Page 25 of A Box of Wishes
“He packs a picnic and goes to sit on an empty beach. Unless he was joking about that, of course.” And with that, she was off again, clearing a corner of the long table as people were leaving.
The bucket on the bar jingled and clinked. On Christmas Day, Ryan didn’t charge for the food and drink he served. He asked for charitable donations instead, and everyone chipped in.
“Ben!”
Inspector Tarbert and his wife stood behind him when Ben turned. “Happy Christmas, sir.”
“And to you. You’re working two jobs now?” Tarbert’s eyes twinkled.
“Helping. Keeping an eye as instructed. Why don’t you grab a seat? What can I get you?”
“Just tea,” Tarbert said. “We’re on the way to meet family. Callie suggested we drop in.”
Ben made tea and joined his boss at the long table. Callie Tarbert chatted with the couple next to her, giving Ben a couple of moments of privacy. He pointed at the Box of Wishes. “The source of all the trouble, sir. Not that I can spot anything amiss.”
“I hope that’s not the only reason you’re here today.”
Ben chuckled. “Not at all. Ryan’s been looking after my cat and…” He shrugged. “I’d forgotten how many people I know in this town. And they all seem determined to remind me.”
“Treat it as a blessing. Besides, you used to have a knack for community policing. Nice to see it’s coming back.”
“It’s gone ten, Alastair. Time to rise and shine.” Ryan passed from the kitchen to the main room of the coffeehouse, phone still clamped to his ear. “I’ve not seen Cara yet, but she’ll give you hell if she makes it here before you do.” He waited a heartbeat longer, but Alastair didn’t pick up. In previous years, his cousin had arrived early, helping and fooling around before ending up in the far corner of the room surrounded by children. Ryan had never worked out how he kept all the kids entertained for hours straight.
His absence this morning hadn’t gone unnoticed. Ryan had called him twice already, getting his answerphone each time.
Maybe Alastair’s phone had died.
Maybe he’d managed more than a nap.
Ryan shoved the phone into his back pocket. He’d give it half an hour before he’d try again, just in case his cousin was en route to the coffeehouse.
The cheerful chaos in his kitchen had settled, giving him a chance to take a breath and survey the main room. Groups of runners and cyclists had stopped by for tea and cakes, and now people passed in and out of the coffeehouse as if it were a busy day. The crowd around the table ebbed and flowed until the door opened and Ryan’s mother swept into the room.
“Ma.” Ryan rounded the bar to greet her. “I thought you’d forgotten to get out of bed.”
“Don’t be cheeky.” She wrapped Ryan in a hug. “I’m sorry we’re late.”
“It’s fine. Paula and Connie have only just left, and Ben’s been a champ. Come have tea.”
“I’d much rather give you a hand. You must have been spinning like crazy.”
He had, but since he enjoyed it, he hadn’t minded at all. “First you must come and meet Morris.”
“Is that your detective? I’m sure you said—”
“Wait.” He lead the way into the back and cracked the door to his office. Morris sat up and meowed a greeting. “Hi, big boy. Would you like to meet my ma?”
“Oh, my… precious! Look at you.” Before Ryan could blink, she’d scooped up Morris. She cradled him exactly the way Ben did and nuzzled her face into the cat’s neck in just the same way, too. “Isn’t he lovely?” She turned in a circle, holding the cat in her arms. “And your office looks so much brighter, too.”
“Ben came shopping with me. And put the furniture together.”
“Yes, I was wondering who you’d call to help with that.”
“Ma!”
“What? You’ve never had an affinity with power tools.”
“Rub it in, why don’t you?” Ryan grumbled, but he couldn’t hold back his grin. “Morris looks after my office for me when I’m not in it, and keeps me company when I am.”
