Heartbreaker

Chapter 23

The picnic was in full swing by the time Nick and Laurant arrived.

He could hear the band playing as he took Laurant’s hand and I walked across the dirt road toward the crowd gathered around the bandstand and the picnic tables. The hill beyond the flat area was littered with colorful blankets, and from the distance it looked like a patchwork quilt. Children were running wild, ducking in and out between couples dancing to the music of The Hilltops. The aroma of smoking barbecue hung heavily in the air.

Tommy and Noah were busy turning hamburgers on the grill, but Tommy spotted them and waved hello. Laurant carried a blanket over her arm. She found a vacant spot under a gnarled tree and spread the blanket out there.

Nick didn’t like the size of the crowd. It appeared that most of the town had turned out for the affair. It was twilight now, and someone plugged in the Christmas lights that had been strung from tree to tree around the wooden bandstand.

"Isn’t the band great?" she asked.

"Uh-huh," he said as he continued to look over the crowd.

"Herman and Harley Winston started the group," she explained. "Herman’s the one playing the sax, and Harley’s on the remodeling on my store. They’re so sweet. You should meet them."

Nick looked at the bandstand and smiled. There were six members in the band, and all of them appeared to be in their seventies. The twins were identical and dressed alike in red checkered shirts and white pants.

"They’re old men," he remarked.

"They’re young at heart," she corrected. "And master craftsmen. In Holy Oaks, we don’t put the elderly out to pasture. The contribution they make to this town is very important. When you see my store and my loft, you’ll understand how talented these men are."

"Hey, I wasn’t criticizing," he said. "I just noticed, that’s all."

The bandleader, a bald-headed gentleman with a toothy smile, sparkling eyes, and terribly stooped shoulders, thumped on the microphone to get everyone’s attention.

"Ladies and gentlemen, as you all know, this here picnic is the abbot’s way of saying thank you to all of you folks out there who have worked so darn hard to get the church finished in time for the anniversary. The abbot expects you to have a fine time tonight," he added. "Now as you know, me and the boys in the band only play the oldies, because those are the only songs we know how to play. We just love to take requests, so if you got a special gal you want to impress, come on up and write the name of the song on a piece of paper and stick it in that hat over there on that card table. We got plenty of pencils and paper. We’ll be drawing the requests out of that hat till we have to shut down. Now the first song is going out to Cindy Mitchell and her husband, Dan. This is Cindy’s first outing since she had that gallbladder taken out, and it’s real good to see her up and about. Come on, Dan, bring her on out to the dance floor. This song is one of my favorites," he added as he stepped back and lifted his hands like a symphony conductor. Tapping his foot, he counted, "One, two, three. Hit it, boys."

Silence followed the command. The bandleader turned around to find out what was wrong, then chuckled. Speaking into the microphone, he sheepishly explained, "I guess I ought to tell the boys the name of the song we’re playing. It’s ‘Misty.’ Now let’s try it again."

Nick didn’t like the idea of Laurant being in such a large crowd He knew the picnic was a good place for them to be seen together and for him to observe the people around her, but he was still having trouble with it. The crowd could swallow her up, and he didn’t want her out of his sight, not for one second.

Her friends made his job difficult. As soon as they spotted her they wanted to pull her away from him. They were, of course, very curious about him. Several men came up to shake his hand and introduce themselves. They were open and friendly, and they tried to draw him into their group of friends around the beer kegs while Laurant was being tugged in the opposite direction. To keep her close, Nick anchored his arm around her waist and held tight. He wouldn’t let her budge.

She didn’t put up with his behavior for long. Leaning up on tiptoes, she whispered into his ear, "You’re going to have to let me talk to my friends and neighbors."

"Don’t disappear on me," he whispered back, and then, because he knew they were being watched, he kissed her softly on her lips. "Try to stay between Noah and me."

"I will," she promised, and then she kissed him. "Now please smile, Nick. This is a party, not a funeral."

Someone called her name, and Nick reluctantly let go of her. She hadn’t taken five steps away from him before she was surrounded by women. They were all talking at the same time, and he was pretty sure he was the topic, because they kept glancing at him. He put his hands in his pockets and kept his gaze locked on Laurant. She had the most incredible smile.

One of the women screamed, and Nick took a quick step forward, but then he saw that Laurant was showing off the ring, and that was what had excited the young woman. He backed off and once again looked over the crowd. When he turned back to Laurant, she was slowly threading her way toward the bandstand. As Nick watched her mingle with the young and the old, he realized how vital she was to their community. She was also loved. The townspeople could obviously see what a gentle and caring woman she was. They responded to her the same way he did, by wanting to get closer to her. He could tell that she was genuinely interested in what they were saying. She made people feel good, and what a hell of a gift that was.

Nick was smiling as he watched her, but the smile vanished when she was stopped yet again by two men about her age. From the way they were drooling, he knew neither one was put off by her reputation. He felt a surprising burst of jealousy. Then one of the men put his hand on her arm, and Nick wanted to punch him. He knew his response was totally inappropriate. It wasn’t like him to be so possessive.

He couldn’t figure out what was the matter with him. A relationship with her was impossible. He knew that, and he accepted it.

Why was he having so much trouble maintaining his distance? Because he was damn hot for her, he admitted. This wasn’t lust. He was old enough and had been around long enough to know the difference. Lust he could control with cold showers, but this feeling was totally different. It worried the hell out of him.

"Are you Nick Buchanan?"

Nick turned. "That’s me all right."

"My name’s Christopher Benson," the man said as he stuck his hand out to shake Nick’s. "Laurant’s my fiancee’s best friend. Mine too," he added with a grin. "I wanted to meet you and say hello."

Christopher was a likeable, easygoing man. He was built like a linebacker. He was as tall as Nick, but outweighed him by at least fifty pounds.

After they exchanged small talk, Christopher admitted sheepishly, "Michelle sent me over to get as much information out of you as I could. She thinks that because I just finished law school, I should be able to grill anyone I want."

Nick laughed. "What exactly does she want to know?"

"Oh, the usual stuff like how much you make, where you’re going to live after you marry Laurant, and most important, are you always going to be there for her. You might be getting the idea that Michelle’s nosy, but she isn’t. She’s just looking out for Laurant."

They both turned to watch Laurant. There were men standing in line to take a turn dancing with her. She was circling the floor now with donut boy.

He answered as many questions as he could and hedged on others.

When Christopher was finally satisfied, he remarked, "Laurant’s an important part of this town. People depend on her. She and Michelle are like sisters," he added. "They bring out the devil in each other, and, man, do they like to laugh."

Nick was wondering when he was going to get a chance to dance with Laurant. He sure as certain wasn’t going to get in line. Being a fiance had a couple of perks, didn’t it? Even if he was all pretend.

Christopher seemed to read his mind. "Why don’t you go get Laurant. The food’s going to disappear fast."

"Good idea," Nick said.

He shouldered his way through the crowd, tapped donut boy on the shoulder, and pulled Laurant into his arms. "I’m cutting in, kid."

Laurant softened the teenager’s disappointment. Leaning to the side, she asked him to save her a dance later, after dinner.

"You’re only encouraging him," Nick told her.

"He’s a sweet boy," she said.

He didn’t want to talk about the kid. He pulled her closer and continued to dance.

"Look like you love me, honey," he instructed.

She laughed. "I do love you, sweetheart."

"I like that thing you’re wearing."

"That thing is called a dress. A sundress to be exact, and thank you. I’m glad you like it."

"Tell me something. If all the men in this town are afraid of you, how come they’re lining up to dance with you?"

"I don’t know" she said. "maybe because they know no. They don’t ask me to go out on dates though. I think Tommy might be right. I might scare them."

"That’s good," he said with smug satisfaction.

"Why?" she asked.

He didn’t answer her question. "Let’s eat," he said.

"Viola and Bessie Jean are waving at us. I think they want us to sit with them."

"Son of a bitch," Nick hissed.

His reaction startled her. "I thought you liked them."

"Not them," he answered impatiently. "I just spotted Lonnie. What the hell is he doing here?"

"Do I get to say I told you so?" she asked. She found Lonnie in the crowd, sitting alone on a picnic table, an insolent expression on his face. No one else was sitting at the table, and Laurant noticed several people, obviously nervous around the bully, who were avoiding making eye contact with him.

Nick was searching the crowd for the sheriff. "I don’t see dear old dad," he said.

"Oh, I doubt he’s here. He wouldn’t answer your phone calls all day, and the jail was locked up when we stopped by. I think he’s hiding from you, Mr. FBI Agent," she said.

Nick shook his head. "I’m going to have to do something about him."

"You’ll have to find him first."

"I’m not talking about the sheriff," he replied. "I’m going to have to do something about Lonnie. He’s a complication we don’t need now."

"What can you do?"

Nick draped his arm around Laurant’s shoulders and headed for the buffet that was set up behind the bandstand.

"Noah."

"Noah’s what you’re going to do?"

"Uh-huh."

He grinned. "Lots."

"Go make Lonnie get off that table first," she suggested. "Then we’ll eat. People need places to sit."

"Okay," he agreed, but as he turned to the tables, he saw Tommy heading for Lonnie from the opposite direction. He had a spatula in his hand and a look on his face that indicated he wasn’t going to put up with any of Lonnie’s terror tactics today. Noah was busy scooping up burnt hamburgers, but he kept his eye on Tommy while he worked, which explained why two of the hamburgers ended up on the ground. Lonnie’s friends materialized out of nowhere and stood by the table as Tommy approached.

"Shouldn’t you go help my brother?" she asked, the worry there in her tone of voice.

"He can handle himself."

Lonnie had a cigarette dangling out of his mouth. Tommy said something to him, and Lonnie shook his head, then flicked the cigarette at him. Tommy stepped on it. Then as quick as a blink, he grabbed Lonnie by the scruff of his neck and jerked him off the table.

Lonnie’s hand slipped into his pants pocket, and that’s when Noah came running. So did a good number of the men attending the picnic. They ran to Tommy to help. The show of solidarity infuriated Lonnie, and within seconds, his face had turned purple with rage. Noah shoved his way through the men just as Lonnie pulled the switchblade out. Noah whacked him hard on the wrist with his spatula and tripped him at the same time. Howling in pain, Lonnie dropped the knife. Tommy picked it up and tossed it to Noah, then hauled Lonnie to his feet and ordered him and his friends to leave.

Laurant let out a sigh of relief. As Tommy and Noah headed back to the grill, several men stopped them to shake their hands. One enthusiastic man pounded them on their shoulders.

"Now can we eat?" Nick grabbed two plates, handed one to her,

After they had filled their plates with salads and chips at the buffet table, they joined the Vandermans. The sisters were sitting with the three men who were temporarily living in the house across the street. Bessie Jean scooted closer to Viola so Laurant and Nick could sit on the bench with them.

Viola made the introductions, adding information she’d gleaned from the weary-looking workmen. Two of the men, Mark Hanover and Willie Lakeman, owned farms in northern Iowa and were supplementing their incomes with carpenter jobs. Justin Brady had just purchased his uncle’s land in Nebraska and was diligently trying to pay off the mortgage as soon as possible by picking up extra work. All three men were in their early thirties and all three were wearing wedding rings. The calluses on their hands proved they were hard workers, and the empty cups lined up in front of them proved they were also hard drinkers. Nick leaned his elbows on the table and listened to the three men describing the work at the abbey, all the while sizing them up.

Mark downed a sixteen-ounce plastic cup of beer in two long gulps. Nick understood why the man was drinking so much when Bessie Jean asked him if he had any children.

Mark lowered his gaze to his cup in his hands. "My wife died last year. We didn’t have any kids. We were waiting until we got some of our bills paid off."

Viola reached across the table and patted Mark’s hand. "We’re all terribly sorry about your loss, but you’ve got to get on with your life and try to look to the future. I’m sure your wife would have wanted you to."

"I know, ma’am," he replied. "With the drought, we all have to pick up work whenever we can. I’ve got my parents to look after, and Willie and Justin have families depending on them too."

Willie pulled out his wallet to show off his family, a redheaded wife and three carrot-topped little girls. Justin wasn’t going to be outdone. He carefully removed the photo of his wife and handed it to Bessie lean.

"Her name’s Kathy," he said, pride radiating in his voice. "She’s due to have our first baby August first or thereabouts."

"Are you expecting a boy or a girl?" Laurant asked.

Justin smiled. "Kathy and I decided we didn’t want to know. "We want to be surprised." Glancing over his shoulder at the bandstand he said, "Kathy loves to dance. I sure wish she could be here."

"We’re all putting in fourteen-hour days," Mark said.

"It’s good money, so none of us mind," Justin interjected.

"Justin, we haven’t properly thanked you for helping us with our garden," Viola said. "As busy as you are, you made time to lend us a hand. I believe I’ll bake you a nice chocolate cake. It’s my specialty."

"That’s very kind of you, ma’am, but we’re putting in long hours at the abbey, and I won’t be getting home until after dark. I sure do love chocolate cake though."

Viola beamed. "Well then, I’m baking you one. I’ll just leave it on your doorstep or put it in your kitchen."

Mark started talking about all the work they still had to get done before the anniversary. Willie ribbed Justin, teasing him about getting the easy work in the choir loft while they had to climb up and down the scaffolding with their paint cans.

"Hey, I’m doing my part," Justin said. "The fumes from the varnish collect in that loft and make me light-headed. That’s why I take more breaks than you guys."

"At least you’ve got your feet planted on the floor while you’re working. Willie and I are hanging by our necks half the time."

"What are you doing in the loft?" Laurant asked.

"Tearing out the old, rotting wood and replacing it. There was a lot of water damage around the organ," he added. "It’s tedious work, but it’s going to look real nice when I’m finished."

"How do you like living at the Morrison’s house?" Bessie Jean asked.

"It’s okay," Mark said, shrugging. "Justin thought we all should split the chores, so we each took a room to keep clean. It makes it easier."

Nick devoured two hamburgers while he listened to the conversation. Feinberg had told him that Wesson had already ruled out these three men. He’d run a background check on all of them. They were farmers working as carpenters and racing against the clock to get renovations finished, but as far as Nick was concerned, they were still suspects. So was every other man attending the picnic. He wasn’t about to rule out anyone in Holy Oaks.

One of the high school boys tapped Laurant on her shoulder and asked her to dance. She graciously accepted before Nick could come up with a reason to object. He followed them to the edge of the dance floor and stood there with his arms folded across his chest, watching. The band was playing an old Elvis Presley song. Laurant swayed to the music while her enthusiastic dance partner gyrated wildly in a circle around her. She had to duck his elbow a couple of times because the kid’s arms and legs were going every which way. Nick thought he looked like an extra in a bad karate movie, and he knew Laurant was having trouble maintaining a straight face. Other couples were giving the kid a lot of room, probably so they wouldn’t get kicked.

For the next hour she was dragged onto the dance floor again and again as the bandleader called out the dedications and played the requested songs. When Laurant wasn’t dancing, she helped clean up, and she was constantly being stopped by men and women, children too, to say hello. She moved through the crowd with an ease and comfort he envied.

She had told him that in Holy Oaks, people cared about one another, but now he was seeing it firsthand. He used to think it would drive him crazy if everyone knew what he was doing. Now he wasn’t so sure. It might be kind of nice. He didn’t know any of his neighbors in Boston. When he came home at night, he drove into the garage, went in his house, and stayed there until it was time to leave again. He had never had the time nor the inclination to interact with any of his neighbors. He didn’t even know if there were any children on the block.

Laurant was dancing with Justin now and was laughing at something he’d said. The song ended and Nick spotted a man about his age heading toward Laurant. He decided she’d done enough dancing for one night. He got to her first, pulled her into his arms, and kissed her.

"What was that for?"

"Because we’re in love," he reminded her. "Have you been telling people how we met?"

"Oh, yes," she answered. "I’ve told the story at least twenty times now."

"And did you tell them what the experts are saying about your stalker?"

She nodded against his chin, then put her head down on his shoulder and closed her eyes so that anyone watching would see her snuggling up to her lover while she danced with him.

"I’ve said it so many ways, I’ve run out of adjectives. I’ve called him stupid and sloppy, and I’ve told them the FBI’s convinced he has a very low IQ, that he’s to be pitied because he’s so dysfunctional. You name it, Nick. I’ve said it."

"That’s my girl."

"What about you? Have you been telling people how we met?"

"Yeah, every chance I get," he answered. "I met Christopher," he added. "I liked him."

"I haven’t seen Michelle yet. Uh-oh, here comes Steve Brenner."

"You aren’t gonna be dancing with him."

"I don’t want to dance with him."

The song ended. As Nick and Laurant were leaving the dance floor, they were intercepted by Brenner.

Nick sized him up with just one quick look. The man was all about control. The way he moved and the way he dressed were giveaways. The man’s appearance was extremely important to him. His Ralph Lauren shirt and pants were crisply pressed, and there wasn’t a hair out of place. The only concession he made to casual picnic attire was not to wear socks with his new Gucci loafers. As Nick shook his hand, he noticed Brenner was sporting a Rolex watch.

Brenner touched Laurant’s shoulder sympathetically. "Laurant, I want you to know how sorry I am about that article Lorna wrote. I was embarrassed when I read that nonsense about the two of us. I have no idea where she came up with that story, and I hope it didn’t cause you any distress."

"No, it didn’t," she said.

He smiled. "Lorna told me that you and Nick are engaged, or was that another fabrication?"

"She got that right. Nick and I are getting married."

"Well, I’ll be damned. Congratulations to both of you. You’re getting a good woman," he said to Nick. Looking at Laurant again, he asked, "Have you set the wedding date?"

"Second Saturday in October," she told him.

"Where are you going to live?"

"In Holy Oaks," she said. "And I’ll still be fighting you on the town square."

The smile went out of his eyes. "I expect you will, but I think I’ve come up with an offer you won’t want to refuse. I’d like to drop it off tomorrow after work. Are you going to be home? We could sit down and discuss it."

"No, I’m sorry, I won’t be home. Nick and I are going to the rehearsal at the abbey for the wedding. And then there’s dinner after," she explained. "We won’t be getting home until after midnight."

Brenner nodded. "Why don’t I give you a call next Monday. That should give you time to recover from Michelle’s wedding."

"That would be fine."

"Getting engaged and setting a wedding date… that happened pretty quick, didn’t it?"

Nick answered, "I’ve known Laurant a very long time, since she was a little girl."

"And when we saw each other again in Kansas City, we just… knew… didn’t we, darling?" Laurant added.

Nick smiled. "Yes."

"Congratulations again," he said. "I guess I better go get a hamburger before they’re all gone."

Nick kept his eye on Brenner as he walked away.

"What do you think of him?" she asked.

"He’s got a lot of anger pent up inside."

"How could you tell that?"

"When he was congratulating us, his hands were fisted."

"I’m making his life miserable right now. He was probably clenching his fists to keep from wringing my neck."

"You’re single-handedly blocking his plans."

"Is he a suspect?"

"Everyone is," he replied. "Come on. Let’s go sit on the blanket and make out like teenagers."

The suggestion made her laugh. Several men and women turned and smiled at the happy couple.

"Sounds like a plan," she said. "But I don’t think the abbot would approve."

"There you are. I’ve been looking everywhere for you."

Michelle came hurrying across the grass. Her fiance, Christopher, had hold of her hand and was grinning from ear to ear.

Michelle was a beautiful woman. Petite, with delicate features, she had long golden hair that framed her heart-shaped face. She had a killer smile that demanded a response.

Laurant’s friend wore a metal brace on her right leg, and when she tried to sit down at the picnic table, she winced in pain. Christopher was telling Nick a joke he’d just heard as he swept Michelle up into his arms and then sat down with her in his lap.

"I’m still limping," Michelle said to Laurant.

"But barely," she insisted.

"You think so?"

"Oh, yes. I noticed the difference."

"I shattered my knee in a car accident," she explained to Nick. "I shouldn’t be able to walk at all, but I beat the odds."

"Michelle knows all about percentages," Christopher explained. "She has degrees in mathematics and accounting, and she’s going to get her CPA after we get married."

"I’m keeping Laurant’s books for her store," Michelle added.

The bandleader caught everyone’s attention when he thumped on his microphone and announced that the next song would be the last for the evening.

"We’ve got to dance, honey," Christopher insisted.

"And so do we," Nick said. As he was pulling Laurant toward the dance floor, he said, "I like your friends."

"They like you."

The bandleader opened the piece of paper and smiled. "Ah, now folks, this here song is a slow one, and it’s one of my favorites," he announced. "And so is the little girl it’s dedicated to. It’s for our own sweet Laurant Madden, and it’s from Heartbreaker."

Nick had just taken Laurant into his arms when the bandleader made the announcement. He heard her drawn-in breath and felt her stiffen. He pulled her close, an instinctive response to danger.

He saw Noah and Tommy moving toward the bandstand. Another man separated from the crowd and came forward from the opposite direction. Nick knew at once that he was an agent. Damn, none of them knew who they were looking for, and the crowd was watching them, surrounding them, smiling because the song was for Laurant.

"Son of a bitch," he muttered.

"Nick, what do we do?" she whispered in a shaky voice.

"We dance," he said.

Laurant felt as though the world was closing in on her. She couldn’t catch her breath, couldn’t think. She tucked her head under Nick’s chin and closed her eyes. He wants me to know he’s here, watching me. Oh God, make him leave me alone. Please God…

"Now folks, grab your partner ‘cause like I said, this is our last request. The name of the song is ‘I Only Have Eyes for You.’"