Mom smiled. “Wonderful! Dean, would you like to join us?”
He glanced between Mom and me before saying, “I’ll have to take a rain check. I’ve got a big job starting tomorrow that requires some prep work I’d like to get done tonight.”
“Oh, okay. Maybe another time then. How much do I owe you?” Mom asked.
“If you’ll make me a batch of your cookies sometime, we’ll call it even.”
“You’ve got yourself a deal,” Mom said. “Thanks again for coming over on such short notice.”
After Dean left, Mom and I sat down to dinner. She started yammering on about anything and everything, clearly trying to avoid a certain topic, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. In the middle of her spiel about her flower beds, I interrupted her, “Why’d you really call Dean to fix the fridge? I could’ve done it for you. Hell, you could’ve done it.”
Ma wiped her mouth with her napkin and looked down at her plate. “When I was still in the hospital, Splint and his dad came by to visit. I knew Splint worked the call, but I didn’t know his dad was in the restaurant when I collapsed. He’s actually the one who started doing CPR on me before the ambulance got there. Then, I ran into Dean when I was having lunch with Boar and Shannon and invited him to join us. He’s a nice guy and I enjoy talking with him.”
I reached across the table and placed my hand on top of hers giving it a gentle squeeze. “Mom, if you’re worried about how I’ll react to you seeing someone; don’t. I know you loved Dad with all your heart, but he’s been gone a long time, and he wouldn’t want you to be lonely.”
She placed her other hand on top of mine and patted it. “That’s good to know, sweetheart, but Dean and I are just friends.”
“Be sure to let me know if that changes,” I said.
She laughed. “You don’t have to worry about that. You boys gossip more than any girls I’ve ever known, so you’ll probably know before I do.”
“I highly doubt that,” I chuckled and went back to my food.
“So, things still going good with you and River?”
I nodded and told her about River’s mother dying, as well as Dash showing up for an unexpected visit.
“Spring Lawson. Why does that name sound familiar?” Mom asked and cast her eyes upward like she was trying to physically search inside her head.
I shrugged. “Don’t know. She’s lived in Devil Springs for at least thirty years, if not longer. According to Dash, she’s been into drugs for the entirety of his life, so maybe you saw her name in the news. I’m sure she’s been arrested a number of times.”
“Maybe that’s it,” she said distractedly, clearly still trying to place River’s mother.
I knew why she recognized the name, but I didn’t feel right sharing the story about River’s humiliating prom experience.
After dinner, I helped her with a few things around the house before heading home for the night. I was still exhausted from the last few days and desperately needed to catch up on some sleep.
***
I dropped into my seat and waited for Church to begin. I was hoping it would be a short meeting because I wanted to get on the road before it got too late. River had no idea what we were doing for the weekend, and I was anxious to get the ball rolling.
The words “rental house” pulled me back to the present. “The inspection has been rescheduled for next Wednesday. We are still trying to locate Oliver Burgess, who we believe to be the person who tampered with the sensors. Spazz will be sending his picture to each of your phones so you have something to reference if you don’t know what he looks like. Also, continue to be on the look out for Roy Mayfield. If you do happen to see either one of them, grab ‘em and bring ‘em to the clubhouse. That’s all I’ve got. Anybody else have anything we need to discuss?”
I sat forward in my chair and cleared my throat. “I’m taking River out of town for the weekend, so she won’t need a tail. We should be back sometime Sunday evening.”
“Let me know when you get back. Anybody else?” he asked. When everyone shook their heads, he banged the gavel effectively dismissing us.
Chapter Twenty- Nine
River
I was awake and ready to go by the time Jonah returned from Church. I hoped the bag I packed would fit in his saddlebag. I tried to pack light, but it wasn’t easy since he wouldn’t tell me what we were doing or where we were going.
“I just need to grab my bag and I’ll be ready to go,” he said with a broad smile.
“Will you please tell me what we’re doing? It’s driving me crazy,” I whined.
“And ruin the surprise I’ve worked so hard on? No way in hell, lil’ ninja. You’re just going to have to wait.”