Part 9 (2/2)
”All's well here. We measured Bennie this morning and he's grown another half inch! How about that. What do you think? Barbeque again soon?”
”I don't see why not. Weather's been perfect for it, hasn't it?”
”Your place this time, maybe?”
Her voice said finally? Good G.o.d, finally? Good G.o.d, she thought. she thought. That's all I need. That's all I need. And aren't you being a little forward volunteering me, Vicki? Even if we haven't had guests over for barbecue in G.o.d knows how many years? And aren't you being a little forward volunteering me, Vicki? Even if we haven't had guests over for barbecue in G.o.d knows how many years?
”Oh, I don't know, the place is just such a darn mess.”
”With little ones around, how can it ever not not be?” be?”
”You're right about that. But the big ones don't help much either. I've got to run, Vic. See you soon, okay?”
”Of course. See you soon.”
They moved their separate ways up and down the aisle.
Guests, she thought. Children. Running all over the place. The barn. The fruit cellar. That'll be the day.
He handed Betty his notes out of the briefcase. He used his good hand.
”Okay,” he said. ”Here are the basics of our agreement. All the figures and dates of payment spelled out for you. Standard purchase agreement form. When you're finished, send 'em over to Dean for signature along with the initial check. And send him a case of Dewar's while you're at it.”
Betty nodded but then just stood there a moment in front of his desk.
”Mr. Cleek? May I say something?”
”Of course, Betty. What is it?”
He wondered if she knew how cute she looked when her brow got all furrowed like that.
”It's none of my business, really. But in this economy, are you sure you aren't...”
”Overextending?”
He'd considered it. If some downturn in his stocks. .h.i.t him big time or if somebody in his family got seriously ill he could be in a bit of trouble here. It was possible. Betty probably knew his finances better than Belle did, so he could understand her concern. But Dean's asking price was ridiculously low.
Well, it had gotten gotten ridiculously low after their little chat over lunch today. ridiculously low after their little chat over lunch today.
”I'm sure, Betty. Don't you worry. That's a nice perfume by the way. New, is it?”
She was cute when she blushed too.
”You like it?”
”It's very nice.”
”Thanks!”
It was then that she finally noticed the bandage. h.e.l.l it was a big bandage. She reached out for his hand.
”What in the lord's name did you do to yourself, Mr. Cleek?”
Her hands were very soft and smooth. Then she seemed to realize she'd committed a tiny little indiscretion here. She released him.
He held up his finger as though inspecting it.
”Got too close to a pretty-smelling lady and she just...”
He snapped his teeth together. Chomp. Chomp.
Betty laughed, shook her head at him as if to say, you big kidder, you you big kidder, you and turned to walk away. and turned to walk away.
Hide in plain sight, his father used to say.
Well, some things, anyway.
FOURTEEN.
There were times Belle thought her daughter acted like a little puppy and this was one of them, Darlin' standing right beside her hip, impatient as a puppy at feeding time while she whipped the cookie batter. She turned off the mixer and tilted back the beaters and then decided to tease her.
She unlocked the one of the beaters and tapped it on the bowl. Then ran a finger along one side. Tasted it. Mmmmmm Mmmmmm, she said.
”Hey!”
”What?”
”Gimme some!”
”Now is that a nice way to ask?”
”Please, momma? I love you!”
”That's much better.”
She leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek and handed her the beater. Darlin' sat down and went to work.
”Can we make the little men?”
She pulled a cookie cutter out of the drawer. An elephant.
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