go on our honeymoon, okay? I'm tired of Dead End. How about Hawaii? Or Europe? Wherever you want."
He stumbled toward me, a terrible hope in his eyes that was terrifying to see. "Yes, Tess. I think I'd like to go to Alaska. I never want to be hot, like it is here, ever again. You're the apple of my eye, Tess. You are the apple of my eye."
I tried not to flinch. "I know, Vern. I know."
"We can live in a little log cabin, and we can go fishing, and…"
I prompted him. "Yes! I love fishing. Uncle Mike taught me how when I was a little girl. We'd have so much fun in a log cabin. Maybe we could—"
An explosive shattering of glass announced Jack's arrival on the scene, and Vern whirled around to face him, crouching, knife in hand.
I bent down and grabbed the palm log I'd carried in from the kitchen earlier and put on the floor next to the stairs and gave it my Dead End High softball team best, aiming to swing it clear through his back. When it connected, it knocked him down to his knees and the knife went flying. Vern frantically scrabbled for the knife, but it was too late.
A full-grown Bengal tiger now stood between my stalker and his weapon of choice.
I ran up the steps to Mellie, pulling out my phone to dial 911.
For once, Belle, the dispatcher, didn't give me any crap. "Andy, Susan, and the ambulance are on the way, Tess."
I hung up and put my arms around Mellie. "It's okay, Mellie. It's okay. The ambulance is on the way."
She opened her eyes and stared at me. "Is it really you? Oh, Tess, thank God. Thank God."
She burst into tears, and I was crying, too.
"I knew you'd figure it out. I knew you'd understand the jelly donut message," she sobbed.
I laughed while still crying. "Mellie. Maybe next time try something a little less subtle."
Within minutes, the sheriff was there, and Susan took Vern, now screaming incoherently, into custody.
"I'll get your statement later," Susan said, and Jack and I nodded.
"You know where to find us," I said wearily.
The ambulance arrived seconds later, and the EMTs loaded Mellie onto a stretcher and carried her off. They wanted to take me, too, but I shook my head.
"I'm fine. I just had a swamp cabbage versus feral children incident. But why were you late?“
Jack winced. “My truck was blocked in. I had to run. And I’m in big trouble, aren't I?"
I just sighed. "Jack, I'm just too darn tired. Take me home?"
"Absolutely."
He took my hand and we started for my car, but then I changed my mind.
"No. I want to see the fireworks. I feel like I earned fireworks. Fireworks and funnel cakes."
"Your wish is my command," Jack said, and then he hugged me like he never wanted to let me go. "Don't ever do anything like that again," he said, his voice ragged. "If I'd lost you—"
"Little late to worry about losing me, after you abandoned me to a herd of feral children."
"Tess—"
"Do you have any idea what they did to me?"
"Tess—"
"I may never, ever forgive you," I told him. "In fact, now that I think about it—"
But then he kissed me until I forgot what I was going to say, and we had our very own fireworks right there on the sidewalk next to my car.
When we finally had to stop kissing and catch our breath, Jack smiled down at me, his eyes shining like emeralds. "All's well that ends well?"
I smiled sweetly. "Revenge of the Swamp Cabbage."
20
When we finally made it back to the festival, it was time for the actual fireworks. Jack leaned back against the side of the bulldozer and pulled me with him until I was resting against him with his arms loosely circling my waist.
The fireworks were amazing, and we oohed and aahed right along with everyone else. When Aunt Ruby came by, I even hugged her, although I was still planning to think of some horribly wonderful way to get even.
This was one of my favorite things about life in Dead End. Times like this, surrounded by family and friends. We still had to deal with the issue of Shelley's uncle, and Bonnie Jo wasn't getting any younger, but problems were easier to face when you knew you weren’t alone.
I could see Eleanor, Bill, and his niece on a bench across the street. Uncle Mike and Shelley walked over to stand next to me and