and was calmed by her gentle touch.
“It’s a beautiful day, Sheriff.” Lola’s gaze and touch fell away. “A wonderful day to be alive.”
Chapter Twenty-Nine
Get dressed,” Lola said to Avery when she opened the door to her small apartment. “We’re going to Shaw’s.”
Avery tugged up the sweats she’d cut off at the knee and stared at Lola’s black Keds. “You don’t like Shaw’s.”
“I know, but you do, and it’s Sunday and I need a drink.” Lola wasn’t proud of those words.
It was Sunday afternoon. Augie had come back yesterday to prep Marcia’s body because Barbara had decided against an autopsy.
Lola had finished working on Marcia, and she couldn’t stand to go home alone. It had nothing to do with Drew (almost) proposing to Wendy and everything to do with prepping the body of her husband’s lover. Oh, at first it’d been hard not to make Marcia look like a Kardashian. And then, as they’d listened to eighties classics, something odd had happened. Lola had read Marcia’s file and begun to get a feel for the woman’s personality.
Marcia had had a baby in high school and married a much older man. She’d been a devoted mother and most likely a good wife. Widowed early, she’d taken the insurance money, to spend not on a midlife crisis but on the youth she’d cheated herself of. And then along came Randy (that part wasn’t in the file). He might have thought she was grieving (a damsel in distress), or he might have thought she was ready for a rebound. And then because Marcia was ready to settle down and was a great person, they’d stuck. And then because her daughter had aspirations of the White House in her future, Marcia couldn’t go public with a much younger man. And then because Lola had an overactive imagination, she’d forgiven her husband’s mistress.
That was a lot of and thens.
“I’m sorry we had a food fight over a man. I really need a drink.” The Marcia-Randy epiphany had been profound but having to watch Drew propose to Wendy had hurt. Because while he set a record for making the most awkward proposal ever for the best of reasons, Lola had realized something.
She loved Drew.
It wasn’t the insta-love she’d felt for Randy, a love that had grown over time. It was the unhurried kind of love, built on the solid foundation of finally knowing him inside out.
Until a day ago, Drew had always taken care of everyone in the right way at the right time. Siblings, mother, deputies, townspeople. Even a slightly overreactive young widow who’d lost her way. He took his job seriously and let only a few people in on a secret—he had a sly sense of humor to go with that big heart.
Love. Lotta good it did Lola.
“I’m sorry I didn’t explain about my one night with Randy,” Avery said. “You know I don’t like everyone in my personal business, but I should have told you. I should have told you a long time ago.” Avery wasn’t being as hard of a sell on reconciliation as Lola had thought she’d be. “Let’s go to Shaw’s. It’s Ladies’ Day, you know.” The afternoon was reserved for female customers.
“I know.” Lola shrugged. “I figure a lot of my critics will be there.” Mary Margaret, for sure.
Interest sparked in Avery’s eyes. “And you want to face them because…”
“I deflated Randy and Candy.”
Avery pulled Lola inside and shut the door. “Don’t tell me you found all the women Randy slept with?”
“I found enough. I’m not looking anymore.” It was too painful, as was applying Marcia’s makeup. That woman had flawless skin.
“So why do you want to go to Shaw’s?” Avery studied her, suddenly skeptical.
“Because you like it.” Lola tugged Avery’s necklace out of her purse. “Isn’t that what friends do? They do the things the other likes.” And there it was. The question that would confirm whether they were still friends. Lola held her breath.
“Yes.” Avery didn’t hesitate. She hugged Lola fiercely, not even taking the necklace. “Would you think I’m a wuss if I admitted I missed you?”
“I would but it’s okay since I’m a wuss too.” Lola hugged her back, just as fiercely. “I’m sorry I let you demonstrate alone. If we were twenty years younger, we’d make a pact never to fight again.”
“We’d pinkie swear.” Avery pulled away, grinning, and it was just as if the last two weeks hadn’t happened.
“Hey.” Lola peered at Avery’s hairline. “Is that a gray hair?” She didn’t wait for confirmation.