looking for another deer. “You bet I am. And if we ever have a wedding there, I’ll get permission from the bride to post pictures of that, too.”
Lucy met them at the door with her arms spread out to hug Jolene. “I’m so glad to see you today. You kids are like a breath of spring after a long winter. What brings you to town?”
“I’ve been racking my brain trying to come up with someone to help with Flossie’s garden.”
Tucker held up a palm. “Don’t look at me. I’ve got black thumbs instead of green ones. Melanie used to say that if I breathed on a plant, it died.”
He’d mentioned her name, and no sadness swirled up around it. He glanced down at the wedding band on his left hand. Was he really starting to take steps forward?
“Me, either. Daddy taught me how to grow flowers, but I wouldn’t know anything about squash or tomatoes,” Jolene said.
“Maybe Sugar can think of someone who might be interested. Flossie loves that garden.” Lucy sighed.
“Don’t you worry. I bet there’s someone who’ll love to help Flossie,” Jolene answered.
Her tone was so honest and caring that Tucker wanted to take her in his arms and hug her. There’d been attraction before, but then, who wouldn’t be drawn to a woman like Jolene? She was strong and independent, and still sweet.
“That’s right. I don’t know why I fret about things like I do. But enough about us old ladies and our problems. I bet you’re here to see the things I bought for the inn, right? Y’all just follow me to the storage room, and I’ll show you what I’ve bought. Since I talked to you, I found another piece. If you want both, I’ll give them to you for what I paid for them.”
“We can’t do that. You need to make a profit,” Tucker said.
“No, I don’t. I’ve got more money than Midas already and no one to leave it to when I’m dead,” Lucy argued as she opened the door into a storage room. “There they are.”
Two small burled-oak washstands, complete with the towel bars, were side by side. There was no doubt that the hardware was original, and they were in pristine condition. Jolene squealed and went to open all the little drawers and then the small door.
“They’re both perfect. That’s so sweet of you to give them to us at such a bargain. Thank you, thank you.” She rushed over to hug Lucy.
Tucker couldn’t help but smile as he pulled out his wallet. “At least let us give you a finder’s fee.”
“Nope. I paid a hundred apiece for them, and that’s what I’m charging. You can back your truck up around to the back doors and load them up.” Lucy smiled. “I’m glad that I did good.”
“You did better than good.” Jolene ran her fingers over the top of each piece. “You did fantabulous.”
Lucy giggled. “Well, thank you.”
Tucker got into bed that evening and laced his fingers behind his head. Clouds kept shifting across the quarter moon, sending shadows and shapes across the ceiling. He turned his head to catch sight of Melanie’s picture on the nightstand, but she was barely visible in the semidarkness. Then he turned the other way to find that Sassy wasn’t in her usual place on the pillow but had curled up at the foot of the bed.
He shut his eyes, and sleep came immediately—as did the dreams. He and Melanie were back in the trailer that last night. He argued with her that she shouldn’t go into town, but she laughed at him.
“It’s okay, darlin’. It’s my time and no one argues with God.” She kissed him on the cheek, picked up her purse, and started out the trailer door.
“Lucy does,” he said. “Lucy argues with God, and I believe He listens to her.”
“Who’s Lucy?” Melanie asked.
“This older lady who’s a friend of Jolene’s. Don’t go, Melanie. I can’t live without you,” he begged.
“Yes, you can. Life goes on, and I want you to be happy, Tucker. You have to let me go. My soul won’t be at peace until you do.” She took him by the hand and led him outside. “Now walk me to the car, and tell me goodbye.”
“I can’t,” he said.
“Be brave, like you are on the force.” She kissed him. “I love you. Give Jolene a chance. I like her. She’ll make you happy.”
He tried to hold her back, but she slipped away. As she drove off into the fog,