am tonight.”
There was something judgmental about the way Ashley murmured, “Hmm.”
“What are you not saying, Ashley?” Cooper demanded as she hurried out to the Make It Work! shredder truck, which took up four parking spots and released a noxious cloud of black smoke when the ignition was fired up.
“Nothing.” Ashley’s reply was nearly drowned out by the chugging of the truck engine. “It just sounds like you might have forgotten that today’s Grammy’s birthday and we’re all having supper at Mama and Daddy’s house. Including Nathan. You invited him weeks ago. I remember because I thought it was so sweet that he insisted on getting Grammy a present.”
Slapping the steering wheel, Cooper moaned. “Her gift! I don’t have time to pick it up now! Look, I’ve got to go. If I’m going to make it to the camera store before they close at five, I’d better get my work finished.”
“Just don’t mention our . . . unpleasant experience in front of Grammy. Mama doesn’t want anything to spoil her special evening. I expect she’ll be waiting for you with a pile of cookies when you get home.”
“I wouldn’t mind seeing her in the kitchen with some butterscotch squares.” Cooper easily conjured an image of her mother engaged in a flurry of agitated baking as she waited for her oldest daughter to return from work. “But I doubt we can keep this from Grammy. She’s mighty sharp and it’s not going to be easy to act like nothing’s happened.”
Ashley sighed. “I know, but Grammy’s a woman. All women are easily distracted by pretty things, and I’m bringing her some jaw-dropping, eye-popping, let’s-not-talk-about-babies-or-dead-men-named-Miguel pretty things.”
Cooper disagreed with her materialistic sister about their chances of fooling their observant grandmother, but chose to remain quiet. She spent the rest of the workday emptying document bins as though she were engaged in a competitive sport and arrived at the camera store ten minutes before closing.
The clerk, a plump and friendly retiree named Janice, immediately recognized Cooper. Reaching below the counter, she proudly showed off the results of their joint planning. Once Janice was convinced that Cooper was completely delighted with the present, she wrapped it in tissue paper and then slid it into a gift bag decorated with birthday balloons.
“That’s a beautiful pin you’re wearing,” Janice told Cooper as she rang up the sale.
Instinctively, Cooper’s fingertips brushed the thin silver wings of the pin she always wore on her shirt, just above her heart. “Thank you. My grandmother gave this to me.”
“I noticed it last time you were here. It’s a lovely talisman.” Janice smiled. “She’s going to cherish your gift, too. I hope my grandchildren do something like this for me when I’m older.” She laughed self-effacingly. “Oh, my, I guess I’m already older!”
“Ma’am, you’ve got the computer skills of people half your age. And an amazing eye for color,” Cooper assured her. “I believe you’re young where it matters.” She tapped on her temple and the woman beamed at her.
“Thank you, dear. Come back sometime and tell me how the gift went over.”
“I’ll do that,” Cooper promised and thanked Janice once more on the way out.
Gift in hand, Cooper relaxed for the first time that day. At the next red light, she slid her cell phone’s earpiece onto her right ear and called Nathan. She wanted to tell him what happened the night before so he had time to compose himself before showing up at her parents’ house for dinner. But that was only half the reason she decided not to tell him face-to-face. She didn’t trust herself not to blush when she mentioned the role Edward Crosby had played.
Nathan, who worked as a Web designer from his home office, answered on the first ring. After exchanging greetings, Cooper hurriedly told her boyfriend what had happened and then apologized for not phoning earlier.
“I’m sure you’re still in a state of shock. And exhausted, too,” Nathan spoke gently once he’d had a moment to digest the startling news. “How’s Ashley holding up?”
“As well as can be expected. The investigation’s focusing on Love Motors’s West End dealership, so by now she’s probably glad her house is her own once more, though she may never step foot in the garage again.” Cooper realized she was deliberately avoiding any mention of the dead man, but she wanted to push aside all thoughts of him until after Grammy’s celebration.
“How many dealerships does the Love family manage?”
“Three. His father runs the original Love Motors downtown, and his younger brother