Instead I asked,“What’s wrong with the seagulls?”
“Nothing’s wrong exactly. But Charles helped with that case, and I didn’t share the payment. I thought it’s what I wanted, but I hate feeling this way. So…” He opened his palm to reveal a sparkling diamond solitaire.
I gasped, completely taken by surprise.“What? Where did you get that?”
“The seagulls gave it to us, remember? I always keep it nearby, since it’s one of my greatest treasures.”
“It’s been here all weekend? Where?” I glanced around the room. This RV was packed so tight I had no idea where Pringle may have made his secret stash.
“Don’t worry about that. If I give up all my good hiding spots, I’ll feel sick for a different reason.” He attempted a smile, but it looked wrong, thanks to all those sharp little teeth. “So do you forgive me?”
“Of course, I forgive you, Pringle.” I reached out and patted his head. Pringle wasn’t a domesticated animal and didn’t like it when I touched him, but I felt like I had to do something to connect with him in that moment.
He winced at my touch, then straightened his posture and pressed the ring into my hand.“Then here. Do with it what you will.”
“I have a feeling this is going to get real gross, real fast,” Octo-Cat droned as he jumped off the bed. “Come find me when you want to feed me.”
Pringle disappeared after him, leaving my boyfriend and I on our own. We both stared at the ring, neither saying anything. Talk about opening a giant can of worms.
When at last I couldn’t take the awkward silence any longer, I giggled and joked, “So you wanna get married or something?”
But Charles didn’t laugh. Not even a little. Instead he cleared his throat and got out of bed.
“No, no, come back. I’m sorry!” I called after him. Me and my big mouth.Stupid, stupid, stupid.
He rooted around in his luggage, then climbed into bed beside me, holding out both hands in fists.“Pick one,” he said.
I tapped on his right fist, and he opened it up to reveal a little satin box.
My breathing hitched as I looked from the ring in my hand to the box in his.“Charles, I…”
“Open it,” he said with a soft smile, watching me so closely I doubt he blinked at all.
Delicately, I lifted the lid to reveal a princess-cut diamond surrounded by a tight outcropping of amethysts.
“I planned to ask you this weekend. On our picnic actually, but then…” He sighed and watched me with wide eyes. “Well… you know the rest.”
“Are you really asking me—?”
“To marry me? Yes.” He sat up higher in bed and grabbed both of my hands in his. “This isn’t how I’d planned it, but I love you, Angie Russo. For better or worse. No matter what. Do you love me like that, too?”
“Yes, I do,” I said as he took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto my finger. “And yes, I will marry you.”
I wiggled my fingers, delighting in the heft of my new prized accessory, at the way it sparkled in the light. Then I reached for Charles’s hand and slipped the seagull’s ring onto his pinky finger.
“A perfect fit,” I said. “Just like us.”
“Just like us,” he agreed.
We shared our first kiss as a betrothed couple, and then I pulled away and asked,“What would you have done if I picked the other hand?”
My fianc?’s eyes flashed with mischief. “Hmm, I guess we’ll never know,” he teased, and then kissed me again.
Chapter Twenty
When we returned home Sunday evening, my entire family stood waiting on the porch.
“Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Charles Longfellow the Third!” Nan cried, setting off a party popper.
“I have a new daddy!” her Chihuahua Paisley barked happily.
My mother and father rushed down the steps to greet us, exchanging hugs and congratulations.
Octo-Cat hopped out of the camper and groaned.“Remind me again why you thought it would be a good idea to bring a cat on a camping trip?”
“It wasn’t our idea,” I muttered and rolled my eyes. Knowing my luck, the tabby would punish me for this sleight for many months to come—and it hadn’t even been my fault.
“I missed you, Octavius!” Paisley squeaked, then slathered him in kisses.
“Get off me, you demented creature,” he growled.
Paisley pinned him down and took great care cleaning out each of his ears.
“Okay, okay. I’ve missed you too, you little scalawag,” Octo-Cat acquiesced. He even stopped struggling as Paisley continued to pepper him with sloppy puppy kisses.
While everyone’s attention was on the cat and dog, the raccoon exited the RV the same way he’d initially entered, through the bathroom vent up top. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my tree house, starting my third watch-through of the cult reality classicSurvivor.”
I turned away from my parents and called out to him.“Pringle, wait. Come inside and join us for dinner. I’m sure Nan has something wonderful prepared.”
Nan’s face lit up. “I sure do. We’re having blackened salmon and risotto.”
My stomach turned at the mention of salmon, but I worked hard to keep my face light and happy.
“Sounds delicious.” Charles threaded his fingers through mine and then raised our joined hands and pressed a kiss to them.
“Everything’s ready. Just step inside.” Nan guided us back into the house. “I even brought out the good china. Why, it’s not every day my favorite granddaughter gets engaged.”
“And it’s not today, either,” I pointed out with a chuckle. “We got engaged yesterday.”
“Oh, hush, you.” But Nan laughed, too.
Pringle scampered in after us and climbed up onto the table.
“Manners,” Nan said, fixing him with a stern look.
He hesitated before climbing down onto one of the chairs. His face barely cleared the surface of the table, the cutie.
“I’ll go get you a booster,” I said, heading toward the entry closet where Nan kept all kinds of strange knickknacks. I wouldn’t be surprised if I found a booster chair there, too.
A light tapping at the door drew my attention away.
I opened it up and found Bravo and Abigull standing on the porch together.“Hi, guys. What’s up?”
“Angie, Angie,” the young bird cawed. “We found her!”
I was almost afraid to ask. Mostly because I already knew the answer.“Found who?”
“Your long-lost grandmother,” Bravo confirmed. “She hasn’t left the state. Just moved. We found her somewhere in the middle.”
“Near Mount Katahdin?” I ventured.
“Affirmative,” Bravo squawked.
“How did you know?” Abigull asked, tilting her head to the side.
I let out a tired sigh.“Because with the way my life has gone lately, it just makes sense.”
“We can take you to her. Are you ready?” the elder seagull asked.
“I’d like that very much, but first I have a dinner engagement. Can you come back tomorrow?”
When both birds agreed, I said goodbye and rejoined my family in the dining room. There would be time to tell them all about the seagulls’ discovery later.
Tonight, we would celebrate.
Tomorrow, we could chase after our next big mystery.
14. PERSIAN PENALTY
1
I’m Angie Russo, and my life has never been normal. My family is full of superstars, most notably my nan, who once stole the stage on Broadway and is to this day the most memorable character you’ll ever meet. For the longest time, I searched for what would make me special, too. I guess that’s why I racked up seven associate degrees before finally settling into a career.
My calling was actually a cat call—no, not the sleazy, random-guy-on-the-street kind. An actualmeow. A meow that I heard loud and clear, and in English of all things.
Yes, I can talk to animals. Just call me Miss Dolittle.
I was working as a paralegal when a will meeting went awry. One thing led to another, and I got zapped by a faulty coffee maker, lost consciousness, and then eventually woke up with a talking cat on my chest.