I need to run to the bank and deposit that. She didn’t like having that much cash on hand. She’d put the security deposit part of it in her savings account where it would stay, untouched. The rest of it would go straight into her business account so she could pay bills, with some held back as cash to pay Jenny.
As she tried to stretch, her muscles protested. A trip to the bank could wait until after she’d had a pain pill, a hot bath, and rubbed some of Mandaline’s miracle cures all over her.
An hour later, she felt strong enough to make the trip. That would be about all she’d accomplish, but she was used to that. The sudden fatigue could hit her and make her feel like someone had flipped a switch on her energy. Even in the middle of a shopping trip, she’d find herself looking for a place to sit down and rest for a couple of minutes with barely enough strength to go on, much less the energy to schlep her groceries upstairs when she made it home.
62 Tymber
Dalton
She’d learned to save large grocery trips for days when Jenny was there. The girl was happy to help out and traipse up and down the stairs for her.
Libbie had found sometimes she only had enough strength to get back up the stairs and crawl into bed, much less repeated trips.
Today, however, she slowly made her way down the stairs, the ones that ended in the hallway leading to the outside at the back of the bakery. They put her closer to her car because the door opened onto the carport. She rested for a moment after getting in, then carefully backed out. Ken and Charles had backed their pickup truck in. She briefly wondered whether or not Nebraska was a single-plate state like Florida when she saw no license plate attached to the front bumper, but by the time she reached the street the thought had already been chased out of her head by her need to concentrate on her driving.
By eleven, she was back in her apartment and curled up on the couch with her Kindle and Galileo. She’d had all sorts of plans for today, such as working on paperwork and washing her car, but knew if she wanted to be able to work in the morning she had to take it easy.
A little before ten Monday morning, Allan decided to leave their apartment again to get some air and look around some more. Going downstairs, he noticed Libbie’s car was gone. He took another turn around the center of Brooksville again on foot. Stores closed the day before had opened, including Many Blessings.
“What the hell, I could use a coffee.” He stepped inside, surprised to find it nearly deserted except for a woman dusting a bookshelf, and another woman standing behind the counter.
As he stepped up to the counter, he recognized the woman who’d given them the information about Libbie’s apartment.
She also apparently recognized him. She greeted him with a It’s a Sweet Life 63
beaming grin. “Ah, I see you’re still around.”
He nodded. “Yes, thank you. The apartment you told us about was perfect.”
She waggled her eyebrows at him. “I did mention Libbie was single, didn’t I?”
He felt the blush reach his cheeks. Dammit, what the hell’s wrong with me? He was used to standing up in court without breaking a sweat. Why was he suddenly getting all bashful when he thought about their cute landlord? “Um, yes, you did. I’m sure we also mentioned we’re gay.”
She let out a snort. “Sure you are, sweetie. What can I get you this morning?”
He wanted to argue the point then realized how absolutely stupid that was. Somehow, this woman had seen through their charade.
The fact that it was a New Age shop didn’t escape him.
Maybe she’s a witch. He could barely think it and manage to hold back his laughter at the same time. “Just a large coffee, please. House whatever. Black.”
She nodded and turned to get it, but he didn’t miss the tickled smile on her face. When she returned with his coffee and he reached for it, she grabbed his hand with her free one and stared into his eyes.
He felt frozen in time and space, locked onto her gaze.
“Hmm,” she muttered, frowning slightly. “You aren’t what you say you are. Neither of you are, but you have good reasons for it.
You’re good men.” She released him and smiled, holding his coffee out to him. “Here you go.”
He stood there blinking and wondered for a moment if he’d imagined the whole thing. “How much?” he asked, feeling rattled.
She shook her head. “No charge. Not today.” Her eyes narrowed.
“I know you’ll do the right thing by her, won’t you? She needs good men like you.”
Mumbling his thanks, he took the coffee and hurried out of the shop.
64 Tymber
Dalton
Something about that woman, what was her name? Mandaline? It unnerved him. Not in a serial killer sort of way. While the peaceful atmosphere of the shop had felt calming, he wasn’t sure he believed in psychic abilities.
Still, he couldn’t help but feel like all his secrets had been laid bare before her with just the touch of her hand to his.
He decided to return to the apartment and noticed Libbie’s car was back in her normal parking space. He wanted to spend some time with her. Nonwork time. He assumed when she was in the bakery that she was all business and not able to socialize very much.
Wouldn’t hurt to ask her out to dinner. He found himself hesitating at their door instead of going in. Allan wasn’t sure what Ben would say about it. Frankly, he didn’t care. Decision made, he turned, strode over to Libbie’s door, and knocked.
From inside, he heard her faint reply. “Just a minute.”
He regretted disturbing her when he realized how long it was taking her to get to the door from the sound of her slow progress across the apartment. When she opened the door, the pinched look of pain on her face wasn’t easy to miss.
“Hi,” he said, his heart aching for her. “Sorry to bug you. I just wanted to know if we could make dinner for you tonight.” Screw going out, it looked like she could barely walk, much less go down the stairs and be sociable in a restaurant. “As a token of our appreciation.”
When it looked like she might refuse, he quickly added,
“Seriously, we don’t want you to bring anything but yourself. Please?
We’d like to do this for you.”
Her green eyes stared up at him. He suspected her pale complexion was due more to her pain than lack of sun exposure. After what felt like hours, she slowly nodded, the ghost of a smile curving her lips. “Okay. Thank you, Charles. I appreciate it. What time?”
“How about six? Is that okay?”
“That would be great. Thanks.”
It’s a Sweet Life
65
She’d started to step back, as if to close the door. He couldn’t bear to let her go just yet. “Listen, Libbie, is there anything I can do to help you?”
She hesitated. “We can talk about the bakery at dinner.”
“I didn’t mean that. I meant anything else. Can I carry laundry down or up for you, or take out your garbage, or…anything?” He felt his face heat as he realized how lame that sounded.
She started to reply when her huge, orange tabby stepped through the doorway and curled himself around his legs.
With a smile, Allan reached down and picked him up. “Hey, fellow.” He glanced up at her. “I saw you had a cat, but I didn’t get to see much of him during the move.”
Her eyes widened. “He…seems to like you.”
The cat loudly purred in his arms. He rubbed under the cat’s chin.
“I love cats. I haven’t been able to have any pets for a while now. Too busy,” he added.