Kiss a Girl in the Rain

  “No thanks. I’ll sit at the bar.”

  “Sure thing. I was so sorry to hear about the mix-up at the garage. Merv feels terrible about it. I bet you could get a discount if you wanted to. Of course, that son of his is about as dumb as a bag of hammers. But what can you do?”

  He shouldn’t be surprised. Of course everybody in Miller’s Pond knew about his motorcycle troubles by now. He only hoped his extraordinary efforts at discretion around Caitlyn had paid off.

  “Is Doc Sorenson dealing with a medical emergency tonight?” She asked as though he’d never been seen except in Caitlyn’s company. Seemed his extraordinary efforts at discretion had paid off about as well as the two lottery tickets he’d bought in his life.

  “I couldn't tell you what the doctor is doing,” he said.

  Barker watched the exchange through narrowed eyes but didn’t say anything. Evan’s choice of seats was right beside Barker or one seat removed. He left a seat between them. Nodded casually to the chief. “Evening.”

  “Bad luck about your bike.”

  “Yeah.”

  “What can I get you?” Louise asked.

  “Whatever IPO you’ve got on tap.”

  “You got it.”

  When she put the ale in front of him, he raised his glass in Barker’s direction and took a sip of the cool drink. He figured he and Barker could sit silently, with Caitlyn so strongly there between them that she might as well be perched on the empty bar stool, or they could talk about something else. Two guys, around the same age, both involved in law and order? How hard could it be?

  They talked about sports for a few minutes, but somehow the conversation never took off.

  He wondered how fast he could down the beer and the burger and get out of there, when he thought maybe the chief could help him with his current client. He leaned toward the off-duty cop and said, “Does the name Trini Lopez mean anything to you?”

  Cop stare came back at him. “Why?”

  Evan quelled his irritation with an effort. “Two reasons. One: I’ve got a client who believes she is the rightful owner of the property he is currently living on. Two: I drove by there today. Looked to me like there’s cannabis being grown on the farm. Mr. Lopez came outside with a shotgun and a couple of pit bulls.”

  The cop continued to regard him. “He threaten you?”

  “No.”

  “Man’s allowed to have a firearm on his own property. Also dogs. I could try to bust him for the marijuana but he’ll claim it’s medicinal.”

  But Evan heard the undercurrent of frustration.

  “If I could prove he forged the deed to the property?”

  Barker smiled. A slow, cold smile. “Then, if the court so ordered, I’d do my duty and remove him from the property. And I’d smile while I was doing it.”

  Evan nodded. “Anything you can tell that might help?”

  “Off the record. He’s a drug dealer and a bad dude. He did time for dealing a while back. He’s got powerful friends in a Mexican cartel. Watch your back.”

  The door opened heralding new arrivals into the Country Grill. He felt the prickling on the back of his neck before Barker’s eyes went soft. He knew she was there. He knew it before he turned and their gazes locked.

  Her eyes were big and sad and there was a hint of redness to the rims as though she might have been crying. He was half out of his seat before Louise bustled up to the two women. She shot him a hasty glance of puzzlement, then said, “Good evening, ladies.”

  He thought for a moment they were going to turn around and leave, but Caitlyn was stronger than that. She and her heavily pregnant friend walked behind Louise. As they passed, Caitlyn said, “Hi.” Could be to him, to Barker, or to both of them.

  Louise seated the women at the same table where he and Caitlyn had eaten dinner last Saturday night. Seemed a lifetime ago. He watched her settle, then her gaze connected with his as though she, too, were remembering that first date. He wanted to go over there and pull her into his arms so badly it hurt. Then she transferred her attention to her friend and he turned back to his burger, which tasted like ashes in his mouth.

  He left the Grill as soon as he could, taking a chunk of the beef in a paper napkin for his sidekick. He glanced Caitlyn’s way as he left and her gaze lifted to his for one painful moment before she returned her attention to her friend.

  As he walked to his car he could not once recall feeling about Tessa the way he did about Caitlyn. He paused, stopped dead right in the middle of the Country Grill parking lot, as it hit him. He’d never been in love with Tessa.

  And he was in love with Caitlyn.

  Caitlyn refused to stare out the window and watch Evan walk to his car though it took all her will power.

  Fortunately, Louise delivered their meals which kept her and Charlotte busy for a few moments.

  “I’m so sorry,” Charlotte said, looking miserable. “I never thought he’d be here.”

  “Of course you didn’t,” she replied, determined to sound cheerful. “It doesn’t matter. He’s gone now. And soon he’ll be gone from my town and I can move on.”

  “I feel like running after him and jumping on him.” She glanced down at her own bulk. “And with all this extra weight, I’d flatten him.”

  She couldn’t help but smile. “Keep your energy for something useful, like baby.” She forked up some of her spinach salad and then asked, “Have you picked out names?”

  “We’re thinking of Lucy if it’s a girl, or Michael if it’s a boy.”

  “Those are good names.”

  They munched their food and chatted as old friends do, but while she kept her interested expression intact and the smile on her face, inside Caitlyn wanted to throw herself on the floor and wail.

  When she dropped her friend off later, Charlotte reached out and patted her shoulder. “You know I’d hug you if I could. It’s going to be okay. A better man will come along.”

  She nodded. “So true.”

  But inside she didn’t believe it. Maybe scores of better men would come into her life, but she couldn’t imagine ever feeling this way about any of them.

  When she drove up to her house, her heart jolted. A man and his dog were sitting out on her front porch. A very familiar man and his equally familiar dog. Her heart lurched for a moment, then she put her car carefully away in the garage, took her time walking through the house and finally opened the front door.

  Evan stood there looking big and gorgeous and sad. She read the shadowed expression in his eyes. “Come in,” she said.

  He strode inside, all restless and agitated. The dog, picking up the emotion, rushed up to her and butted his head against her knee until she bent down to pat him.

  “I gave up my practice, my girlfriend, my whole life to fulfill these dreams I’ve had since I was a kid,” Evan said as though they were in the middle of an argument.

  “I know,” she said, still patting the dog.

  “You know I’d stay if I could,” he said.

  “I do.”

  He grabbed hold of the bannister as though he was going to pull it loose. “I think I’m in love with you.”

  She nodded but didn’t speak.

  He continued in his argumentative tone. “I think if a woman’s loved she has a right to know it. And a man should be strong enough to admit his feelings.”

  It was almost as though he were ashamed of his soft feelings. She wanted to tell him that she loved him, too, but before she could say anything, the diatribe continued.

  “I’ve only gone a couple hundred miles,” he practically shouted. “I’m supposed to be riding across the country, and I haven’t even crossed a state line yet.”

  “I’m not trying to stop you.”

  He stalked forward, hauled her up to her feet and glared at her. “You could come with me. Why not? Take a chance. We’ll hit the road together. We’d be unstoppable. We’ll be Bonnie and Clyde without the crime spree.”

  She was oddly touched. “Oh, Evan, I
can’t leave. I have patients. Commitments.”

  “Hey, I thought I couldn't leave my job either. I was booked up for six months solid. Guess what I found out?”

  She shook her head.

  “Nobody’s indispensible. You think Clayton Willoughby wasn’t booked up for almost a year ahead when he dropped dead? Somebody stepped in. And when I left, somebody else stepped in. If you left—”

  “Somebody else would step in. I know that. But I’m not interested in running away. This is my life. And I like it.”

  “Just be certain it’s not so safe and comfortable that you’re hiding from life.”

  “That’s not fair.”

  “Isn’t it? It’s pretty clear that this was your safe place growing up. Your grandparents loved you and supported you and when things went south for you back east this is where you ran to. But I think you need to be very sure that you’re here because you want to be, not because you’re too scared to try something new.”

  She thought of all the things she could retort, but he looked so miserable and she loved him so much, she opened her arms. He went straight to her, pulling her into him so they stood there, clinging. He kissed her as though that kiss would have to last him for the rest of his life.

  She kissed him back as though she felt the same way.

  “I have a cell phone,” he said, “You call me. Anytime.”

  “I will. And you call me. Anytime.”

  He looked as though he were being torn in two. The pull of the road beckoned him urgently forward. His love for her pulled him as strongly back toward her and everything she represented.

  “I have to do this. You understand don’t you?”

  “Of course I do.” But she wasn’t sure she did. “But have you ever thought that maybe what that list was urging you to do was live with integrity. Not have adventures every day, but to live each day as though it were an adventure.”

  He stared down at her. “You know, you sound like my mother.”

  Her lips curved when she saw his expression. “She must be a very wise woman.”

  He let her go, paced a little more. “Maybe I’ll get my list completed and then I’ll come back.”

  She smiled a little. “Maybe you will.”

  He didn’t ask her to wait for him.

  And she didn’t offer to wait, either.

  After he left, she brewed a pot of tea, poured it into that foolish red mug Evan had bought her. Oregon is for lovers. She’d never look at it and not remember their time together.

  She sat for a while thinking, the cat a soothing purring presence in her lap. Then she rose, putting the annoyed cat on the floor, and headed for her computer.

  She wanted to call her grandparents but with the time difference it was much too late to call Florida.

  Instead she wrote an email:

  Dear Grandma and Grandpa,

  I hope you’re well and keeping busy.

  One of the reasons her grandparents had chosen the community they were in was for all the activities. There were swimming pools and yoga lessons, golf, fishing, outings of all kinds. For active, healthy young seniors it was perfect. Probably too perfect for them to consider her proposal.

  Grandpa, you remember when you said you’d come back and take over the practice if I ever wanted a holiday? Well, I do. What do you think about coming back here for a couple of weeks.

  She added some news she knew they’d both enjoy and then signed off.

  She was optimistic enough that she did an internet search for Swim with Dolphins. And another for Hike the Grand Canyon.

  Chapter Nineteen

  Evan enlisted the help of Horace Freemason once more next morning when he got to the office. “Phyllis got hold of the notary, Susan Lang, and she’s agreed to meet with me, but I think it would be better if you came along. She probably remembers you.”

  “Evan, I am not taking over your pro bono case when you ride off into the sunset. Don’t think it for a minute.”

  “Of course not,” he said, doing his best to sound shocked at the idea. But they both knew it was exactly his intention.

  Susan Lang was probably in her early seventies and had just returned from the gym when they met up with her in her apartment. She did remember Horace. Evan mentally patted himself on the back as she made them all coffee and the two chatted about old times. When he was able to get a word in, he introduced the reason for their visit.

  Susan Lang frowned at her coffee. “It’s impossible to remember every document. Of course, I’ve got all my old files in storage.” She did not appear excited at the idea of delving into those old files.

  Evan pulled out the copy of the deed. “Here’s the deed in question. Does it ring any bells?”

  She rose and retrieved her reading glasses from a table in the living room where they were sitting atop a hardcover mystery novel. When she returned, she picked up the copy of the deed. She began to shake her head and then she stopped. “Trini Lopez?”

  “Yes. Do you know him?”

  She hesitated. “I don’t know him. But his name is familiar. One of my nephews…well, the connection isn’t important, but I would have remembered anything to do with that man.” Her tone suggested she was not a big fan of Mr. Lopez.

  She read the entire document through a second time, then removed her glasses and leaned back. “I had a break in at my office. I’d have to go back to my old files to remember the exact dates. Nothing much was stolen, but the locks were damaged.” She tapped the paper with her finger. “I wonder if the real reason for the break in wasn’t theft, but access to my notary seal.”

  Horace said, “You think Trini Lopez forged the deed?”

  “Then took it to the county clerk’s office and had it recorded.”

  Evan and Horace exchanged a glance.

  “You’re sure about this, Susan?” Horace said. “You couldn’t have notarized this deed and forgotten it?”

  “After what he put my family through, believe me I would never do business with that man. And I am quite willing to testify if it comes to that.”

  She put her hands flat on the table and turned from one to the other. “Trini Lopez is a bad man and a bad influence in this community.”

  The two lawyers waited until they were outside on the pavement to high five each other. Horace was as excited as he was. “Damn, that was smooth,” he said. “You know, if you ever decide to move to Miller’s Pond, I’d be happy to offer you partnership in my firm.”

  “Thanks, Horace.”

  He called and told Pilar the good news, unable to wait for their Spanish lesson. “Of course, it will still take a while. We’ll need a court date, but I’m pretty sure you’ll be in possession of your farm within a couple of months.

  This time, when Merv called he wasn’t expecting it. “Your bike’s all ready,” the garage owner informed him.

  “You mean you’ve got the part in?”

  “Nope. I mean I’ve installed it. You’re good to go.”

  “Okay. Thanks.”

  He put down the phone and wondered why that call felt like bad news. He shook his head at his own foolishness.

  Before he turned in the car, he took the mutt for a final run in the park and then he drove them to the shelter.

  It was a clean, cheerful place, with large enclosures for the animals. A big cat sat on the counter and stared while Evan filled out the paperwork.

  Homely did not love this place. He sat by the door, whining occasionally.

  Evan felt terrible. He pulled out his wallet and made a large donation to the shelter. “What will happen to him?” he asked. “If he doesn’t get adopted, I mean.”

  The woman looked surprised. “Of course he’ll be adopted. All he needs is a good grooming.” She pulled a dog treat from a bowl and walked over to the trembling dog. He might be unhappy, but Homely wasn’t about to turn down food. “We’re a no kill shelter,” she assured Evan. “He’ll be fine.”

  Evan hefted the bag of dog food and the leash and foo
d and water dishes onto the counter. He tried to tell the woman all the routines he and the dog had established in their short time together.

  She listened politely but obviously the dog was going to have to conform to whatever routines this place enforced.

  “Okay, Buddy.” He leaned down and petted the dog. “You’re going to be fine. You’ll get a good home.”

  When he left he couldn’t stand to look back.

  Evan felt the rattle of road beneath him, the roar of the engine, the wind in his face. Sometimes, when he was riding, he felt as though he were flying. It was just him, the wind, the endless road ahead of him. No distractions like in a car, no radio, no Bluetooth, no passengers. Just him and the road.

  He should feel on top of the world. He was back on track after a week’s delay. He’d met some nice people, had an affair with a sexy, beautiful woman. Helped a homeless stray get to a shelter and helped a woman recover her rightful property. Now he needed to ride off, alone and unfettered, to the next town. The next adventure.

  James Bond did it. Cool guys in adventure novels moved on to the next adventure all the time. They rode into town, solved the crime, foiled the plot, bedded the prettiest girl, and rode out again. Everyone understood. Especially the dame. You never saw the cool guys turning around to look back the way they’d come.

  But he wasn’t James Bond. He was Evan Alexander Chance. And the farther down the road he got, the less interested he was in the next adventure. He wanted to be there when Barker escorted Trini Lopez off the farm and hopefully back to jail.

  He wanted to be there when Pilar got her inheritance and when the rose tree bloomed again.

  He found he didn’t want to be unfettered.

  He travelled for forty miles or so. Then he pulled into a roadside diner. The waitress didn’t look like Lucille Ball. She didn’t call him by name. She poured a stream of coffee into a thick white cup that sat on a thick white saucer. The cream came in those little plastic cups that you had to peel open.

  He watched the news on the TV for a while as he drank his coffee. He didn’t order a side of sausage. He had no dog.

  After his coffee break he got back onto the bike again and headed for the road. Right would take him east toward adventure.

  Left would take him back to Miller’s Pond.

  He swore long and loud, and then he made the turn.