Stealing Taffy

  “Yes, thank you.” O’Connor and Wes were gone.

  Cheri touched her arm. “Granddaddy and I are going to get some coffee while they’re in there with him. Do you want some?”

  Tanyalee shook her head quickly. “No, thank you.”

  “Do you want to come along?”

  “No. I’ll just stay here.”

  Cheri leaned in close and squeezed her fingers around Tanyalee’s forearm. “Dante’s going to be all right—he’s awake and talking—but I swear you look worse than when you were waiting to hear if he’d make it. What’s going on?”

  “Can we talk about this later?” Tanyalee blinked rapidly, not wanting to cry. Not here. Not in front of people.

  “Of course.”

  With Cheri and Granddaddy gone, she was alone. Tanyalee got up and walked over to the window, feeling a chill through the double-paned glass. She stood a while, staring at nothing, thinking about even less, just feeling the pit in her stomach grow deeper and darker by the second.

  Suddenly, she could feel someone standing behind her. Could Dante’s sister or mother have made it here already? She turned around.

  J.J.

  Tanyalee straight-armed him. “Not now, J.J.”

  He frowned at her.

  Tanyalee slid down into a nearby chair, suddenly so exhausted she felt ill. J.J. took a step closer. She shook her head at him. “Would you mind saving the righteous indignation for another time? I understand I am at fault and I am willing to face the consequences of my actions. But I’ve had a real bad day and—”

  J.J. sat in the adjacent chair. Tanyalee flinched.

  He sighed. “I’m not a monster, Tanyalee.”

  She laughed, then sniffled miserably. “Oh, but I am, J.J. Think about it—everyone I come in contact with either ends up pressing charges against me, becomes incarcerated, or ends up in the hospital—or all of the above!”

  “That’s not true and you know it.”

  “Oh, really?” She sniffled again. “Sometimes I feel like there will be no end to the amends I need to make. I worry that I hurt people even when I don’t want to. Look at Dante!” She pointed down the hospital hallway. “He’s in trouble with his boss because I’m a felon. He could lose his job over me. And he nearly lost his life trying to save me! I ruin everything!”

  J.J. grabbed a box of tissues from the side table and handed it to her. She blew her nose.

  “Thankyousoverymuch.” Tanyalee sighed. “Maybe I should rent out the high school football stadium and invite the whole county. I could apologize for everything I’ve done in the past and anything I might ever do in the future, all in one fell swoop.”

  “Sounds like an awful lot of trouble.”

  Tanyalee stared at him. “You got a better idea?”

  J.J. smiled. “I think I do.”

  * * *

  Tanyalee knew she looked rode hard and put away wet—raccoon eyes, sticky hair, nails cracked from the whole tire-iron thing—and she was wearing pink from head to toe thanks to Aunt Viv. It didn’t matter, she supposed. It would probably make it easier.

  Her plan was to remain lighthearted and sweet. Tell him how happy she was that he was all right, which was completely true, and then tell him how sorry she was that he was shot on her account, which was also completely true. After that, she would tell him she wanted to date other people. It would be easier that way, quick and less hurtful for him in the long run. Technically, such a statement would be an untruth, due to the fact that she never wanted to date anyone other than Dante for the rest of her life! But what else was she going to do?

  She pushed open the hospital room door.

  Tanyalee wasn’t sure what she expected to see, but it wasn’t this. Dante was sitting under a dim overhead light, his right side bandaged from his waist to under his chin. A clean white sheet was folded over his lap, an IV was taped to his left arm, and a groggy smile was plastered on his face.

  He looked so good! So alive and handsome and still in one piece! And suddenly Tanyalee was flooded with such a wild mix of relief and sadness and guilt that she forgot to smile back.

  “I love you, Tanyalee Marie Newberry.”

  The words were in that familiar, deep voice, with its usual hint of amusement, but she was certain she was either hearing things or it was Dante’s pain medication talking.

  “Did you hear me?”

  “What?”

  Dante laughed. His throat sounded scratchy and the conversation had clearly tired him out, but he just kept laughing. “C’mere. Please.”

  Tanyalee hurried to the side of the hospital bed, her despair more raw than at any time in the last twenty-four hours, and that was saying something. She grabbed his left hand.

  “I’m so sorry,” she mumbled.

  “Sorry I love you?”

  “Yes!”

  He shook his head and scowled.

  “No!” She immediately corrected herself. “But you can’t love me. I’m a felon. It’s against the regulations and you could lose your job and…”

  “Shhhhh.”

  “… we either have to break up or you have to be transferred.”

  Dante let his head fall back on the fluffed pillows. “Been talking to O’Connor, eh?”

  “No. Not really. But I heard her tell Wes about it.”

  He shook his head. “I don’t think you understand, sweetheart. I know what the regulations are and I don’t give a hot-damn double shit about them. I love you and that’s that.”

  Tanyalee wiped away the tear now running down her cheek. “You’ll get fired!”

  “We’ll figure it out.”

  “But that’s—that’s just completely crazy!”

  Dante chuckled. “Yeah. Crazy-beautiful.”

  It was definitely the drugs.

  A nurse poked her head in the door. “Five minutes,” she said to Tanyalee.

  “You look so beautiful,” Dante said, his eyes dreamily eyeing her peach-pink T-shirt and a pair of pink jeans. “You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever known and I love you, love you, love you.” His gaze suddenly focused. “Do you love me?”

  “Oh, sweet baby Jesus, of course I do! I love you, Dante! I was trying to tell you the other day but I just couldn’t spit it out. But if we love each other it’s just going to ruin your life!”

  There was a soft knock on the door, and Tanyalee spun around, ready to do battle with the nurse. “It hasn’t been five minutes yet!” she hissed.

  There was Granddaddy Garland, looking confused. “Well, what’s this all about? I thought I’d be coming in here to see you happy. What’s wrong?”

  “I love her,” Dante announced. “And she loves me.”

  Granddaddy chuckled. “Son, that’s plainer than a cow pissin’ on a flat rock. So why the sad look, little girl?”

  Tanyalee was still squeezing Dante’s hand. “I’m going to mess up his life! I’m a convicted felon, Granddaddy, and DEA agents aren’t allowed to be in love with criminals.”

  “Ah, shee-it.” Garland shook his head. “With everything going on I completely forgot to tell you, Taffy Marie. I’ve hired a lawyer and he’s already filed to get your record expunged.”

  “Fuckin-A,” Dante said.

  “Ex-what?” Tanyalee asked.

  “Expunged. Canceled out. Any record of your conviction would disappear forever—you would no longer be a convicted felon.”

  “You can do that?”

  “If you are a nonviolent offender, yes. As your accuser, I’ve submitted a statement of support to the court. Temple Smathers, Turner, and your Dr. Leslie out in Arizona have, too. We all think you’ve done everything the court wanted you to do, and then some.”

  “Huh-whaaaat?” And just like that the dark cloud hanging over her head parted and Tanyalee’s heart was wiped clean of any doubt.

  She turned back to Dante. “Would you mind saying it again?”

  “I love you, Tanyalee.”

  Just then she noticed a small plastic bandage on his
chin and reached out to touch it. Oh, no. He’d cut himself shaving. She’d just add it to the list.

  “I love you, too, Dante,” she said. “I love you like crazy.”

  Epilogue

  Why the hell not? Dante decided there was no good reason not to throw Tanyalee a surprise thirtieth birthday party. According to Garland, no one but Viv had ever hosted a birthday bash for Tanyalee, and Dante thought that was something that should be remedied.

  Candy volunteered to hold the party at the bakery, which, because it was mid-December, was already decked out for Christmas. Even though Candy was now in her sixth month of pregnancy, she was going strong and insisted on baking the birthday cake. She decided on a frosting design that featured several shades of pink, which shocked no one.

  Cheri was in charge of taking Tanyalee to Asheville for a birthday lunch, just the two sisters. Tanyalee had been beyond excited by the invitation. By now Dante knew that time alone with her sister would be the best present she could ever receive.

  Okay, maybe the second best.

  Dante’s mom and sister had flown in for a couple of days, which was another of the day’s smaller surprises. Tanyalee would like the idea that they were in town for this event. She’d first met his mom and Daya when they flew in after he was wounded and they’d ended up staying with Viv—she would have it no other way. About a month after the shooting, Daya called Dante to check on his recovery, which by then was nearly complete. He asked his sister what she thought of Tanyalee, and after a short pause, she gave him an answer that still made him crack up. She said, “Dante, that woman is perfect for you. You’ve always liked the wildest ride in the amusement park.”

  And it had been a wild ride so far, one he’d enjoyed immensely. Tanyalee continued to amaze him. She was still working full-time at Candy Pants but had started her own volunteer agency. Immediately after the Bread of Kindness Center fired Maryvelle Spickler Wilcox, Tanyalee received a call from the new director. He asked her to help develop an outreach program for disadvantaged women with the county’s job services program. She jumped on it, convincing dozens of retail stores and salons to pitch in. The Second Chance Club now provided makeovers for women preparing for job interviews.

  He loved that girl. Dante loved her more every day.

  She’d moved out of the house on Willamette just three weeks ago. Viv was not happy, but Tanyalee sure was. She rented the loft space above the bakery and had turned it into something that could have belonged to a Brooklyn hipster instead of a Bigler belle. He’d enjoyed helping her find antiques and paint old junk so that it looked like it belonged in a decorating magazine. His housewarming present for her had been a king-sized bed with all the trimmings. She rolled her eyes at first, but she loved it now.

  She really, really loved it.

  Cheri had texted that they were leaving the restaurant, so Dante announced to the crowd that they were at twenty minutes to blastoff. The band Garland had hired was ready to go. The balloons were rigged to fall from the ceiling. His mom was conspiring with Viv about something and Wes was attempting to seduce Daya with one of his famous panty-destroying smiles. Dante figured he should go over there and stop it before somebody got hurt, then changed his mind—maybe it was time Wes got shot down, tied up, and taken prisoner. He’d ask Daya to go easy on him, since they still needed him at work.

  The DEA, in its strange wisdom, had decided to deny Dante’s transfer a second time—which was fine by him—while keeping Wes on in Asheville as a permanent assignment. It was true that a lot of good things were happening in this part of the state these days, but there was still too much bad shit for the local authorities to handle on their own.

  At least there was one less thing to worry about: Wainright Miller had been arrested, charged with a host of state and federal offenses, and was currently in the Randolph County lockup awaiting trial. Ramirez hadn’t yet gotten to Miller, but if the call came tomorrow, Dante wouldn’t be surprised—or even bothered. Miller deserved whatever he got.

  Fern wandered toward Dante. The girl had wormed her way into his heart over the last few months, he had to admit. He’d been helping her with homework and she was rapidly getting up to grade level in all her subjects. Fern adored Tanyalee, of course, and it was mutual though you wouldn’t know it listening to them talk. Overhearing one of their conversations was like taking a master class in Females of the Southeastern United States.

  “Yo,” Fern said. “You ready?”

  “As ready as I’ll ever be,” he answered, which was the truth. He figured a man just had to trust his gut with some things, and this was definitely one of them.

  Dante’s phone vibrated. They were five minutes away. “Everybody get ready,” he said.

  They cut the lights. Cheri was going to use some excuse to bring her in the front of the building. Everyone was silent as the key turned in the lock.

  “SURPRISE!” The lights flipped on and the balloons came down, four hundred pink balloons all over the place.

  Tanyalee put a hand to her heart, a look of pure shock on her beautiful face—which was what Dante was going for.

  “What? I can’t believe this!”

  Cheri pressed her inside and closed the door behind them, then took Tanyalee’s coat. Honestly, Dante didn’t think he’d ever get used to just how gorgeous his woman was. She still took his breath away.

  “Dante?” Tanyalee gave and received lots of hugs, the whole while smiling at him. She ran over and he picked her up in his arms, kissing her without a bit of modesty. There were cheers all around. The band broke out into the “Happy Birthday” song.

  “I can’t believe you did this!” she said, hugging him tight, careful not to squeeze his right shoulder.

  “It was a group effort,” he said.

  After about a half hour of mingling, music, and appetizers, it was time for the main event. Dante took Tanyalee to the bandstand and pulled up a chair for her. A steady stream of presents and cards arrived for her to open. Some were lovely and thoughtful, like the customized stationery she received from Daya and Dante’s mom, and the handmade scarf Temple Smathers’s wife had crocheted for Tanyalee. There were lots of books and joke gifts. Fern gave Tanyalee a DVD collection of all the Karate Kid movies, for some reason. Cheri and J.J. gave her a dinner for two in one of Asheville’s nicest restaurants, and Candy and Turner gave her a salon gift certificate, which made her squeak with happiness. Eventually, it was time for Dante’s present.

  While Cheri and Daya picked up torn ribbons and crumpled wrapping paper, Tater Wayne and O’Connor quietly handed out plastic champagne flutes and opened bottles of bubbly. Dante tried to keep Tanyalee occupied so she wouldn’t get too suspicious.

  “I have something very special for you tonight,” Dante said, pulling out a small box wrapped in pale pink satiny paper and tied with a chiffon bow.

  Tanyalee smacked her hand over her mouth in shock, her eyes huge and glistening with tears. When a few people clapped and cheered, Viv shushed them.

  “Not yet, ya’ll!” she said.

  Dante reached for Tanyalee’s hand and pulled her to a stand. He saw that she was trembling. He really hoped that she would forgive him for this one day, but honestly, it was just too perfect to pass up.

  “Happy birthday to the woman I love.” She gazed up at him with her bottomless blues, happiness radiating from her delicate face. “You have completely turned my life upside down, Tanyalee. You’ve taught me what love looks and feels like, and you’ve helped me remember how good it feels to laugh. I hope you enjoy your present.”

  He placed the box in her palm.

  “Would you like to sit down, sweetheart?”

  “I think maybe I should,” she whispered.

  It took forever for Tanyalee to peel off the wrapping paper and bow. Dante realized she was savoring it. Oh, God, he hoped he wasn’t making a horrible mistake. Wes had said it was a great idea, but what the hell did Wes know?

  Dante closed his eyes. The anticipation was k
illing him.

  “Well, here goes!” Tanyalee pulled off the last bit of paper to reveal a lovely black velvet box. She blinked.

  Yes, it was bigger than might be required on an occasion like this. Some of her radiant happiness had already morphed into confusion.

  Tanyalee pulled back the lid. She gasped. She lifted out her own pink and silver charm bracelet and held it up to the bandstand lights.

  There was an awkward moment of silence, then she said, “Why, would you look at this!” She smiled as hard as she could. “It’s my bracelet … from … from the day we met!”

  “Here, let me help you put it on.” Dante leaned in close and hooked the clasp, then gave it a little twirl. It tinkled as it spun on her wrist. He kissed her sweetly.

  Tanyalee held her left wrist frozen in the raised position. She placed her other hand on her chest, looking out at the partygoers, confused but trying desperately not to show her disappointment.

  Oh, no, baby. Dante repeated the words in his head: Look at it, Taffy. Look at it carefully. Look at the charms on your bracelet.

  “Well, this is just the sweetest gesture, Dante.” She choked. “I have my bracelet back!”

  And that’s when she gave it one last glance. She saw it—the pink diamond engagement ring set in white gold, hanging from the charm bracelet right next to the silver heart engraved with the word “Taffy.”

  “OhsweetbabyJesus!” Tanyalee jumped up from the chair, knocking it over. She stared at the bracelet now held aloft like the Statue of Liberty’s flame. By the time she whirled around in his direction Dante was down on one knee. Everyone’s champagne flutes were held ready.

  “Tanyalee Marie Newberry…”

  “Dante! Oh, Lord!”

  “… I want you to have something to remember me by, for the rest of our lives.”

  The Bigler Bugle Op-Ed Page

  Letters to the Editor

  Dear Editor:

  The last time my name was in this newspaper, it appeared in the police blotter. I had been charged with felony theft for forging my grandfather’s signature on a loan application. You all know my grandfather, Garland Newberry. He was publisher of the Bugle for nearly fifty years. He tells me it broke his heart to report my arrest in the pages of his own newspaper, but I know it was already broken because I broke it the day I stole from him.