A Hard Bargain (25 page)
“Tell him what?”
“That you love him. You always have.”
I was suddenly interested in the stack of Mantis Man dishcloths. “We’re at an odd place right now.”
“You think he’ll turn you down?”
“I don’t know what he’ll do.”
“So you’re just going to go along the same old way until what? You’re roommates at the nursing home?”
The dishcloths were too soft; otherwise, I would’ve thrown the whole pile at his head. “Get lost, Rick.”
He grinned. “Or you find something better? I’m available.”
“No,” I said. “You’re leaving. We had a deal.”
He gave me a salute. “Unlike our friend Kirby the Mantis, I keep my end of all bargains. See you later, Mac.”
I was so glad he was leaving town, I didn’t correct him.
***
And I was so pleased about Jerry’s job, I thought I’d press my luck. When I came back to the bookstore, I asked him, “Now what about Tucker’s wedding?”
“I think I’ll go.”
I took in some air. “I don’t think I can take any more surprises today.”
“Harriet will be there. You hold her down, and I’ll ask the tough questions.”
***
Jerry still didn’t want to go inside the Fairweather home, so it was fortunate that Tucker’s wedding was held in the garden. Delighted, Tucker asked Jerry to stand with him. Des played the piano. Harriet, dressed in her usual dark clothes, sat by herself on the front row. I watched her face as Tucker’s gorgeous bride, Selene, floated down the aisle in a shimmery gown, accompanied by her equally attractive father. All through the brief ceremony, Harriet’s expression remained fixed. Afterwards, as Tucker and Selene cut their wedding cake, she stood off to one side as if poised for flight. Jerry brought her a piece of cake.
“Harriet, I need to talk to you.”
“I’m very glad you decided to come,” she said. “Let’s not spoil things.”
He took the picture out of his pocket and turned it over so she could see the words, “To Jack with all my love.” “I just want to know about Jackson Frye.”
She paled. She would’ve left if I hadn’t been there to block her way. “Harriet, we know about the robbery. We know Frye came to the house that night to steal some things. He caused the fire, didn’t he?”
Her mouth trembled. She put her hand over her eyes for a moment, and when she looked at us, her eyes were shiny with tears. “I let him in. May God forgive me, but I let him in.”
Jerry took her arm and led her to a chair. “We just want to know what happened.”
She kept her head down. “I was so mortified. The first boy I ever cared about, and he didn’t care about me. He only wanted inside the house. He ran, the candles fell over. It happened before I could think. I couldn’t bear the thought of being blamed. I’m a Fairweather! These things don’t happen to people like us.” She gave Jerry a glance and then avoided his eyes. “You were always playing with matches. It was easy to make people believe you had done it. You were so little, I didn’t think it would matter.”
“Good God, it did matter, Harriet. I’ve spent my whole life thinking I killed our parents.”
“I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Didn’t you believe me when I told you it was an accident?”
“Yes, but what kind of an idiot causes huge flaming accidents? No wonder I never thought I could do anything right.”
She was crying now. Jerry handed her his handkerchief. She wiped her eyes. “I tried to make it up to you. When Uncle Val was making out his will, he asked me if I wanted his house, and I told him to leave it to you. I knew you wouldn’t come back here, and I thought you might like his place.”
“Harriet.” He stopped and took a deep breath. “I can’t decide if I’m angry or relieved.”
She grasped his hand. “Please don’t be angry.”
The photographer came up. “Excuse me, folks. I’d like to get a shot of the family.”
Des, Tucker, Selene, and her father stood waiting at an archway covered in roses. Jerry hesitated and then pulled Harriet to her feet.
“Come on,” he said. “You need to be in the picture.”
She wiped her eyes and even managed a smile for the camera. Then she kissed her brothers one by one and left.
“That was nice,” I told Jerry.
“I can’t hate her,” he said. “She’s all alone. At least I got a house out of the deal.”
“Now we know why Val left the house to you.”
“And I have you.”
Tucker strolled up in time to hear this. “Is there a possibility there might be another wedding soon?”
To my surprise, Jerry caught my hand and held it tight. “Yes,” he said. “If Mac will have me.”
I didn’t know what to say. My heart started beating so fast, I’m sure the front of my dress was flapping.
“I’ve been trying to tell you for days, and somehow the time never was right,” he said. “You’re my best friend. You’ve always been here with me, and now that I know I’m not a complete idiot, I can’t let you get away. You found the answer, so now I’m going to say what I’ve been wanting to say. Will you marry me?”
I could hardly speak for laughing. “Yes!”
“Deal.” He put his arms around my waist and pulled me to him. “But we’re not going to shake on it. I have something better in mind.”
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