Grave Delight (A Maddie Graves Mystery Book 3) (11 page)

“Too?”

“The blonde woman who was with you left a few minutes ago,” the waitress said. “I just want to know if you want me to cancel your orders.”

The color drained from Nick’s face. “My brother will be paying. Did you see which way she went when she left?”

The waitress shrugged. “If you want to wait, I’ll be done with my shift in two hours. I would never leave a guy like you behind.”

Nick scowled. “Thanks for the generous offer. I’m a one-woman guy, though, and I’ve already got my woman.”

Now he just had to find her.

Maddie’s head was busy as she left the restaurant, purposely turning away from the parking lot and heading toward the pier. She didn’t know why she was running, only that she needed air.

John calling her out on being psychic jolted her. There was no other way to put it. She’d been at the height of happiness until then, her life finally how she wanted it. Now she felt like she was choking.

Her mother ingrained the dangers of telling people about her “peculiarity” from the moment Maddie started manifesting powers. She knew she was never to trust anyone other than Olivia and Maude. That’s what she always believed, and that was the decision that ultimately propelled her out of Blackstone Bay as a teenager. The last thing she’d wanted to do was leave Nick, and only Olivia’s death had the emotional strength to bring her back.

When Nick figured out her secret, he’d been mad at himself for not realizing sooner. He said the pieces were there, he’d just never managed to put the puzzle together. Instead of reacting with anger, he’d embraced her and reiterated that it didn’t matter. The love he expressed that afternoon wasn’t of the romantic kind, but it was the kind that filled her heart and lifted her.

She was having trouble reconciling that memory with the knowledge that Nick told his brother her secret.
He didn’t. He wouldn’t
.
He would never betray me.
Maddie knew that instinctively. John found out some other way.

So why had she slipped out of the restaurant? Maddie didn’t have an answer for that other than she needed a few moments to collect herself. She reached to her side, searching for her purse so she could send Nick a text message and tell him she was okay. He was probably in the midst of a righteous meltdown right about now, worry over her overtaking him. Unfortunately, she’d left her purse back at the restaurant. It was in the booth next to John.

“Crap,” Maddie muttered.

“You know they say talking to yourself is a sign of mental unbalance.”

Maddie shifted when she heard the voice, fear washing over her momentarily until she focused on the craggy face watching her from a few feet away.

“Are you all right, girl? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

Maddie laughed hollowly, the joke hitting home. “I’ve seen my fair share.”

The man was dressed in simple jeans and a T-shirt, a fishing pole in his hand and one of those canvas hats with a myriad of lures tacked to it perched on top of his head. He looked to be in his sixties, his green eyes kind as they looked her up and down. “Do you need help?”

Maddie pressed her lips together, running a hand through her hair as she tried to steady herself. “I don’t suppose you have a cell phone, do you?”

“Sorry,” the man said. “I never carry one. I don’t see the need. The only person I need to call is my brother, and we don’t have much to say to one another.”

“I’m Maddie Graves,” Maddie said, straightening as she introduced herself. “I’m sorry to ruin your evening. I know that afternoon fishermen take their task very seriously.”

The man extended his hand. “I’m David Crowder. No offense, girlie, but you don’t look like the type of woman who spends a lot of time fishing.”

“I think you just insulted me,” Maddie said, smiling for real this time. “I’ll have you know I’m an expert fisherwoman.”

David looked dubious. “Where’s your gear?”

“I’m not fishing right now,” Maddie explained. “I was having dinner with some friends and … well … I had a little bit of a meltdown and had to leave. I don’t think it was one of my prouder moments.”

“Don’t worry about it,” David said, waving his hand. “As you get older you’ll realize you care less and less about what people think about you and more and more about what you think about yourself.”

“That’s good advice. What do you think of yourself?”

“I’m a simple guy who likes to fish,” David said. “I’m pretty much an open book. What do you see when you look at yourself?”

Maddie shrugged. “Sometimes I think I see a good person. Sometimes I think I see a strong person. I rarely see the person I want to see.”

“That’s a comment on your age, not how good you are,” David said, winding his reel. “When you’re young you always want to better yourself. You don’t see your good points. Don’t worry. I have a feeling other people see your good points.”

Like Nick
, Maddie said silently. All he saw was her good points. “You’re sweet,” Maddie said. “Can I ask why you’re out here at this time of day? I thought the best time to fish was after midnight and before dawn. You have a few hours left before the fish really start biting.”

“I come out here quite often when the weather allows,” David said.

“You’re not married?”

“She died last year.”

Maddie’s heart rolled. “I’m so sorry. That was insensitive. I shouldn’t have asked. It’s none of my business.”

“It doesn’t matter,” David said. “It is what it is.”

“I’m still sorry.”

“What about you? Where is your husband? Does he allow you to wander around the pier with a bunch of crude fishermen all the time, or is this just a special occasion?”

Maddie smirked. “I’m not married.”

“You have a special someone, though,” David said. “I could tell that when I first saw you. That’s what has you upset.”

“I’m not sure I’m upset,” Maddie said. “I think I was upset … and then I realized I had nothing to be upset about. Then I was upset with myself for being upset.”

“That’s some convoluted thinking, missy.”

“It is,” Maddie agreed. She gestured toward the end of David’s hook and the brightly colored lure hanging there. “May I?”

David nodded, watching as Maddie delicately fingered the pink feathers. “You made this yourself.”

“How can you tell?”

“The stitching is strong but not straight,” Maddie said. “You can tell you put your heart into it. You can’t say the same thing about store-bought lures.”

“Be careful,” David warned. “If you touch a man’s lure like that, people will begin to talk.”

“I guess,” Maddie said, taking a step back. “Thank you for being so nice to me. You didn’t have to. Most people would’ve written me off as a crazy woman. I should probably get back to my boyfriend, though. He’s probably going nuts.”

David inclined his head toward a spot behind Maddie. “I wouldn’t worry about it. I think he’s coming this way now.”

Maddie swiveled quickly, relief flooding her when she caught sight of Nick. He hadn’t seen her yet, and when his gaze landed on her he broke into a jog. “Are you okay?”

Maddie let him gather her into his arms, his face nestling in her hair as he rubbed her back. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have left. I just … .”

“I know, Mad,” Nick said, kissing her cheek. “I know why you were upset. It’s still not okay to scare me.”

“I’m sorry.”

Nick cupped the back of her head, tilting her face up so he could study it. She didn’t look like she’d been crying, and her color was good. He’d been imagining any number of horrible scenarios when he couldn’t find her outside of the restaurant. “We need to have a talk here, Mad,” Nick said, smiling at David tightly as he pulled away slightly. “I need you to know that I didn’t tell my brother … anything.”

“I know that.”

“Are you sure? You didn’t seem to know that in the restaurant.”

“I did know it in the restaurant. I just didn’t know I knew it. Does that make sense?”

Nick’s face softened. “I guess. I would never … .”

“I know. I’m sorry.” Maddie wrapped her arms around Nick’s waist, resting her head on his shoulder as he tightened his arms around her. “I’m so sorry.”

“I love you, Maddie,” Nick murmured, rocking her slightly.

“See, I knew you were having man trouble,” David said.

Nick lifted his eyes to meet David’s serious countenance. “Is that what she told you? Did she say she was having man trouble?”

“She said she thought she was upset and then realized she wasn’t upset so she became upset about getting upset,” David said. “She’s a woman. They have convoluted minds.”

Nick smirked. “They do. Thank you for watching over her. I couldn’t imagine my life without her.”

“Something tells me that’s not going to be a problem,” David said. “You might want to keep a closer eye on her, though, especially after they found that girl’s body down the beach.”

“That’s a pretty good point,” Nick said. “Speaking of that, I happen to be an officer with the Blackstone Bay Police Department. You didn’t know the victim, did you? Did you ever see her down here?”

“I don’t think so,” David said. “I don’t hang out here much during the day, and that’s when the teenagers tend to be here.”

“That makes sense,” Nick said. “Just do me a favor and keep your ears to the ground. If you hear anyone talking about Hayley Walker … or anything that sounds suspicious … call us.”

“I’ll do that,” David said. “You’ll have to do me a favor in return, though.”

Nick waited.

“Watch that girl,” David said. “She’s clearly your whole world. You’re going to find that when your world dies, you don’t have a lot to live for. Try to make sure you hold on to your world for as long as you can.”

Nick held Maddie flush against his chest. “I’ll never let her go.”

“Well … don’t go all stalker or anything,” David said. “Women don’t like that.”

Nick barked out a laugh. “Thanks for the tip.”

“WHERE
is John?” Maddie asked, her fingers linked with Nick’s as he led her down the pier.

“He’s probably eating his dinner,” Nick said. “I left him there with three dishes and a bill.”

“I’m so … .”

“Don’t finish that sentence, Mad,” Nick said. “I know you were upset, and John saying what he did threw you. It threw me, too.”

“Did he say where he heard it?”

“He said he figured it out on his own,” Nick said. “He heard the rumors … and he thought I was being hyper vigilant … and he knew about your mom. I told him not to bring it up again.”

“It’s okay,” Maddie said. “He’s your brother. I trust him.”

“Maddie, I don’t want you to feel shame about this,” Nick said, his eyes somber. “You’re amazing. You’re the most amazing person I’ve ever known. What you can do is a miracle. I understand wanting to keep it a secret but never doubt that I love you … or that I’m proud of you.”

Maddie bit her lower lip. “I love you, too.”

“Good,” Nick said. “You were going to ruin my night if you didn’t say it back.”

His grin was so lazy Maddie couldn’t help but laugh. “You think you’re pretty charming, don’t you?”

“I have my moments,” Nick said. “Now, come on, love. You need food. We have to talk about the case with John for a little bit and then we’re going back to my house.”

“We are?”

“I have plans for you.” Nick winked.

“No, you don’t,” Maddie said, internally grinning as Nick’s smile faltered. “I have plans for you.”

“Ah, I stand corrected.” Nick pulled Maddie’s hand up and brushed his lips across the ridge of her knuckles. “You’d better eat a lot. I have a feeling your plans are going to tire you out.”

“Do you think John is still here? I left my purse in the booth next to him, by the way. I hope he hasn’t left.”

“He hasn’t,” Nick said, pointing. “His truck is still here. We’ll get some food, John will apologize, and then we’ll go home. I want to spend some time with just you.”

“All this time you’re spending with me isn’t impacting your work, is it?”

“Life is hard,” Nick said. “We’ll make it work. I’m not cutting my time with you and I’m not giving up on this case, so I guess you’re going to have to work with me.”

“Oh, that sounds fun.”

Nick and Maddie walked back into the restaurant, pulling up short when they saw John was still in the booth. He wasn’t alone, though.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Nick said. “How did she even know we were here?”

Maddie shrugged, a wide smile splitting her face when she caught sight of Christy. “I have no idea, but I’m glad to see her.”

“Why?”

“She’s one of the few other people who knows my secret and doesn’t judge me,” Maddie said. “It might make things easier when I talk to your brother.”

“You don’t have to talk to him if you don’t want to.”

“I want to,” Maddie said. “He’s your family.”

“You’re my family. He’s just the kid who used to give me wedgies when I was little.”

They were bold words, but Maddie knew they weren’t true. Nick loved his brother, and that meant Maddie was going to have to smooth things over if they all wanted to be happy – and she desperately wanted Nick to be happy. She wanted them both to be happy … together.