Pecan Pie and Deadly Lies (An Adams Grove Novel) Page 5

  “It wasn’t any trouble. I just made a phone call and picked them up.”

  “We’ll do the dishes,” he said.

  “Deal. I might have to get a picture of that,” Kasey said, knowing there’d be none since she’d gotten paper plates, but at least it would appease him.

  “Fine by me.” Cody jogged back to the bus and pounded on the side and then walked back to the other one and leaned inside. The guys started filing out of the buses. The bus that pulled the trailer of merchandise and equipment slept twelve, and his trailer had a suite for him and three bunks. One for the driver, one for Pete, and a junk bunk.

  By the time Cody walked back to Kasey’s side the guys were saying their hellos and hugging her. It felt like a family reunion and a few of the guys even offered up the latest pictures of their little ones at home. Cody had a sneaking feeling this was what the reception line at a wedding would feel like as he stood holding Jake’s hand next to Kasey. Surprisingly, it felt kind of nice too. He watched her interact with the guys. She can dish it out. I remember some of those zingers we tossed back and forth. Funny how he really hadn’t thought about that until just now. Maybe he’d pushed those memories back in his mind since she was off-limits back then.

  He wasn’t the type to take advantage of a situation like her recent widowhood, although he sure had been tempted. That attraction was at the “wrong place, wrong time” back then, but Jake was home safe and sound, and it had been over a year since her husband had died. Maybe this year would be different.

  He stood at ease for the first time in a long time as he focused on her interactions with the band. Sincere and warm welcomes intertwined. Not planned. Just the real deal. It was a refreshing change from the fake and manipulative world of music.

  That restless feeling he’d been saddled with lately ebbed. Maybe it was Kasey. She’d come to him out of the blue and they’d shared an almost immediate bond on that photo shoot. His momma swore she’d been praying for a long-lasting and loving relationship. Momma did have a way with the man upstairs. She’d once told him that she’d prayed a hedge of protection around him, and he was darn certain that’s why his path to success had been unchallenged and free of some of the dark things that happened to others who tried to earn a living in this business.

  As the last guy said his hellos and meandered inside, Cody placed his hand on the small of Kasey’s back and guided her toward the house too.

  The smell of pizza hit them as soon as they walked in. She had a tub of iced Coronas and Miller Lites, and two pitchers of sweet tea on the counter. Pizzas were stacked five high in three flavors.

  “You remembered what’s on the rider?” Cody said.

  “I was paying attention.”

  Pete walked over to Cody with a slice of pizza in one hand and a beer dangling between his forefinger and thumb. “Look over there, man.”

  In a glass shadow box, a fancy one like someone might display a prized football helmet in, there sat the red-licorice-rope cowboy hat Mark, the drummer, had made for Kasey last Christmas. “She kept it.”

  Cody tipped his head back and laughed. “No way. Hey, Mark. Come look at this, man.”

  “Can’t believe you kept that thing,” Pete said.

  “Hey, it was the perfect gift,” Kasey defended Mark. “I loved it. It was way too cool to eat.”

  Pete nudged Cody. “After Mark had those licorice whips in his grubby drummer-boy hands for four days making it, I wouldn’t have eaten it either.”

  “Can’t say that I’d blame her,” Cody said.

  Mark punched Cody in the arm. “Shut up. It was the thought that counts.”

  “Just sayin’.” Cody rubbed his arm. The pain wasn’t from the punch but a little pang of jealousy that Kasey had kept the hat Mark had given her from the tour. It was stupid. He knew that. It really was a cool gift. Mark was crafty like that. He was always making stuff out of nothing.

  Mark and Pete went back for more pizza. “Need another piece?” Pete asked.

  “No. I’m good,” Cody said, trying to remember what he’d given her for Christmas. He couldn’t even remember, but he did remember what she’d given him. A picture collage from the shows they’d played. It was propped up on the second shelf behind his desk.

  “I have quite a few souvenirs from the tour,” Kasey admitted. “Speaking of stuff from the tour, have you and Lou spent any more time together?”

  Cody shook his head. “Not alone time really. I flew her out to a couple of shows, but I’ve been busy. She’s been busy. It was…” He shrugged. “I don’t know. Fun, I guess.”

  “But?”

  “There isn’t the spark I expected there to be. It’s good, but not great.”

  “What exactly were you expecting?”

  He felt stupid and all of a sudden very awkward. “I’m not sure I want to tell you.”

  “Try me.”

  “I expected to feel like I couldn’t focus on anything but her. Like the rest of the world slid away when I was talking to her.” Like it is right now as I’m talking to you. “You think I’m silly, don’t you?”

  “No. Not at all. That’s exactly how it was with Nick and me.” Her voice got quiet, and she shook her head. “So, no. I’m not going to call you silly, but y’all already know each other. That changes things a little, I think.”

  “You don’t think I’m expecting too much?”

  “No. I really don’t, but it’s probably not fair to judge a quick get-together at a concert. I mean, that’s your normal turf, but not most folks’.”

  “True. I guess I hadn’t really thought about it that way. I’d been thinking about making a run down to Raleigh to visit her.”

  Her eyes brightened. “You totally should. You can use my car.”

  “I’ve got my bike in the trailer. I’m prepared.” Cody held up his fingers. “Like a Boy Scout.”

  “I don’t know about that whole Boy Scout thing, but I do know that you’re a good man, and she’d be lucky to have you.”

  “Don’t let that get around, because the bad boy in me makes a helluva living with that reputation.”

  “Your secrets are always safe with me.” She turned and motioned for him to follow her. “Come here. Let me show you something.”

  Cody followed her to her office in the back of the house. Light streamed into the space through the windows that lined the back wall. From here you could see the backyard, and out to the vast pastures. He could picture Kasey working while watching Jake play out back from right here. Long work spaces spanned two walls with storage underneath. Rows of neatly stacked colored mat board filled cubbyholes like a rainbow.

  “See.” She pointed to the wall.

  She’d matted the CD he’d given her with pictures from last year’s tour, one of them together and the picture they’d posted of Jake holding his Bubba Bear. The dark walnut frame accented the jewel-tone mat. “That looks nicer than the one I got for it going platinum,” he said, only half joking.

  “Yep. You get to learn how to do it yourself when you take as many pictures as I do.”

  “Nice work. I’ll have to get you to mat and frame my stuff from now on. I pay a fortune for framing and it never looks this good.” He stepped closer, smiling at the memories. “That was a good tour.” She’d been a big factor.

  “There’s not a day goes by that I don’t reflect on this time in my life and thank God that he led you into my life when he did. You helped me keep my faith through it all. It would have been so much easier to just give up like everybody kept telling me to. But you didn’t. You believed in me, and you gave me strength when I needed it most.”

  Cody opened his arms. She leaned into his chest and he tightened his arms around her, holding her… maybe a little too long. He didn’t want to let her go. When she leaned back, he looked into her chocolate brown eyes. Tears threatened to spill. He dropped a kiss on her nose. “You’re okay.”

  “You’ve got a lot of love to give, Cody Tuggle.”

  “Yo
u think?”

  “I know.” She nodded, then tugged away and lightened up. “You need to surprise Lou. Go to her. Make the effort. She’ll appreciate it. Spend time with her on her turf. It’ll be different. Trust me.”

  Where did that come from? I was thinking about you. Me and you. Not Lou.

  “What are you waiting for?”

  I’d rather be with you. He longed to reach out. Touch the curve of her cheek. Run his thumb along her lip. I’d promise you anything. He dragged in a breath. Obviously that wasn’t where her head was. “Fine. I’ll give it another shot on her turf. Maybe you’re right.”

  “You won’t know if you don’t try.”

  “I guess we’ll just have to see, then.” And if it isn’t right, will you give me a chance?

  “Good. Let’s go back out there and see what kind of trouble Jake and Shutterbug are causing with your boys.”

  There wasn’t much left but some random scraps of crust and Shutterbug looked like she’d probably had more than her share.

  Kasey stacked the empty boxes.

  Cody reached for them. “Here, I’ll take those out to the trash. And let me at least pay you for the pizza.”

  “Nope. We can barter though.”

  “You want to take it out in trade? Please tell me you don’t mean with photographs.” He looked to the heavens. “Please let this be my lucky day.”

  “No.” She swatted at him. “I was thinking more along the lines that y’all could play me a song or two.”

  “That’s not exactly the same thing I was thinking, but yeah, that’s doable.” Cody grabbed a couple of the guys and asked them to get guitars from the bus.

  “We’re on it.” Pete threw a stack of plates in the trash. Jake was right on his heels, like a little shadow. “Jake, you wait here.”

  Jake looked disappointed. “Where are they going, Mom? Do they have to leave already?”

  “No, honey. They’re going to play some music.”

  “We love music,” he said.

  Cody nodded. “My kind of guy.”

  The guys came back in with a couple of guitars, a set of maracas, and a small drum.

  “Cool,” the drummer said. “I was eyeing that fancy hat box on the shelf, but that’ll work even better.”

  Jake ran from the kitchen. When he returned Kasey hitched a breath.

  Cody looked up and saw Jake with a guitar.

  Kasey’s jaw went slack, but she didn’t say a word about him carrying his father’s guitar.

  “You okay? I can go get another guitar for him to play with. We have a trailer full of equipment out there.”

  “No, no. It’s okay. It’s fine. Nick would love it.” Her brows knit together a little. “I’m okay.”

  “You sure?”

  “Yeah. It’s fine.” Kasey sat down on one of the bar stools and put on a strained smile.

  “Come here, Jake.” Cody lifted Jake up on his knee and helped him with the position of the guitar. “Do you know how to do the chords?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Here. I’ll help you.” Cody held the guitar in front of them and placed his own fingertips on the chords, then guided Jake through the strumming motion. “Good job. Now kind of do it in time with the song.” Jake watched Pete and tried to mimic his strums. “You’re a natural.”

  Cody couldn’t stop smiling at the serious look on this little boy’s face. You’d think he was cracking the code to cancer or something.

  “Sing for us, Pete,” Cody said. “We’ll do one of your favorites.”

  “You’re the singer.”

  “Don’t go all modest on us.” Cody put his hand on top of Jake’s and helped pick through the beginning of Dylan’s “Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door.” “Your favorite. Come on, man.” Cody leaned in toward Kasey. “He’s a good singer. You’ll love this.”

  Pete closed his eyes through the first few chords, then started singing. Everyone else joined in, some playing, some singing along.

  Cody nudged Kasey to get her attention, then nodded toward the front door. “You’ve got company.”

  Kasey jumped up and went to the door to greet Scott. One of the roadies must have heard him at the door and let him in.

  Cody watched her. He recognized that look on Scott’s face from last year. He’d kind of hoped he’d fallen out of the picture by now, but if he was still around, then it was likely something more was going on between the two of them.

  Scott followed Kasey into the room, then walked over and extended his hand to Cody.

  “Been a while,” Scott said.

  “Yeah, it has.” Could have been longer and I’d have been okay with it.

  “Didn’t know you were going to be in town. Good to see you.”

  Bullshit. “Concert’s flooded out.”

  “We’re playing music.” Jake strummed the guitar with enthusiasm.

  “I see that.” Scott edged closer to Kasey, but she stepped out of Scott’s zone. “That’s what Kasey was just saying. It’s a mess down there.”

  Cody felt a little joy rush through his veins when she dashed off to the kitchen. Scott’s little claim-stake move didn’t work.

  “Nice that you had somewhere to stop as you passed through.”

  “Couldn’t have worked out better,” Cody said.

  Kasey came back in the room carrying a bottle of water. She leaned on the edge of the sofa a safe distance from either of them.

  Scott said, “Yeah, I stopped in the diner and they mentioned Kasey’d just picked up fifteen large pizzas. I figured something was up.”

  You sure as heck knew what was going on by the time you drove up and saw my name plastered all over the side of one of those buses.

  “How long y’all going to be around?” Scott asked.

  Longer than you’d like, I’ll bet. “Couple days.”

  Scott’s radio sounded and a staticky message, that probably no one but Scott understood, interrupted the greeting. “Duty calls. Good to see ya.”

  Cody was thankful something took him out of the picture just then. It looked to him like Sheriff Scott Calvin had signed up to be next in line for Kasey’s affections, and that shouldn’t even bother him. Scott was a nice enough guy, but right now Cody had to admit that he felt like the guy was just in the way.

  Kasey closed the door behind Scott and came back to the couch. Cody grabbed her hand as she walked by.

  The guys transitioned from the song they were playing to Cody’s very first number one song, “It’s a Tragedy.”

  Jake belted out the words. Cody liked the thought of Kasey playing his music enough that her son knew all the words to his songs.

  “You’re a good singer, Jake,” Cody said.

  “Me and Mom sing in the car all the time.”

  Kasey blushed and stood up. “Come on, Jake. It’s time to call it a night, buddy.”

  “Mom?”

  “Sorry, sport. You need your sleep. Give everyone a high five, then run get in your jammies and brush your teeth.”

  Jake raised his hand in the air and then zoomed around the room, slapping everyone’s hand in the process and then flinging himself into Cody’s arms. “G’night!”

  “Sorry,” Kasey said, reaching out for him.

  “Come back when you’re changed and I’ll come tuck you in,” Kasey said to Jake.

  “I want you to tuck me in,” Jake said to Cody.

  “Me?” He looked to Kasey to see if she was okay with it.

  “You don’t have to.”

  “No. No… it’s fine. I want to.” Cody stood, lifting Jake as he did. “We’re good. Come on, little man.” Cody spun Jake from his hip to his back and then galloped back to his bedroom. He waited in the hall as the little boy changed into his pajamas and then ran to the bathroom to brush his teeth.

  Jake came out and smiled a toothy grin. “All clean!”

  “Good work,” Cody said, then stooped to let Jake climb onto his back again. “You ready for a crash landing?”

&
nbsp; Jake laughed and bobbed his head. “Yes!”

  Cody galloped around the corner to Jake’s room, then let go of Jake’s legs and let him fall back onto the bed.

  “Good night, bud.”

  “Prayers first,” Jake said.

  “Right.”

  Jake scrambled to the floor and knelt beside the bed with his hands folded on the comforter. Cody followed his lead. Jake peeked up at Cody and whispered, “You have to close your eyes.”

  “They were closed. I was checking to see if you were checking.”

  “Okay,” Jake said. “Dear God, it’s me, Jake. Thank you, God, for helping me to do the things we should, to be to others kind and good; in all we do, in work and play, to grow more loving every day.”

  “A—” Cody started but Jake continued on.

  “God bless Daddy in heaven, and Mommy, and Grem, and Aunt Riley and Uncle Von, and Mr. Scott, and Shutterbug is sorry for chewing the rug on the back porch, and God bless the parade tractors and all of the band and the songs and Cody for bringing me home before and coming here again tonight. He makes us happy.”

  “Me too, buddy.” Cody hugged Jake.

  “Amen.” Jake unclasped his hands and nudged Cody. “Now you say it.”

  “Amen.” Cody said and then Jake scrambled underneath the covers and squeezed his eyes tight as Cody tucked them in and around his little frame.

  CHAPTER SIX

  Kasey watched from the hallway as Cody tucked Jake into bed. She hoped it hadn’t made Cody uncomfortable. Her heart hammered and she suddenly felt hyperaware of the emotions that had been buried since the day she lost Nick. She hadn’t felt like this in a long time. Since you, Nick.

  Cody looked surprised to see her standing there as he walked out. “He’s the coolest kid.”

  She smiled extra wide, hoping he wouldn’t notice the tremble of her lip. “Yeah, he is. Best thing in my life. He thinks you’re pretty cool too.”

  “I am.” Cody slipped his arm around her waist.

  “And modest.” She loved how he kept things light. He made it easy to be around him. If she didn’t know firsthand just how big a star he was, she’d never believe it. He was more down-to-earth than just about anyone she knew. Too bad they didn’t make Cody Tuggle in a regular working-guy-dad model.