LITMIR.BIZ

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my dear?”

      “Because you asked for it. All we had was honey.”

      “This is fine. You should come to the home and have afternoon tea with me sometime.”

      “I would love to. May I bring my grandmother?”

      Bess smiled, took another sip of tea and said, “That would be nice.” Then she leaned close to Rebecca and whispered, “I don’t hear any more shouting coming from that office. Do you suppose the young man has calmed down?”

      “I hope so. If anyone can calm him, it’ll be Gabriel.”

      “That man with the nice smile?”

      “Yes,” Rebecca answered, remembering Gabriel’s smile and deciding that was the nicest thing about him. When he directed one toward her, her insides melted and her stomach fluttered.

      “People shouldn’t waste their energy getting mad. It’s so much nicer if people got along with each other. Don’t you think so?”

      “Yes.” Rebecca turned toward Mabel and blew out a relieved breath. The woman was busy working at her desk, her attention on the computer screen in front of her.

      “We sometimes have to work extra hard to win some people over, but it’s worth it in the long run. I need to bake that young man a chocolate cake, then maybe he won’t be so angry.”

      Rebecca chuckled. “Chocolate works wonders on me.”

      “Then I’ll bake you one, too. How about Sunday afternoon?”

      “You don’t have to bake me a cake on Sunday.”

      “No, to come to tea, since you work during the week.”

      “I’ll have to check with Granny, but that sounds fine to me.”

      “Good. I love to have company. Since moving to the home, I haven’t had many people stop by.”

      Rebecca heard the loneliness in Bess’s voice and vowed she would be at tea on Sunday afternoon if she had to bring the whole family, which might not be a bad idea.

      The sound of Gabriel’s office door opening brought Rebecca to her feet. She chewed on her bottom lip and tried to relax, but in a short time she’d started to care what happened to Bess. She didn’t want to see the woman locked up like a common criminal.

      Gabriel shook Ben’s hand. “I appreciate the compromise.”

      “Just make sure it doesn’t happen a third time, Chief. I’m only doing this because we’re friends.”

      “I understand.”

      As Ben left the station, Rebecca waited next to Bess, her hand on the back of the woman’s chair. Gabriel spoke to Officer Morris. The young policeman nodded, then tore up the paper he had been writing on. Finally Gabriel traversed the room and came to a halt in front of Bess, a neutral expression on his face. Rebecca rested her hand on the woman’s shoulder.

      “Ben will drop the charges if you’ll agree not to go into his store ever again.”

      “But he has such pretty things.”

      “Bess, I promised him you wouldn’t. In fact, I don’t think you should do any shopping for a while.”

      “I like to shop.”

      “What if she had a companion with her when she went shopping?” Rebecca squeezed Bess’s shoulder.

      Gabriel snared Rebecca with his sharp gaze. “Who?”

      “Me. I could work something out with the nursing home to take Bess shopping once a week.”

      Gabriel took Rebecca by the elbow and pulled her to the side. “Are you sure, with all you have going in your life?”

      Rebecca tingled where his hand touched her. His scent of pine wrapped her in a cocoon of contentment. “Yes, very. Bess needs someone now. What happened to her? Where’s her family?” she asked, forcing herself to concentrate on Bess’s problem, not her reaction to Gabriel Stone.

      “I don’t know. I need to take Bess to the nursing home. Come with me, and we’ll talk with Susan Wilson, the director.”

      Rebecca lifted an eyebrow and glanced over Gabriel’s shoulder at Mabel. “Are you sure?”

      He chuckled. “Contrary to popular opinion I still do have final say around here.” He asked Bess, “Are you ready for me to take you back to the nursing home?”

      Bess finished the last of her tea and set the cup on the desk among the mess. “It looks like you could use some help here. I could stay if you needed me to.”

      “Thanks for the offer, Bess, but I think we have everything under control.”

      Mabel snorted and mumbled, “That’s debatable.”

      “Come, ladies.” Gabriel helped Bess from the chair, then guided her toward the front door. “Mabel, we’ll be gone for about half an hour.”

      “Sure, boss.”

      “I do believe that was sarcasm coming from Mabel,” Rebecca said when the door closed behind them.

      Gabriel’s laugh filled the spring air. “I do believe you’re right.”

      Rebecca slid into the back of the squad car while Bess rode up front. On the short drive to the nursing home, Rebecca listened to Gabriel chat with the older woman with affection in his voice. He had a way with Bess that touched Rebecca. The people in his town were more than just names to Gabriel. Being the police chief was more than just a job to him. He cared about the townspeople, and they knew it.

      “You know what I miss the most since I moved to Shady Oaks?” Bess asked Gabriel when he pulled up to the nursing home.

      “Your garden?”

      “No. I hate getting my hands dirty. I miss my dogs. I had three of them. My niece gave them away when she brought me to the home.”

      “Why?” Rebecca asked, sliding from the car and opening the door to assist Bess.

      “Because dogs aren’t allowed in nursing homes. You know, child, animals love you unconditionally. That’s the best feeling. Nothing like it. Well, maybe, if you’re lucky enough to have the love of a good man.” Bess looked right at Gabriel then at Rebecca. “If you know what I mean?”

      Rebecca blushed and averted her gaze from Gabriel. She felt him look at her and wished Bess hadn’t said anything. They were friends. That was all she wanted, all she could handle right now.

      As they entered the nursing home, Rebecca saw several elderly people in the lounge area off the foyer. One, in a wheelchair, watched a big screen television. Two ladies played a card game in the corner. Bouquets of flowers brightened the area, and their scent pushed the antiseptic odors permeating the building into the background. The place felt homey, Rebecca thought.

      Susan greeted them in the foyer, her head shaking, displeasure on her face. “I’m sorry, Gabriel. She got away from us again. Bess, they’re playing bingo in the main lounge. Why don’t you join the others?”

      “Oh, bingo. Next to shopping that’s my favorite thing to do.” She ambled toward the lounge.

      “Don’t forget about Sunday afternoon. I’ll be here around two,” Rebecca called.

      Bess paused at the entrance into the game room. “Sunday afternoon? What’s happening Sunday afternoon?”

      Rebecca blinked, at a loss for words. “I’m coming to visit you.”

      “Oh, that. Good.” Bess disappeared inside the room.

      “May we have a few words with you, Susan,” Gabriel said, “in your office?”

      The director indicated a door on the other side of the large foyer. “Did she shoplift again?”

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