Bunny and the Beast(Divine Creek Ranch 22)(87)

“Mi hija, let me show you here,” Louisa said after giving Bunny and Tristan both long hugs. Through the occasional sniffle and blotted cheek, Louisa explained how she had arranged the food gifts in the refrigerator and freezer and showed her the stacks of laundry she’d washed and folded in the utility room.

Bunny thanked her and hugged her again, and their shared sobs made even his own heart hurt and tears burn in the backs of his eyes. He felt such a loss for not having known Grinnie better, that she had inspired that kind of devotion. Tristan stood by him, looking unsure of what to do, but he finally walked over to the women and patted their backs and tried to console them.

A knock sounded, and when he opened the front door, it was to find a couple of what Joseph assumed must be Louisa’s grandkids on the porch. They were dressed in wife-beaters and low-slung jeans, showing their ink, and they looked like thugs. Joseph schooled his expression as he gazed at them through the screen.

“May I help you?” He maintained eye contact with the one who appeared to be in charge, and the young man nodded at him and backed up a single step. He recognized the young man as the one who had waved to Bunny the night Joseph had picked her up for their date.

“We’re Bunny—I mean Miss Carrigan and Tristan’s neighbors, sir. Louisa is our grandmother. We grew up next door to Miss Grinnie, and we wanted to pay our respects.” The young man tried to smile. “We woulda been at the funeral home, but we figured the sheriff would be there, and we didn’t want it to be…awkward. Miss Grinnie was a nice lady, and we just…” His lip trembled a bit, and the emotion in his eyes was sincere, and Joseph nodded.

“Come in, gentlemen,” Joseph said, hoping he wasn’t making a colossal mistake, the point that Bunny lived in a dangerous area ramming home oh-so clearly. Her grandmother had lived among these neighbors for decades. Bunny and Tristan were new in the area, but they’d been accepted. That didn’t mean they were safe.

He took a deep breath, praying for patience and protection.

In the living room, he watched the painfully awkward condolences shared and accepted.

“Hey, listen, Bunny,” said the young man, whose name was Jesse, extracting a wad of bills from his pocket. “I meant to go to the flower shop to send flowers for the funeral but…” He held out the money to her. “I thought maybe you might need help with bills or groceries.”

Bunny clasped her hands around what was probably drug money in Jesse’s hands. “You have a new baby, Jesse. You know Grinnie would tell you to buy diapers with that money. I can almost hear her say it.” Jesse chuckled, and it was a broken sound. Bunny added, “If you want to get her flowers, why don’t you wait and decorate her grave with some pretty silk flowers. You know what else she would tell you, right?” She lifted her eyebrows and smiled at him.

Jesse shook his head but then chuckled and nodded. “She would tell me to go to art school like I wanted to.” He drew in a deep breath. “It’s a nice thought.”

But it’ll never happen was left unsaid.

Jesse hugged Bunny while his grandmother looked on tearfully and then bumped fists with Tristan and hugged him. The other young man with him, who seemed shy by comparison, hugged them both and then followed Jesse out the door.

Louisa wrapped her shawl around her housecoat and picked up her purse by the door. Joseph held out a hand to shake, but Louisa reached out to hug him and whispered, “You take good care of my kids, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Louisa smiled up at him and then was gone.

“Still want that nap?” Joseph asked as the two of them stood in the living room looking lost. Bunny nodded but then looked at Tristan.

“Don’t look at me, sis. I’m not tired. You go nap.”

“Don’t worry about us, Bunny. Go lie down and get comfortable. Tristan and I can watch a movie.”

“You sure?” she asked, slipping out of her high heels and coming to him to hug him, not even waiting for a reply. She was exhausted, and it would take more than a nap to get her caught up.

Tristan nudged him and handed him the remote with a smile. “Movie or video games?”



* * * *



“Boom! Yeah!”

Bunny came awake with a start and a head rush, sitting up in bed too fast. Her head felt clogged with tears, but she smiled as she listened to the sound of laughter coming from the den. A quick glance at the clock confirmed she’d slept until sunset.

“Take that! Watch out for the zombie!” Tristan shouted and then cackled as the zombie undoubtedly met a brutal end.

Assuming Joseph had departed at some point, she rose from the rumpled bed, feeling sweaty and gross after falling asleep in her funeral clothes. “Leaving him alone with the remote. I can’t believe it,” she growled but then hesitated and her crankiness abated. He’d been there for her, but he had a business to take care of and he didn’t deserve her judgment.