“You tried, Dad. They just didn’t take.”
“Wanted to let you know I changed my mind about dinner tonight.”
“Good.”
“Instead of the Italian place, let’s meet at the country club.”
Defeat grabbed from the jaws of victory. He’d thought dinner was off. Nope. Simply moved to a slightly more upscale venue.
“Mom and Grandma Hattie going?”
“Course not. It’s business.”
“So it’s just you and me.”
“Told you I want the girl there too.”
Warning bells went off in Jake’s head. “Why? Why are you so insistent Lucy attends this business meeting?”
“I’d like to get her take on things.”
“Why?”
“Oh, for—Jake, you sound like a broken record.”
“Maybe. So why does Lucinda need to come?”
“Because the girl has good business sense. She’s been working alongside her daddy. You’ve been gone, but even so, you have to know the economy here in Pride’s in bad shape. Lots of people, big and small investors alike, are losing money they can’t afford on this development. Jobs that would have been created are gone. The town needs this, son. If we can bring in some money, get the thing off the ground, everybody benefits. I want the Darling girl’s take on things.”
Jake thought about that, seeing his dad in a different light, a less self-serving one.
“As police chief, I’m hired to protect the town, Jake. Just doing my job. Be at the club at seven.” The dial tone buzzed.
Jake slid the phone back into his pocket. A shadow fell across him, and he looked up into the bluebird sky. A single black cloud marred the perfection, that solitary dark mass drifting directly between him and the sun.
A funny feeling built in his stomach. And not ha-ha funny. It was every bit as ominous as the overhead cloud. Something about this still felt off.
Maybe he’d better hustle on over to Mom’s and dig his old Jedi light saber out of the attic. He just might need it to fight the dark side before this day was over.
His arm shot out, slashed a zigzag arc.
“May the Force be with you,” he rumbled.
Chapter Thirteen
When they arrived at the century-old country club, Jake bypassed the valet station and pulled his old Jeep into the first empty parking spot. He figured he and Lucy were both capable of walking, what, fifty feet to get to the steps of the club? Pretense had never set well with him.
But his dad sure loved it. Jake figured that was the draw, what being police chief in Pride was all about to him. The position made him a big shot, let him run with the top dogs and insured him an invite to all the best shindigs. Yet today’s phone conversation gave Jake pause.
Halfway across the parking lot, he spotted his mother’s car. Odd. His dad rarely drove it, preferring his pickup with its shiny chrome and big engine.
“It’s pretty here, Jake.”
Walking beside him, Lucy stopped to take in the view.
She was right. Nestled between several huge live oaks, the country club boasted a wide veranda that wrapped around the entire building. Flowers and evergreen shrubs added to the I’ve-been-here-a-long-time mystique. Creamy white with dark green trim, lights from elaborate chandeliers glowed through every window, even though the night was still young, the sun still up.
This had been the site of some of the highest and lowest points in his life. It was here that he and Wanda Sue attended the senior prom. Jake couldn’t decide which side of the list that should go on.
He’d had his first legal drink bellied up to the bar here at the twenty-first birthday party his mom had for him. Afterward, he and his friends finished the celebration with a keg in the woods, and he woke up in a pup tent as hung-over as he’d ever been in his life.
His folks had thrown a huge bash here when he’d passed his bar exam. A happy time.
On the other side of the coin, his dad had belittled him here, loudly and unabashedly, many times. The last, center stage before friends and family, after he’d announced he was heading to Bay Saint Louis to help the shrimpers who were losing their livelihood to an oil spill and unscrupulous businessmen.
Oh yeah. This place held memories.
A tall, thin man in an immaculate uniform opened the front door for them.
“Martin?” Jake stuck out his hand. “How the heck are you?”
“Doing good, Jake. Doing good. My Melissa’s almost finished with her degree. I want to thank you again for nudgin’ her along.”
Jake shook his head. “Glad to help. Missy’s the one who’s done all the hard work, though.”
Martin’s smile widened. “Yeah, she has. She’s a good girl.” He tipped his head. “Your mama and daddy are inside.”