Night Shift(64)

Evans handed Fiji a metal tape measure that he had worn clipped to his belt. She had to admit to herself that he was good. If it hadn’t been for that initial flinch, she would never have guessed that he was agitated inside. Now that she was tuned to it, she could feel it under his skin.

“I own a small business, too,” she said chattily. “This is a great location. How many customers do you think you get a day?”

“Oh, depends on the season,” Evans said. “Lots in the spring, fewer in the summer. Then in the fall it starts back up, and there’s a boom around Christmas with people putting up lights and decorations and so on, repainting for the holidays. Course, most of them nowadays go to Walmart or Lowe’s or Home Depot.”

“Good to see a small business owner prospering,” Fiji murmured. She double-checked the planter’s measurements and turned to Olivia. “What do you think?” she asked. “Will it fit?”

“On your porch, I think it will,” Olivia said. “But I’m wondering if it’ll fit in my car.”

“I’ll buy it,” Fiji said with decision. “If it doesn’t fit in the car, I’ll ask a friend if I can borrow his pickup.” She paid for her purchases, trying not to wince as she handed over her debit card. She’d need to sell quite a few decks of tarot cards to make up for this shopping excursion.

Fiji and Olivia were about to each take one end of the planter when Lucas volunteered to carry it out to the car. Olivia said brightly, “That would be so great!” She ran ahead to fold the backseat down to accommodate the length of the window box, and Lucas, with a little help from Fiji, managed to slide it in at an angle. It just fit.

“See, it was meant to be,” Olivia said.

“I think you’re right, miss,” Lucas said.

“Oh, I’m a Mrs.!” Olivia told him, with what Fiji could only describe to herself as a coy smile.

Lucas was clearly stunned—and so was Fiji, but she hid it better— for a long moment. Recovering, he said, “Sorry, but I didn’t see a ring.”

Observant, Fiji thought.

“Nope,” Olivia agreed. “I don’t wear one. Neither does he.”

“Ah, welllll,” Evans said, after a long and pregnant pause, “enjoyed meeting you ladies. Have a safe drive back to Midnight.”

While he went back inside, Fiji climbed into the car in silence.

Olivia was quick to back out and drive away. “I don’t want him to look out and see us talking,” she said. “Looks too much like we were talking over him and our little visit.”

“True,” Fiji said faintly. “So he recognized you. Even,” she added with an edge to her voice, “though you’re a married woman.”

“Yeah.” Olivia gave her a delighted smile. “That was great, huh? I recognized him, too, but I don’t think he could be sure of that. He worked for my dad’s right-hand, Ellery McGuire. This Lucas Evans was pretty low down the corporate ladder, but I saw him at a company retreat.”

“It’s good you didn’t have to kill him,” Fiji said tartly.

“Thanks for getting me close to the hammers. But in a hardware store, you really can’t go wrong. It’s what they call a weapons-rich environment.”

Fiji nodded. “I did want a window box,” she said.

And they both sniggered.

“Are you really married?” Fiji said.

“Yeah,” Olivia said. “I really am.”

“To Lemuel?”

Olivia nodded. “The Rev married us.”

“Why?” Then Fiji flushed. “I’m sorry, that was just rude.”

“No, I know it seems unlikely. But if my father dies and I inherit, I wanted to be sure someone he would just hate would eventually get the money. Lemuel will outlive me by centuries.”

“And Lemuel agreed to this,” Fiji said, marveling.

“Sure. He loves me.” Olivia’s voice was rough.

“I’d say it was mutual.”

“It is,” Olivia said. “He knows I love him, and he understands the reasons I wanted to marry him. And he approved.”

“I’m surprised you haven’t been outed yet.”

Olivia shrugged. “We didn’t change anything. Didn’t see the need. We got married at midnight in Midnight! Our witnesses were two customers who happened to be in the pawnshop. The Rev registered it with the state, as he’s required to do, but the Davy paper doesn’t print marriage notices. We checked first.”

“I’m . . . flabbergasted. I hope you’re happy.”

This sounded so prim that they started laughing again.