“I can see something else is up. Spill the beans, Alan.”
“It’s actually about the beans,” Alan said, putting his hand to the middle of his stomach. He leaned over and whispered, “I saw a drugstore up the street. I bet they have Tums.”
Kiki nodded conspiratorially.
While Kiki was in the washroom, Alan retrieved his American Express that he palmed to the hostess when Kiki wasn’t looking. He pulled on his coat and straightened his back. He didn’t like lying to Kiki, but her life and their lives together were in jeopardy.
“I’m ready,” she said. “Off to the CVS.”
Alan and Kiki enjoyed a good nose around the drugstore. She bought two jars of the salt scrub, one to return to Sally and the other to use herself. They left intending to head back to the car, but Alan got distracted by a shop window. Kiki humored him and then found she too was interested in the vibrant displays. They went in and out of shop after shop until they ended up a considerable way from the car. Alan suggested they duck into the public library so he could use the facilities before hiking back.
The library was an older building. Kiki admired the craftsmanship of the interior. She ran her hand up a support pillar and was gobsmacked by the carved ceiling. When she looked back, she was startled to see a volunteer smiling at her.
“I didn’t mean to scare you. I was enjoying the look of wonderment on your face for our carved ceiling. Most people never look up and see the beauty there.”
“It’s amazing and, for a public building, magnificently kept,” Kiki said.
The older woman pushed away the rude public building comment and said, “We have a crew who love nothing better than to carefully make the wood shine. They use natural products, and if a problem starts, we have a historic building fund to dip into.”
“I would think that in a city this size it would be busier,” Kiki said, enjoying the warm quiet atmosphere.
“Most people go to the new library. Free parking and it’s on the main bus line. I’m not enamored with the new place, so I volunteer here. The new one is all glass and fluorescent lights,” the woman explained. “I like the smell of wood wax and enjoy the low lights. Also, I do believe I look twenty years younger in this light. I wish I could take it home with me.”
Alan was concerned when he didn’t see Kiki when he left the bathroom. He had used his time to fire off texts to Ms. Wells and Father Santos. He walked quickly through the library. Would she leave by herself? She didn’t have his keys, but Kiki was resourceful. If she wanted to get back to the Atwater house, she would find a way. He realized he was holding his breath until he found Kiki thumbing through a card catalog.
“I saw a computer over there. I’m sure it would be faster,” he said, hoping his heavy breathing wasn’t noticed.
Kiki thought Alan must have had a hell of a stomach ache and reached out and hugged him. “I hope you feel better soon. Pork, even good pork, will do that to a chap. I’m in no hurry. I’m enjoying reading the tiny blurbs on the cards. I did find something interesting though…” Kiki said, pulling Alan by the sleeve. “See this.”
“Ab to Atwater.”
“Now look at this one.” Kiki lifted her hand that was hiding the drawer below it.
“Atwater,” Alan read.
Kiki pulled it out. “It’s completely filled. These are all books or pamphlets. Some are from previous political campaigns. The Atwaters have a whole card catalog drawer full of information. Yet, I couldn’t find a damn thing online. I thought maybe this was just left over, so I looked up one of the pamphlets, and it was nestled amongst many others. Go over to that fancy computer and look up Atwater.”
Alan did as he was told. His search came up with nothing.
“They forgot the card catalog when they were erasing history,” Kiki said. “I’m going to send Cid here just as soon as I get back. Put him up in a hotel and have him investigate Walnut Grove House properly.”
Alan was alarmed. He couldn’t let Kiki return. “Why don’t we get a hotel room and spend our days here and our nights…”
Kiki’s eyes lit up. “I can’t. I have a dangerous property to manage.”
“Then it’s your responsibility to do the research yourself. And you have with you your personal lawyer, who is licensed in five surrounding states, including this one. I passed the reference section when I was looking for you. I found that this library has an antique but viable set of law books.”
Kiki looked at Alan. “What about your practice?”
“I don’t have an office meeting scheduled for over a week, and Ms. Wells runs the office anyway. She just lets me have my name on the door.”
“I don’t have any clothes.”
“Buy what you need. I’ll do the same. We’ll live dangerously and see if we can be happy using the same toothpaste. It will be the first test of living together.”
“But I sleep over…”
“Not the same as being stuck in a hotel sharing the same bathroom, especially after eating all that pork.”
“Alan, this could be a deal breaker.”
“Better for us to have found out now than to arrive married in Hawaii and hate each other after enjoying roast pig at a luau.”
Kiki couldn’t fault his reasoning. “I have to buy a charger for my phone.”
Alan pulled out
