The gas station clerk had called him after Henry had walked in every five minutes to warm up and go into the bathroom. They normally didn’t mind Henry, but this day on his last trip inside, he’d emerged out of the bathroom naked and announced his plans to sleep outside. He’d called it a naked bear challenge.
“You’re going to die of hypothermia,” Jeremy said and held out a blanket. “Here wrap this around yourself and come on. I’ll buy you pie and coffee.”
“Pie?” Henry narrowed his eyes. He didn’t reach for the blanket. “What kind of pie?”
“I hear they’ve got cherry over at Deanne’s.” It was a lie. Jeremy had no idea what they were serving, but he’d try anything before having to wrestle with a naked man. “Come on. After that, you can crash on my couch.”
“Nope. Your dog doesn’t like me.”
“You hid ham in your pocket last time. He was just trying to get to it. Besides, he lives at the ranch now.”
Henry considered the offer for a long moment, making a show of stroking his chin with a shaky hand. “I suppose I could use some pie. But then I’ll still do this challenge. The guys over at the VFW are doing it too.”
“I just drove by, they are playing cards, fully clothed.” The VFW had been a functioning branch of the establishment at one time. Now, Tom, a retired Army man, owned the old VFW building. It remained a gathering place for older men to play cards, darts, or pool. The owner offered a place for a few homeless vets to stay out of the elements and in return he had company.
“They’re traitors and cowards then,” Henry pronounced and grabbed the blanket. “You better be true to your word and get me some pie.”
After apple pie, much to Henry’s chagrin, and coffee, Jeremy pulled up with a now dressed and sleepy man at the VFW. They walked in and the owner Tom looked up. “What’s up?”
Jeremy gave him a pointed look. “Who challenged Henry to spend the night outside naked?”
Tom shook his head and stared at Henry. “Did you really do it? We were kidding Henry.” His booming laughter rang out. “Did anyone get pictures?”
Henry shuffled in without looking at anyone. “I’m gonna stay here Sarg.” He often called Jeremy that, referring to when he’d served in the Army. “I feel lucky today.” Settling onto a chair, a smiling Henry waited to be dealt into the game.
“Wanna join in?” Tom asked.
Although it was tempting to join the card game, Jeremy left. He was off duty and although he didn’t exactly have exciting plans, he preferred to spend Friday nights home watching television.
Some weekend nights he would meet a few guys for a couple beers at the local watering hole that was cops and firemen frequented. Afterwards, he’d head home for another couple beers while zoning out in front of the television.
Yeah, so he didn’t exactly lead an exciting life, but the way he saw it, his job as detective at the Missoula PD kept him busy enough most days.
His cell chimed. It was a woman named Cassandra, who he’d hooked up with on and off over the last year. Rarely as of late, since she made it clear that she expected them to take it to the next level.
Although he’d decided to break things off, he’d not had the energy to do it yet. Admitted, he was being a coward. Breakups were always hurtful. In his defense, he and Cassandra hadn’t been out in the last few months, mostly because he’d postponed or canceled.
He answered it.
“What you up to?” Cassandra purred into the phone, her code sentence for “wanna hook up tonight?”
“About to crash. I had a long day.”
There was a beat of silence. “Seems you’ve been having a lot of those lately.”
“We should talk…” Jeremy began, but she cut him off.
“I’m not in the mood to talk. I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you call me when your days are not so long?” she snapped and hung up.
Jeremy groaned.
His cell chimed again. “What now?”
It was his mother and Jeremy cringed at his tone. Thankfully she didn’t seem to notice. “Honey don’t forget to pick up your aunt Rita tomorrow at the airport,” his mother exclaimed way too loudly, which signaled she had him on speakerphone. “Her flight arrives at four.”
“Hey son,” his father screamed out. “Watching the game?”
“Not yet.”
“Jeremy? Did you hear me?” his mother called out again.
“Yes Ma’am. Pick up Aunt Rita at four.”
“I haven’t told her about the broken china. Don’t tell her what the dogs did when I went over to check on her house. I’ll tell her.”
“You know she’ll notice as soon as we walk in?”
“Yes, I know that could happen. I thought it would be best to tell her in person. You know how she gets.” His mother’s tone became excited. “Oh, let’s go to that wonderful Mexican place for dinner tomorrow. Bring your Aunt Rita directly there. Your father and I will meet you. I’ll break the news to her after she’s had one of those top shelf margaritas.”
“What Mexican place?” It was too late. His mother was saying love you and hung up.
Jeremy stared at the phone, not sure if he should call back or figure it out himself. His parents had raved about a Mexican restaurant a few miles from their ranch, which was just outside Missoula. That narrowed it down.
Since his father had a fender bender a few months earlier, his mother had refused to allow him to drive. She also refused to drive farther than the few miles it took to get to the grocery store. His father took it in stride since he rarely left the ranch anyway.
Jeremy chuckled at his parent’s antics and turned on the television.
It would be a nice relaxing night and he had the next day off. His lips curved until he realized his dog was at his parent’s. He’d forgotten to pick it up. Just
