Mary shot up a quick prayer: let the problem be minor and easily solved. Keep the cancer away.
“Life can stink,” Amber said, shrugging. “Paul! Over here!”
The handsome former cop waved and strode across the little café. He smiled, but it looked forced.
Mary hoped her idea would help these two young people regain their enthusiasm and energy. “Sit down and have a milkshake,” she said to Paul, passing one over to him.
“Thank you!” He sucked some up through the straw and smiled. “Fantastic stuff. I’d heard stories, but this is better than I imagined.”
“Good. Now, I know you’re both busy, so let’s get right to it. Amber,” Mary said, patting the younger woman’s arm, “you’ve been doing a terrific job running the Healing Heroes cottage since Ria turned it over to you.”
“Thanks. It’s been easy.”
“Good, because what I’m about to suggest isn’t going to be easy at all. Paul,” she said, turning to him, “you need a volunteer gig. So, I’d like for you both to work together on an extension for the cottage.”
“What do you mean?” Paul asked.
“I mean, another similar cottage on the same street.”
“To do what?” Amber stirred her milkshake with the straw. “Make Healing Heroes bigger?”
“I want to start a new program,” Mary said, “for victims of violent crime.”
Paul coughed and sucked in big gulps of milkshake. It made Mary realize, abruptly, that the topic might cause him pain, given his background.
“You mean a place for them to stay?” Amber asked. “A rehab, like for the Healing Heroes?”
“Yes, exactly.”
“Paul could do that,” Amber said, “but why me?”
“Because you’re a great organizer and you know the town. You can talk people into anything. I’ve seen you raise funds for cancer research.” Indeed, Amber had talked Mary into making a sizable donation.
“If what’s involved is buying a property and raising funds, I’m not sure I could be of much assistance.” Paul rubbed the back of his neck. “Not much experience with either thing.”
Mary studied him. “You’re quite familiar with crime victims, aren’t you?”
“What do you mean?” he asked sharply.
Embarrassment washed over Mary. As the benefactor of the program, she had access to all the files, so she did know some of Paul’s background. But she didn’t want him to feel his privacy had been invaded. “I know you’re a former police officer, of course. So you’d be able to make sure the place had all the safety features needed, help us make contact with police departments, that kind of thing.”
Goody walked over to their table, wiping her hands and looking out the window. Her habitually dour expression was darker than usual. “That dog is a menace,” she said.
“What dog?” They all looked out in time to see Erica walking by with Hunter in a baby backpack, her giant goldendoodle trotting along beside her.
Amber tapped on the glass and waved to Erica, then tilted her head and studied Goody. “You’re calling Ziggy a menace? He’s just kind of silly. He wouldn’t hurt a flea.”
“Maybe not a flea, but a beautiful poodle in heat is another story.” Goody glared at the dog as it continued on toward the bay, heeling perfectly beside Erica.
“Ziggy’s improved from his puppy days,” Mary said, trying to be diplomatic, “but he’s definitely got a lot of energy.”
“That’s an understatement.” Goody snorted, turned away and headed back to the counter where a couple of new customers had gathered.
“What victims would want to come to a place like Pleasant Shores?” Amber asked. “I mean, it’s a great town, but don’t most people have their homes and neighborhoods and support systems, and wouldn’t they feel bad without them?”
“For some,” Paul said slowly, “it’s a reminder of pain, staying at home.”
“Exactly,” Mary said, remembering. Until she’d come to Pleasant Shores, she’d moved so many times she’d lost count. “So what do you think?”
Amber blew out a breath. “I gotta say I’m not enthusiastic,” she said. “I’m hoping to travel and write, and it sounds like this project will take a lot of time and energy.”
Hmm, she’d have to figure out how to get through to Amber. “Paul?”
He frowned. “Can you tell me more about what you have in mind? Do you need me to babysit victims on-site? Is there a way to work it around Davey?”
“Of course, we can manage around Davey. The hours would be flexible. For now, I just want you to help choose the right property in terms of safety and layout.” Come on, come on, she silently pleaded with the pair. This had to get going before Imogene kicked her money campaign into full gear.
Paul lifted his hands, palms up. “I don’t see that I’ve got a lot of choice,” he said. “The Healing Heroes program requires a volunteer gig, and if this is it, I’ll take it and be glad to do it.”
“I’m sure there are other possibilities,” Amber said. “Trey worked at the school. You could do that.”
“No.” Paul held up his hand like a stop sign. “No way. I’m not good with a school, with kids.”
Interesting, since that had been his job before, a school police officer. But of course, he’d had that awful experience.
It was time to put pressure on Amber. There was no room for her to hesitate and waffle, no time. “I’m really motivated to get this project started now,” Mary said. “It can do some real good for people in need. Change lives. I know that’s important to you.”
“It is, but—”
A commotion outside the window drew their attention. Why was Kirk James knocking on the glass?
And then he held up a squirming white puppy. He was pointing at it and grinning and beckoning to her.
“I can’t believe...” Anger coursed through Mary’s body. “Look, I have to go. Just think about it, okay? Talk to each other, and I’ll be in touch in a few days for your decision.”
Right after she’d strangled Kirk James.
She marched outside. Amber and Paul trailed behind her, but she didn’t have the energy to worry about them.
In front of
