Madge and I both look to Dylan to answer the question.
“Nothing I can report,” he says. “I hear you had some trouble with the bull’s-eye? Electrical problems?”
“That thing’s always been persnickety.” My dad waves a hand. “I wiggle the cords, and it falls in line.”
Dylan nods. “I’ve called an electrician to check it out. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave all your gear as is because of the accident. I’ll let you know when you can collect it.”
“Well, make it quick.” Dad crosses his arms. “I have a gig day after tomorrow. Some of us show up when we promise to do so.”
Oh, boy. That’s my cue to intervene.
I send Dylan an apologetic look before I turn to my father. “Dad, please. Can’t you just let it go?” Dylan had good reasons for not showing up for our planned wedding eight years ago. I found out much later he was protecting me from something Dylan’s father had done that might have ruined all our lives. Dylan did the right thing to keep me out of it. My dad just refuses to accept that.
“I’m not letting anything go until he marries you like he promised.” My dad lifts his chin. It’d make a stubborn two-year-old proud.
“He’s already asked me again. I said no.” I glance Dylan’s way again. “For now.”
“What?” Madge’s eyes grow wide. “How do I not know this? Deets, please!” Madge’s enthusiastic jumping makes the crooked snowman on her sweater jiggle too.
My dad’s hands fly to his hips. “A gentleman would’ve asked my permission first.”
Dylan closes his eyes and runs a hand down his face. “I asked you eight years ago, Max. You said when pigs fly. Remember?” He opens his eyes again. “Can we get back to the accident please?”
“I meant it at the time. You both were too young,” my dad grumbles. “But yes. Back to poor Tina. I feel terrible she got hurt by doing me a favor.”
I hope my face doesn’t give Tina’s death away. I’ve never been good at hiding my emotions, so I quickly say, “I didn’t ask before, but why did you guys break up? You’re obviously still on good terms.”
Dad smiles. “Yes, we’re still friends. I’m friendly with all my exes because I always let them break up with me.”
Dylan tucks his thumbs into his utility belt. “How do you manage that?”
“I go on very long road gigs.” Dad digs out a handkerchief from inside his suit coat that’s connected to four more colored pieces of cloth until he gets to the end. He wipes the rest of the ice cream from his face. “By the time I get back in town, they realize that having a relationship with a traveling entertainer leaves them home alone on too many date nights.” Dad winks at Madge. “They always let me down gently.”
“I bet,” Madge says with a grin. “Why weren’t you happy with your relationship with Tina?”
Dad’s forehead crumples. “I wasn’t unhappy. But she said she’d met someone else and wanted to pursue it. She asked if we could stay friends.”
Because she was probably just using my dad as a beard for her secret relationship with Uncle Frank. Everyone in town knows Dad is charming and kind but isn’t one to settle down in one spot for long. My mom said she’d always love my dad, but she’d never marry him. And she never did.
I ask, “Did Tina say who it was she’d met?”
Dad shakes his head. “I didn’t ask. I figured it just wasn’t meant to be between us. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get out of this sticky suit.”
Dylan holds up a hand. “Just one more question, Max. How did the mayor end up helping you set up for the show?”
“Frank said I was creating a fire hazard. He’s a brute, and it was his muscle I needed to clear the entrance. Then, to my surprise, he helped me set up all the tricks. Odd, since he’s done nothing but make my life miserable ever since I met your mother, Sawyer.”
I nod in agreement. “He’s an expert at that.”
Madge leans closer. “Did the mayor help with the rewire of the bull’s-eye too, Max?”
“There was nothing as severe as that. Like I said, it was just a matter of wiggling the right cords. We got the trick running in no time.” He turns to Dylan. “Why are you so interested in my props?”
Dylan says, “Just making sure there isn’t an insurance issue for the community center.”
“I’d appreciate it if you’d hurry up about it, Sheriff. See you at the house, Sawyer. You and I need to have a discussion about him when you get home.” Dad waggles his thumb in Dylan’s direction before ambling up the hill to my house.
Madge chuckles. “Max is staying with you? I thought he stayed over the bookstore when he was in town.”
I huff out a breath. “Only because I’m having the plumbing at the store fixed. It could be a long few days.”
Dylan says, “Especially if I have to impound his equipment. He’ll have to cancel his next show. He’s going to give me grief.”
“Wait a minute.” I scoot closer so others won’t hear. “Are you accusing my dad of something? My father would never hurt a fly. You know that.”
Dylan leans even closer. “I have to do my job. I’m going to the clinic now. Don’t let your dad leave town without talking to me. Okay?”
I whisper, “What about the mayor? He’s who you should be talking to.”
“Yeah!” Madge says as she inserts herself closer, making a human triangle.
Dylan gives me a quick kiss. “He’ll be my next stop after the clinic. I might have some more questions for your dad after that. If it’s close to dinnertime, I might be persuaded to stay.”
“Deal.” I give him a hug. “That way, my father might refrain from drilling me about why I turned down
