At First Sight - Nicholas Sparks [28]
“Nosiree,” Gherkin answered. “Jeremy here was kind enough to offer to find a grand marshal for the parade this year, and he’s promised us a genuine astronaut. What do you think of outer space, as far as themes go?”
“Inspired,” Doris said. “A stroke of genius.”
The mayor seemed to puff up just a bit. “Yes, you’re absolutely right. I like the way you think. Now, Jeremy, what weekend were you thinking about for the wedding? Summer’s mighty tough, what with all the tourists.”
“May?”
“Early or late?”
“Doesn’t matter,” he said. “As long as we get a date, anything will be fine. But if you can, the earlier the better.”
“In a rush, huh? Well, consider it done. And I can’t wait to hear all about that astronaut as soon as you talk to him.”
With a quick turn, Gherkin was gone and Doris was laughing under her breath as she took her seat. “Snookered you again, huh?”
“No, I knew what he was doing, but Lexie’s been getting antsy about that permit.”
“But other than that, the plans are going well?”
“I suppose. We’ve had our differences—she wants something small and intimate, I tell her that even if only my side of the family comes, there won’t be enough hotels out there to accommodate them all. I want my agent, Nate, to come; she says that if we invite one friend, we have to invite them all. Things like that. But it’ll work out. My family will understand no matter what we do, and I’ve already explained the situation to my brothers. They’re not thrilled, but they understand.”
Just as Doris was about to say something, Rachel came bursting through the front door, her eyes red and swollen. She sniffled as she saw Doris and Jeremy, froze for a second, and then headed toward the rear of the building. Jeremy could see the concern on Doris’s face.
“I think she needs someone to talk to,” he observed.
“You don’t mind?”
“No, we’ll catch up on the wedding plans another time.”
“Okay . . . thank you.” Doris slid the journal to Jeremy. “And take this. It’s a great story, I promise. And you won’t find any tricks because there weren’t any.”
Jeremy accepted the journal with a nod, still undecided as to whether or not he would use it.
Ten minutes later, Jeremy was enjoying the afternoon sunshine and heading for his cottage at Greenleaf when he eyed the office. After hesitating, he turned that way and pushed open the door. There was no sign of Jed, which meant he was probably in the shack set on the far edge of the property, the place where he plied his craft as a taxidermist. Jeremy paused once again before thinking, Why not? He might as well try to break the ice, and Lexie swore the man did talk.
He headed down the rutted path toward the shack. The smell of death and decay hit him long before he pushed his way inside.
Centered in the room was a long wooden workbench covered in stains that Jeremy assumed were blood, and strewn about were dozens of knives and other assorted tools: screws, awls, and a few of the scariest pliers and knives he had ever seen. Along the walls, set atop the shelves, and stuffed into corners were countless examples of Jed’s work, everything from bass to opossums to deer, though he had the peculiar habit of making everything he mounted appear as if it were about to attack something. Off to Jeremy’s left was what seemed to be a counter where business was transacted. It, too, was stained, and Jeremy found himself growing queasy.
Jed, wearing a butcher’s apron while working on a wild boar, looked up as Jeremy entered. He froze.
“Hey, Jed, how are you?”
Jed said nothing.
“I just thought I’d come by to see where you actually do your work. I don’t think I’ve mentioned my interest, but I find your work quite amazing.” He waited to see if Jed would speak. Jed merely stared at Jeremy as if he were a bug that had splattered on the windshield.
Jeremy tried again, trying to ignore the fact that Jed was absolutely enormous and furry, was holding a knife, and didn’t seem to be in the best of moods. He went on. “You know, how you make them look like they’re snarling, claws exposed, ready to pounce. I’ve never seen