Room for Murder - Tim Myers [50]
After that, it was going to be in their hands.
He didn’t want to play marriage counselor any more than he wanted to run for mayor.
Chapter 15
Mor tossed the burnt fuse up and down in his hand and said, “What did you do, change this fuse in the dark? It’s undersized, no wonder it kept blowing on you.”
Alex had left it up to Elise to get Emma out to the inn, but the woman hadn’t shown up yet, and to Alex’s surprise, Mor had run right out. It looked as if his careful plan was about to fall apart.
Alex said, “Sorry I dragged you out for nothing. Do you have time for a game of backgammon before you go?”
Mor shook his head. “I’d love to, but with Les gone, it feels like I’m covering seven counties. I just happened to be over at Amy’s shop working on one of her torches, that’s the only reason you got me when you did. That timber-frame studio she had built is really sweet.”
Amy Lang was Elkton Falls’ local arts crowd unto herself, supporting herself with her sculptures, and taking welding jobs on the side when her cash ran low. She also happened to be one of Alex’s closest neighbors, as the crow flew.
Well, he’d done his part in getting the split couple back
together. “Thanks for coming out,” Alex said as he followed Mor to the equipment room door.
Emma was blocking the doorway, a stern look on her face. “Mor Pendleton, we need to talk.”
“You’ve said enough lately, don’t you think?” Mor asked. “Now step aside.”
Emma was large enough to nearly fill the doorway, and if she was intent on staying there, Alex doubted Mor was willing to move her. She appeared to agree though, and Alex slipped past her. But before Mor could follow, she blocked the way again. “You I’m not done with.”
“Woman, stand aside,” Mor said, the edge hard in his voice.
“You don’t intimidate me, you big bear. I’m not going anywhere until we talk this out.”
Alex watched him from over Emma’s shoulder and saw Mor’s shoulders stiffen, then finally relax.
Mor said, “Of all the dumb, backward, half-cocked ideas I’ve ever heard in my life, your bone-headed stunt took the cake.”
Emma said bravely, “Everybody has to be good at something.”
Mor laughed gently. “You’re a hard woman to stay mad at, you know that, don’t you?”
Emma hugged him, her tears obvious in her voice. “Mor, don’t you ever scare me like that again.”
Alex backed away to give them some privacy and nearly stepped on Elise’s foot. He had been so wrapped up in the reconciliation that he hadn’t even noticed her approach.
She was smiling as a few tears tracked down her cheeks. “Now why are you crying?” he asked.
She shook her head. “Alex, sometimes you can be such a man.”
“Thanks. I think,” he added, still unsure whether it was a compliment or not.
Elise said, “Let’s give them some privacy to finish patching things up.”
“Okay by me, I didn’t want to be their mediator in the first place.”
She touched his shoulder lightly. “I don’t know why, you’re very good at it.”
He grinned. “Okay then, I’m going to retire undefeated, one for one.” He took a deep breath, then added, “Unless there’s a chance you want to give me a shot at being two for two.”
“How can I do that?” she asked.
“Well, there’s another couple around here I’d really like to see get together,” he said as earnestly as he could manage.
She just shook her head, but he could see a slight smile come to her lips before she turned away. At least he hadn’t lost the knack for making her smile. It was something, anyway.
They worked at cleaning the lobby together, sweeping and dusting well after the last traces of lint were gone, waiting to see if their plan had worked. Twenty minutes later, Mor and Emma came out into the lobby holding hands.
Mor said, “If you two are still willing, the wedding’s back on. Not only that, but we’re moving it up.”
Alex slapped him on the back. “Congratulations.